The GATE Academy [Please read description]

Chapter 6: Re-Introductions

After our classes ended, the entirety of the student body started to make their way out of the school either to their dorms or to the parking structure, where they would make their ventures to Arcadia or down to the beach or lake.

I walked in between Keita and Riku, taking my time, as there was no rush to do anything. I could spot some of the new freshmen walking aimlessly around or playing tag outside through the windows with their powers. Ah... Only the freshmen would...

I found myself slowing down, causing Keita and Riku to stop and look back at me.

"Are you alright, Shizuo?" Keita asked.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," I assured him, "Just reminiscing about the past... Last year was crazy, I can only imagine that things will only be more exciting this year."

Riku grinned from ear to ear, "You haven't heard?"

I looked at him expectantly, "Heard about what?"

"They're reintroducing War Games after a few years of it being shut down."

Everybody at GATE, and for the most part, all of the academies, know about War Games. It's simply a game with a competitive objective, such as capture the flag, but with a twist: the usage of our powers. Before, War Games were limited because of casualties and occasional deaths and was put on a temporary halt until the problem could be fixed. However, these past 3 years, our principal has personally made it his goal to reinstate the War Games and rumors of a flawless system had been made, this "flawlessness" to be tested this year.

"I can't wait, no more holding back." I returned with a grin.

"You two go on ahead back to your dorm, I need to pick up some books from my locker." I told Keita and Riku, gesturing them away. Keita got the the hint that I wanted some alone time and nodded before leaving with Riku.

I began to walk down a hallway and turned out into the upper commons, where the cafeteria and lunch tables were. My locker was in the lower commons, that is to say, in the lower area of the school, only about a 4 steps difference in depth, really.

As I was nearing my locker, I saw Falen opening up, assumably, her own locker, which was one down and one over to the right of mine. Perfect opportunity to say hi.

I approached my locker and started to work the lock, once I did, I stepped to the side and spoke up to Falen.

"Hey, Falen, we're in the same class again this year." I had told her with a grin, casually pulling out a book from my locker while doing so.

Falen is a neko, a cat demon in other words, as her black cat ears and tail are readily visible, especially as it contrasts with her choppy, but straight, brown hair. Her bright red eyes stick out in that cat-like manner as if they stare deep into your soul, but hers are a little more friendly, thank goodness. Today she was wearing just a black tanktop, black short shorts, and cat leggings, as if her ears and tail were not enough.

Falen looked up at me with her red eyes, "Hey Shizuo! And yes, we do."

She said as he shut her locker and stepped back as well, gripping a textbook and notebook against her chest. She had to look up at me slightly, but luckily she wasn't as short as other girls that had to really look up to me.

"How was your first day of school?" I asked her, trying to lengthen our conversation.

"Good, yours?" She replied.

"Good? That's it?" I told her," Good is good, but 'great' is better!"

Falen laughed a little, raising the back of her right hand to her mouth as she did so, lowering it as she stopped laughing.