3rd POV
Winter settled over the IS Academy in silver and frost.
Training fields were recalibrated for low-temperature performance. Breath fogged inside hangars before synchronization cycles began. The usual hum of student chatter felt sharper in the cold air.
And as promised in autumn, the new faces began delivering.
Winter Programs — Implementation Phase
The academy bulletin updated in clean, formal text:
Winter Internship Placements — Third years and select second years
Systems Engineering Mentorship — Third-year thesis candidates
Pilot Performance Analytics Access — Individual review sessions
Seminars: Real-World Deployment Frameworks — Open enrollment
Nothing flashy.
No dramatic slogans.
Structured.
Professional.
The seminars drew the widest crowd. Not just third years preparing for graduation, but ambitious second years curious about the path ahead.
Rei Kuroshima registered.
So did Yap Haruto.
Seminar Hall B — Deployment Frameworks
The lecturer—a composed woman in her late thirties with a neutral expression and immaculate posture—stood at the front of the room. Her attire was understated but sharply tailored.
"Operational deployment is not combat," she began. "It is logistics first, engagement second."
Slides projected behind her:
Defense Logistics Chain Hierarchy
Pilot Licensing Pathways (Civilian vs. Military)
Contract Structures: Fixed-Term vs. Performance-Based
Post-Academy Obligation Clauses
The content was dense but practical.
No exaggerated battlefield footage.
No recruitment pitch.
Just reality.
"An IS pilot," she continued, "is both an asset and a liability. Stability metrics weigh as heavily as combat performance."
Haruto's gaze didn't shift.
Rei's pen paused briefly over her notes.
Stability metrics.
The lecturer's eyes swept across the room.
They lingered on several students—top-performing third years, a decorated second-year squad leader—
—and then stopped on Rei.
Just for a second longer than necessary.
Then moved.
A moment later, they paused again.
On Haruto.
Two seconds.
Measured.
Professional.
But longer.
Rei noticed.
Haruto noticed.
A few third years noticed.
At the back row, Tatenashi Sarashiki leaned slightly in her seat, arms loosely folded.
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A Vengeful Retribution
Fanfiction(OC X Infinite Stratos) I guess you know where this is going. 2nd Male IS Pilot thing. Meet Yap. Growing up in South East Asia wasn't easy for a young boi like him. Compared to kids in other countries, he has seen what a kid doesn't; Bloodshed, assa...
