It was lunch time and right now I was eating with Jun and Ivana. Leandra and Leonardo came and sat with us.
"This new project is interesting isn't it?", Leandra said.
"Sure is. Now I can learn everything I need for Kallen Kouzuki!", Ivana exclaimed.
She's been a fan of Kallen since they made April a month dedicated to great females in history. I didn't really get it but hey, we got a day off.
"I have to say, I'm really excited to find out why Schneizel joined Zero even after vi Britannia died", Leonardo said.
Leandra looked at Jun. "What about you Jun? Suzaku Kururugi must be nice to have."
"I guess. My father always used to say our ancestors were relatives of him. I think he said her name was Kagami? Or something like that. I asked my grandparents, but they wouldn't say a word."
"Well now they'll have to give you answers if they want you to pass", I said.
"I guess", Jun muttered.
"So, you guys got the project too?", an arm wrapped around my shoulder.
I already knew who it was without turning around. Vincent Ververs. He wasn't in our class, but he was in our year. He had blue hair and green eyes. He had enough energy to power a large city.
"We just got the project too!", he said referring to his class. "Guess who I got?"
"Knowing your luck it was probably Nina Einstein", Ivana said.
"Nope! I got Charles di Britannia!"
"Great, maybe you can help me with mine", I said.
"Who'd you get?", Vincent asked.
"Alex got Lelouch vi Britannia", Ivana answered before I could open my mouth.
"Hey, didn't you say you're friend back in New Britannia was related to him?", Vincent asked.
"She claims she is. But I don't believe it", I said.
"I guess I can give you some help", Vincent said before he grinned. "Hey Alex, I. . .am. . .your father!"
"Not funny Vince", I said.
"Hehe, had to give it a try!"
"Maybe we should go to the Delaney Archives", Leandra suggested.
"Yeah right", Ivana said. "We would need to get passes and then go through screening. That could take days and this project is due next week."
"But don't we know someone who works at the Delaney Archives?", Vincent said.
We all turned our heads toward the clubhouse where the Student Council met. I sighed.
"Do you really think she's gonna give us passes?", I asked.
"You're thinking the wrong way Alex", Vince said patting my shoulder. "We have to first get through Kasumi, then we ask Marie."
"You know, I could just ask her", Ivana said.
Ivana was the cousin of Marie Delaney. Kasumi Masanori was her best friend. Both were a year above us and were in the Student Council. Marie was like an older version of Ivana. Kasumi was the nice one who balanced her out.
Both of them worked as interns at the Delaney Archives. It was a place that held the most important moments in history. But some of it wasn't open to the public. Something about protecting the privacy of our fore fathers.
You could only get to those with a special pass. Marie's grandfather was the chairman of the complex and so she was able to get them whenever she wanted. Thinking about this made me wonder why Ivana couldn't get a pass.
"Ivana, now that I think about it, why can't you get a pass?", I asked.
"When the company was founded, all the guys in suits said that to make sure there's a strict confidentiality, only those with the last name Delaney can get a pass and vouch for others."
"Betcha you're mad you were born a girl huh?!", Vincet said stupidly.
Ivana pulled him by his ear near her. "You idiot even if I was a boy I would still be a Maximov! Get your genealogy straight!"
Vincent rubbed his ear when she released it. "Speaking of genies, is it okay if we mention geass in our projects?"
"Why wouldn't it be?", Jun asked.
"There's no solid evidence about it", Leonardo answered. "But you could talk about the probability of it."
Soon lunch was over and we had to get back to class. After school, Leandra, Jun and I had clubs to go to. Ivana, Leonardo, and Vincent had clubs in the morning before school. Leandra was part of the swim team, Jun was in the kendo club, and I was part of the chess club.
I know I probably don't seem smart but when I lived in New Britannia, my friend got me interested. It became my favorite hobby. I was pretty good. Vincent used to say the distribution of human statistics was random.
I sort of understood him. I was horrible at finding quadratic formulas, but my record in chess was 10 minutes. Not as good as vi Britannia, from what I've read. But it was enough to make me president.
After I met with the chess club, I met with Jun and we walked over to the pool where Leandra was. We would always walk back to our dorms together. Leandra was walking out of the locker room when we came in.
"Hey guys!", she called.
"Hey Lea. Ready to go?", I asked.
"Yeah."
We were walking in silence when Leandra said something to me. "Alex, I was thinking."
"Hm?"
"Lelouch and C.C. were lovers, weren't they?"
"That's what they say", I answered. Of course some people commented on vi Britannia's relationship with Kururugi. But that was never proved.
"It's a little romantic isn't it? Some say she was the only one that knew everything about him."
"I guess", I didn't know what to say. I wasn't much of a romantic guy.
"Maybe we can study together. C.C. did co-pilot Lelouch's knightmare frame."
"Uh sure. How about this weekend?"
"Alright."
Before I knew it, we were at the girl's dorms and Leandra went to her room.
"You really like her don't you?", Jun asked.
"Huh?", I forgot he was there.
"Nevermind. Just try not to block everything else out when you go out with her. You might get hit by a car."
"Right."
When we got to the dorms, Jun and I parted our ways. We slept in different rooms. My roomate was a kid a year younger than me. He was in the middle school division. I was an only child, but he was like a little brother to me.
"Casper? Are you in here?"
"I'm right here Alex", a voice said behind me.
I almost yelped in surprise. Casper had a habit of sneaking up on me. You'd think after a while I'd get used to it.
"Is it too much to put a bell on you or something?"
"I can't help it. You're really funny to scare."
"Whatever."
I did whatever homework I had due tomorrow and made sure my schedule was clear for Saturday, so I could go with Leandra. I just had a chess tournament against our rival school, but that was on Sunday.
Before I could go to sleep I thought about my project. Lelouch vi Britannia. Some called him the destroyer of worlds. Some called him the creator of worlds. For now, I decided to call him neither.
I wasn't alive to experience his reign, or anything he did. I wasn't sure how to gauge his brilliance. One thing's for sure. I wish he were alive so I could gauge my chess skills.
- - - - - - - - -
Up next: Leandra and Alexander have a strange occurence at the library. And Marie and Kasumi make an appearance.
AN: I'm taking suggestions for Marie and Kasumi's appearance! Remember, Marie and Ivana are cousins. But then again, so were Suzaku and Kaguya and the only common trait they shared were green eyes.