Prologue Finale - The Stage is Set


The sun rose high as the day started, the near-sleepless city of Tokyo getting into its morning cycle. Office workers rode the trains alongside students enjoying their spring break, tightly packed akin to sardines as they went to and from their destination. Parents brought along their children to enjoy the sights, or were pestered by the little demons to go out and have fun.

It was the start of a new day for many.


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As the automatic doors closed a few feet behind them, the three boys took one last look of their apartment building. It may have only been close to 6 months staying there, but it had become a home to them during that time. A bit expensive of a home, but a home nonetheless.

"Well." Davion spoke up, carrying his duffle bag as they walked away. "We have free time until tonight."

"And class starts next week." Ephraim grumbled, dragging his luggage bag behind him. "So we're currently homeless, without a job, and just loitering."

"Was resigning that hard for you too?" Ryo sighed as he adjusted his backpack. "I was just getting into my delivery streak in Pizza-Za."

"When you work at the InterContinental, it's always hard to let go of such a prestigious position." The blonde shook his head, a wry smile on his lips. "Boss gave me a huge severance pay, and that apparently I was welcome if I decide to come back. All the risks of me having used a fake identity went out the window because Tabane did something." Purple eyes looked to the side with a troubled light, a frown curling his lips. "He even called me Sahaku and not Aznable...still dealing with that fact, though."

"Hey, same here!" The mechanic grinned as he pulled his phone out. "Chief said that there would always be a position open for me if I come back, though I would be a part-timer at that point." Fiddling with the device, he turned it around to show his friends a group picture of him and his work friends. "I'm gonna miss the guys, but hey, who says I can't visit them every now and again."

"I think we all got something when we quit." Ryo chuckled lightly, shaking his head as he pulled out a card from his pocket. "I got a card that basically gave me discounts for pizzas and burgers from any fast food franchise. Wacnordo, Burger Knight, HappyHornet, stuff like that. Kinda like a membership card or something."

"Okay, that's a real treasure." Purple eyes glinted with mirth as they stopped before a crosswalk. "Going from delivering to ordering, huh?"

"Oh, shut up. Where are we going anyway?"

Other pedestrians barely gave them a second glance as the crossing light counted down. Salarymen looked at their watches while the teens in the crowd whispered and talked among themselves, the topics ranging from the upcoming school year or nonsensical gossip. To an outsider's view, the Neo-Types were just three more faces in the crowd. Ephraim's blonde hair and gold accessories may have stuck out but it only warranted a second glance, much to his quiet relief. He didn't need to deal with hostile gazes from xenophobes so early in the day.

"Tokyo is a pretty big place." Davion hummed, fingers tapping on the screen of his phone. "Wanna explore?"

"While carrying our luggage around all day?" The now former courier grumbled, putting the headphones that were around his neck on his ears.

Ephraim quirked a brow, nudging their sides as the crowd around them began to move. "We've carried heavier things, what's the problem?" They followed the flow of the crowd, respectfully distancing themselves from the rushing office workers and leisurely teens and tourists.

"I...Shut up." Ryo sighed, cracking his neck as he pocketed the card. "Don't start complaining when our feet start to hurt."

"We'll stop by some places to rest." The blonde reassured him, glancing to the mechanic who was smiling at his phone. "Oi, stop texting Maiko. Where do you want to go first?"

"Wacnordo."

"Ooooof course it's gonna be that."


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The teen stared at her teacher with wide eyes.

"Excuse me? Did I hear that right?"

Chifuyu frowned, pushing the three folders forward towards the younger woman before her office desk. "I won't repeat myself, Sarashiki."

The bluenette put a hand on the files but did not open them just yet. "I'm sorry, but when one hears that boys are going to enroll in the all-female IS Academy, it tends to be unbelievable."

It wasn't as if she had any qualms with boys, she was more worried about the other girls in the Academy. As Student Council President, it was her duty to look after those under her. Dropping in three random boys would cause massive waves, not even ripples, that could start a lot of conflict in the school.

"They're the test pilots for the Professor's upcoming project." The former Mondo Grosso champion explained, ignoring how the 2nd year flinched. "She's keeping it quiet at the moment since she still needs to finalize their debut." Chifuyu felt as if she just tasted ash saying that. She knew that Tabane was finished with whatever she was planning for the boys and had gone radio silent as she wont to do.

While used to her friend's antics, this specific length of silence was uneasy for the teacher.

Red eyes looked at her with skepticism and wariness, the owner taking the three folders and skimming through the first few pages. "Are their skills good enough to even warrant enrolling here? Not that I'm saying they're not allowed but..." The Student Council President glanced to the side with a frown, "...some of the girls might take offense to it."

"That's a bridge that they'll have to cross themselves." Chifuyu crossed her arms as she leaned against her office table. "And they are more than...adequate to enroll here. They performed decently in the special tests we put them through at the behest of the Professor." More bullshit, more ash in her mouth. "She chose them specifically after what happened during her test screening for the pilots."

"Oh, what happened?"

"An insurgent group managed to break into the testing facility and make off with the equipment the three were supposed to pilot. They chased after them and recovered the gear, with minimal injuries and with all the interlopers taken down." The teacher explained the cover story for the Neo-Types, something that Tabane and Sahaku had concocted on separate occasions. "And that was almost a year ago. They've been training with and using the gear the whole time before the Professor finally deemed them worthy of being sent here to be enrolled." The elder Orimura shrugged, glancing to the side to see the sun begin to set in the distance.

"So they're sponsored by the creator of the IS." The Sarashiki Heiress' eyes were locked on to a specific profile, a wide smirk growing on her lips as she muttered to herself. "Well, hello Яркие глаза..." Closing the folders, she opened her fan to hide the amused curl of her lips. "I think that'll quiet most of the complaints but will definitely ruffle the feathers of the more prideful ones."

Chifuyu rolled her eyes.

"Again, they'll have to cross that bridge when it comes to it."


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Time: 7PM

"Achoo!"

"Bless you."

The three were eating dinner in a Saizeriya, one of their frequented restaurants with Ryo being a regular there. He knew the staff and the staff knew him, practically reserving a table for he and his friends. It was at that specific table where they were currently sitting, talking among themselves as they relaxed after spending a whole day doing something that they haven't really done in a while since waking up in the world.

Bonding.

"Thanks." With a nod, Ephraim took the offered napkin from Davion and wiped down the elbow of his dress shirt. "I just felt a chill down my spine." He muttered gravely, discreetly looking around their table. "Like a premonition of what's to come."

"...Dude, don't ruin my appetite with your broodiness." Ryo sighed as he set his fork back into the Rigatoni with Meat Sauce. He had nearly tried all of the dishes in the menu, but there was always a fair few that he kept on coming back to.

Davion was across from him, eating his Cheese and Bacon Potatoes, a phone in hand as he browsed the web for news. Though from how much he was tapping on the phone, he was probably chatting with Maiko once again. Speaking of, he just took a picture of the dishes on the table, a dumb grin on his face as he sent it to his fellow model kit enjoyer.

"It's not broodiness when it could be life or death." The blonde countered, finishing his Spaghetti with Meat Sauce before wiping his lips with a fresh napkin. "I'm just saying to be ready for anything." He then finished his glass of sparkling water, his expression setting into its usual stern disposition.

"Uh-huh..." The green-eyed teen was no longer listening, instead opting to finish his dinner. He might as well eat while he still had his appetite.

"...Shit." Davion muttered, gaining the attention of the other two. "Rabbit just sent me a recording of what happened this morning."

"This morning?" Ephraim raised a brow. "While we were still packing? Why didn't she send it then?"

"Dunno, but..." The grey-eyed tinker turned his phone around, and his friends paled.

"You've got a new friend joining you~!"

The text was simple, but ominous. It sent a brief chill up their spines, the trio already knowing just who she was talking about. When Davion swiped the screen, lo and behold, there was a video of Ichika Orimura touching an IS and activating it.

"...I fucking blame you for this, Ephraim." Ryo seethed quietly, his appetite now gone and having been replaced with indignant anger. "If you hadn't opened your mouth and invited Murphy's fucking Law, which you know follows us wherever we go-"

"Bro." Ephraim sent him a look, cutting him off from his tirade. "We knew this would happen, chill."


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Time: 9PM

The three arrived at the vaunted IS Academy, having had to sneak into the IS Academy mainland monorail station via a backdoor opened with a code sent to them. Once they stepped out of the island station itself, they were greeted by an annoyed Chifuyu and a bluenette that hid her lower face behind an open fan. They could see the curls of a vulpine grin edge out from the fan, and Ryo could only let out a shuddering sigh as he resigned himself to the inevitable.

"Took you three long enough." The elder Orimura grumbled, turning around and walking ahead of them. "Come on, let's get you situated on what you'll be doing in the next few days." She sighed audibly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "This is gonna be a pain in the ass..."

"...Would you like an Old Fashioned to ease that pain, Orimura-sa...sensei?" Ephraim offered, a wry smirk on his lips. Getting the mature woman drunk was always a treat to see, and he didn't really protest to her...rather wandering hands.

"We don't serve alcohol on the island, this is a school." She sent him a tired glare from over her shoulder.

"Well, it's not a school yet. Classes haven't started since it's Spring Break, and it's already past 5PM." With a snap of his fingers and a small cloud of white-gold motes, a minibar appeared beside his feet. "Besides, it'll be only us here and I'm confident that we can keep this hush hush."

The bluenette's brow quirked in amusement as Chifuyu's glare remained steadfast.

"Hey, mind if I take the iced coffee now?" Ryo looked at his friend in question. "What's the brew tonight?"

The blonde snorted, crouching down and opening the self-powered appliance. "Jamaican Blue, your usual." Tossing a thermos to his friend, he took out a box-like packet before closing the door. Flipping the top of the box open, he shook it until a white stick edged up. The teacher immediately took a step towards him, a stern frown on her lips and a tirade ready on her tongue.

"Calm down." Ephraim raised a hand as he placed the white-orange stick between his lips. "It's chocolate cigs." He pocketed the fake cigarette box in his vest pocket as he began to nibble on the end that was in his mouth. "And I don't smoke." The blonde added as an afterthought, his nonchalant expression somewhat straining underneath the glare of the former Mondo Grosso champion.

Chifuyu growled, palming her face as the younger woman beside her began to snicker. "Just...follow us. You have barely a week to settle in your dorms and in your duties. Get to know the island, and don't break anything, got it?"

"Duties?" The three asked in chorus, apprehension and wariness clear in both their expression and voice.

The teacher ignored them as the other woman cleared her throat.

"Well," She closed her fan and gave them a welcoming smile, speaking in clear and flawless English. "I suppose introductions are in order. I am the Student Council President of the IS Academy, Tatenashi Sarashiki. But you can call me Sarashiki-san or Kaichou when school begins." Her ruby eyes looked over the three, momentarily locking on to the verdant green of the former courier as he drank his coffee.

"Ephraim Az-" He paused, frowning briefly as he removed the sweet between his lips. "Sahaku. Ephraim Sahaku." The purple eyed blonde bowed respectfully at her, fixing his tie once he stood back up straight. "A pleasure to meet you."

"Davion Guele." Grey-eyes twinkled with enthusiasm, as he pointed to himself with his right thumb. "If you need anything fixed, anything custom made, or just anything you want upgraded, come talk to me."

"Don't." Ephraim shot her a brief faux-pleading look, placing the chocolate between his smirking lips afterwards. "Half the time, they explode."

"I've gotten better!" Davion protested, an embarrassed flush on his cheeks. "And besides it was one time! One time!"

"One time was more than enough! We had to explain to the landlord why the both TV and the living room wall were gone!"

"...Ryo Murakumo." The last of the trio introduced himself with a strained smile on his lips. "I didn't expect to see you again so soon, and here of all places."

"Indeed." Tatenashi smirked as a hint of mischief crept into her voice. "From delivery boy to test pilot, hmm~?"

"I enjoyed my job, thank you very much." Ryo huffed, crossing his arms as he tapped the thermos in his hand idly. The bluenette smirked as she stepped closer to him, leaning forward when they were barely a foot apart.

"Well, I hope that you'll still be willing to make some deliveries for me~" She cooed, the glint in her eyes somewhat causing the former courier to experience a full-body shudder. There was no innocence in that glint of hers, she knew that she was going to have a new plaything to boss around and he knew it as well.

"P-Perhaps." He stuttered, quickly glancing away as he took a necessary step back.

"Are you all acquainted with each other? Good." The teacher shook her head, fixing a glare at Ephraim as he dematerialized the minibar. "Now come on, we're wasting time here."

They walked the path in relative silence, with Tatenashi sending teasing smirks at the green-eyed boy. Ryo ignored her as best he could, but she made sure to stick close to him in a way that didn't seem too suspicious. Throughout all this, Ephraim continued to munch on his chocolate and Davion merely ignored the pleading look his friend sent to him with a restrained grin. Soon enough, they came upon a tall building with multiple balconies per room. They recognized it as the Dorm Building, both from their memories of the anime and from their brief tour around the island a few days prior during testing.

"2nd Floor, Room Number 78 for Sahaku and Murakumo. Guele, we repurposed an old storage room into your dorm in the Engineering Bay as per your and the Professor's request." The Brunhilde turned to them with a small frown. "That storage room is within an unused hangar bay whose ownership has been transferred to the three of you. It doesn't have a name as of yet, but that can come later."

"I'll show him the way." The bluenette offered, sending a wink at Ryo as she and Davion separated from them. The mechanic left with a small shrug as he shifted his grip on his duffle bag, hefting it over his shoulder with ease.

"Don't cause trouble." With that last warning, Chifuyu then left the two to stare up at the multi-story dormitory.

They stayed there for a good minute, feeling the cold evening breeze wash over them.

"...Oh, this is gonna be hell." Ephraim grimaced, already anticipating the amount of headaches they'll encounter.

"Ya think?" Ryo glanced at him with a raised brow and a frown before he shook with head. Sighing, the former courier ran a hand through his hair. "Let's just...get this over with..."


AN:

And that's the last prologue. Hopefully I was decent in building up to canon, I know that most other fics just start straight away into the action.

Also, parodies of real-world products, brands, etc. will be mentioned every now and again. It doesn't feel like a real enough or solid enough world if it didn't have any established brands and the like for me.

Speaking of trying to make the setting feel real, I placed the IS Academy in Sagami Bay. It makes sense for me for it to be there, given the geography of the mainland that's near the artificial island. That and it's near to Tokyo, and anime clichés always make it so that Tokyo will be in trouble later down the line and the cast has to save it.

As for the reviews...

Arvolth Edelweiss: That's a comically wrong thing to say when they're in a Harem anime where ecchi clichés are aplenty. One of them is bound to have a nosebleed from an aneurysm when all the tropes pile up.

Azure Dragon of the East: Hey, thanks for the reviews! On the SEED tech though, it's actually one of the most cross-over friendly in terms of mobile suit maintenance. Excluding the Nuclear Powered MS like the Justice and Freedom, most suits are powered by what is essentially a big battery which just needs a good recharge. It doesn't use or emit any exotic particles like the GN Drives in 00, the Minovsky Particles in the UC timeline, or have a constant and noticeable effect like the Ahab Waves from IBO (speaking of, your IBO/IS crossover fic alongside Shidou Haruka's were what made me entertain the thought of making this fic!).

And...yeah, screw the blatant Kira-centrism of the SEED series. It really stems from what was happening in the production side of things for the SEED series as a whole. In Destiny, workplace drama lobotomized both Shinn and Cagalli's characters. Something about a very bitter storywriter actively messing up what could have been the real protagonist of the whole SEED Destiny anime. In Super Robot Wars Z, almost everyone actually calls out Kira's 'pacifism' and illogical fighting style. Shinn got a bunch of good development there, if you trigger the right flags and such. So much so that the JP VA considers SRW Z Shinn as the canon Shinn instead of the one we got in Destiny.

...Oh crap, I'm rambling.

And holy crap, 1k views and double digits Follows and Faves? Geez, ya'll making me nervous here...thanks!

Uh, this is Cipher, signing out.