70: Class Representative

"How are you feeling?" - Cloud asked with slight sarcasm as he saw how his old friend was on the ground, breathing heavily while shooting him an annoyed look.

"You're a monster" - muttered Ichika with every inch of his body hurting like hell.

"That's what happens when you train" - Cloud replied disdainfully - "That aside, you've improved quite a bit since we started."

"I just feel a world of pain" - Ichika replied with difficulty - "I don't feel any apparent improvement."

[Cloud is not lying, your performance has increased by at least 20% since you started training two days ago, that's an impressive improvement] - replied Chifuyu from the loudspeaker - [By the way, you'd better get ready, classes are about to start and today is the day when you'll have to choose the class representative]

"That's more normal than I expected" - said Cloud while shaking his head - "Seriously, stop crying and get up, this training is nothing compared to what some girls have to go through to even wish to pilot an [IS]..."

"Ok, ok, I'm getting up now" - Ichika replied as he made an effort to get up, only for the sound of something breaking to echo in the room, then to be followed by Ichika's scream, who simply couldn't hold back the pain.

* * * * *

"And now he's in the infirmary" - Cloud replied as he explained to Maya about the reason for Chifuyu and Ichika's absence.

"I-I see, although it's a bit worrying that you made him do all that training" - Maya said as she shook her head - "Although at the same time, this is perfect, after all, Orimura-kun had been behind in all the basic training."

Cloud simply nodded when he heard this as he walked towards his seat, only to notice how all the girls were looking at him curiously - "Is something wrong?"

"I-it's nothing!" - exclaimed the girls, who watched carefully as a few drops of water fell from his hair. Cloud had just gotten out of the shower after a long and intense hour of training, and since he was running late, he was unable to dry his hair properly.

Cloud shrugged before listening to Maya's instructions, who occasionally shot him a glance.

"Good morning, Cloud-san" - Cecilia said as she walked towards Cloud's desk.

"Good morning, princess" - Cloud replied with slight politeness.

"I'm trying to be polite enough to put our problems aside and start from scratch, that's why I expect you to at least do the same" - Cecilia said with annoyance as she crossed her arms.

"I'm being polite, princess is a simple nickname I'm giving, and not for the purpose of disrespecting you" - Cloud replied honestly.

"Oh, I see" - nodded Cecilia as she thought carefully - "Leaving that aside, I came to thank you for making me see the flaws I had in my personality, I had let my pride as a possible representative of my country get in the way of my main goal."

"You don't have to thank me, I only fought with you for personal reasons" - Cloud replied while shaking his head.

"I know, but this favor I won't forget" - Cecilia replied while blushing slightly - "That's why I'd like to invite you to lunch, so we can talk in more detail."

Cloud raised an eyebrow because this was not something that was expected - "I understand, although I think it's better that we leave this for another time, after all, Maya sensei is looking at you with annoyance."

Cecilia blushed before sitting down on the seat next to the young blonde, only to pass him a small note.

Cloud again raised an eyebrow as he read the contents - [How did you get so strong?]

[We'll talk about it later, though it's not as impressive a secret as you think] - Cloud replied as he turned his attention back to the teacher.

"W-Well, the last thing left to say, is that we're going to have to postpone the class rep election to next week" - Maya said awkwardly.

The girls let out a gasp of surprise as they looked to the teacher for answers.

"The matter is simple, we got a notification from the higher ups that we had to delay this election because new recruits will be coming to the classes soon" - replied Maya while shaking her head.

"Oh" - this seemed to calm down the girls, who simply nodded, after all, if those were the orders from the higher-ups, they couldn't do anything else.

* * * * *

And so the week flew by, a time in which Cloud had interacted more closely with Cecilia Alcott, who had approached him for advice on how to train. He had also begun to reconnect with his two childhood friends, who had also begun to join his training sessions, much to the annoyance of Cecilia, who seemed to have failed to get the opportunity to ask the blond if she could join them.

The other thing that had happened over the course of the last few days was that Ichika had finally received his own [IS], and to the surprise of the girls in the class, and Cecilia's annoyance, this was a personalized [IS], in other words, the ultimate honor that only a few possessed.

Ichika was happy with his [Byakushiki], and although he still wasn't adjusting to his new life, he was doing a good job, although there was something that bothered Cloud, and that was that the young man was becoming a bit condescending, to the point that he didn't want Houki's help because she wasn't piloting an [IS] yet.

In anger, Houki simply gave him the hardest punch she could before leaving the room, though not before hurling a few insults at the black-haired young man, who simply lay on the floor with a scowl on his face.

That left us with the current situation, the students gathered in so that we could get started with the election of the class representative for the academy's [IS] semester tournament.

"You may have already heard about this because the preparations have started for more than a week, but soon we will have the first tournament of this year between classes" - said Chifuyu while looking at his students - "The prize for the winner, will be that the class to which it belongs will be able to go to an island paradise to train, although that's just an excuse to spend a week at the beach."

The girls were thrilled when they heard this.

"The trip will be announced when the time is right" - Chifuyu said as she looked at her students - "Although I don't think you have time to worry about this when we don't even have a representative yet."

The girls calmed down at the teacher's words as they looked at Cloud, who was arguably the strongest in the class.

"I'm sorry, but Strife can't participate" - Chifuyu said as she understood what was going through the minds of her students - "Strife can't pilot an [IS], and the higher-ups made it clear that this tournament was for pilots only."

The girls frowned as they grumbled, though Chifuyu's attitude remained impassive.

"I nominate myself" - Cecilia said as she stood up with a condescending attitude due to her pride. If Cloud did not participate, she possibly the most qualified for the job, not to mention that this could show her worth to Cloud, who was possibly the best partner she could find not only for his looks, but also for his skill as a warrior.

"I nominate Orimura-kun" - another girl said, quickly gaining the support of her classmates.

"What!" - Cecilia exclaimed in surprise as she looked around - "But he's a rookie!"

Ichika frowned slightly because even though he didn't want to be the class representative, Cecilia's words had upset him more than he thought.

"Ok, I think that's enough" - Cloud said as he gained everyone's attention - "Seeing as we're not going to get anywhere arguing, I think the best option we have to solve this is simply a duel to see who will represent us."

The girls quickly accepted Cloud's words, not only because of his popularity, but also because this option was the most appropriate to solve the problem at hand.

"Then it's decided" - said Chifuyu while nodding - "Let's go to the fighting arena".

The girls quickly ran towards the mentioned place, while Cloud and Houki frowned at Ichika, who seemed to be excited about his first battle.

"I hope you have what it takes to fight me, Orimura-san" - Cecilia said as she prepared to leave, however, what she heard made her vision turn red.

"But you didn't last at all against Cloud" - Ichika said simply.

Cecilia shot him a furious glare as she felt her emotions getting out of control, though after a few seconds she returned to normal, showing how much she had grown up, after all, earlier she would have caused havoc by the black-haired young man's verbal attack.

"Yes, but you're not Cloud-san" - Cecilia replied as she retreated with an expressionless face, an expression that caused the young man to feel a shiver down his back.