Random student #1: “Hey! Referee!! What’s taking you so long?! Didn’t you volunteer? Why weren’t you prepared for this! Useless normie!”

Random student #2: “If you’ve got cold feet, then go home! Go home, go home! You can get killed by coming to this school! You’re better off at a normal academic institute where you can have it easy! At least over there your talents would actually fit your environment! You can’t do shit for us so just go home already!!”

Random student #3: “You don’t belong here! Haha – you’re just a puny weak *Boom!* -- weakling! Hurry up and get out of here you pathetic *Boom!* - pathetic powerless damsel in distress! Haha-”

*BOOM!*

Random student #3: ”...Haha-”

*Boom!*

Random student #3: “…”

…

Random student #3: “Ha-”

*BOOM!!!*

Random student#3: “DAMMIT! IS SOMEBODY DOING THAT ON PURPOSE? GET OUT HERE AND SHOW YOURSELF!”

*BOOOM!* *BOOM!* *BOOM!*

Random Student #3: “...”

………

Random Spectator #1: “Huh? Whazzat?”

*BOOOOM!* *BOOOOOM!*

Random Spectator #2: “Is the world ending...?”

*BOOM!*

Every Hall connected to the arena fiercely vibrated. Echoing Booms thundered throughout the vicinity.

And it grew louder, faster.

…

Until finally…

*BOOM!*

A section of wall broke, scattering along the platform that worked to safely cover the arena’s natural field used for terrain battles and obstacle course racing. Out of it stepped forth a girl about 6 foot five. Her well toned muscles and hardened physique outshone what little feminine features she took massive pride in: but one such proud womanly ‘trait’, at least in her eyes, would be her hair. She sported the non-combatant’s badge attached to her newly donned referee’s outfit that worked to cover her school non-combatant’s uniform.

Her name was Ophelia.

Random student #2: “What the hell…? Who – just who is this girl… she’s ripped!”

Random Spectator #4: “Monster...she just broke through steel and concrete...She’s a monster!!”

Random student #4: “That is NOT a non-combatant. Students from the non-combatant division should be… well – weaker than her!”

Her stomps were heavy. They especially echoed inside of the silent atmosphere, as spectators were left flabbergasted. With mouths agape in a coalescence of both fear and surprise, everybody watched in awe while this muscular referee made her way towards the stage. Their throats still felt hoarse from all the rasp outcries shouted against this late referee. Now that they got a good look at her – they couldn’t be happier for having an excuse to remain silent.

Oliviera: “Oh, a text. The teacher says he found Rise wandering the halls because he got lost too, like Noel. Hmhm, interesting~. *mun-* Pffffft...!

That height! Those muscles!

...That face!

I-Is that Ophelia?! That’s – That’s her right?! I’m not just *rubs eyes* - I’m not just seeing things?!”

Elijah: “Ophelia?!”

At this point Elijah actually jumped out of his chair in exasperated bewilderment. That...That really IS her! Isn’t that the same girl that timidly hid behind a twelve year old who was only half her height?

Elijah: “Just what...is going on here…? Granted, I don’t know her very well, but…

…

...Was she always this bold? Just what happened to her on her way to the nurses office?”

…

Going back in time a bit.

Ian: “Haha – I am a genius! Look it’s the nurses office!

Aria: “...That says student participants only…”

The two of them took a nervous gander at her injury. It looked pretty severe, with blood coated down the skirt in twin streaks. Where her knees were covered up, red flakes were beginning to darken and solidify to the skin.

Aria: “That looks...pretty – ew, painful.”

Ian: “Sorry that I took the new bandages off before checking the sign first. If it hurts then I can pluck out a brand new gauze for you real quick and-”

Ophelia: “I’m fine. It hurts a little, but trust me when I say that this feels a lot less painful than how it looks to you all. It looks worse than it feels, I’m okay to keep going.

Mr. Reeds: “Hmmm. No, it’s better not to risk it. An injury is still an injury no matter how severe, besides - I’m sure you won’t be turned down for treatment just because you’re not an active participant in today’s scheduled events.

I wish I was a healing type of hero though: That way I can do more for you young’uns than just drag you down.”

For a brief moment the wily elderly man tucked his cane underneath his armpit and began stroking away, at his short beard. He pondered for countable moments of silence with both of his wide, blue eyes shut.

...

Unexpectedly, one of those eyes opened in his wounded student’s direction, while both lips pried themselves ajar, as if to speak.

Mr. Reeds: “Ophelia, I do have an idea, but I wonder if you’ll be willing to agree to it or not?”

Ophelia: “...Depends.”

Mr. Reeds: “Well, this nurse station says you have to be a participant to enter and get checked, no?”

Ophelia double checks the sign posted outside of the nurse station’s door. Yep: it says exactly that.

‘Building personnel and equivalent staff may Enter. Guaranteed arena participants Only. Non-participants are not permitted Entry.’

Ophelia: “Yes it says so on that sign board there.”

Mr. Reeds: “Then… Ahem! Okay, it appears we have two options here.”

Aria: “I… I don’t know how I can help – I can’t think about what to DO! And to top it all off – we didn’t go to the right nurses station! Aaah, I wonder if we’ll even be able to watch the Orientation matches before they end...Ah! N-Not that I’m in a rush or anything –- I - I mean your injury comes first and I completely understand that you’ve been hold on and trying very hard not to make any of us feel bad for you by not complaining or anything ehehehe. I didn’t mean to imply that any of this is your fault so please don’t take it that way! I - I – I.… sorry.”

Ian: “Yeah...me too. If only I didn’t insist on leading all of us instead of going by Mr. Reeds’s instruction, then we probably would have found one quicker or at least located the right hallway by now. I also apologize.”

Mr. Reeds: “Well, Ophelia. As I mentioned previously, you have two options ready and waiting for you. Number one: You can go down a ways that - a – way, make a few left turns then once you reach a white hall, take only 34 steps and turn right 5 times. There should be a nurse for spectators if my memory serves me correct.”

Ian: “That sounds--”

Ophelia: “Okay.”

Ian: “What?! But… do you even remember everything he said??”

Ophelia: “...No, but I’ll manage.”

Mr. Reeds: “Hohoho~ You’re a stubborn one, aren’t ya? Don’t worry. There’s a second option. Much simpler too.

.

.

Why don’t we just pretend you’re volunteering to participate as a Referee? Nobody has to know the truth, and there’s not actually any need for refs since the referee for single bouts is still in good shape! Not only is this a much quicker method, but you probably will never be called upon...Probably.”

Ophelia: “...Volunteer, huh?”

Aria: “Whatever you decide, I’ll be here to support you!”

Ophelia: “...What do referees do?”

Mr. Reeds: “Just make sure that you officiate the match and enforce that all adopted match rules are being followed strictly. Any rule breakers are disqualified without hesitation.”

Aria: “Hm… That sounds really easy! Maybe I’ll volunteer too.”

Ian: “What are you saying?! EVERYBODY will be keeping an eye out for your EVERY action and call, especially so for us since we’re non-combatants! Do you like the thought of everyone screaming at you… How exactly is that easy?”

Aria: “Aa...Aaaah! No-No I change my mind! That sounds really scary!! *Shudder*”

Ian: “I agree. That’s why, Ophelia, given your timidity, you may want to-”

Ophelia: “I’ll do it.”

Ian: “...What?”

Aria: “Bu- But Ophelia! So many people!! All yelling at you!

………Aren’t you at least a little scared?”

Ian: “Yeah – Yeah! Come on, Ophelia, take it easy! I’ll...no. I can’t carry you… O-OH!! That’s it! What if I go and grab the nurse from the other station? You can wait here and that would be much safer! Mr. Reeds, could I bother you to possibly repeat-”

Ophelia: “No. Thanks for the offer, but I refuse. I...this is something that I want to really do.”

Aria: “Uuuu… you’re so *Sniff* - so brave! I’m rooting for you Ophelia! Go get them: I have complete confidence you can make a difference out there!”

One thing that went largely unnoticed by Aria and her peers, her pupils shrank ever so slightly: before changing shape into a set of stars and faintly letting off a soft glow.

.

.

The only person to take notice was Mr. Reeds, however he said nothing – opting instead, to remain a mere observer.

Ian: “...Okay. Hey! At least there’s a big chance you won’t be called even if you DO volunteer! Let’s… uhm….

Ho-How do we go about ‘volunteering’ you, anyways?”

Mr. Reeds: “Hohoho! You just leave that part to me! There’s no way anybody can say no to THIS charming physique!”

Ophelia: “…”

Aria: “…”

Ian: “…Charming……...

.

.

...Where?”

---