April 18th: 1:20 PM: Weather Foggy
Leiko runs along the outer lane of the school's track, barely able to see more than five feet ahead herself, her hair flowing freely behind her. "Who's idea was it to do PE class outside in this soup?!"
"I think it w..was Mikatawa in 3-G." Izumi pants through her answer, holding her side, "She, Shi..Shiomi and Kisaru goaded the PE teacher into it." Her voice has a twang of bitterness to it.
"Are they former friends of yours, Zumi?" The pink haired woman slows her pace, giving her companion a chance to breathe easier.
The brown haired girl nods sadly, "I was, more so with Shiomi than the other two in primary school. When her mom's fashion designs started taking off; Kimiko changed and we didn't get along that well after that." Izumi sighs softly, quickly changing the subject, not wanting to dwell on this any longer. "So did you see the article in the school newspaper that Usagi wrote?"
"I read most of what Usagi wrote on how the students feel about student council elections and…" Leiko begins, stopping in her tracks as she gazes to point in the fog off the track.
"Are you alright?" Izumi glances in the same direction, but doesn't see anything.
"I swear, I felt someone watching me." Leiko answers, turning to her friend, "It's probably nothing. As I was going to say, I read the article about the candidates and what they want to do for the school, but homeroom started right when I was getting to Labrys' profile. Usagi's a pretty good writer, informative and to the point."
"Speaking of, is Labby getting used to the dorm and why did she want to run for student council president in the first place?" Izumi questions, being overly curious and excited about her friend taking part.
"I've no idea why she wants to run, I was going to ask her on our walk home about that and how she's adapting to the dorm." Looking around once more, Leiko motions for her and Izumi to return to their lap running. Though Izumi had brought the subject up, the nineteen year old girl also wondered these things about Labrys.
A shrill whistle rings from across the track, signaling the end to the PE period. Voices of the various female students shout from around the track, thankful for the end of the soupy nightmare.
"Yes, we survived our fog training!" Izumi expresses cheerfully, jumping in pure joy. "I need to bounce, I've got cleaning duty for the classroom, I'll change after! See you tomorrow."
"See you then." Leiko calls out as her friend disappears into the fog, while she quickens her pace across the field and through the door into the girls locker room corridor.
Several students brush past her from the main hallway, many looking as if they were averting their gaze from something. Two more students enter the corridor, loud screams entering from the open door, before they are once again muffled.
"Of all the places and times for Shimoi to be pulling that crap." One male student gripes as they slide past the pink haired girl.
"Totally sucks for Towa. He was just doing what the editor wanted him to do." The female student utters as she and the male student turn down a side corridor.
Deciding to check on the situation, Leiko pushes through to the main hallway near the school store, her eyes falling upon the scene of a 5'3 tall long auburn crown braided haired girl with orange eyes her face contorted in rage as at a 5 foot nothing male student who has brown eyes that's covered by thin green wireframe glasses, with jet black hair that's tied up in the back, their face looking semi feminine.
Two other girls have this student pinned against the wall with their arms, one who is extremely fit and tall with scared toned arms, who's brown hair is spiky and her eyes are a dark blue. The other is less fit, but with jet black hair with orange ombre with a lot of bows in it and yellow orange eyes.
"You really need to start listening to me, Usagi." The girl says softly, running her orange tipped fingernail across Towa's cheek. "Retract that article from the school paper where you mention me and edit it you pathetic hack of a writer, and resubmit it to make me look better. Honestly, you say you're male, but I see you for what you are, a girl trying to hide herself away, saying they are something they are not to avoid criticism." Shiomi yells, spit flies from her maw and lands upon Towa's lenses.
"B..but Kimiko-san I have journalistic…" Towa begins as he gulps, trying to get the point out. His body quivers intensely with fear.
Shiomi laughs at him, her orange eyes drilling into theirs as she takes a few steps back, "If you did have that, half of what you said about me wouldn't have been printed. I mean come on, your writing is so bad. Why would anyone think you had a talent or a future in being a news reporter. You've barely got credibility, who will believe what you write here at school huh? You're better off working for a tabloid rag making up stories about Yukari Takeba, Rise Kujikawa, Kaede Deyama and Ann Takamaki. They apparently got a joint modeling session that is coming up next month that my mother told me she is holding for a new collection. You can write a bogus story about that for the paper. Now go fix up all that information you ball less but…"
"CUT IT OUT SHIOMI!" Leiko interjects, inserting herself between Towa and Kimiko. Her eyes narrow, glaring darkly at this bratty girl.
Shiomi nostrils flare at this interruption, "Mizaki this doesn't concern you. This is between me and this ball less hack. So back off."
"No! I'm not going to stand by and say nothing while you dismiss his identity, the work he put into that article or the future he wants for himself." Leiko answers in her sternest tone.
Shiomi scoffs, flicking something off her nails, "She wrote a hit piece on me! Why should I respect anyone who has no respect for me!"
"Towa is a he, get the pronoun correct. I read that article and it was nowhere close to being a hit piece on anyone in it. You're a bully, you have no respect for anyone but those who kowtow to you. Maybe if you cut the crap someone would respect you." Leiko's eyes remain fixed on Kimiko to show she is serious on this matter.
Kimiko stomps her foot in anger, her lips contorting into a seething sneer, "I'll make it my mission to force you to submit to me Leiko, even if I have to dig up something on you. Suzane, go to your kendo club activity. Ai, come with me, we're going to Junes!" The auburn haired girl shouts, starting towards the shoe lockers.
The two girls release Towa, the female with the ribbons grabbing a bag with a helmet sticking out, while the scared fit looking one follows after Kimiko.
The young man falls to the ground, his body quivering in fear when the palm of hand slowly appears in their vision.
"Need a hand up?" Leiko says gently, giving him a soft smile. She didn't want to startle him with sudden actions or movements.
"No, I…I can stand up on my own Senpai." He says, pushing Leiko's hand away. He struggles and wobbles to his feet, but keeps their eyes on the ground, "Thanks…for the assistance."
"You're welcome Usagi. Are you going to be alright getting home after all that?" She asks concernedly, wondering if she should insist on walking Towa home.
The boy shakes his head vigorously, snatching up their school bag. "I…i'll be fine, Senpai. I need to go, my family is waiting for me to head to my grandparents in Yasoinaba." The young man bows to Leiko and dashes over to change his shoe before disappearing out the door.
"Hey Leiko, are you ready to head home yet?!" A voice calls out to her and the pink haired girl turns to see Labrys approaching.
"I just need to change out of my gym clothes, give me a bit of time and I'll meet you out front." Leiko dash out of sight through the doors to the gym corridor.
The fog on the walk back to the dorm remains as Leiko and Labrys divert themselves onto the path towards the river.
"Leiko when we get to the bridge can we talk for a bit?" The android hangs her school bag over shoulder, smiling back at the human.
"Sure, I was actually going to suggest the same thing." Leiko glances at the girl, taking in the faded red cardigan Labrys is wearing over the school uniform. It actually suited her rather well.
Silence returns as the tar path gives way to the crunch of the gravel that signaled they were close. The metal poles of the bridge finally peak out through the fog and the two girls stop, hoisting themselves up onto the metal railings.
"So I got to ask ya Leiko, what do you actually think about me?" The girl robot questions, fidgeting a bit. "Do ya see me as a weapon only or something else entirely?" Labrys really wanted to hear her companion's answer,
Leiko blinks in confusion at this question, it wasn't one she had really ever expected to be asked, "I've never seen you as a weapon Labrys at all." She begins sincerely. "You're a unique individual with wants, desires, wishes, feelings and more like everyone else. You're a new friend that I could see making a close bond with eventually. You're as human as anyone can be."
"Bonds huh? Those are really important, they make ya feel stronger. I learned about 'em during an incident a long time ago and made a lot of great friends because of them, but that stuffs classified. Wish I could tell ya about it." The silver haired girl casts her eyes downward with sadness entering her ruby eyes.
Leiko reaches over to touch Labrys' shoulder in reassurance, smiling at her. "I don't need to know the details of what happened during those events to know the end results of the bonds you made. They made you into the determined person you are now."
The silver haired girl wipes away a few tears that had formed, but she smiles at the friend beside her, "That was cheesy you know that, but you're definitely alright in my memory banks." She puts her armored fist out towards Leiko, who responds with a fist bump. "So what did ya wanna ask me?"
"Yeah, that was sort of cheesy." She answers with a soft chuckle. "It's sort of a silly inquiry, but Izumi and I were wondering about the accent and where it came from. Sorry if that's too personal a question for ya." The pink haired girl asks, feeling a bit embarrassed after the heavy conversation.
"Nah, it's not that overly personal. I had the accent when I was first activated and it came from my mom. A girl that was terminally ill that I'm based on. She's the reason I'm running for student council president."
"Was it her dream that she was able to pass on to you?" Leiko wants to ask another question, but figured the answer would just be classified, which she is getting rather tired of being told about.
The girl looks up into the foggy sky, closing her orbs with a smile, "She wished to go to school and thought the student council would be fun, being able to do things for others. Even if I don't win, I will have reached out for the future she would have wanted. She and my sister Aigis will be proud of me. Speaking of family, are your parents proud of what you've been able to do?"
Leiko ponders on that question, slowly kicking her legs back and forth, "I can never tell if they are or not. They're encouraging, they're loving, they supported my decision to come here for school instead of Gekkoukan when I lost my high school credits during the transfer. I guess in some way they are even though I can't see it. My twelve year old sister Megumi on the other hand has told me she's proud of me when I was coming here, but she's super vague as to why. I guess it's just kids looking up to older siblings." Leiko hands her phone over to Labrys, showing off the picture of her parents and sister. The parents' faces are out of frame, but in the center of the photo is Megumi with a large goofy grin wearing overalls with long braided dusty brown hair with green tips and green eyes.
"What's she like?"
"She's a goofball with a large heart. She loves to give tarot card readings for some odd reason, but enjoys music and anything to do with crafts made of threads. I sort of…"
"My, this a sight, the start of such a filigent bond. No miligent? cilignent?" A voice issues from the fog as a woman with platinum blonde hair and golden eyes appears wearing an elevator attendant outfit with a hat, gloves and boots, all in dark blue. She also has a large book under her arm
"I think you mean brilliant." Leiko answers, looking over at the woman who had interrupted their conversation. Why is she so familiar? The girl questions herself, trying to work it out.
"Oh, so I do. Who is this new friend of your Labrys?" The woman asks, her eyes sparkling like they know something meaningful.
"Elizabeth, this is Leiko. Liz here is an old friend of mine I made years ago." The robot girl answers, unsure what else should be said about her.
The pink haired woman's eyes open wide, wanting to facepalm. The clothing color and the book should have been the dead giveaway. "It's nice meeting you. Margaret, Theodore, Lavenza and Mina have been wondering where you've been. I think they wish for you to head back to the Velvet Room."
"Even if they do worry, I will continue to neglect my duties in my own pursuits." She gleefully utters in a carefree tone, "So, you are our new guest. You are in excellent hands with my sister. Now I must be going. I do hope we get to meet again." The woman smiles and walks back the way she came into the fog.
"She's eccentric, I'll give her that. How did you meet her?" The fact that Labrys met someone from the Velvet Room has to have some kind of story behind it, right?
Labrys looks guiltily at her companion casting her eyes down at the bridge's deck moments after, "It's hard to explain, but that's also classified. I'm sorry that I can't say anything." She sighs hating the fact that she couldn't be more truthful, "Before we head back to the dorm, can I ask why you're so adverse to being a leader? I heard you telling Izumi not to call you one last weekend."
The girl's shoulders slump as she looks reluctant to voice the matter, but speaks after the short silence, "I…I guess o…one part of it was stress and expectations, another part is I just don't think I'd be a good leader. I don't know how to fight well, I don't understand tactics and I think I'd just make people angry with my lack of experience." The girl utters in an insecure tone, holding the side of the rail they are sitting on, "I think I could mitigate the stress with everyone's support, but would anyone want to really follow someone still learning on the fly?"
"There are all kinds of leaders out there and you already have the trust of myself, Yamato and Izumi. Being a leader is nothing but a learning experience, everyone starts like that. You can learn from those around you. When you get a bit more confidence in your abilities, maybe you'll change your mind." Labrys places her armored hand on Leiko's arm, returning the reassurance that was given to her earlier.
"I guess there wouldn't be any harm in reassessing the situation once I get a handle on things." Leiko answers restrainedly, sliding off the rail of the bridge onto the deck.
Labrys follows her companion's lead, "Did you decide on the weapon you wished to use? It probably won't be ready until after our expedition into the halls."
"I decided on a scythe. It gives me some range and some ability to hook Shadows to pull them down." Leiko answers lightly, starting towards the dorm.
Labrys walks beside her with a nod, "Then I'll order them once our study session is complete today."
The two quicken their paces towards their domicile, not noticing the fog finally lifting.