Chapter 5 —My Blue Heaven, Kivotos.

She looks like… No. It couldn't be. I'm just tired.

"My name is Arona. I am the system manager that lives inside the Shittim Chest. I serve as its main operating system. Think of me as your trusty secretary, sensei!" Finally, took it that look that I already finish maintenance for my revolvers.

"Well, this must be it," I thought to myself as I approached the chest; seeing for the AI behind it named A.R.O.N.A. As strange as I notice this, it revealed itself—as a young girl, of all things. It was strange, her sudden presence and form behind the screen almost catching me off guard.

"I'm so glad to meet you finally. It's been too long. I have been waiting for a long time!" She continued.

The appearance and behavior of an artificial being had greatly surpassed my initial expectations.

Awfully friendly, I noted her being the first. She certainly beats the first two artificial intelligences I met. Needless to say, those encounters left me wary of any meeting with AI. However, this time, as I cautiously approached her, hesitant for a moment.

Now, what's the ideal first impression starter I could make? "Really? You seem to miss more on that milk and cake just a while back," Obviously, just to mess around with her. - about something she mumbled about earlier when she was asleep.

I added. "what changed?"

What came next was the blue-haired "girl" took my word, looking confused until what I can tell was the slow realization finally dawned on the girl. Her eyebrows furrowed and her eyes widened. I could almost see her confusion gradually giving way to understanding. The realization settled in.

Her previously bewildered expression transformed into a mix of surprise, curiosity, and perhaps even a hint of excitement. A bright color slowly arise on her face like cup being filled with water, leaving behind a pinkish-red complexion that stressed the vividness of her striking blue hair. I watched as her lips parted, forming unspoken words, as if struggling to articulate the thoughts racing through her mind.

"Ahh, I'm sorry! I was dozing off. Nobody had ever visited me for so long. I just gave up and fell asleep." Until suddenly, Arona cried, embarrassed.

What a novel reaction out of her… I watched the girl basically turn into a red jalapeno pepper. I should stop myself before I become the first victim of another robot uprising.

"No problem, everything's all good."

That being said, nobody was able to crack the password… and that begs the question from what she called me. How long was she asleep, or shut down? How did she find out that I accepted the teaching job here? Well, she looked friendly enough, can't hurt to ask her.

"Were you expecting me?" Sensei… I remembered my implants translated the particular word for me, and I am being called for as a teacher. I'm not entirely sure why, but I know that I have shared knowledge with others before. Specifically, my experience in survival. Though what exactly I am supposed to teach here already felt beyond compared to my limited know-how.

They got the weapons, the tech… What more could I possibly teach them? They probably likely already know and better than I have?

"Eh?" With a pause, Arona glanced at me with eyes full of disbelief, as if I were pulling a joke on her. "You are a sensei, right?" Believe me, I wish I wasn't.

"Yes." I answered. She may as well guess and hit the bullseye. "Forget it. I probably haven't introduced myself; Thirteen." I continued. "And we have a lot to talk about"

Minutes flew by quickly as I rambled on, with Arona lending an ear to every word that ran out of my mouth. I recounted the countless fights that had erupted across the city, describing the moments when weapons were aimed at me, seemingly from every direction. It was no surprise that this constant danger would make anyone feel on edge. Along the tank that rolled down a busy commercial street.

The missing GSC President, who played a crucial role in the city, also raises the issue of succession. It was truly bewildering to me they had no backup options in place in case she couldn't assume leadership.

The leadership in the former capital had implemented succession plans to avoid internal conflicts.

"So… a lot has happened. First, the student council president went missing. Now, the Sanctum tower laid dormant because of her disappearance also took the knowledge how to."

"That was the gist of what I was told. There's probably more to the disappearance, especially how or why it happened. But they'll likely leave me out until they absolutely have to include me. You're the only other one who I was told could take control of the tower, but nobody could open and see that chest of yours-"

"Sensei!" I hummed shortly after; my eyes wandered back to the tablet of Arona's loud voice. I admit I am confused at her reaction being red all of the sudden.

"What?"

"Please choose your words properly!"

"What for? Alright. Shittim chest. Happy?" I answered. "Not even a chest with treasure anyway"

Arona, having looked on satisfied, took a moment of silence as she closed her eyes. "Yes," she said after a brief pause, giving me a suspicious glance before continuing in a more somber tone. "Alright."

Her gaze briefly drifted away from me. Indeed, she was setting me up for disappointment.

"I'm sorry if you had to work all your way to see me. Understand that I have lots of data stored about Kivotos, but for who the GSC president is, why or how she vanished. I have nothing regarding her much, unfortunately."

I gestured with a small wave of my hand for Arona to calm down. "The president thing could wait, the tower won't," I assured her, emphasizing the urgency of activating the tower to get this city back in working order. "There's nothing to beat yourself up over. It was practically easy for me to get to you; and finding the president isn't really part of my job description. She chose to part ways, it is her deal. She'll have to live with her choices."

"Whether in regret or relief for her - We'll most likely not find out." I ended with that note.

A part of me didn't really expect this president to come back. Hell, I can't blame her for wanting to escape the madness and just get away from it all, like a bad hangover.

"Oh, I get it… I can at least respect her decision if it's what she wants."

I stayed silent for a short while as Arona began humming. With closed eyes, she nodded her head to the tune while she did her thing.

"Oh! Let's finish the biological authentication while we're here! So, it makes it easier for you to access. No need to type up the password each boot ups." Arona perked up once more to me.

"This might seem a little embarrassing…" Her eyes briefly glanced to the side as she mumbled, their once lively gaze now clouded with uncertainty. The subtle twitch of her lips, her hands fidgeted nervously, a bead of sweat dripped down on her cheek, the intertwined and then released, as if unable to find comfort in their own touch. A reaction that I rarely saw on people; and she just did it the second time now.

Usually, most would either look away for a second or just cut to the chase.

"Here, hold the tip of your finger to mine." I mimicked Arona's gesture by raising my index finger while she reassured me. "D-don't you worry, it's just to scan your fingerprint." So, I did — pressed our tipped to the glass separating us.

"Impressive." I mumbled.

Suddenly, without any warning, the walls of the building began to emit a strange whirring noise, causing the lights to flicker momentarily, and it was at that very moment that Arona spoke up and ask.

"Huh, what is?"

"Fingerprint scanning. I haven't come across anything with capabilities like yours that are definitely not the size of a fridge before. Data is usual too large to store, let alone biometrics. You on the other hand is not only capable and also light."

"Ha ha… Oh, thank you."

I noted another reaction spewing out of her, avoided eye contact, and saw her cheeks turn red. People here responded to compliments in this manner. It was interesting to observe.

…

"Alright, Sanctum Tower admin permission gained. We've successfully regained Sanctum tower, sensei! The tower is under my control. That means all of Kivotos is in the palm of your hand!"

All that power is in the palm of my hand. Really? This tower at the heart of the city, I control… "Seems too high of a task"

Of which, I received a blank look from Arona when I told her about it.

"Then… I can transfer control of the Sanctum Tower to the General Student Council with your approval, Sensei. But are you sure if you would want to do this? You would be giving total control to the General Student Council."

"Hey, I'm just a hiree here. Send it to Rin… whatever her last name is." I nodded.

If wrangling seventeen people in line on a wild gecko chase across the wasteland was challenging enough, what chance do I have to understand the intricacies of controlling a tower that oversees an entire functioning city—far larger than I could have possibly seen even a small fraction of?

Not much, let me tell you!

I trust myself. It was the right call to give it to the experienced ones. Rin knows this deal far better than I could.

"Um, alright! Transferring control!"

Now that's going to be taken care of.

It's time for me to sit back and relax even more. The real pre-war experience with all its luxuries indeed.

This clean to almost downright sterile room all for myself, best part is that it isn't a hospital and… no gunfire or explosion… Okay, I'm not going to get ahead of myself here.

Someone's here.

I muttered, "You're no slouch," as Rin approached, placing a stack of papers and a mug on my desk. The papers looked rather intimidating, considering I had no clue what I was supposed to do with them. I straightened up as she made a note, her presence now known to me.

"Pleasure to meet you once more, it seems you're already getting quite comfortable here." Rin noted.

"Please the pleasure is all mine, and… again, you're no slouch."

"After you've had a palate cleanser of what I go through every day, should you be surprised, really?" She asked. Alright, then, I'm surprised she hasn't run away like the president too and kept her poker-face by any of it.

"Alright, I'll budge, a city run by kids with an itchy-trigger finger and not so much looking for a reason not to shoot… Never saw that anything like this coming before. Okay."

"Welcome to my life." She taps on the pile of paper. Again, its height intimidating for my eyes. "I'm going to need your signature, sensei."

"For what exactly?" I reached for a page. Sensei here, sensei there. There's a significant emphasis on a teacher's responsibility and a mention of some kind of oath in this text.

"To officiate you as Sensei from here on. A notice will be sent out to academies of your status and how they should act accordingly to you. Also, that goes to you and your responsibilities from here on out as well, sensei." Rin put heavy emphasis on the last part, my new title. "Unless you want to leave this building in handcuffs or a in a standoff with police."

A threat if it is, it's hilarious — or a warning of the headache of having to deal with.

I skimmed through most of the parts, of which I probably shouldn't. Turns out this whole title as "Teacher" has more power than what I thought. Christo Madre, I thought it would be a simple job.

"No choice" I mumbled, reluctantly accepting the inevitable. "Need to start somewhere." My mutterings grew louder as I sifted through the papers, each one laden with more bureaucratic jargon than a request form sent to the NCR from a no-name settlement seeking increased security in the region from raider attacks.

"Here."Rin's voice spoke once more, as she extended her hands towards me, offering the mug. I took a few whiffs of the enticing aroma and asked, "What's this?"

She explained, "Real coffee." Nothing more, nothing less was said.

I hummed, contemplating, while she looked at me. "By the look on your face, it tells me you're missing out." I glanced at the steaming mug she was extending towards me, its aroma of freshly brewed coffee tempting me to take a sip."This is a good start," Rin said, her voice lacking its usual professional tone, filled instead with enthusiasm. "Besides, in either case, you'll soon become quite acquainted with each other."

"Real coffee, huh?" As I am handed the mug, overflowing with the hot liquid, I take a moment to pause and inhale its fragrance.

The smell's only half as bad!

Before taking a taste, I took a final glance at Rin, who appeared quite entertained, to say the least. "Well?" She said.

Well, indeed. It'd be rude of me to turn down a free drink, and so bottoms up.

Just a single drop.

A drop is all it took to bring to utter bliss.

My god, where have these coffee beans been all my life?

This coffee is the real deal. Nothing even comes close. It went down easy. Not a gut-wrenching feel of it rising back out of my throat like the old wasteland-coffee I had around the campfire. Just the taste of it wall was better than any Tabacco and Honey-pod Mesquite.

The drink still tasted bitter still, but not the type of bitter from the tobacco. Far from it, this is better.

"This is, without a doubt, a damn fine cup of coffee."

I could get used to this.

"That's good to know." Rin mused.

"I appreciated this. Ah… Well, in any case, I'll have to deal with…" I motioned to the monster that was the stack of official documents. "this. Don't worry, I'll find my way there."

"I'm sure you do." She noted. "Until then, is there anything else you require or questions you might have?"

"Not right now. I usually go headfirst before asking questions, much simpler to understand that way."

"I see… Once you're done, do remember to not get ahead of yourself and hit a wall."

"Heh, I won't." I waved.

"And please leave the documents there, I'll have someone to pick them up and update you on what's coming after." Before departing, she turned around one last time to say. "Good luck."

"I'm back!" In a nick of time, Arona flashed on the screen. "I successfully transferred control to GSC."

"Nice work." I started chipping away at the mountain of paperwork after giving a small thumbs up.

"What did I miss?" She wondered.

"Oh, not much, just a visit to sign papers… Guess I am a sensei now."

"Ah, I knew it! You won't regret this, Sensei, with me by your side it'll be a cakewalk!"

Almost makes me chuckle. "Alright."

And so, my new journey begins… as a teacher, in some sense. It's not the most thrilling start, sitting at a desk, pen in hand, keeping a steady pace, jotting down my signature over the printed lines until the end of time.

It was time to make it official.

Tell the rest of the city a new target is now on my head.

For a second, I felt like I was going in and out of consciousness finishing the paperwork…

…

Later, in a vibrant corner of Schale's district, near the border of Trinity grounds, the sun casts a warm glow across the bustling streets, painting the sky in shades of orange as it begins its descent.

It's a bustling scene, alive with the vibrancy of city life as students went on with their day after classes have concluded.

But for some students, that just means it's time to get the club activities started.

"Ooh! That's right, I have to train for my coming fight."

"fight?"

"Uh-huh, it's going to be my tough battle yet, so I better prepare myself."

"Wait, Be careful, at least!"

There she goes… "What was that all about?" I asked, approaching behind the other girl that spun around towards me.

"Sensei?" The single-pale-winged student's face displayed an obvious expression of confusion as she looked up at me, her brow furrowed in surprise.

Oh, so she goes by Suzumi? Think I remember right. The one white-haired one winged student from this Trinity school I met a yesterday. Really unforgettable, her single wing is.

"Hey, kid, thanks for answering my request." Suzumi acknowledged my wave with a nod.

"No problem, Sensei. It's the least on behalf of Trinity could offer after your help." She then sighed. "Oh, and the girl that ran off was Reisa. She's with me, well was, she runs off on her own. I practically can't catch up with her when she goes, does her own thing, and I have no clue where she ends up and what this duel is as well."

"Want me to help you catch up to her?" I showed with a gesture, extending my thumb and pointing in the direction where Reisa had run off. However, Suzumi declined and said.

"I trust Reisa to handle herself, but I hope she shows restraint around others. Her personality may not be easy for everyone to handle. Uhm, shall we get going? I'm still tasked with patrol around here."

"Lead the way."

So, here we go, with Suzumi as my guide, to give me a small tour around the district where she usually patrol. Give me the rundown of anything she considered by my word of "Important" or "Interesting".

Boy, do I learned a lot of important places as well. My favorite has to be the small web of alleys mostly consists of bars and other questionable services. Seedy as the locations is, it was a perfect place for me to come back to.

"Right down there is where we usually avoid, nothing but trouble goes down there and thankfully no students as well."

"Hm, what exactly are there? Besides the trash."

"Bars usually, most of them for the downtrodden that came from the nearby entertainment district from what I can remember most are down on their luck from the casinos; nothing to trouble yourself with, I hope."

"Yeah… I hope…"

But the notable parts were the cafés, where they serve coffee. More for me. Then, there were bakeries with all sorts of breads. Some were oddly shaped, even pink. I couldn't fathom why.

"Hm, these breads called pastries… These look different from anything I had before…"

"Hm? You haven't had a macaron before?"

"Macaron… That what you call these? No, nothing before."

"Would you care to stop and try some?"

"Err… Looks expensive for my pockets. Let's just leave before we get noticed."

Next, we stumbled upon communal bathhouses where people wash themselves besides each other. No way I'm dropping my pants with strangers, especially without my weapons. Suzumi also mentioned that firearms aren't allowed inside.

"Arona, you heard all that?"

"Understood, Sensei." With that, the map within the Shittim Chest started transforming with more points popping with various names of places I went to; and most importantly, what I found important. "Map markers updated!"

Those bar shelves might as well be brand new when take all them bottles… heh.

After passing a distinctive dog statue near the bustling train-station, we found ourselves inside a cramped convenience store. Shelves lined with an assortment of canned goods, tempting us with their colorful labels and promising convenience. The air was filled with the aroma of salty junk foods. Either way, they smell good. The store was buzzing with activity, the sound of chattering customers blending with the soft hum of the refrigerator units. Amidst the almost familiar snacks and beverages — a display case showcasing bullets from various calibers, a stark reminder of the store's diverse offerings.

There is soda, but no Nuka-cola, sadly enough.

"Hm" I frowned at this look-alike, feeling uncertain about it. I returned the can to its place in the fridge and continued my search for the strawberry milk for Arona.

I wasn't sure how I was going to give it to her, but after seeing the surprises this city had thrown my way, I figured there might be a way.

But I never expected — alright, that's a lie, being pointed a gun at my head.

Kivotos, you can't shop in peace here, apparently.

Even the Hub wasn't this lawless…

"Hey, hey. Look what we got ourselves here? An adult." "It does seem like it." "Guess, we caught a big fish today."

How many were they?

From the voices that like to talk on and on, maybe five… seven?

It was quite fortunate that their continuous conversation proved to be a significant distraction, as it provided the perfect distraction for my other hand to snake towards my holster without being noticed from where I was held hostage.

"Don't ya' listen to the police?" one of them scoffed. "They warn about high school girls kidnapping people off the streets at night." Wait, an adult will get kidnapped? That can't be right. Don't they mean kids?

Clink…

Clink…

Clink…

Amidst the tense hounding from the criminals, I was able to discern something apart; amidst the cacophony of footsteps and shouts, a faint clink caught my attention… followed by another.

My head snapped towards the sound, and to my surprise, the criminals' attention towards me had also shifted to follow in that direction.

Reacting swiftly, I instinctively raised the collar of my coat, shielding my eyes from the blinding burst of light as the flash grenade detonated. The sudden brightness seared through the darkness, momentarily overwhelming my senses as the deafening sound of the explosion echoed in the store.

Seconds hung in the air, a fleeting whisper just beyond my fingertips.

The moment reigned just right.

With a twitch from my index, I reached for my two revolvers, their polished metal cooler against my palms. As I pivoted my body towards the criminals, I surveyed for their heads, obscured by trembling hands and protective arms, some hunkering down for cover. The air crackled with anticipation.

Employing precise aim, I plan on releasing a series of quick shoting with careful observation of the criminal's erratic movements to gauge the likelihood of neutralizing them with one bullet each, while also calculating the time wasted in the process.

Turns out, not that much time as the pull of the triggers followed by the deafening roars of gunfire echoing through the room. Smoke billowed, swirling around their arms, hands, and their firearms, wrenching them from their grasp as each shots landed on the firearms.

Suddenly, the sound of shuffling feet filled the air as more heads popped up from the aisles. Suzumi emerged amidst the chaos, her assault rifle gripped firmly in her hands. With precise aim, she swiftly took down the remaining threats.

As the fight finally subsided, Suzumi turned towards me, a triumphant smile on her face.

Huh, that was some fast thinking for the kid, dropping a flashbang to give us both time to count heads of the chicken in need wrangling without getting pecked. Both of us make a good team, actually.

In that moment, I couldn't help but mirror her expression, a sense of relief washing over me.

But one more criminal materialized behind Suzumi. As I reached for my revolver, its metallic click echoed in the tense room, signaling its cylinder empty along with its uselessness. However, my senses were not devoid of a weapon. With a swift, determined motion, I snatched a carton of cold milk from the fridge.

In one fluid motion, I swung my arm, releasing the dairy contents from its container. The thick, white liquid burst forth, creating a satisfying splat sound as it collided with the last criminal's face.

When the last criminal's vision went obscured. She stumbled backward, her feet sliding on the milk-slicked floor. The sound of her body hitting the ground echoed throughout the room, mixing with the frantic thuds of my own footsteps. The hard surface reverberated each step, amplifying the urgency of the situation as I closed the distance between us.

With a roar fueled by pure instinct, I unleashed a sweeping kick, aiming for her legs. The impact sent her sprawling, a surprised yelp escaping her lips as she met the floor.

"Go on. Do something; anything. Try me. Make my day interesting," I challenged, my tone laced with an unmistakable edge of threat, as I warned under my breath and cocked my revolver with a loud rack of metal with its barrel now aimed and resting on her head. Now with a fresh bullet.

Her eyes, wide and frenzied, locked onto the barrel for a brief, terrifying moment before shifting their gaze downwards to the floor, where they remained fixed in a state of shock. The rapid rise and fall of her chest betrayed her fear as she lay unconscious, her body trembling slightly with each breath….

And then, as if succumbing to the overwhelming fear, she finally fell unconscious.

"Nice work, Sensei, though a bit terrifying."

…..

"What's gonna happen to us?"

"Maybe tie you to a pole and make you listen to Austin Dieber's "Baby" should suffice as punishment until the proper authorities arrive. Thank you for the rope, Sensei."

"Eh!?" They collectively gasp.

Once the shock wore off, I gestured. "It was no trouble."

"But that so is so out of fashion!" The criminals with face-mask begged and reasoned.

Whoever this Austin Dieber person must be some tough bastard if these crooks are afraid of a recording of him… "That was fun"

"Fun? You were almost a hostage to a robbery?" Suzumi's voice was filled with anger as she shouted.

"And you act like it's the end of the world, kid, simmer down, nothing happened besides a few gunfire here - I thought it's normal here?"

"But nothing happened" Suzumi repeated mumbling to herself. "What could possibly be fun about that?"

"Besides a couple of property damages, but let's let those slide, we got be vigilantes and cause someone's misery to clean our mess just because a couple of crooks tried to cross you and help someone to keep their job." I gestured towards the cashier, talking to a Valkyrie student.

"Nevertheless, you could have been killed" I emphasized, but Suzumi remained unconvinced, her skepticism clear in the furrow of her brow and the skeptical tilt of her head. Her arms remained crossed over her chest, a defensive stance indicating her resistance to my explanation.

"Sure, heard that many times before, practically a lie to me now." I shrugged it off, just another passing comment to add to the pile. "But thank you for worrying. The thought counts."

"I'll admit I did enjoy myself too" Suzumi muttered in reluctant admission, her voice tinged with a hint of embarrassment. Her gaze momentarily flickered away before returning to meet mine, betraying a mixture of emotions swirling beneath the surface.

"See? Now we're both bonding by our sense of justice." I let out a small laugh under my breath. As I patted her back. "Well, half of us with justice, at least" I ended with a whisper.

"What was that?"

"Nothing to worry about."

"Oh, right. Have these. Please."

She pushed a small pouch into my hand, its military-grade material feeling weighty and sturdy against my palm.

The pouch bore marks of wear and tear, evidence of its use in the field. With a mixture of curiosity and apprehension, I cautiously opened it, revealing its contents within. Inside, nestled snugly, were several flash grenades, their metallic casings perforated with holes gleaming faintly under the neon lights.

"Oh, uh… Thanks. This'll come useful."

"Please take it. It's helpful for me, and I hope it's helpful for you too."

"I might never use it when I'm with you though," I remarked softly as she looked at me. "You're already enough of a brighter light than a couple of flash grenades could to protect me."

"I-I! W-Well, of course I am. Wait! B-because that's the mission of the Vigilante crew," Suzumi stammered, her cheeks flushing slightly as she tried to regain her composure.

"And you did your job well back there, protected me while I'm… window shopping for… strawberry milk."

"How charismatic of you just to say thank you," she added with a playful chuckle, her eyes twinkling with amusement. She flashed me a warm smile, her words carrying a touch of admiration.

"Hey, Kid… I mean, Suzumi," I cleared my throat, glancing at the Trinity student who hummed in response. "It ain't a tour until we get a good view of the light show from somewhere good, aint it right?"

…..

"You know, for some reason when I'm with you… I forget that I'm supposed to be on patrols," When Thirteen heard Suzumi confess, his eyes tore away from the vibrant city lights afar and turn to see the Trinity student accompanied with a wistful smile gracing her lips. "I hope we meet under less exhilarating circumstances next time," she added, "And preferably during the day," she quipped, a playful glint in her eye.

"Heh… ha ha ha…" As the quiet laughter died in Thirteens throat, it left the Trinity student's cheeks burning with embarrassment. She looked at her Sensei, his amusement only fueling her mortification. What did she just said, was it wrong for her to tell him? Should she take it back?

The quiet laughter from her Sensei choked on Suzumi's throat, placed by a wave of heat that flooded her cheeks. She met her Sensei's gaze, searching for understanding, but found only amusement reflected back. What had she done?

"I see… Suzumi, listen, I appreciate the the sentiment? Really, I-…!"

"Sensei, you forgot my strawberry milk!" Arona?!

Perhaps Thirteen's prayers were answered too hard as a strange, pulsating light began to fill the air, slowly dimming their surroundings until the world faded into a blinding white.

From the depths of the shittim chest, a bolt of azure energy lashed outwards, striking the pip-boy with a minor flash of light. In its metallic embrace, the device emitted a sputtering sound as its blue light battled to stay alive before eventually being overwhelmed by the powerful electrical surge with the display, dying like nothing happened.

"Urgh, kid, you should really check the pins on those grenades…"

"Wait, Sensei, It wasn't me!"

"Uh-huh, and you're telling me Ms. Flasher over here hiding tons of flash grenades weren't a probable cause for a accidental discharge?" My eyes, or what's left of them working, turned to where to the hazy image of Suzumi.

"Flasher?" Suzumi's voice hitched, a mix of disbelief and alarm etched on her face.

"Sensei, phrasing, please!" Then Arona came.

That's my Kivotos tour done. Breathtaking sights that are unlike others. Real gem in brahmin dung. A prospector's mine. A dream.

But of course, it's still covered in shit. Miner's lung is going to welcome you, and like sleep, you tend to wake up.

Even at the change in scenery the way of life here, his way of life still hasn't changed. Like a new coat of paint, beautiful exterior, but underneath it is still the same.

That meaning being held up in the middle of a robbery and getting flashed in the eyes. The "pre-war experience," He called it, a bitter irony on his tongue now. Yet still fits.

…

"In other news, the identity of the figure that appeared mysteriously on the chaotic commercial street of [] during the city-wide crime wave that swept half of the city in chaos has finally been unveiled. This morning, SCHALE made the announcement revealing that the elusive individual is none other than Sensei, a title that has sent shockwaves through the community.

The revelation marks the culmination of a whirlwind of speculation and intrigue that has gripped the city since yesterday. Initially shrouded in mystery, the stranger's sudden explosive appearance sparked a frenzy of curiosity and speculation among citizens who were at the scene during the altercation, and online users alike. Social media platforms were abuzz last evening as leaked information about the stranger began to circulate, leading to fervent discussions and wild theories.

[], a Valkyrie student, is here to shed more light on the person involved in the scene with Sensei after the firefight.

"Aw, you should have been there! He was just standing out in the open, not even bothering to take cover, but somehow not a single bullet touched him! It was like something straight out of a movie. I mean, seriously, he didn't even fire a single shot himself. My classmate who was with me said she saw Sensei just running in front of all the gunfire and explosions, and once he got close started casually throwing his weapons to the nearest criminal like it was no big deal. His weapon He's too cool to even bother pulling the trigger!"

"But then after I tried to talk to him, but Kirino-chan got to him first and started flirting with him!" Upon hearing the Valkyrie student's cry, another student, possibly her friend, quickly came over and gently placed a hand on her shoulder, urging her to stop and speaking in a hushed tone. "[], I think they meant what did Sensei looked like."

But [] didn't budge and instead shouted. "It's unfair!" Unexpectedly, the Valkyrie student being interviewed seized the camera and boldly declared. "You hear me, Kirino-chan, you might have won the battle, but not the war, you cheat!"

Well, the news right now is certainly eye-catching, and I didn't just mean the unique outfit worn by the reporter gal doing the interview, although that did grab my attention. How is she not cold with her stomach exposed like that? She really knows how to grab attention.

Shinon, the name I read on the screen. Real eccentric.

Geez… It's hard to understand what she meant when she said I didn't take cover. In reality, I took cover several times and came close to being hit in my left shoulder while doing so.

I settled into my seat, allowing myself to absorb the information from the news as I shut off the Shittim chest and back into my coat pockets. That was all I need for now.

This place is gonna give me a brain aneurysm…

Right, I still have work tomorrow…

"Sensei, think I could take some of your time." A voice laced with a hint of amusement drew my attention. My eyes landed on a figure by the entrance of my office.

"Probably not."

…

I'm back! After several tries to remember my original draft that got erased, I decided to make a new one. There are very few surviving ideas that I have been able to incorporate again.

Sorry for the long delay, academics are back in full swing and only a few brief hours I was able to write and enjoy myself in a week. Just be aware of the quality after a long hiatus and, among other events that are taking my time.

In any case, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't mind the pacing; I like to have things slow and take their time when introducing new concepts or new characters to build on them and the world before any important events.

The original idea I had was for Thirteen to have a tour around Kivotos that would start several small self-contained stories and possibly a one or three story beats that would have a larger impact.

The only side story I could share regards to Trinity garden and the Gahenna's School Lunch club along with the crafting chamber and a bit of [Science] and a bit of [Deception] skills.

Another would include going to for a stroll across Gehenna, which would end as you would expect from the academy's reputation it carries.

Oh man, I am indecisive about another idea regarding a drunk Thirteen. I'm still going to write a single part of the story and see how you like this idea. Lol.

Though I am still very active in writing a certain side-story relating to Arona's shenanigans, so stay put when I finish it and added along at the end of any future chapter.

Also, I'm saving my Pyroxene for dress Aru and Kayoko. Jesus Christ the two of them! Making me do something unwise.