Hold Me Close

Battlefield.

"Here we are..."

Blue eyes scanned the school as a young girl gripped her mother's hand.

"Are we sure?"

"Yes. I know it'll be a little different, but it should work." The small girl nodded as they went in.

"Isn't this the competition school?"

"I think so. But maybe the competition isn't required." The two girls went into the office as the older one smiled. "I'm here to enroll my daughter, Sapphire." The lady at the desk smiled as she glanced at the smaller girl.

"Welcome to Magma Comp, Sapphire. Where did you go before this?"

"Saint Kyogre." The lady chuckled at the name.

"Welcome to safety, then." The trio chuckled before she continued. "All you'll need is to fill out these while I go give her a tour."

"Perfect." The lady handed her the papers before leading Sapphire towards the classrooms.

"My name is Mrs. Lia. I run the whole office with Mr. Stone. These four hallways are the Language Arts, Math, Science and History rooms. Those are your main classes if you are focusing on graduating. Then here's the gym, which is used for sports and competitions. Unless you plan on becoming a sports person, you will only be in there for competitions. The rest of these large classrooms are competition classrooms. This is our performance room, our art room and our calligraphy room." Sapphire gulped.

"So... there are three paths?" Mrs. Lia nodded.

"We rarely get anyone who will take all three. But I digress. Our lunchroom is next to the stairs. Upstairs are our study rooms. There is a Basic's room, Elite's room, Master's room and Legend's room. Those are the ranks of the school. Most basics go through graduation or sports. The others climb the competition." Sapphire hummed. "Starting next week, you'll be marked as a Basic and be let into that room. Those rooms are equipped to help with competitions and such." She then smiled. "Now then. Let me introduce you to the lead teachers who will be watching over your studies."

Sapphire nodded as they went to an office near the main office. The lady inside glanced at them as Mrs. Lia smiled. Two gentlemen, one in sports gear and the other in a dance outfit, were looking over something as the Secretary spoke

"Miss Roxanne, Mr. Brawley, Mr. Wallace, this is Sapphire. She's our newest student. Sapphire, this is Miss Roxanne, our lead teacher. She'll help you through most of your studies in the Graduation Course if you choose that route. Then this is Mr. Brawley here is the Sports Coach. He'll be helping you through that if you choose that. Lastly, Mr. Wallace is our Competition Advisor. He'll be guiding you through that if you choose to." Sapphire shook each of their hands before Roxanne spoke.

"So, Sapphire. I know you just got here. Do you have a route in mind?" The younger girl shook her head. "That's fine. By next week, I'm hoping you'll choose. You just let us know." Wallace smiled.

"Mind I ask what school you came from before?"

"Saint Kyogre." The group chuckled as she spoke again. "Yeah, it sounds even funnier if the school wasn't real." Brawley smiled.

"I'm loving this kid already." Sapphire smiled at that.

~~~

"So what are you thinking?"

Sapphire hummed as they ate dinner. Her father was still at work, so they were talking.

"3 paths..." She sighed. "I think I want to get through this week before deciding. But honestly, they all sound good." Her mother smiled.

"Here. By the end of the week, if you've chosen, I'll support you." Sapphire nodded.

~~~

One thing made her make up her mind near the end of the week.

She loved the female sports team. They covered all sports and if you did all of them, you were seen as the best there.

There was a small group of nerds that she liked rather well, but she got along with Emerald really well.

However, there was a member of the competition that won. A student named Ruby. Her heart literally skipped a beat when she saw him. And his voice even got her stumbling.

"New kid? What path?"

"No idea. We'll learn next week."

"Hm. Right."

That was it. The last time her heart was this alive was a kid back in Saint Kyogre. But after what happened? She thought this wouldn't happen again. If getting his attention wasn't her goal, then she had nothing else to do.