Chapter Two: "Student Exchange Programs"?

Seishou Academy, Undisclosed Location, Japan

Recess Time

"Attention! Attention Ms. Sig 550 of the Middle School Department. Please proceed to the Headmaster's Office right now. I repeat..." the P.A. system blared while Funko, Sixteen, Elle, and Sig while having recess.

"Hey, did the very good student do something naughty?" teased Sixteen who was munching a high-quality all-natural rice ball.

"I doubt it. I am not like someone there who fires at the corridors or...someone there who fires at her poor teacher," replied Sig-chan giving a look at Sixteen and Funko.

The latter blushed hardly. "Well, better see what it is about. And Sixteen. Don't even eat my rice balls!" Sig-said as she stood up and went inside the building.

"Good luck!" the remaining trio called while Sixteen was already making her way into Sig's rice balls.

Upon reaching the office, Headmaster Springfield motioned Sig to sit down. Their instructor, the ever-strict Garand was standing beside the headmaster.

"Uhm...did I do something wrong?" Sig asked nervously. The look on her instructor's face bothered her.

"Oh no, no! Don't worry Ms. Sig, it's not about that," the headmaster smiled rather flatly. Of course, Sig was relieved. "Do you remember the Italy-Japan Defence Summit you attended as part of the security force?"

"Yes, sir!"

"Well, you see, part of the agreement between the two countries is cooperation in matters of defence. One way in which it was agreed to do it is through an exchange student program between the Academy and the Agency..."

"'The Agency', sir?" At that, Instructor Garand handed a folder marked as "Top Secret" to Sig. The girl read through it, an expression of surprise filling her face at every turn of the page.

"The program will last for only two months since it is only in the trial state," Springfield spoke again, "we need a student to go there, of course. And Instructor Garand recommended-and I couldn't agree more-none other than you, Ms. Sig."

At that, Sig dropped the folder. It took her about ten seconds to register what she heard. And then Sig spoke in full automatic mode. "Wait! The agency is full of humans, not guns! How am I supposed to train there? And why ME? Why not Sixteen! She's famous!"

"Silence, Sig-550!" barked Instructor Garand. The instructor's voice was enough to stop Sig from firing. She huffed and puffed, exhausted from the full auto fire.

"Sig-550! We chose you not only because of your skill but also because of your discipline. Do you want to put the Academy to shame with FNC's uncontrollable temper (around this time, Funko was suspended for two times already for firing again at their Japanese Teacher) or M16A4's loud mouth and disregard for rules?

"and of course, L85A1 is always breaking down so she's out of the question..." Instructor Garand finished his explanation.

"In addition, Ms. Sig, you are from Switzerland, close to Italy. It wouldn't be that hard for you to adjust," Springfield added.

Sig fell quiet and thought about what her two superiors told her.

Lunch Time

"WHAT?! That's unfair, why not ME?!" Sixteen's voice boomed in the school grounds where they were having lunch.

"Why don't you ask your mouth, Sixteen? You don't only fire too loud, you eat too much too!" sneered Sig who was taking slices of fine-choice beef from Sixteen's ammo cartridge box turned lunch box apparently in revenge for Sixteen's eating Sig's rice balls.

"Hey, that's my lunch!"

"And that was my rice balls you ate earlier, Sixteen!" munched Sig.

"So when do you leave and how long will the program be?" asked Funko.

"In three days. It's only for two months."

"At least we'll be free of strict Garand for two days, haha! He'll escort you there and be the one to talk to the Agency, right?" Sixteen asked, apparently happy for the possibility of being rid of the instructor.

"Who said it will be that World War II oldie? No, it's not him. The Japanese Teacher will accompany me," explained Sig. Sixteen spluttered the juice she was drinking. "We'll use a military Learjet from the JSDF. It's pretty spacious; we can do a lot of things in there Funko, hehehe."

"Stop it, Sig!" blushed Funko who already brandished her FNC.

"Nah, I was just kidding. Honestly, I don't know what you find good in that teacher Funko."

"But why him, he's a human," wondered Sixteen.

"Headmaster Springfield said that that's precisely the point. He's human. He doesn't know much. The less he knows about us the better."

Elle was the silent type who hardly spoke but this time she did, "You'll be leaving in three days, right Funko? We should have a send-off party..."

With that, Sig stood up and showed a paper with the signatures of all the professors.

"I said I would only agree to the program on one condition: an overnight party!" she winked and made a thumbs-up sign.