Jack couldn't believe all that had happened in the past few months. With the war and the Autobots, time and flown by like nothing, and now it was summer. He couldn't wait to go and be in the Angelic Layer tournament once more, he'd missed not being able to play.
Jack smiled as he went about his room, getting ready.
"You excited Illana?" He asked the angel as he wrestled on a shirt. "I can't believe it's been a whole year already! I can't wait to go!"
He looked at Illana as he sat to pull on some socks.
"Did I tell you? Miko and Raf heard about the tournament, they convinced the 'bots to use their holoforms to take them. They're gonna air the tournament of tv too, pretty exciting, huh? Now it's almost as popular here as it is in Japan."
Standing, Jack picked up Illana, letting her sit on his shoulder as they headed to the kitchen.
Jack blinked in surprise when he entered and found his mom cooking. She usually wasn't up so early.
"M...Mom?"
June looked over her shoulder and smiled at him.
"Good morning, sweetie. You and Illana ready for today?"
Jack nodded, sitting on the barstool at the little island in the kitchen.
"Yeah. We're both really excited!"
June laughed softly.
"Well that's good. Have you told the others yet? That you're the champion?"
Jack shook his head.
"Mm, no. I thought maybe I could surprise them."
June giggled.
"Oh, you want to make Miko and Raf faint from shock?"
Jack frowned slightly.
"Hey, it's not that unbelievible."
"Uh-huh." June replied, unconvinced as she set a plate of food in front of Jack.
Jack stuck his tongue out at her childishly, then set Illana on the island before beginning to eat.
"Well, I'll be cheering for you. Do your best today." June said, smiling.
Jack nodded.
"Yeah. We'll do our best." He looked at the doll, softly smiling. "Right, 'Lana?"
Later
"Wooooaaaahhh! Look at this place, it's awesome!" Miko cheered, looking around in awe.
The others laughed as she and Raf ran about, looking at all the screens and people around.
"Miko, stay close! Don't want ta lose ya in this crowd." Bulkhead stated.
The teen girl pouted, but did as asked (for once).
"We should go find our seats before all the good ones are taken." June spoke up, bringing everyones attention to her.
Optimus' holoform nodded.
"Yes, you are correct. Come, everyone."
Jack tapped his mom's shoulder, jerking his thumb at the building, silently telling her he was going to go to the waiting room. June nodded, ruffling his hair before following the others. They were oblivious as Jack ran off.
The group finally settled on some high up seats, so they could sit there, or stand on the deck that was right behind them.
"What exactly are these 'angels'?" Arcee asked, still confused.
June smiled.
"They're like little robots, but to the dues', they're a lot more than that."
"What'cha mean?" Smokescreen asked, leaning over the railing.
"To some, their angels are friends, to others siblings, and some even see the angels as their kids."
"Weird..."
"Not weird." June laughed. "It's a good thing, and think about it, the ability to create whatever you want? It allows one to express themselves and their imagination is put to an amazing use."
Everyone looked up in surprise when the lights suddenly dimmed, music playing over the speakers.
"Welcome one and all to the American Angelic Layer Tournament!" The announcer exclaimed, elicticing cheers from the crowd.
"This year is a milestone for Angelic Layer in the states, because this year, the Tournament will be on national tv! The fights this year are sure to be more exciting than ever!"
The crowd cheered that much later, the joy and excitement palpable.
"First up are two new comers to the games, Celia and her angel Kora, against Jenny and her angel Demi!"
The group went silent as they watched the angelic fight.
Elsewhere
Jack sat, watching the screen in the waiting room.
"Who do you think'll win the fight, 'Lana?" He asked his angel in a murmur. He smiled slightly when there was no reply, returning his attention to the fight again.
He remembered the first time he fought. It was a week after he got Illana. Jack had been practicing, and he guessed the other thought a five year old would be easy to beat.
They couldn't have been more wrong.
From the very begining, Jack had an uncanny connection with his angel. He'd won in one and a half minutes.
Jack didn't know really at first why he wanted Illana to fight He had nothing to fight for, and Illana was his friend, right?
Then he realized that was why. Fighting made him and Illana even closer, their connection stronger, and their fighting sharper and better.
The battle ended after a few minutes, with a minimal difference in points. Jack examined the winners face and frowned.
"She doesn't believe in her doll. I feel sorry for her angel." He stated, features softening with sadness. He looked at Illana.
"If we fight her, we won't let her win. Alright Illana? If we fight her, you won't make her angel suffer, will you?"
Everyone looked up when a woman entered the room.
"Number A3, Jack Darby?"
Jack smiled, standing.
"Here." He replied.
The woman blinked, then smiled.
"Please make your way to the layer, your battle is up after this."
Jack nodded.
"Alright, thanks."
The woman smiled before going back down the hall. Jack soon followed the hall, soon waiting at the end where it led to the stadium. He looked down at Illana.
"Let's do our best, alright? We'll give a battle that the others will be proud of."
As always, there was no reply. Jack smiled.
"Let's shine. Both of us, today, on the layer."