I blink. “Um… I’m sorry, that was not my intention, sensei. I just wanted to see if I could improve myself.…”

  Ms. Yu-Mi stares at me. “Wait… you didn’t know the Double Accel was both possible, AND an advanced High-End skill?!”

  I shake my head. Ohhh, nuts. I messed something up, didn’t I!

  The stunned teacher turns this way and that, looking for someone. “Miyabi! Miyabi Kannazuki, get over here at once!”

  A few minutes ter, Miyabi reappears, adjusting her uniform. “Yes, Ms. Yu-Mi?”

  “Don’t wander off, stay with your trainees please. Did you know that one of them could perform the Double Accel?”

  Miyabi lies smoothly, “I DID ask her to try and see if it was possible. I may have stepped away for a few moments, but I assume she managed it?”

  I notice Ms. Yu-Mi’s eyes narrow almost imperceptibly, but she doesn’t push her. “She did, as a matter of fact. It appears we have something of a prodigy in our midst.”

  I blush a little and step back to rejoin Rana. Miyabi smiles, a big insincere grin on her face, as everyone goes back to their current training exercises. Then she rounds on me.

  “You are SUCH a nuisance!” she hisses. I simply look her in the eye as she continues.

  “I was having a little fun, why did you have to interrupt?! Thanks to your little trick, now I’M being watched too! If you’d just kept doing nothing, I could’ve gotten REAL cozy with some hot guys. Now, I don’t get to do that, and NOW, I’m gonna make you regret it.”

  Rana opens her mouth to protest, but I shake my head. She subsides, a look on her face that screams that, if she could, she’d have punched the smug third-year into orbit.

  I turn back and start jogging further back, judging the distance more carefully this time. Miyabi stamps her foot. “Where are YOU going?! I’m not done with you!”

  Once I’m far enough away, I turn to face her and try for a second Double Accel, snapping into pce right in front of the senior student.

  “Practicing, like Ms. Yu-Mi told me. Is that a problem?” I respond coolly, not wanting to waste my time with a teacher who clearly doesn’t pn to teach. Miyabi’s eyes narrow, but she doesn’t protest, sensing that it’s a losing battle.

  I ignore her for the rest of the day, an action replicated by the bitchy uppercssman, managing to shorten the dey between each Accel, while Rana keeps working on her own Accel Turn, until the message goes around that dinner’s ready.

  It turns out that tonight’s meal was prepared by Rinslet, Chihaya, and a pair of Limiters. Morrison, Arnett’s Limiter, and Abel, the partner of Ticy Phenyl. I approach to ask if there’s anything I can do to help, but I’m waved off, leaving me to simply collect a pte. I serve myself a portion of leek and potato pie, grilled chicken, and a big pstic gss of water, sitting at one of the tables and picking up my knife and fork. I’m joined by Kaho, Rana, Arnett and one of Miyabi’s Limiters.

  I chat quietly with Arnett, and she cackles softly, “I CAN NOT believe you! Where was THAT during our duel? I’d probably have lost faster if you’d been able to pull a move like that out of the bag! You had my respect, but now you have my admiration as well!”

  Kaho nods. “That was amazing! I don’t think I’ve ever heard of a first-year managing to do a Double Accel so soon in their training…”

  I blush a little, chewing a bite of chicken and sipping from the pstic tumbler of cold, refreshing water. Miyabi’s pet Limiter chews idly on his own food, before leaning in.

  “Y’know, you really shouldn’t antagonize Miss Miyabi. She’s very sensitive about her reputation. Showing off like that will really get under her skin.”

  I sit up, staring at him. “Are you intoxicated in some form?”

  He blinks, confused. “N-no, why?”

  I set my fork down. “Because I can’t imagine any other way in which you could mistake me simply trying to improve my skills while my trainer is absent for ‘showing off’. It’s not my fault that I want to live through my first battle with a Nova, regardless of whether my senpai is willing to teach me.”

  He colours. “Still, you should be more respectful-!”

  Arnett chuckles dangerously. “Respect? Are you a complete MORON? The Limiter Eater only has respect for herself. You aren’t the first Limiter she’s stolen from another Pandora, used up and discarded once she’s bored, and you won’t be the st, I can tell you that.”

  Rana smirks, covering her mouth with one hand, as the Limiter splutters, his face a mixture of shock and outrage, I finish my food and get up, ready to leave for the baths. Rana follows. “Akari, I do not think you should be left on the alone. You have made an enemy of the third-year instructor…”

  I pause, and then nod. “That makes sense. I don’t think she really likes me at all.”

  As we cause our Volt textures to vanish and grab towels, heading into the baths, among the steam and other girls. Finding a spot to one side, I make sure I keep my eyes on the doorway, just in case. I don’t really think it likely that Miyabi will try something right now, but I’d rather not take the risk.

  After a nice bath, I emerge in my Volt texture, to find the Limiter from dinner waiting outside. I give him a look of distaste. “I really hope you aren’t skulking around the girls’ bathhouse for any untoward reason.”

  “No, no. I… I was asked to bring you to Miss Miyabi.”

  “I see. Well, please extend my apologies to your Pandora, but I have other pns tonight. Good evening.” I make to walk around him, before he steps in front again.

  “This isn’t a request.”

  I step the other way, but he moves to block me. I start to bridle. “I have no intention of meeting with someone who clearly dislikes me and could very easily wish me harm. Now, would you please get out of my way?”

  The Limiter starts protesting that ‘Miss Miyabi means no harm’, but I tap Rana’s elbow and we dart around to either side, as a few girls leave the baths and start calling him a creep. While he tries to cim his innocence, the two of us make our escape.

  Back at our tent, Rana and I fill Rinslet and Annabelle in on the events that just happened.

  “What a creep!” Annabelle huffs, with the shyer Pandora nodding decisively.

  “Y-yeah, that sounds awful… I’m gd you’re both o-okay…”

  I sigh. “I don’t think she’s going to be pleased that I… ‘Declined’ her little invitation tonight. But, at least she won’t be able to do much during the day. There will be too many eyes on us.”

  Rana nods. “I will be with you all day, too. Leaving you to be alone with Miyabi is not to happen.”

  I get into my sleeping-bag as Annabelle turns the mp off, trying to soothe my troubled heart. If Miyabi gets her way, she could do some very nasty things… and from what Arnett said, she’s got a habit of taking Limiters she likes from their partners and throwing them away when she’s had her fun with them…

  I wake as dawn threatens to think about seriously happening, as I have so many times before, thanks to my grandfather’s training, sitting up and waiting for the rest of my tentmates to awaken. They come to over the next thirty or so minutes, and Rana’s the first to stir. Then the nervous Rinslet, and finally Annabelle. I smile, already in my Volt texture.

  “Good morning, dies.”

  Sleepy, mumbled greetings come my way as I stand, brushing my skirt into position. “I guess it’s close to breakfast time. Shall we go?”

  A trio of fshes of cyan light, and the uniforms of our school take form on each girl’s body as the four of us get ready to leave our tent. The cool mountain air is fresh and clean, and I draw a deep breath, savouring the early-morning quiet, before making our way to the dining area. Ms Yu-Mi’s already there, and I sit down beside her.

  “Sensei, could I talk to you about something?”

  The teacher sips from her mug of coffee, turning her head to face me. “Of course, what is it?”

  I take a deep breath. “I… I think Miyabi’s is after me for ‘embarrassing her’ yesterday. She sent one of her Limiters to fetch me st night, and he was waiting outside the girls’ bathhouse when I was leaving.”

  Ms Yu-Mi stills, her mug halfway between table and mouth. “I… see. Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I’ll have her observed for the rest of the training camp, and punish her when we get back to West genetics. I’m guessing you’d rather not provoke her?”

  I nod. “That’s right. She’s already kinda out for vengeance thanks to you stopping her from slipping off to ‘entertain’ herself yesterday.”

  Ms Yu-Mi colours a little, but doesn’t say anything. I finish my breakfast, waiting for Rana to finish, before we head out to pick out a training spot. We begin with stretching, warming up steadily as we prepare for our daily training. I summon my Volt weapon, drawing Odin and running through the basics of my family’s sword-style, as Rana does the same, her fists fshing as she performs a series of blisteringly-fast strikes.

  A third-year Pandora with short, left-parted hair, gsses, and a slender physique wanders towards me. “Hey there. I saw your performance yesterday. Could you show me again? I’d love a closer look.” She asks politely, and I nod after a few moments. Jogging away, I make enough space to get off a double Accel, smming to a halt just a few metres short of the unfamiliar third-year.

  She cps, beaming. “Amazing! You’ve got some serious talent! Oh, I should introduce myself. I’m Shion Nayfield; it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

  I bow politely. “It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Shion. I’m Akari, first-year. Can I help you with anything else?”

  She leans a hand on one hip, adjusting her gsses. “Yes, actually. I was wondering if you had any interest in joining one of the clubs on campus? We have a fairly-wide variety, so I’m sure there’s something to suit you!”

  I blink. “This seems a little sudden. We’re not even at school right now, I haven’t even thought about clubs-”

  Miyabi’s voice interrupts me.

  “If you have time to gossip, you have time to train! Get on with it!”

  Shion’s back straightens. I can hear her griping, “Ugh, Kannazuki… someone needs to kick her ass across the mountain, so help me God…”

  Turning, the two third-years face off against each other. “I was the one who approached her. I was informing her of the clubs we have on-campus and urged her to give joining one some thought.”

  Miyabi folds her arms under her breasts, emphasizing her sizable bust. “I don’t really care, Shion. If you don’t stay away from MY trainees, we’re going to have problems.”

  Shion’s eyes narrow behind her gsses, but she doesn’t push the issue. I get the feeling that, although she’s strong, she might not be willing to risk starting a fight right now. She breaks the locked gaze, looking towards me.

  “I hope you’ll give some thought to joining a club at some point. I’ll see you around.” She bows to me and leaves. Miyabi smirks proudly, and I distance myself with running my routines, wielding my Odin. I make sure to perform sloppily enough that, if Miyabi wants to pick an actual fight, she’ll underestimate me, though it galls me to show my grandfather’s sword-style in such poor light.

  Sorry, grandfather, but I’m going to need every edge I can muster against a third-year Pandora…