Alpha Group

Today is the first day for the students of St. Emillion Magic Academy to enter school.

Whether Junior Level, Middle Level, or Senior Level, it's worth noting that, like regular schools, St. Emillion Magic Academy has a 12-year education system. In Junior Level, students are separated by gender.

Upon graduating from Junior Level, the headmaster and the faculty immediately group the students based on their abilities. When they enter Middle Level, they are required to stay in dormitories with two students who will later become their group members.

Both male and female students will know who else from other sections is in the same class as theirs.

However, both the male and female groups do not know which group they will be combined with.

St. Emillion Magic Academy implements a fieldwork education system where two different section groups are merged and mentored by alumni. This is aimed at enabling both parties to collaborate with each other.

Usually, if a class consisting of 18 students (3 groups) makes significant progress, they may be allowed to graduate earlier than the standard.

****************

"My name is Kanade; I am the homeroom teacher for Margery class. Here, I will explain the Middle Level system to you. The three of you will guide a group you chose yesterday. You will also observe their abilities in obtaining Holys to enhance their skills," explained Kanade, the homeroom teacher for the Margery class.

"Understood," said the three of them.

Then Kanade led the three of them to the Margery classroom.

Just as they opened the classroom door, they were startled by the sound of a desk flipping forward.

"BRAKK!!!"

****************

An hour earlier, the Margery class students entered their classroom, including Akiko, Hanada, and Zakuro. They were choosing where to sit.

"Akiko-Chii, how about we sit at the back?" Zakuro suggested.

"Sure. I can rest peacefully at the back," Akiko agreed with Zakuro's suggestion.

"We'll only be in class for a short time. Sometimes, we'll be called for field practice outside the school," Hanada said.

"No problem. After all, a comfortable seating position should be considered," Akiko replied.

"Especially since I'm still shocked that the trio of idiots is in the same class as us," she continued in her thoughts.

They then chose corner seats at the back.

"I'll sit here," Zakuro pointed to the seat she chose.

"I'm here," Hanada said, holding onto her chosen seat.

"And I..."

Just as Akiko grabbed her seat, someone else's hand also grabbed it, making them lock eyes.

"I didn't expect to be in the same class as you," Sasuke said, holding one side of the seat.

"I should be the one saying that. With our difference in abilities, you shouldn't be in the same class as me," Akiko replied, holding the other side of the seat that Sasuke didn't touch.

They continued to lock eyes while holding the seat's sides.

"Enough. Sasuke, let's find another seat," Igarashi intervened, but Sasuke ignored him.

"I don't want to."

"Akiko-Chii, how about you sit over there?" Zakuro suggested, pointing to the seat next to her.

"I want to sit here," Akiko said, still holding onto the seat.

"Both of you, stop being selfish," Hanada tried to stop any potential trouble.

Unbeknownst to the six students, they had already attracted the attention of the entire class.

While the two stubborn ones continued with their issue.

"You annoying girl, get away from my sight," Sasuke mocked.

"You go away, damn you. This is mine," Akiko replied. "I'm leaving. And let go of this seat for me," she continued.

"Never," Sasuke replied. "You go away. And resign yourself to give up this seat for me," he continued.

"I'll never. Damn half-devil boy," Akiko retorted. "This is mine," she continued.

"Get lost. And accept that this seat is mine," Sasuke replied.

Without realizing it, Akiko threw the seat forward, surprising the whole class except Sasuke.

"I think I need to teach you a lesson first," Akiko said with anger, pulling out her mace.

"Stupid move." Sasuke was already prepared with darts and needles between his fingers.

"Both of you, stop acting foolishly," Sakuraba, who had been silent until now, panicked watching his two friends holding their respective weapons.

Before Akiko and Sasuke could attack each other, the teacher started opening the classroom door and stopped both of them.

"Akiko-San, Sasuke-san, put down your weapons or leave my class now," Kanade commanded, intervening and stopping their potential fight.

They then chose to disarm, and Akiko quickly picked up the seat she threw earlier.

Then the three mentors who were outside entered after being allowed in.

****************

After the distribution of study groups, the three groups were asked to form a semicircle. The same goes for Group Alpha, where Akiko and Sasuke chose the far ends on both sides to avoid harming each other.

"Alright. Let me introduce myself. My name is Azuna. I am assigned to be your mentor. Now I want to know each of you a bit more," Azuna greeted and then asked her students to introduce themselves.

"How about we just lend you our ID cards?" Sakuraba suggested.

"Communication is important. I want you to introduce yourselves with words, not cards," Azuna politely refused.

"That's fine for us, but I'm already tired of their attitudes. They will provoke each other's emotions. So please consider this as a compromise," Igarashi provided a reasonable reason for Sakuraba's suggestion.

"Sorry. Still can't do that," Azuna refused again. As if her decision was final.

"Starting with you, miss!" She continued, commanding Akiko.

"Akiko, 14 years old. Alumni of Terra class during Junior Academy," Akiko introduced herself.

"You're next."

"Sasuke, 13 years old. Alumni of Orion class."

"Igarashi, 14 years old. From Orion class."

"Sakuraba, 14 years old. I am an Alumni of Orion class."

"My name is Hanada, I am 13 years old. I am an Alumni of Terra class. Nice to meet you."

"My name is Zakuro, 12 years old. I am an Alumni of Terra class." Sasuke answered, followed by Igarashi, Sakuraba, Hanada, and Zakuro.

"For now, I just want to get to know you all. Meet me at Base 066 this afternoon with the St. Emillion Magic Academy Pride Uniform," explained Azuna before leaving them all. The other two mentors followed suit.

"Alright, everyone, turn back to face here," ordered Kanade, making them face her.

""Today marks your first day as wizards. Even though you're still in the amateur stage, you're no longer in the Junior Level, where you only use your magic for personal enjoyment. In the Middle Level, you'll spend 3 days at school and 3 days training in the field with your mentors. When you get a turn for Field Practice that takes more than 3 days, you must request a permission letter from the school staff. And don't forget to submit an official letter from the city staff as proof," explained Kanade.

"UNDERSTAND?" Kanade continued.

"UNDERSTAND!" responded the eighteen students.

"Akiko-San and Sasuke-San, after this, report to the teacher's room," ordered Kanade, warning the two troublemakers.

"Fine," they replied lazily. They glanced at each other before turning away dismissively.

"Tch," they uttered while shifting their gaze.

Their four friends could only resign themselves to the situation.

****************

During the break, Akiko and Sasuke were asked to go to the teacher's room, accompanied by Sakuraba and Zakuro to avoid conflicts between them.

Igarashi took advantage of this opportunity to change his class uniform to the St. Emillion Magic Academy Pride Uniform. Unlike the regular uniform, this one had an emblem with intricately crafted wings and a purple ribbon on the left side of the chest. It also included a red cape on the outside and inside, extending down to his thighs, with both sides connected by gold-colored strings. The St.EMAPU for their generation this year was in red-black with a hint of gray. Sasuke decided to wait for them on a school bench near the teacher's room.

"Stop hiding. Come out," commanded Igarashi to someone.

Then, from behind a tree, Hanada emerged with her St.EMAPU. Unlike the boys, her cape only reached her back, but its color matched, and Hanada had a red ribbon. Hanada then approached Igarashi.

"That uniform suits you well, Igarashi-kun," praised Hanada with a smile on her face. However, Igarashi didn't respond to Hanada's compliment; he remained silent, staring straight ahead.

"Igarashi-kun," called Hanada gently.

"Hn," replied Igarashi indifferently.

"Can we go back to being the six of us like before? Where we can be friends regardless of our backgrounds? We used to play together, where Zakuro-Chan and Sasuke-Kun did silly and funny things, and you and Akiko-Chan would reprimand them, while Sakuraba-kun and I could only watch in resignation," said Hanada, reminiscing about the past.

"The past is just the past," Igarashi said after a long silence.

"Eh?"

"You, Akiko, and Zakuro. You're all the same," continued Igarashi, slightly raising his voice. "I-Igarashi-kun."

"WHAT?" Igarashi snapped at Hanada.

Hanada, wanting to say something to Igarashi, fell silent again.

"If we were wrong to you all, we apologize. I want us all to reconcile," Hanada replied in a very soft tone. "Besides, I also..."

"What are you doing here?" Sasuke's voice interrupted Igarashi and Hanada's conversation.

"Are you done?" Igarashi asked, getting up from his seat, which was then answered by nods from Sasuke and Sakuraba.

"Let's go," Igarashi said, leaving Hanada behind. Then followed by Sasuke and Sakuraba.

"Hanada, Akiko and Zakuro want you to meet them in your dorm room. And don't take too long. We have to gather at base 066 in 30 minutes," Sakuraba said before leaving Hanada to follow his two friends.

Hanada then returned to the women's dorm with tears wetting her cheeks.

****************

"Hanada, where are you from?" Akiko asked, adjusting the way Zakuro's cape and emblem were worn.

"I just took a short walk," Hanada said, sitting on her bed.

"You didn't go to see Igarashi, did you?" Akiko confirmed.

"N-No," Hanada denied.

Akiko knew Hanada was lying to her. From Hanada's tone, it seemed like Igarashi said something that made Hanada cry. But Akiko chose to remain silent.

"We're done," Akiko said after adjusting Zakuro's St.EMAPU. Then the three of them headed towards the door and opened it.

"Let's go," Akiko invited her two friends.

Hanada and Zakuro nodded and quickly followed Akiko.

****************

"Hey, Igarashi," Sakuraba called, then sat next to Igarashi.

They were currently waiting for Sasuke, who was changing his uniform.

"What happened between you and Hanada?" Sakuraba asked, curious.

"It's none of your business," Igarashi replied curtly.

Sakuraba could only sigh. If things continued like this, their six-way friendship wouldn't be saved.

"Sometimes you have to listen to what Hanada says. You used to be friendly to her. Why have you changed like this?" Sakuraba expressed concern for Igarashi and Hanada.

"I said, be quiet," Igarashi replied, lowering his face even more.

"Don't talk about this issue," Igarashi requested.

"Creak."

From the direction of the bathroom, Sasuke appeared, ready with his St.EMAPU. Igarashi went to Sasuke and adjusted his orange ribbon that wasn't neat.

"You're already grown up. Pay attention to how you dress and stop acting spoiled," Igarashi said, responded by a grin on Sasuke's face.

"Sorry," Sasuke said, feeling unguilty.

Sakuraba, watching from a distance, could only smile.

"Let's go," Igarashi said after adjusting Sasuke's ribbon, then left their room, followed by Sasuke and Sakuraba.

Unbeknownst to them, a teardrop stained Igarashi's cheek.

To be continued.