The air was still chilly, the cold season fully setting in as the year was closing in on it's final months. The sky was dark; thick with large gray clouds that blocked out the sunlight giving the environment a dreary look. On top of this, the winds made the trees dance, emitting a cacophony of shuffling sounds that'd come from the leaves moving back and forth. The ground itself was left muddy and murky from all the snow that had melted after the cold front, still requiring those that normally walk to school to use boots to not dirty their shoes. One could say this kind of weather fit the current mood of the student body that day, as they'd all finally be taking midterms. Discussion was kept to a minimum, Akio keeping up a "business as usual" aura as he entered the classroom. He had a bandage on his cheek and over the bridge of his nose. His facial expression was stoic, not wanting to draw attention to himself or what he was involved in. The entire class would be seated, waiting patiently for their teacher to arrive. Once the door opened, their first period teacher would begin handing out the exams to each student turned over. He returned to the podium to tell everyone the current rules and expectations when taking the test.
"Alright everyone, I have just given you your midterm for biology. Please keep your papers turned over until I have fully disclosed the proper procedures when test taking. First off you are to keep your eyes on your paper and your paper only, I will be handing out poster boards to block out your vision of your classmates. If you are found to have any kind of aid on you that'd assist you while taking the test, your paper will be confiscated and your grade will be rendered null. This goes for notes as well as any kind of electronic devices. If you have an electronic device that you are not using yet goes off during the test, the same procedures will apply. If you wish to avoid such a scenario, now is your time to temporarily turn it in at my desk lest you risk compromising your grade."
Some students would walk up to the desk to turn in things such as their cell phones. Once that was over, the teacher would finish reading off the rules.
"Once the test is over, turn it in at my desk and sit quietly out of courtesy for those still testing. With that being said you have an hour to complete the test, you may turn your pages over and begin working."
In unison all the students turned their tests over and began to work, the first page was simply a series of multiple choice questions. Given the answer was usually written there, it wouldn't take Akio long to get through the bulk of them. Others required him to think about the solution carefully, there was always a quarter chance of getting the question right when just guessing. There was another section where he had to label the parts of a cell, thankfully something that wasn't so difficult for him to do. Though he'd notice that a student had gotten up to turn their test in, being none other than Kawamura.
"How'd he finish so quickly?" Akio thought to himself. "Never mind, I need to focus."
The rest of the test required him to make his decisions carefully, although a method of test taking he had tried to utilize was knowing what the answer couldn't be. So long as he knew what were not the choices in the scope of plausibility, he could narrow down the answer to raise his chances of making the correct choice. This took some of the weight that came with testing off of his shoulders, allowing him to finish around the same time as everyone else. Once everyone turned the first test in they'd move on to the next one, that being math. Math would be the more confusing subject for Akio, him always needing assistance to help understand how the process works. He'd end up doing the problems he had an understanding of first; skipping to different parts of the exam to save on time, rather than letting himself get caught on a specific one. He deliberately avoided word problems, preferring the ones that'd give him equations to work out up front than to figure out what equation to actually use.
"Remember, don't forget the signs." He thought to himself, forgetting about small yet crucial parts of a problem such as a negative sign or a decimal could compromise the answer. The math exam unfortunately took a lot longer than he expected, feeling more pressure to complete it as other students would go up to turn theirs in. Finally he was able to finish up in the nick of time. He continued on with the next couple of exams, using similar strategies of the previous ones to get through them without too much trouble. It wouldn't be long before the students would be given a lunch break before the next test, giving the others a chance to actually talk to Akio in the classroom. Mochizuki would be the one to approach first.
"Hey, Shinohara, how'd you think you did on the math quiz? I bet I bombed it, hah."
"Eh, I don't really care. I guess maybe I did fine, I dunno."
Satomi leaned over Akio and Mochizuki, "You two better have done well! We didn't spend so many days studying after school for you to fail!"
"Also... I hope you don't mind me asking but... What happened to your face?" Mochizuki pointed at the bandages on Akio's face.
"Oh these...? Yeah, I got roughed up pretty bad is all..."
"He got into a fight with a bunch of highschoolers." Taira said.
"No way, did you win?" Mochizuki asked enthusiastically.
"No."
Mochizuki leaned back while folding his arms, "Ah... It's alright, it's a fight none of us would've won really.."
Satomi directed her attention to Akio, "I'm glad I came when I did, imagine if you couldn't show up to take the midterms because you were in the hospital! You're lucky those were just regular punks and not actual gang members! What if they had weapons like knives or guns!? Did you really even think about what you were getting into!?
"Okay! okay! I learned my lesson." Akio said, avoiding eye contact with her.
"You shouldn't be so hard on him, he's been through a lot you know?" Taira said.
Akio held his hand up, "No—It's fine, just, she values the group a lot is all. It's my fault, I wanted to fight those guys."
"What a surprise! Sounds like someone is starting to understand where I'm coming from here."
"Let's not worry about it too much. How about this; when we finish up the last midterm we'll all go out to eat together. My- eh... Hey, Sakamoto!" Mochizuki waved at him.
"Yeah?" He would reply.
"Whoever finishes this next exam between you and me will pay for food!"
Sakamoto smiled and gave a thumbs up, "Okay!"
The students would slowly pour back into class as the lunch break came to an end, the teacher once again setting the papers down on the desks of each of the students. The next exam would be about English, something Akio slowly was growing more proficient in; yet still wouldn't be at a full conversational level yet. Regardless, he and the rest would continue on to complete the test to the best of their ability.
Mr. Hayashi and another man would be walking from the main school building to the workshop outside, on the way they'd be in the middle of a conversation regarding the labor class and it's students. The man himself would be the superintendent of the school district, visiting Mori Academy as he'd be curious about it's labor related developments.
"I was hesitant at first to look into this neck of the woods when it came to the courses we have for the children here. The people who fund these schools can get pretty stingy if they don't see results, they're hoping this works as a gateway for more fresh faces in the industry."
"Everything is coming along nicely, I can promise you that the two groups Soratani and I are stellar." Mr. Hayashi would open a side door to the workshop, leading into a room separate from the main one. It looked like some kind of closet area for tools and other equipment used for maintenance, a door with a window that led into the main room would be on the side. The superintendent would peer through to see his group working on the written portion of their examination, then taking a look at the machine that stood before them. What seemed to be a staff member also would be in the room with them as well, just to make sure they wouldn't be cheating while their teacher wasn't away.
"Hm, I expected a bigger class..." He said.
"With how labors are seen more as a trade related industry, for a school like this not many students are willing to go into that field of work."
"Then what are we funding these classes for?"
"...Keep in mind because of how much funding this school receives, we have the privilege of operating and maintaining our equipment. We're effectively a test bed for the further integration of labor operation for a much younger demographic, any normal middle school couldn't afford to maintain the Anchor."
"I know that." As the superintendent was looking through the glass, he'd see all the students getting up to place their papers on the desks. "Huh, looks like they all finished at once."
"Impressive right? They started and finished in the time it took for me to get back."
"...Well, I guess I shouldn't be so concerned after all."
"I see you all finished your work for today! Go ahead and take five Minamoto, I got it from here!" Mr. Hayashi said to the class and then to the staff member. "Anyways, this right here is the superintendent of the school district! And he's here to see all of your progress thus far!"
The superintendent would clear his throat, "Evening to all of you, as your teacher her has stated, I've come to Mori to oversee the developments of this labor class."
"Now that your written test is complete, we can finally move on to the field test!" Mr. Hayashi would then have the shutter opened to allow the Anchor to exit the shop. "Let's get started."
Outside both the groups would be working on each of the sides while using their respective Anchors, the students not currently piloting would be standing safely off to the side during the operation with their teacher. The first task was simply the same one given to them when they first piloted the Anchor, that being moving logs from one point to the next. This task would be carried out by Sakamoto while the others watched him complete it quickly and efficiently, the next task then being precision work using the logs that Sakamoto just carried. Mochizuki would have them carefully stacked on top of each other one after another, the final result being a pyramid made of logs. They would move the Anchor back to the workshop to attach the cannon on it's shoulder, an activity they were all too familiar with. Once it was attached, Satomi would then be the one to pilot and use the paint rounds to hit the targets in the distance. Most of the shots hit successfully, Taira giving her input on the trajectory of the round and the specifics needed to hit the targets.
"This is an interesting bunch of kids you've got Hayashi... I have to say that I am impressed." The superintendent said.
"What can I say? We do our best to cultivate their capabilities here. The amount of students may be underwhelming to you, but our quality definitely makes up for the lack of quantity. Wouldn't you say?"
"I guess I do say, however there's one more thing that I'd like to see from your classes."
"Sure, what is it?"
"Can I see the two labors... In combat perhaps?"
"Combat...? You don't mean like a fight do you?"
"Precisely, that's what I mean."
"You're making a joke, right? I mean, the Anchor wasn't made to fight. Originally I was going to have both our groups-"
"Hm, that's too bad, I thought this class was supposed to cover the broad usage of labors. It includes things such as police work, security, and military usage, all things that require combat."
"Well, even if we wanted to, we don't want to potentially damage the Anchors or hurt any of the students. I'm not sure if it's possible to do combat safely."
"This school has judo classes doesn't it? I've seen what the police do when they do training in their labors, they cover their arms in these large padding things. Why don't you go get some of the mats from the gymnasium and wrap them around the arms? I'm sure your students are capable of doing that, right?"
"...Hm, I guess."
Some time would pass, but some students would come outside holding the mats they'd normally use to practice judo on. They'd bring them into the workshops and the students would get to work on attaching them to the Anchor, the entire process involved lots of wrapping and lots of tying with ropes. Akio would come out from the other room, covered in the protective padding the school used for it's martial arts classes.
"I look really silly in this..." He said.
"It's for the best, Mr. Hayashi just doesn't want you to get hurt so suck it up!" Satomi said.
"Hmph, whatever, I guess Yamamoto was right about all this stuff. I have a feeling they're going to make Kawamura their pilot for this combat match."
"I don't know who else they'd pick, besides, we still got you man!" Mochizuki playfully punched Akio's shoulder "You've got ace pilot in your genes man, you'll pull it off!"
"That guy's got nothing on you! Go on and show him what for!" Taira said, holding up his fist.
Akio smiled in response, fist bumping him, "Thanks man, I'll do my best."
He loaded into the Anchor, putting on the headgear before starting the machine up again. He'd have it walk back outside to the field where the other Anchor would be standing, having it's protective gear on just like Akio's anchor. Mr. Hayashi had his megaphone and read out the rules of the match. "Because the Anchor was not built for combat, we'll only have one match! The rules are simple, prioritize using your arms to attack and defend. Attacks must be focused on the upper body of the opponents Anchor, avoid attacking the leg and cockpit canopy of the opponent lest you risk disqualification. The Anchor that successfully downs the other shall be named the victor, the name of the game currently is just making your opponent lose their balance. With that being said, you may begin on the count of three!"
Akio could see Kawamura sitting in the cockpit of the other Anchor, this would finally be a demonstration to compare the two pilots once and for all. Akio was still nervous, but couldn't help but realize how calm and reserved Kawamura looked, as if something like this wasn't new to him whatsoever. It made him all the more worried about the outcome of the fight.
"Three! Two! One! Begin!"
The two Anchors ran at each other, Akio going in to push Kawamura off balance. Seeing this Kawamura blocked the attack using the Anchor's arms, planting the feet of the Anchor into the ground to prevent him from being pushed over. He then had his Anchor swing it's arms to the right quickly to make Akio lose his grip on him, the sudden movement catching Akio off guard allowing Kawamura to attempt to use his own forward movement against him. Kawamura would manage to get a hold of the Anchor's right arm, then trying to pull it down to the ground. Akio caught himself, doing his best to have his Anchor resist the force pulling on it. There'd be a tension warning on the monitor in Akio's cockpit, the two forces acting on each other was getting more and more strenuous.
"Tensions rising in the arm, no way he's actually gonna risk tearing it off..." Akio thought to himself. With quick thinking, he decided to let the other Anchor pull him toward it; though he'd correct his movement so he'd slam into the other Anchor rather than going down to the ground. While Kawamura was still slightly dazed from the blow, Akio at full force would shove his opponent to further put him off balance. Kawamura would stagger, but wouldn't completely go down, swinging the arms at Akio to put some distance between the two of them. Akio blocked the first hit, backing off to not get hit by another. Both classes were on edge as they watched their best pilots go head to head against one another, Akio's group holding out that'd he succeed in the end.
"Come on..." Mochizuki said under his breath.
The two Anchors clashed again, Akio and Kawamura's movements making up for the Anchor's lack of combat capabilities. Kawamura began to play a more offensive position, grappling Akio's Anchor and pushing on it as hard as he could. Akio did his best to keep the feet planted firmly in the ground, though it was evident that he was being pushed slowly across the ground. With his arms restrained there wasn't much he could do in the situation, so instead he opted to just use the body of the Anchor instead. The torso had enough torque to shift rapidly, briefly loosening Kawamura's grip which then let Akio break through. The both of them nearly were thrown over by this maneuver, leaving the two Anchors arms outstretched as they faced one another.
"...It's over." Mochizuki said.
Taira, confused, responded. "What?"
Kawamura approached Akio quickly again, Akio bracing for another attack before he'd notice an instability warning on the monitor. As he was planting the Anchor's feet again to increase the center of his mass, he unknowingly planted it in a damp portion of the ground. It was wet and muddy due to the snow that had melted there days prior, and it would serve as Akio's Achilles heel in that moment. Kawamura went for one last powerful swing, the combined force of his attack along with the unstable ground beneath his Anchor caused it to come crashing down. The match was over, and Akio had lost.
"Holy crap..." Taira said.
"Damn..." Satomi muttered under her breath.
Mr. Hayashi quickly made his way to the fallen Anchor, "Shinohara! Are you alright?" He opened the cockpit to see Akio, processing what had just happened to him. The expression on his face seemed wistful, he shook his head to snap back to reality as his teacher would help him up.
"I'm fine..." Akio said, looking at his fallen Anchor. He then saw the ground he had slipped on, and the direction of the foot steps left from the labors. "...So that's what he was doing."
"Kawamura used the environment against Akio, he purposefully pushed him over to the unstable ground. An auto balancer won't matter if the labor doesn't have solid ground to stand on." Mochizuki said. Akio would see the superintendent clapping, going over to meet with Kawamura after he dismounted from his labor.
"That was an excellent display you put on! What did you say your name was?"
"Kawamura, Shoji." He responded.
The superintendent placed his hands on his shoulders, "Kawamura... Let me tell you this, you've got lots of promise when it comes to being a pilot. I'll definitely make sure you'll be going places in the future, you've got my recommendation."
Hearing this, Akio went cold. He thought he could beat Kawamura, yet he let himself be outsmarted so easily. How could he let his piloting abilities seem trivial at this moment? Everyone was counting on him, he was supposed to be next in line just like his mother. What was he here to prove?
"Nothing..." He said under his breath. "Mr. Hayashi?"
"Uh- Yes, Shinohara?"
"Is this the last thing we need to do for midterms today?"
"Well, given with how much time we have left, yes but-"
Akio removed his helmet and padding, walking off back to the school. "I'm just gonna go home now. See ya."
The rest of the class watched him leave so suddenly, Taira thought about calling out to him, but just felt like he couldn't. It would be the same with all his other group members, thinking perhaps it was better to just let him leave. Kawamura saw this, paying no mind to it as it wasn't his business. And Mr. Hayashi couldn't help but feel somewhat guilty for Akio's shift in tone. But, with that, they were left to wrap everything up for the day, midterms had come to an end.