“Ei-chan hold up!” Two first years ran, one dragged by the other, both came to a halt at the insistence of the latter.
“Is something wrong Wakana-?” Eijun looked behind him at his friend who was catching her breath but still tightly grasping his free hand as the other held onto the drawstring of her bag.
“Just take a moment and look around!”
This caused the brown eyed boy to grasp his friend’s hand back a bit tighter to ground himself at the beauty of the environment. The cherry blossoms at full bloom scattered amongst the entrance of the school, the white cobblestone path contrasting with the pink petals giving the area an almost ethereal appearance.
“We have to take a picture!” Eijun yelled as he pulled out his phone, grabbed Wakana by her waist to pull her closer to his side and held up the phone for them to take a selfie. Wakana blushed at the sudden action then held up a peace sign for the camera. Eijun doing the same peace sign behind her head with a blinding grin he normally wore.
“Ah~ I want a full pic to get our uniform for memories!” Eijun whined as he got out of Wakana’s personal space.
“Maybe we can ask someone to take a picture for us?” Wakana piped up beside him.
“Oh! Hang on I’ll be right back!” Eijun brightened at the idea looking around excitedly as he saw a figure sitting down on a hill with their back pressed on a cherry blossom tree. Set on the poor stranger he walked aggressively to them hoping the person was kind enough to take the picture. As he neared the stranger their physical attributes sharpened causing Eijun to stand in place and lightly blush at the beauty of them.
The stranger had his eyes closed seemingly to take a rest so Eijun freely let his eyes rake over him. His long eyelashes fluttering a bit with the wind, his hair messy in an unkept way, brown but darkening at its end, the uniform fitting perfectly on him as if he was a model-
Eijun knocked himself out of his “checking out the hot stranger” mode now noticing he unconsciously got closer to the stranger himself, a bit too close, he backed away with a darker blush and moved to kneel beside him. Seeing a cherry blossom petal on his nose (which was perfect too damn it) he leaned closer to get it flinching when molten amber eyes pierced him in place, unknowing his brown eyes were also too keeping the stranger in place causing the two boys to have a small staring contest broken by the stranger’s mischievous grin. Having a feeling that the grin meant trouble Eijun brought his arms to himself as if to protect his innocence from anything the bespectacled boy brought to him (not noticing it was in fact the bespectacled boy who was to have that reaction).
“Wh- Why are you grinning like that,”
“Not sure, maybe because someone made a move on me while I was sleeping?”
“WH- THAT WASN’T MY INTENTIO-”
Eijun’s flustered ramble was cut off by a calloused hand covering his mouth causing his embarrassment to deepen and flailing of arms to increase.
“Shut it- it's way too early in the morning for this…”
The stranger getting a muffled response, stifled a laugh at the flustered boy’s reaction.
This of course caused Eijun to be even more upset grabbing the wrist of the teasing stranger leaning closer to him with a glare that he normally kept for people who truly annoyed him. The stranger also leaned in his smirk sharpening at Eijun’s bold move.
"Headstrong that's probably the type of fighter he is, how interesting,” The stranger thought to himself.
The atmosphere was immediately broken by a small cough behind Eijun. They both looked up at the same time to see Wakana with a nervous smile looking down on them.
“A-Ah! Wakana-chan! I was just about to ask hi-”
“No Ei-chan I think we should leave, we could probably take it later…” Wakana grabbed him by the back of his uniform and quickly bowed at the stranger and dragged him to the way of the ceremony.
“W-Wait but-” Eijun looked back to where the stranger previously was now noticing he wasn’t there anymore.
“Eijun…?” Wakana nudged the dazed boy beside him.
“Oh Wakana-chan! We’re finally here huh!” Eijun said out loud his one track mind coming to work.
“The Kouryou School huh… it's amazing really, I never thought I would’ve made it this far at least…”
The Kouryou school isn’t any average school, no, unlike any other this school was catered towards learning special techniques.
Those special techniques being battle techniques of course.
“You bring yourself far too down Wakana-chan! You’re strong, smart and beautiful of course you made it here!”
“Wh- Ei-chan you can’t just say things like that out loud especially in public places!” Wakana gestured towards the inside of the auditorium where they currently sat, with a flustered expression.
“I just said what came to mind as always… is that really a problem?”
“N--Normally people wouldn’t though!”
This caused Eijun to tilt his head in confusion.
“But you always liked my complements back at ho-”
“Excuse me… but can you quiet down a bit, ”
A boy with strikingly pink hair speaked from behind them his legs kicked up comfortably, his face hidden behind the pamphlet.
Sawamura stared at him for a while, the pink hair feeling familiar to him for some reason.
“O-Of course sorry for the distraction…”
“Yeah… apologies”
“It's all good, you both were just getting loud that's all…”
The boy spoke again, his voice sounding less cold than before, causing Eijun to grin and childishly nod at him before turning around with Wakana.
“A-Anyways… Ei-chan don’t say stuff like that suddenly people would get the wrong idea…” Wakana coughed awkwardly into her hand with a blush.
“Yeah got it… I think?”
Eijun did in fact not get it.
Wakana uncomfortable with the atmosphere brought up something she was curious to ask ever since Eijun mentioned he was contracted.
“Hey Ei-chan… what was it like for you when you contracted with Lucifer…?”
This question caused Eijun to whip his head and eyes to sparkle with delight.
“It was so hot! So bright! I felt as if I was going to be burned to death!” His mannerisms added effect for his description.
Wakana giggled out loud causing Eijun to giggle with her.
A cough from behind them caused them to immediately stop and lower their voice.
“Ah yeah… I also felt that way it was scary if I'm being honest…”
“I could see why but… now that I think about the contract, we aren’t human are we… no one in this room is…”
“Well we have some human in us Ei-chan don’t get too deep, alright?”
“Yeah, sure…” Sawamura laughed boisterously, gaining a kick directed at the back of his chair causing him to immediately zip it quiet.
The thing is though, both Eijun and Wakana are right, the day they signed the contract with Lucifer they became Exceeds.
Exceeds are those given a biological nanomachine called Lucifer which was made by a scientific institute several years ago called, Dawn Institute.
To sum it up short they would inject those who an Adapt (only one in a thousand people had), attaining a body which surpasses limits held for human beings as a whole, also in turn enhancing their mentality which they would use to attain the ability to manifest their soul into a weapon called Blaze.
Eijun then went on to mindlessly ramble with Wakana occasionally nodding to get cut off by the piercing sound of the speakers being turned on.
"Ah it seems to be starting…"
As if on command the microphone test started, "Testing! 1, 2, 3…" the voice echoed through the auditorium.
"Everyone, silence."
The auditorium's previous ruckus turnt into a chilling silence, as the kids' eyes all went straight towards the voice.
"We will be starting the entrance ceremony very shortly! I, Oota, will be in charge of the ceremony!"
Eijun felt as if he wasn't the only one who unconsciously nodded.
With a small puff of satisfaction the man leaned into the microphone again.
"We will now begin the ceremony for the high school division of Kouryou Academy welcome! First the chairman of our academy has a few words to share with you all his new students!"
The lady who was wearing a tailored uniform stepped onto the stage.
"Isn't that the girl from be-"
"SH!"
This lady no doubt was the one who gave the kids in this auditorium the power of Lucifer.
"Welcome to Kouryou Academy, I am the chairman, you may call me Miss Rei but my full name is Rei Takashima,"
The chairman, the lady with a presence that no doubt intimidated everyone in this room spoke clearly into the microphone, her gaze piercing through all the student's souls, it was as if she knew something about you that you've kept to only yourself, her aura commanding yet ominous.
As Eijun trailed off into a daze at her introduction to the academy he looked forward seats in front of him to see the stranger he saw before, making a mental note to ask for his name.
"Wow… she really is a beauty,"
"Seems to be rich too, you've read the pamphlet right?"
"Yeah I really can't believe it's free of charge, boarding school system based too? Gosh, the only thing that seems daunting is the three rice bowl standard…"
"Well hey it comes with three meals at least also our own allowance I think…"
"Wow really!" Eijun piped up beside Wakana.
"Have you even read through all of the pamphlet properly…?"
"I don't think he did... Wakana-chan this is Bakamura we're talking about…"
"K-KURAMOCHI-SAN!? WH-WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?" Eijun bristled at the attack his friend who came out of nowhere.
"You there, young man, please refrain from talking in this service!"
Eijun immediately did his infamous 90 degree bow to show he was sorry.
"S-SORRY MISS REI-SAN DO CO-"
Wakana quickly covered his mouth before he started onto his hour long apology ramble.
This of course caused laughter from the students to sprout.
Ugh. I stood out in a bad way….
"Kuramochi-san it's nice to meet you after all these years!" Wakana whispered while rubbing the embarrassed Eijun's back in comfort.
"Yeah Mochi-san where have you been?"
The two Wakana and Eijun were in a small village located in Nagano both friends with the occasional passerby Kuramochi with a friend of his. He could assume they were friends; they always seemed to be smiling and sharing a joke. Kuramochi ended up becoming Eijun's practical brother after Eijun gave him his only rice ball after a tiring mission to him (Learning that same day the onigiri was practically a desert for the orphanage). Kuramochi that day vowed to protect him since, he only told himself that though.
As Kuramochi was about to open his mouth he immediately shut it when the voice from behind them piped up again.
"Yeah Mochi-senpai… tell us where you've been won't you?"
Wakana and Eijun turned their attention towards the boy behind them (again) whose face was no longer hidden by the pamphlet. Now they faced a porcelain skinned, bright pink eyed individual who's glare seemed directed toward Eijun's (totally not big brother) friend of his.
"K-Kominato - san… I didn't expect you to be here…" Kuramochi's previously teasing and loud personality instantly turnt docile as he looked away and refused to keep eye contact with the glaring pink haired doll.
Wakana nudged Eijun’s side for him to notice the tension and after a quick nod to each other they dispelled in a quick second.
"Oh~ my bad Wakana-chan do continue!" He said leaning over to her a bit, blocking Kominato-san's glare much to the pink hair's disgruntle.
"W-Well apparently Rei-san belonged to Dawn Institute in a sense, the organization that built here too!"
"Woah for real?" Sawamura did a quick glance between Kuramochi and Haruichi noticing their listening to them now so he backed off Wakana.
"Not only that! She was involved with the research as a genetic scientist!"
"So does that mean she's involved with Lucifer then!"
"I'm not sure about that…"
"She probably is, the enhancement with Lucifer is due to genetic alterations remember…" Haruichi piped up yet again with an easy going smile directed to Eijun and Wakana only.
Kuramochi cowered a bit back at the act of blatant favoritism over him.
Wakana sighed, picking it up only knowing Eijun didn't as he was enamored by the other's hair.
"This Academy was made solely for her so you could be right, in a sense we may as well just be pet guinea pigs gathered for those experiments…"
"Ugh that was such a weird train of thought Wa-chan…"
Wakana flinched at the poke at her thought Kuramochi gave her.
"You do better wo.."
Eijun dazed off again as Wakana drilled Kuramochi for the small comment, Haruichi enjoying the show.
As Wakana finished it seemed the chairman's speech started finishing off too.
"You all will be acquiring different skills, techniques and knowledge within this academy, please remember that all of these are to make all of you go even higher. That will serve as the school's policy, which will all be absolute….. Lastly, I will end this ceremony by sending a prayer to you all,"
The chairman stopped her speech and with a warm grin after looking at all the students she started up again.
"I pray for you all to reach the Absolute duo one day!"
Clapping filled the auditorium only dulling when the chairman remained in her spot.
"Huh…..?"
"Ei-chan did something happen?"
"Its the chairman…."
The chairman's initially warm grin started crinkling at the ends, darkening, her eyes closing as if something sinister is about to happen and she refuses to see.
"Now we will have the students start the school's traditional event! The Qualification Ceremony!"
"Traditional event?"
"This wasn't in the pamphlet…"
"Before beginning the Qualification Ceremony, there is of course something you must do! Please confirm the person sitting next to you, they will be your partner for the Ceremony you're partaking in!"
"Sweet Wakana-chan we're paired together!" Eijun smiled in relief since at least he'll be close to his childhood friend.
Wakana smiled mirroring the relief filled grin.
Sawamura moved to hold Wakana's hand only pausing before fully covering it at the chairman's next words.
"From here you will battle your partner!"
"E-Eh!?" Sawamura retracted his hand back to himeself.
Several gasps were heard throughout the auditorium, some indifferent to the sudden change of plans.
"The traditional event, Qualification ceremony that is about to start now will be the entrance test to enter Kouryou Academy. The winner will be permitted to enter the school, while the loser will be asked to leave immediately after having the Lucifer taken from you…"
The students within the auditorium panic began to increase.
"She's joking right...She has to be joking Wakana I can't fight you I can't-"
"An entrance test during the entrance ceremony that's completely unheard of!"
"I mean in a sense there wasn't one in the beginning but…."
The auditoriums got noisier as the time went on immediately cut through when the chairman spoke again.
"You will let me continue, won't you children?"
She continued as everyone quieted immediately bracing for her next announcement.
"You are basically free to do whatever you want in this battle, in other words there are no restrictions on the use of weapons. Of course we will permit use of Blaze. The battle will be decided by forfeiting, or if we determine that you are no longer able to fight. Also if the result isn't determined within ten minutes we will make both students fail---"
"P-PLEASE HOLD ON MISS REI!"
"What is it…?"
"Is it possible if we could change partners, please…" Eijun bent over into a perfectly 90 degree bow, his voice sounding desperate and shaky.
I don't want to ever hurt her again.
"Young boy, Sawamura was it?"
The boy in question flinched at his name being used.
"You remember my name?"
"Of course I do, I remember all of your names," Rei gestured towards all of the students. "Anyways, you wouldn't ask your teacher to hand you a Math paper instead of an English one for an English exam correct? "
Eijun nodded quickly, his Adam's apple moving with his nervous gulp.
"But Miss Takashima ple-"
"That's enough Eijun,"
Eijun flinched at his first name being used and not his nickname.
"B-But Wakana- chan please-" Eijun cut himself off once he noticed the trembling hand on the back of his blazer, his resolve for not fighting her gaining even stronger.
"M-"
"Enough of the lover's quarrel please~"
The stranger from before got up looking tired and yawned softly at the display of Eijun's bravery.
"WHY YO-"
"Oh my God is that the Miyuki Kazuya,"
Am I gonna keep on getting cut off? Sawamura thought stubbornly to himself.
"He looks way hotter in real than I expected, "
"When did he get in here?"
"Thank goodness I'm not his partner!"
The stranger in question now named as Miyuki Kazuya locked eye contact with Sawamura's blazing glare contrasting it with a bored disappointed look in his own.
"Blaze," Miyuki spoke out loud transforming his soul into a long chain that seemed more than 10 ft long, after his weapon wrapped around his wrists to his fingers he got into a fighting stance facing his quivering partner who looked absolutely terrified.
Sawamura now enamored awed at the purple veined glow of his weapon, how it seemed as if the weapon was just an added limb on Miyuki, how each of the ends suspended in the air showing off the glint of a, wait what is that big cone spike thing on both of its ends is he trying to kill the poor student!?
"Now just before you start!" Rei's glasses glared at the light of the auditorium. "I'd like you to note Blaze is a weapon manifested from your soul due to that you will be only will be able to damage the soul so while it doesn't hurt your opponent physically and won't take their life away, it batters there spirit, this is why its used for suppressing,"
The principal words echoed throughout the auditorium ringing through the ears of all the students there.
"ALRIGHT!"
A clash of battle screams, choruses of "Blaze" and the sounds of weapons banging against each other in the auditorium turned into complete chaos.
"It can't be helped can it Eijun," Wakana stood up from her seat and faced Eijun. "Blaze…".
Wakana's weapon of choice is a crossbow; the pink veins of it glows as if to show Eijun Wakana's new resolve.
"Wakana no," Eijun looked at her with desperate eyes. "We've only sparred, we can go back home forget this ever happened, just-"
Eijun was cut off by the whizzing of an arrow aimed too perfectly near his face.
"Seriously Man up Eijun," She giggled, aiming again a bit more on target. "You know why we came…"
Eijun dodged the arrow and hid behind one of the now (broken) chairs trying to calm his heaving breath.
"Eijun bring out your blaze!"
Eijun sat there, defiantly his breathing slowly but surely picking up its pace.
"If you won't take this opportunity I will!"
Wakana immediately jumped to wear Eijun's hide and aimed the gun directly at his head, the top of the gun pressing painfully on his forehead.
Uwah...she was never this fast before.
His training instincts kicked in as he swept his right leg to knock her off balance. Taking advantage of his friend's wobbling he used his strength to jump away from her nimbly avoiding the other battles.
"I don't want to hurt you Wakana!" Eijun cried from where he stood.
"And I don't want you to regret your stupid one mimute descions Eijun!" Wakana sat up tears in her eyes aimed at where Eijun stood her target perfectly aimed ready to trigger faltered when she saw his mouth move into a familiar word.
"Blaze"
Eijun's weapon was a halberd (Wakana distinctly rremembered calling it lame) the nerves of it golden amongst the black of his weapon, the golden complementing his eyes and wow, its as if his eyes were glowing golden fueled with emotions.
Eijun always had pretty eyes. Wakana thought to herself.
All noise dimmed and Wakana's attention was directed all onto Eijun, the boy charging at her with all his might, the halberd of his becoming a swish of movement as he jumped into the air for power and slashed mid air in her direction. Wakana knew she definitely had to move as she avoided (narrowly) the deep slash mark left on the floor bigger than her whole body.
"W-Wow Ei chan aren't you strong, " She nervously laughed, stopping when she realized Eijun wasn't responding.
Looking over to where he stood on the other side of the slash he made his face remained impassive.
And.
Oh.
She suddenly remembered the one time their sparring match got too far, unfortunately it wasn't with their blaze weapons, but with kendo sticks instead, no matter how much times she cried for mercy he kept on hitting, even when she was on the floor sobbing, bloody and bruised he kept going until he himself snapped out of the trance.
Nice to meet you again Scary Eijun..
As if time didn't constrict Eijun's body one second he was on the other side of the slash mark, the next minute in front of her the halbred’s end dangerously close to her neck grew in size and poked uncomfortably to the side of her neck.
Wakana, terrified for her life (Rightfully so.) moved up her leg to kick Eijun from in front of her hoping to gain distance.
Unfortunately for her Eijun predicted her move and with nimbleness of someone who practiced day and night with their most, with the mix of undeniable flexibility he maneuvered himself and the halberd directly to stop right behind her, kicking her unto lay on her stomach, he got on top of her back now aiming the axe of the halbred's top fully on her neck but not deep enough to bring out blood.
"Aotsuki Wakana…" Wakana heard his voice from above her speak. "Do you surrender,"
"N-No I still can-" her bowstring lost in the battle of movement just arms length away from her stood there mocking her as she desperately reached out to it to no avail, thanks to the weight on her back.
"You've left me no choice," The blank face of Eijun finally cracked into a sinister smile as he raised his halberd by its staff into the air and brought it down harshly, almost creating a (metaphorical) gash when-
"That's it, that's enough Eijun Sawamura," The boy in question looked up at the platform to see the chairman smiling down on him with a pleased grin. "You've passed the test,"
I.
Passed?
Eijun looked unto who’s back he was straddling 's back and realized Wakana was shaking where her head laid a puddle of tears.
His golden eyes quickly switched out to his chocolate brown and even quicker than that his distress from before the battle coursed through his veins again.
"W-Wakana I'm so sorry please look at me…" Eijun cried.
"....."
"Wakana?"
"It's a little hard in this position don't you think?"
"OH GOSH I'M SORRY-"
Eijun who just realized what position they were in still practically flew into the air, as his soul flew right out of his body, or should he say hands as it now jostles unto on the floor and disappears into thin air.
As Wakana sat up her body sore from the battle she looked up at Eijun with proud but teary eyes.
"Congratulations on passing!"
It took all of Eijun not to collapse on the floor and sob, so he did the next best thing, collapse on Wakana much to her obvious protest, and sobbed on her as she awkwardly hugged the wailing boy on top of her.
Unbeknownst to the pair, Miyuki watched all of the battle with amber eyes sparking in interest.
"I concede…." A voice called out from behind him.
Miyuki with a smug smirk looked behind him to see his opponent suspended in the air by yours truly of course. One chain held them and the other held their weapon which was a katana (if you were interested).
"See that wasn't a problem was it!" Miyuki smiled sweetly at the stranger who themself blushed in shock as if this isn't the same person who defeated them without even batting an eye.
After letting them go and their exchanges of salutations Miyuki brought back his attention to the sobbing pair and how the other watched his friend go sadly.
"I will become strong for you and my family…."
Miyuki managed to form the words that came out of the boy from this distance. Just as his own weapon was to disappear, Eijun's eyes caught Miyuki's own.
The boy who was previously a sobbing mess sneered stubbornly at him as if he were the one who beat up his childhood friend.
"Sawamura Eijun huh?" Miyuki tasted the name on his tongue.
Interesting.