I'm back! I'm sorry for being away so long, and leaving you with only an interlude, but I was trying to enter Tokyopop's Rising Stars of Manga Contest. Anyway, here's the next chapter.

I don't own Angelic Layer, or else the anime would end with Misaki and Oujirou's wedding.

The Next Generation

by Keledrena

Chapter Four

It was the day of the Convention. The whole class was so excited, and the courtyard in front of the school was a swarm of people.

Hikari arrived early with Kenji and Akane in tow. Misaki and Oujirou had left two days ago to help set up, taking Hiromi along. They also took along most of Hikari's bags, including the one holding the surprise project. However, Hikari, Kenji and Akane were carrying their Angels with them.

Kasumi was speaking to Class A. "I'm calling attendance, then we may board the buses. Aoki, Akira."

"Here!"

"Apapa, Mokona."

"Here!"

"Azuya, Midoriko..."

Aya was chattering happily with Hikari. Akane and Kenji were talking about Angelic Layer tactics and who was going to beat whom.

"Do we you think we'll be able to meet Suzuhara, I mean, Mihara Misaki? She and Ringo were friends, even if Yuu and Kari-chan might not be! Oh, I'm so excited!"

Hikari couldn't help but giggle at Aya, amused her excitement.

"Higuchi Aya!"

Aya stopped her chattering to say, "Here!"

"Igarashi, Satsuki!" The list was getting closer.

"Here!"

"Mihara, Hikari!"

"Present!" she said without thinking. Most of the class burst into giggles. She blushed.

"Mizawa, Yuu"

"Here," he drawled lazily.

"Mizu, Nagisa!" Kasumi continued.

"Hey, isn't that Auntie Ringo's son," Akane started to say, pointing at Yuu, but Hikari cut in, "Did you remember to bring your outfit for the convention?"

The less known members of the "Second Generations," or the ones that hadn't had a chance to participate very much yet, were going to participate in one of the projects. Akane's outfit needed emergency adjustments, so Misaki and Oujirou didn't bring it with them. Hikari finished the adjustments last night.

"Yes, I did," Akane said. She smiled. "It fits perfectly! Thanks Ka-chan!"

Hikari winced at the nickname. Thankfully, everyone was too busy talking to notice. Even Aya was busy talking to Kenji about what else- Angelic Layer.

"Nekoi, Keichi!"

"Here!"

"Nishihide, Satoshi!"

"Present!" Snickers, as Satoshi smirked as Hikari blushed again. Kenji glared. Only he was allowed to tease his sister.

"Okawa, Akito..."

Kimi, Aya's little sister, suddenly said, "Hikari, your last name is Mihara! Just like Misaki and Oujirou! Are you related?" She looked eager.

"Uh," Hikari stuttered. 'What am I suppose to say? That I am related to them- in fact, they're my parents'

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Akane look up. "Um," she said. 'Should I tell her? Everyone's bound to find out! But this will cause a huge scene, and a lot of publicity'

"Takamura, Ichigo!"

"Here!"

"Um," she said again. Kenji was looking at Hikari like she was crazy. Akane opened her mouth.

"And, Yamada, Mari!"

"Here!"

"Class, let's board the buses!" said Kasumi.

"Come on, let's go!" said Hikari, trying to distract them. "If we don't hurry, we won't get a good seat." She pushed them toward the buses.

-

The bus pulled into the huge driveway at Chez Mizawa. Many of the girls practically swooned at the sight of the huge house, and the boys were gaping openly at the many EXPENSIVE cars they passed.

Hikari rolled her eyes. Grandmother Shuuko, Auntie Shouko, Icchan, and Grandmother Mihara lived together in a mansion about the same size. Misaki and Oujiou took Hikari and the others there every Christmas.

The bus stopped at the main entrance. The class got off.

"Welcome!" Ringo bubbled, coming down the steps. "So glad you could make it."

"Hello, Mrs. Mizawa," said Tomikazu, the other teacher of the Angelic Classes. "It is an honor to meet you! I saw you at the last national tournament. And your son, Yuu inherited all his talent from you. You must be very proud." He continued to gush and fawn over Ringo.

"Perhaps, we could come inside," suggested Kasumi, giving Tomikazu a look. It wasn't a secret that the two teachers didn't get along very well. "I'm Nakaji Kasumi, and this is Okubo Tomikazu."

"Of course!" chirped Ringo. "This way. Mrs. Obata will show you to your rooms." She disappeared inside. Yuu smirked and strolled through the doors, with a girl in each arm. His friends followed.

Hikari watched him with a sigh. The Yuu that she had known hadn't appeared since that time on the roof. Yuu was as cocky and disrespectful as ever. She followed Aya up the stairs, with Akane, Kenji and Kimi following.

-

"And Reiko Fujita, Rumi Fujita, Riku Segawa and Mari Yamada in room 34W," said Mrs. Obata.

"Now that you know where your rooms are, you may go. Your bags have already been brought in, and lunch is in two hours," said Ringo.

Yuu strolled off. "I'll be in my suite," he called over his shoulder. "I need to prepare for the convention."

Ringo nodded. "We'll be eating in the garden terrace."

"I'll see you at lunch, okay?" said Aya. She and Kimi were rooming with Ichigo and her little brother, Daisuke. Nagisa had three younger siblings that came along, so they had their own room.

Hikari nodded and Aya and the others left.

Akane looked at Hikari. "Ka-chan, where's our room?" she asked. "I didn't our name being called."

"Me neither," said Kenji.

"We better ask Ringo about that," said Hikari, walking toward her godmother.

"Okay," said Akane, skipping ahead.

Hikari cleared her throat. "Um excuse me, Ringo?"

Ringo turned around. "Hikari, hi!" she said giving Hikari, Akane and Kenji hugs. "So nice to see you!"

"It's nice to see you too, Ringo," said Hikari. "But could you please tell us where our room is? I'm afraid we didn't hear it."

"Oh, didn't I tell you?" said Ringo. The three shook their heads.

"You guys have your own suites here, right next to Yuu in the East wing. Mrs. Obata, could you show them their rooms?"

"Of course. This way, please."

Hikari followed Mrs. Obata upstairs to a gorgeous looking suite. "This is yours, Ms. Hikari. Ms. Akane and Mr. Kenji's suites are this way."

She left Hikari gaping at her rooms. She had a bathroom with what looked like a small pool, a bedroom, a study with a miniature library, and a room full with electronics, including a computer, a wide screen TV, and the latest in Angelic Layer equipment. But even with all this technology, it still looked comfortable and private, and just right for her.

Hikari smiled and began to unpack.

-

Hikari looked at the clock. It was time for lunch so she changed into a simple sundress and started toward the door. After lunch, the class was going to the convention, which took place in a large building ten minutes away.

Hikari stepped into the hallway and closed the door behind her. She looked around and realized that she had no idea how to get to where lunch was being held.

"Excuse me," she said quietly, walking toward a maid. "Do you know where the garden terrace is?"

The maid looked up. "Are you from Master Yuu's class?"

"Yes," said Hikari.

"Did you get lost, then?" said the maid, with a frown. "From what I understand, the students and teachers are in the West Wing."

"Oh, Ringo gave me my own suite in the East Wing, the family one."

"Really?" The maid looked skeptical. "Then why don't you know way around?"

"Ringo's my godmother, but I haven't seen her in person since I was three. She just told me about the room today," said Hikari, blushing.

The maid nodded, still looking a little disbelieving. "Alright, then. The garden terrance is on the third floor of the South Wing. I'll show you the way."

-

Aya looked around, but she couldn't see Hikari. But she saw Hikari's younger siblings.

"Kenji! Akane! Over here!" The two saw her and pushed through the crowd.

"Hi, Aya," said Akane cheerfully.

"Where's Hikari?" asked Aya.

"Oh, she's probably still unpacking," said Kenji. "She's always so fussy about where everything goes. It took her a week longer than everybody else to organize her room when we moved."

Aya laughed. "She did the same thing with her locker in school. She was always fussing about how it was so messy. So where is your room anyway?"

"Oh, Ringo gave us our own rooms in the East Wing."

"Oh, right, your parents work in the Angelic Lab. She probably knows them when she tested out the newest products."

Kenji nodded, "But actually, my parents and Ringo met when they fought each other on the Layer. And Ringo hasn't been testing out any of the products for a few years now."

"That's too bad. Did you meet her before today?"

"Yeah, she came over for Hikari's last birthday," said Akane.

"Really?! That must be very exciting, having a star like her come," said Aya, squealing.

"A star like who?" Hikari came up to them, smiling.

"I was telling Aya about when Ringo came over for your birthday," said Akane, missing Hikari's widened eyes. "She's actually really nice."

Kenji looked at Aya's shock and awe. He frowned. "Didn't Hikari tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"Ringo is her-"

"Attention, students," said Tomikazu. "We will be eating lunch now, and in an hour, we will be leaving for the Angelic Convention. You will have half an hour to collect your things and to meet us at the main hallway. If you wish to cosplay as an angel, then you should take that opportunity to change."

With this, everyone moved to sat down and eat lunch. Thankfully, Aya was now preoccupied with chatting about what the Convention will be like and the angel she was going to cosplay as.

So what do you think? This chapter's a little longer, to make up for the last chapter. And as always, please review!