Lunch passed and finally came the fifth period. I now have Physical Education, or so they call it here, AST. Advanced Streia Training. From the name, I can already guess that it'll be hard but it all depends on what we're doing.
Currently, we're in the boys' locker room, changing into our training uniform.
'So, this lesson seems different from PE. What are we going to do?'
I asked Tatsuya as I finished changing.
'To be honest, I have no clue.'
'What? Haven't you done it before?'
He closed his locker and looked at me with a plain look.
'Nope. We started school last week, but our real lessons started today.'
Guess I don't know what to expect.
We were wearing black spandex, a customised blue t-shirt and shorts. Looking at myself in the mirror reminded me of an athlete for some reason. Tatsuya grabbed me and we made our way toward the training grounds.
When we got there, there were around half of the class but after a five-minute wait, everyone came, including Ai-nee.
'Okay, seems like everybody is here.'
She scanned the crowd and nodded once she confirmed it for herself.
'What will we be doing, Ms Sasaki?'
'I was going to get onto that.'
Ai-nee reached into her pocket and took out–what seemed to be–a small, white, remote. Clicking on one of the buttons, showed a large holographic screen. It had every student in a set group. All of them were groups of three. All of them but one.
'Let me make this clear. Throughout your life here at Altheria, you will have a group that will be as close as family. That group is called a squadron. They will be your true allies from now on.'
As Ai-nee stopped for a second, the class suddenly became rowdy. She hushed them down before speaking once more.
'As you can see, there is one group with two people. That is Tatsuya and Emika's group but since we have the transfer students, we can easily fill that gap.'
'Wait...'
Hikari said.
'If there're two transfer students and one place in that group, where will the other go?'
The teacher sighed while shaking her head.
'I don't see how that's your problem but I'll explain for convenience.'
She pressed another button on the remote. The screen switched. There were four names. It said the following:
Emika Kaneko
Tatsuya Aikura
Shoya Sasaki
Kuroha
'With the permission of Principal Mori, we have decided to have both transfer students into that squad because of chemistry and relationships.'
Hikari seemed slightly nervous and irritated.
'It's only for them? Their group is decided by chemistry and relationships?'
Is she trying to rile up Ai-nee? Why would she do that?
'Listen here, Hikari. You came here to learn and train, not to doubt your school and teacher. If you have a problem with how the squadrons were decided, then leave and attend another school. This applies to everyone else too.'
Ai-nee had sharp daggers in her eyes and she spoke. Definitely different from how she is at home. Clapping her hands together, she brightened up.
'Don't worry, all the groups were decided by chemistry and relationships, so you'll see that you're with your friends or people you have connections with!'
She said, happily.
Talk about a quick change of personality.
'Now, for this lesson, it'll be something simple. All you need to do is converse with your squadron. Ah, and make a name for your squad and assign a leader too. It'll save me some time.'
Ai-nee added the latter on with a relieved expression.
Some people weren't bothered by this, while others were either indifferent or annoyed by her instructions. I mean, I can see why. I guess they were expecting to train their abilities, or whatever, but Ai-nee is making it clear that they won't.
'Is that really all we need to do until the end of the sixth period?'
Tatsuya asked.
'Yeah, that's all. This is the only lesson where I was given instructions for you all to fulfil. Those instructions were "for the students to get into their squadrons and get to know each other. All while assigning a team leader and team name."'
There were a few who wanted to retort, like Hikari, but they stayed silent. Everyone scattered and sat in their groups around the training grounds while Ai-nee was smoking a cigar.
Kuro sat next to me and Emika sat next to Tatsuya. Emika would often send her glance my way but she was stopped when Kuro gave her a stern stare.
'So... Why don't we introduce ourselves?'
I asked, trying to get things started.
'We all know each other. The only one who needs to is...'
All of us turned to Kuro, who was still glaring at Emika. Once she noticed our stares, she innocently smiled.
'You should all know that I'm Kuroha.'
One hell of an introduction.
'Now that we're done with that–'
We're going to continue?!
'–I think Shou should be the leader!'
Tatsuya shouted, moving over to me and dragging me toward his chest by reeling me in with his arm.
'M-me?! No... I couldn't possib–'
'I think Shoya should do it too.'
Kuro said.
I looked at her with a surprised expression. She sent me a nasty sneer. I held back my anger.
'No. Seriously, guys, I don't think I sho–'
'I also think you should do it, Shoya.'
Emika said, twiddling her fingers together with red cheeks.
No, not you too Emika!
'Then it's decided, Shoya, you'll be our leader!'
Wait, but this is seriously bad. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do as a leader. I don't even have a grasp on my ability yet! My school life has already taken a major turn. A turn that I never wanted to take!
I swear... I'm going to get Kuro back for that later!
'Now we just need a name.'
Kuro spoke, looking up at the sky.
'We need to prove that we're above everyone else.'
'Then how about Kaiser? It means emperor in German.'
As I began talking, everyone's eyes turned to me. They all had a sort of indifference in their gazes.
'I thought you didn't want to be the squadron leader?'
Kuro riposted.
'Gah! I'm only suggesting a name for the team!'
In the end, I became the squadron leader and we went with the name, Team Kaiser.