2017, Afternoon in the Shima Ward, Luckily, the city had managed to fix some of the damages it gained during the battles of last year. H.A.U’s and their smaller civilian counterparts helped to this end especially. The hum of power tools and clanking of machines were not something that was uncommon to hear nowadays. Though someone who wasn’t from there may have been annoyed, Tokyo’s natives? Not so much. Especially given how much progress they’d made in such a short time. Though, for one who was involved in such battles that caused the damages, their thoughts were not on the restoration itself, rather, how the government didn’t hound them about it...Anymore at the least. They were, as one would expect, within North Shima High School. The school was as it normally was at this time, with most of the students in their respective classes.

A floor above the first year classrooms, where the likes of Gouto moved around, there were the Second year classrooms. Within class 2-D, a certain chestnut-haired girl wrote down her notes as her teacher spoke. Though she looked somewhat older, the changes were mostly subtle, at the least, aside from her height. Looking to be about 2 inches taller. Beside her, was the class president, Tsuchiya Shizuko. Yudei sat on the other side of asami, though he was quiet, that was mostly because he wasn’t even awake... the Three were quiet, and the same could be said for those in the next room. 2-C, where the last Von Zaisen, or rather, the former last Von Zaisen, sat with a pudgy man with thin wired glasses. Though Alarick was somewhat taller than he was before, much to his chagrin, he still found himself the shortest among them all... At the least, he was taller than the girls, that was a start. Beside them, in 2-B, Megumi and Kasumi chattered, their words, for the most part, being about their plans that day. As for 2-A… Well, it wasn’t exactly like the other classes.

A broad-shouldered dark skinned youth sat in his seat, his expression blank. Though some things had changed about him, most noticeably, the wealth of facial hair that made its way onto his face. Compared to most of those there, at the least. Growing a thin mustache, and what could just barely pass as a small beard, Arctaius Corde.

“It’s been about six months since we got out of Tsugashuan and took care of that Kaemerge fiasco. Though we did, they were just the beginning of a chain reaction- considering how many government agents around the worlds proved to have worked with them, and how many ethnic conflicts started with nobody to stop them...Things became much less stable, Helped a bit, but it wasn’t as if it was my problem. We mostly had our own problems to focus on, So I never really helped outside of Yamato… I somehow managed to become a second year, along with the others… Though, even with this peace- it’s not like we’d stop training…”

A lighter skinned Auburn haired man beside him, of a mostly similar build leaned in beside him, as such, he glanced at his old ally, Kazimir Rhuskov.

“Taius, Lei thought that we should go do some training later, you up for that?”

Arctaius turned his gaze forward, as he leaned back into his chair, pausing for a moment.

“I would, but i’m going to go look for a new apartment with watanabe. I’m still not too keen on leeching off of Yudei’s parents…”

Kazimir squinted his eyes at this response, a clear display of his suspicion.

“Guess they aren't finished rebuilding then.”

He sighed.

“Something tells me they won't be for a while”

He went silent for a moment, before he spoke in a quieter tone.

“Damn that Yuutaro…”

Apparently, their conversation didn’t go unnoticed, as a pale-skinned woman at the front of the room glanced between the two. She looked to be in her 20’s at the most. Not as far off from any of the students there as most of the teachers. Though someone short, her body itself was well developed. Her red hair swayed as she made her way to the back of the room. As her pink eyes fell upon the two. Though, the two continued regardless.

“You two, chattering away again? We’re in the middle of class… Have you not realised you’re the only ones talking?”

As the two moved their gazes, they saw that she was there, Tanaka-Sensei.

“...Fine then.”

With this- Arctaius looked back at his desk, picking up his pencil.

“You of all people, listening to teachers? That’s still a surprise to me…”

Arctaius simply tapped his pencil on the desk.

“Believe me, i couldn’t care less about her being a teacher. It’s more that she isn’t nearly as much of a nuisance as that Gotou…”

She stood there with a blank expression, her eyes moving between the two.

“I’m still right here…You could at least wait until i'm in the front to start this routine.”

Arctaius looked at her once again, silent for a moment as he pondered a response.

“Why would i do that?”

Something which drew the gazes of much of the students’. Especially, one in the back, a few seats away from them.

“Yup..Sounds like him alright.”

Later that day, Alarick, Zhao, and Rhuskov found themselves standing in a circle, on the very same 3rd floor hallway. The shorter among them throwing a coin up and down in his hand.

“Looking for an apartment again, huh…”

He stopped.

“As if, that’s an obvious lie...He must be doing something else.”

Zhao nodded at his statement.

“Arctaius usually isn’t one to postpone training for no reason, especially with Jirou around. Those two never were willing to let one surpass the other.”

Kazimir placed his hand on his chin in thought as he looked up at the ceiling.

“I do wonder what he might be doing… But, not really our business.”

Unbeknownst to them, another one of them was approaching, an orange haired boy around their age. High school bag slung over his shoulder Though his look had changed somewhat, his hair having grown longer in the past months, most could still recognize him. And, of course, he could recognize the ones who spoke about his old friend. As he saw the three, he turned the corner and began to walk toward them,and then, he spoke.

“I can help you with that…”

The Familiar voice caught their attention, as they glanced over, seeing the boy with a smirk plastered on his face. Kazimir turned his body, now facing him.

“Ketamura?”

Alarick turned as well.

“Knowing you, I'm guessing you know something we don’t.”

Akashi soon made a finger gun, pointing at him.

“Ding Ding, we got a winner. For a while now, I’ve seen Asami and Arctaius walking around together lately...On what may be, dare I say, A date…”

Soon, they were joined by two more of their group, Yudei, and Shinto, who came in, reforming the circle they previously had. Yudei was the first of them to speak.

“Well, that’s interesting indeed… But what are you gonna do with this information?”

Ketamura glanced at him.

“What else… I’m gonna make some closer observations…”

Alarick turned his gaze away from him as he began throwing the coin once again.

“ ‘Observations’? as if, he’ll sense you long before you get close to him.”

Yudei nodded.

“He has every time you tried to sneak up on him these past years…”

Shinto pushed his glasses up.

“Agreed- It is my belief that you will be detected long before you enter close range.”

Ketamura glanced at shinto as he spoke, parting his lips to respond.

“Don’t worry about that… I just have to observe from a distance…”

Alarick scratched the back of his head, as he began to walk away.

“Well, that’s your business… I’m gonna go get something to eat.”

Kazimir followed.

“Well, I may as well go too, you’re buying, right?”

The blonde raised an eyebrow as he glanced at him

“Why would I do that…”

Alarick and Kazimir soon walked down the hall, before descending down the stairs. Zhao soon joined them, waving at the three youths as he did so. Ketamura, however, paid this no mind, as he looked out of the school’s window, and took notice of something.

“Well, look who it is!”

Walking toward the school’s gates were Asami and Arctaius. Yudei stepped forward, his gaze moving to the two as well. Though, he would glance at Akashi soon after.

“Akashi, why exactly are you doing this again?”

“Because i’m bored… Not really much else to do, don't work until tomorrow. Well, I'm off!!”

With this, Ketamura dashed off as well. Making his way down the stairs. Yudei faceplamed, as he sighed.

“I have pilot training anyway…”

Yudei began to walk in the other direction, not willing to get involved in his friend’s antics, as much as usual, at the least. Elsewhere, Arctaius and Asami continued their stroll in silence, ignoring the crowds of students that traveled with them. Asami stepped closer to him, as he began to speak.

“At least you actually showed up this time… Need I mention all those times you ran off to fight, or train with those three… Even after all that time, I guess some things haven't changed.”

Arctaius shrugged.

“I don’t see a problem… Never know when a new enemy could pop up. Or someone worth fighting.”

She only responded to his apparent aggression with a raised eyebrow.

“Enemy this, fighting that. You took care of the kaemerge, didn’t you?”

“The main force. Though we stomped out most of them, and Ardam revealed his true colors, what’s left of the noble clans are probably running around somewhere…”

Silence soon returned between the two, as they exited the gates, and turned, beginning their walk to the west. As they did so, Asami stepped closer to Arctaius once again, grasping his hand, then holding it. Arctaius, however, does not stop her, continuing to walk with her… For a short time at least. Soon enough, he removed his hand. Asami glanced at him in her confusion, and parted her lips to speak, until she heard a familiar voice.

“Oi-- Taiu-”

However, even with the time passed, the results did not change, As Akashi found himself crashing into Corde’s arm once again. An event that didn’t go unnoticed by those around them. Chatters began between them as Arctaius turned, putting out his hand, with Akashi grasping it, and being pulled up to his feet.

“Akashi...I’ve explained this before, you can’t sneak up on me…”

“While that’s true, that’s not the point here. What’s going on with you two? I thought you were just friends.”

Though one would usually expect to see a blush on her face, she seemed to be composed.

“Of course we are… Why would you think anything else?”

Ketamura’s smirk grew as he began to walk closer to them.

“So a boy and a girl who are- “Just friends” walking down the street, holding hands, acting all lovey-dovey is nothing.”

Once again, there was no blush, but this much made Asami turn away, looking in the opposite direction as she spoke.

“Believe what you want… But, I know this is just a meeting, between friends, does everyone not do that?”

“Even if you say that, I just think i'm getting closer to the truth… I think i have a good idea of what’s going on here…”

She glanced back at him once again.

“And what would that be? “

“Perhaps you were just hoping for something extra…”

He nudged her, and soon the three stood in silence. All the while, Asami stood there confused, what did he mean something extr… Oh. Soon, as she realized his intent, Asami’s face turned red like a tomato, as Akashi chuckled, or at the least, he did until he was thrown back by a slap from Asami. Who would soon begin yelling.

“That’s what you thought this was? I don’t know how you came up with that, but you’re dead wrong!”

She huffed as she turned her attention from Ketamura, to the crowd that had formed around them. Great, embarrassed twice in three minutes. Not willing to stay there, Asami began to briskly walk in the other direction. With Arctaius glanced over, watching as she did… Elsewhere, Akashi watched as she left from the ground, putting his thumb up.

“Worth it.”

Elsewhere, three of the four watched this with burgers in hand. As Alarick finished, he flung the paper that held his into the trash.

“Well then, that went about as well as I expected…”

Kazimir soon did the same.

“Whew, she was livid. Though, I do wonder how she got that strong…”

Zhao turned on his heel.

“Likely training… I’m going to go do that.”

“Alright then…”

“I think I'm gonna meet up with Junko if we’re not training, so i’ll see you guys later.”

As the three began walking away, a violet haired girl, Tsuchiya, stepped into Akashi’s view, raising an eyebrow as she noted him sitting on the ground.

“What did he get into this time? Bet it was related to that Corde guy somehow.”

The man himself, however, either didn’t notice, or didn't care. Instead, he watched as Asami walked away. Though, rather than pursue her, he simply walked onto the opposing street.

“Oh well… Guess I'll just see if i can find Tadashi and Kenzo around here.”

Unbeknownst to all of those there, however, something else was taking place right under their noses. On the rooftop of one of shima’s many buildings, space seemed to warp, as, with a flash of light, a red vortex appeared. But, that was not the strangest thing, no. The portal could be explained by it being some Proto-human. It was what came out that was truly strange. A humanoid skull-clad beast, about 10 feet tall in height, humanoid, made its way outward. It’s thick fur blew in the winds around it. As it began moving it’s gaze around the city… Though it remained unseen for now, would that be the case for long?

To Be Continued