Chapter 2

The bell sounded, and the crowded hallways slowly began to empty as students shuffled to class. At the start of April, everyone in class 6B was surprised at the fact that they'd kept their classmates from the previous year. Everyone was even more surprised when on that first day, Mitch Shepar walked into the room again, saying he would be teaching them another year. By the second week, seeing the friendly man with a big head of hair wearing a lab coat and beakers draped around his neck was routine yet again. What wasn't routine was how he was about to start the class.

"Alright everyone, settle down," he said. "Class, we have something very interesting today. An exchange student is going to be joining us for a while. Why don't you introduce yourself?"

A girl with short brown hair and green eyes stood at the front of the class. "Good morning everyone! My name is Melody Nebo. Pleased to meet you!"

Mega whispered from Geo's Hunter VG. "Geo, that girl."

"What about her?"

"Put on your visualizer."

Geo did so, and to his surprise, an orange block was around her head. "Her head's covered by a Real Wave?"

"Exactly. Whoever she is, she doesn't want people to see who she really is."

"She seems sort of familiar, especially her voice…"

"You're probably just imagining things. Stay on your guard around her."

"Right."

Mr. Shepar continued, "Melody is here from the next town over, so make sure she feels welcome while she's here! Now then, time to start the lesson…"

After classes ended, everyone crowded around Melody. Apparently, Geo and Mega weren't the only one to notice the Real Wave, thanks to the class's Wizards. Geo put a hand to the back of his head. "Looks like we're not the only ones who noticed something off," he said. "I hope she isn't too bothered by it."

The rest of the kids kept crowding around her, until finally the student body president spoke up. "Hold it!" she exclaimed, her long blonde twin tails swinging behind her. "Don't you people have any sense of decency? If she doesn't want to show her face, there's probably a reason for it. Do you think the school would let her in if it was a problem?"

A boy with long, spiky black hair and a scar gave a glance to the class president. "Tch, I'd believe it."

"Jack, this doesn't concern you."

"Whatever…"

She turned to face the class. "I don't care what she looks like, I'm going to take it upon myself to get to know her without judging her by her face."

The girl, who had been looking down until now, finally perked up. "Thanks, Luna!"

"The pleasure is mine." With that, the blonde turned around to get her things.

"But I really should be going soon… Later!"

Before Luna could speak, the mysterious girl had already darted out of the room. Geo looked down at Omega-Xis. "Well that was… odd."

Mega's voice came through the Hunter VG. "Geo, let's follow her. See what she's up to."

"Isn't that kind of rude?" Geo replied.

"I don't know why, but I have a feeling you should follow her, and as MegaMan," he explained. "She might be trouble."

"Right… I guess we have a responsibility to make sure for everyone… even if the Prez says otherwise." He left the room, headed down the elevator to the first floor, and exited the front of the school. As he looked down at his Hunter VG, he noticed a couple students watching him, knowing that look in his eye. The town had gotten used to MegaMan's presence after all, but he'd earned himself quite the fan club among the students, to his chagrin. He sighed, then smiled as he knew they meant well. "Transcode 003: MegaMan!" In an instant, Omega-Xis enveloped Geo, and the two EM Wave Changed, disappearing from human view.

MegaMan opened his eyes. "Now where did she go…?"

Mega caught her first. "Geo, she's over there, heading to Vista Point."

MegaMan began following Melody to Vista Point using the wave road. After a while, they came to a raised platform with a telescope. Suddenly, Melody turned around sharply. "I can see you, you know, Geo Stelar."

MegaMan gulped, and undid the wave change. "Aah… sorry, I-"

"Sorry isn't going to cut it mister!"

Omega-Xis returned to the Hunter VG. "Uh-oh… time to hide…"

"Where do you get off thinking you can follow someone around? Do you think just because you're some hero you can just do whatever you want?"

A thought finally registered in Geo's mind. "Wait, how do you know my name? Come to think of it, Luna never told you her name, either. Who are you, exactly?"

Melody looked around, then giggled. "Aww, this disguise really does work." She leaned in towards Geo. Their faces were almost touching. A soft, soothing singing voice escaped her lips. "Shooting star, you guide me in the dark…"

And with that, she dropped the Real Wave. Standing with her face inches away from Geo's, was pink-haired, big eyed, Sonia Strumm. Geo froze as she stared him down. "Well? What do you have to say for yourself?"

Geo wavered slightly. Then he promptly collapsed on the ground, unconscious.

"Oh my- Geo! Are you alright?"

Mega and Lyra popped out of their Hunter VGs. The steel blue FM-ian harp spoke up first. "Wow, Sonia, you really did a number on him."

Mega looked around. "Shoot, I've heard about things like this! He might need CPR!"

Sonia, not knowing any better way to deal with the situation, shouted at Mega. "Quick, go get help!"

Omega-Xis complied. Sonia then looked around, and figured if it was the best way to help Geo, so be it. She leaned in to check his breathing which was there but shallow, then did what anyone who didn't really know better would do – jumped straight to an attempt at mouth to mouth. Geo started coughing from the sudden rush of air, then opened his eyes as Sonia was going in yet again. He immediately sat up and shouted, wide-eyed, "Sonia! What the heck are you doi-"

Of course, Sonia being in his way, they managed to knock into each other's heads. "Oww!" they both yelped in unison.

Geo looked straight at Sonia. "What was the deal with that? First you scare the life out of me, and I wake up to- whatever that was? What was that anyway?"

"I… You passed out, and I tried to give you CPR…"

"That's not even how that works, Sonia!"

"How was I supposed to know? I mean… Ah. Well… it's fine. It's not like anybody saw that or anything."

"Good thing, I guess. That was… weird." Geo looked up. A faint shout could be heard in the distance. "Hey, what's that…?"

"Beats me…"

Lyra, who was too amused by the goings on, looked up. "It's Mega, and he's brought, uh… help…"

Geo and Sonia turned around. There, running frantically down the path with a bucket of water, was Luna. Her faint yelling grew clearer. "Hold on, MegaMan darling! I'm coming to save you!" And with that, she rushed up, throwing a bucket of water on the other two, sitting on the grass.

"There's always a boy… some CPR… a bucket."

-Some nerd who played too much Bioshock, probably

Wow, this chapter went on longer than I expected. So I decided to split it up and make the other part the next chapter instead.

I wonder if I'll get some actual critique though. I feel like this still could be better at showing and not telling.

Might make good storyboard writing though… Maybe? I wouldn't know, I haven't looked into all that.