Chapter 3

A bright sunny day with a gentle breeze greets Miho as she exits through the door to her dorm room. After closing the door, she hears two beeps followed by a click from the door as the green dot on the handle changes to red, indicating that the door was now locked. Wanting to make sure she could still get into her room later, she places her student ID near a black square next to the door, after a second, a beep is heard followed by a click and the door light changing back to green, meaning it was unlocked. After opening the door and closing it again, the same two beeps, click, and light change happen again as predicted and Miho sets off.

While walking she couldn't help but look all round her, still in awe about the new world she was now living in. After passing by a local pastry shop and catching the whiff of freshly baked goods, she stops. "Maybe I should buy some for later, I'm sure I could make some new friends if I share some of these treats," she wonders.

She decides to step in and buys a dozen rolls and small pastries. She eats two of them while walking, causing her to walk straight into a sign. After recovering, she takes a closer look at the sign, seeing a school crossing sign, with the adult represented by an eagle extending its wing as though it were an arm, and the child similarly represented by a chick matching the adult's gesture. Miho couldn't help but love the picture, "aw, that looks so adorable," she said.

While marveling at the sign, Miho noticed some other girls wearing similar uniforms to hers walking by. Still needing to get to school, Miho continued on her way keeping pace with the girls in front of her. When she finally arrived, she could see a bunch of students entering the building. She could slightly hear a voice talking over some PA system saying, "welcome to a new school year here at the Global Defense Academy, we're glad to have you here with us whether you're a returning student or new to our campus. There will be orientation for all new students in the cafeteria, beforehand as well as for returning students we recommend finding your first period class will be held at, which can be found in the announcements board near the main entrance. Thank you for your cooperation."

"Wow, they seem more engaged with their students than my old school," Miho said to herself. Looking up and around the outside of the academy, she could see the emblem of the school, a shining golden eagle, wings spread out wide and its talons out as if it were about to strike. Moving through the main entrance, she quickly found where to find her first period thanks to a crowd of students near a wall to her left. Making her way over to the wall, she quickly found the paper and began to scan for her name. After finding her name, she took a mental note that her class would be in room 1010. Just as she was about to turn to leave she heard a familiar sound behind her to the left. Turning in that direction she saw someone that she knew making it to where she was at. The other girl turned to her too, smiling upon seeing her, "Miho, how have you been girl?"

"Oh, hey Annelien, I've been good, how about you?" Miho answered before asking the same question. Annelien, or going by her nickname 'bab' which was short for "boss ass bitch" was one of the new friends Miho made during MLS. Despite her nickname, she was really just stern and held a high standard for everyone, but that didn't mean she was stone-set on them either, and once you really got to know her, she was actually supportive and really sweet; she was an inch or two taller than Miho and had her black hair that ran a little past her shoulders which she either let it flow freely or tied it up into a ponytail.

"I've been good as well," Annelien replied. "How about we catch up before practice today, okay?" she suggested, giving Miho a quick thumbs up.

Miho nodded in response before turning to leave the crowd and head to the cafeteria for the orientation.