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Kanaye smacked Saitsu's offered hand away, "That was just foolish, Saitsu." He shook his head and split away from the flocking masses, choosing instead to take a trip to his locker.

By the time he was halfway to his destination the halls were all but empty, save for a few late stragglers. Such as the rather flushed chubby freshman that half-ran half-stumbled past him as Kanaye's eyes burned into him while the huffing boy passed him by. A small growl expressed his disgust as the bouncing young lad made his way to the auditorium, even going so far as to fall and drop all of his books and whimper as he quickly gathered them before disappearing around the corner. Kanaye looked back at him for a few moments, wondering how the hell such a school could have even a single overweight student within it's esteemed halls.

This was only a momentary diversion and he continued on his detour quickly, turning a corner himself and coming across Aurora and a bumbling young man being dragged along by the arm. He smiled ever so slightly...She really doesn't ever change...He walked onward down the hallway to stand just next to the woman, coughing ever so slightly to get her attention, not even bothering to acknowledge the awkward girl who she was clearly about to address.

"LAST WARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. TODAY'S ASSEMBLY IN THE NORTH AUDITORIUM IS NOT OPTIONAL. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND; THOSE FOUND SKIPPING OUT WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY. I REPEAT, THIS IS YOUR LAST NOTICE. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE AUDITORIUM AT ONCE."

It seemed like that voice booming throughout the school's interior was growing more annoyed as there were evidently more than enough students still visible in the halls, a full ten minutes after the first announcement was made. In the auditorium itself, the evil emperor of all things horrible and corrupt in the universe, Vice Principal Kyunagi, sent the Nottori High Orchestra out in attempts to drown out the overwhelmingly - and surprisingly - boisterous crowd of students that just didn't seem to know the meaning of silence and attention.

Our humble hero in the meantime had long since completed his five-minute chef-d'oeuvre and spent his waiting moments nervously peeking between the curtains from backstage, immediately catching the absence of that fair damsel he swept in to rescue earlier. Turning back behind the curtain and striking a finger out towards the heavens in the midst of the entire student council, he assumed that heroic tongue once more, not minding who heard, "I knew I shouldn't have left her there! What if something has happened to her?! What if she was...attacked?! One of my arch rivals could've kidnapped her! That must be it! She needs me! DON'T WORRY EMILY, I'M COM--ACK!"

Before Book could utter another word and sprint off to the rescue, a rather annoyed hand yanked his arm clear out of the sky and gave him a series of firm slaps back-and-forth across the face, "NORI-KUN. YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SETTING AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR WONDERFUL HIGH SCHOOL. QUIT IT!" Miss Ayane, yet again, threw her hand on her hip and laid down the law the way that only an angry Japanese schoolgirl could. And naturally she looked damn fine doing it.

Book collapsed into the nearest chair behind him in a complete daze, a few of the more generous - and adoring - of the student council pulling out oversized fans and attempting to offer him whatever bit of relief they could manage. And in the meantime, the spotlight fell upon poor Miss Ayane, the ever-faithful drama queen harping on as she leapt atop a table backstage and attempted to rouse her student council to the task of the day's assembly.

"Why I have tried...s--so hard..and put in...so much work! Oh I can't do this!" She threw her face into her elbow as streams of insincere tears forced out, her vice president and essential lackey quickly handed the lass a handkerchief to recover, "Thank you, Aki-chan. You've..always been there for me." She sniffled before whipping about, wrapping a beaten up bandanna about her head.

"Now then! MY PEERS! TODAY WE MUST SHOW THEM NO SIGNS OF WEAKNESS! NO SIGNS OF FEAR! THIS IS OUR YEAR. THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE WAITED FOR. LET'S GO OUT THERE AND GIVE 'EM HELL. LADIES. GENTLEMEN. STUDENT COUNCIL OF NOTTORI HIGH SCHOOL...ASSEMBLE!!" Miss Ayane thrust her own hand towards the sky now as her fellow student council executive board leapt through the air and assembled by her sides!

Book, naturally, propelled himself to the front of the group and thrust both hands out in front of him, getting into the whole act.

"YEAH! TYRANNOSAURUS! GO-GO POWER RA--!" Before he could finish, a notebook was sent flying right into the boy's face. But the enthusiasm really wasn't his fault..was it?

"...."

Suddenly he turned to find the entirety of the Nottori High school student council staring at him, eyebrows arched and heads tilted sideways, dumbstruck.

"...This is our number one?"

He entered the auditorium, and raised an eyebrow at the bedlam he saw. Okay. Craziness aside, this is required why? Then he looked around before turning around to look at the hallways and seeing students still streaming out of them, noticing the woman from earlier, shaking his head as he watched, observing Aurora and Kat in the hallway some distance ahead of him.

Typical luscious girls. Then he shook his head, turning around then walking towards a seat to take over inside the auditorium. When he reached his chosen seat, he noticed that a pimply-faced boy had taken it over. "You mind moving?" His voice was calm, almost too calm, as he requested nicely.

When the boy denied his request, he sighed, then shook his head. "Very well then." He would then smack the boy aside, watching him fly over to the left, chucking as he smacked into a girl's bosom. Nice shot, if I do say so myself. He watched in amusement as the girl slapped around the boy, watched as the poor boy begged for forgiveness.

Wonder if I'll make that kind of shot again? Then he turned and took a seat upon the comfortable seat, knowing that in the auditorium, there were always good and bad seats. Then he chuckled, as he watched the crowd.

A group of girls walked by, giggling, looking around and whispering to each other about the boys that surrounded them. He smirked, watching the pimply-faced boy move into the path of the group of girls, tripping one of the girls by accident after he'd escaped the angry girl a few moments ago, causing the girl to land right upon his lap.

WAIT, A GIRL IN MY LAP?! OH, WHAT FORUNE! WHAT DO I DO?! BE NICE AND APOLOGIZE?! O_O OR BE A HORNY MALE AND SAY NICE LANDING THERE?! :O

He cleared his throat, then spoke, "Hello miss." Then he carefully helped the girl up, feeling the girl accidentally fondle him. He also accidentally fondled her, chuckling, noticing the feminine curves. Girls these days seemed to be developing earlier and earlier. He shook his head, then heard the girl apologize to him. "No no, it's quite alright."

An interesting beginning to what may be a boring auditorium session... a fondle by a girl. Or is it an accidental one? He couldn't be sure, but then again, he shrugged as he helped the girl off his lap and helped her with her items and let her go on her way towards wherever she wished to go.

Her blue eye’s went incredibly wide when the full realization that this girl was-well it was Kat who was a boy. Slowly Aurora shut her phone still staring at Kat just about to speak when she heard someone walk up to her and cough loudly. Aurora turned her attention to the male seeing it was Kanaye. The seventeen year old put a hand on her hip and shifted her weight slightly looking up at him, “Hmph…” Aurora rolled her eyes, “Kanaye…nice of you to finally show up after I get hurt…” The girl sighed loudly clearly annoyed with him.

With out another word to him she moved closer to Kat and took her hand grinning, “Kat! Your boobs! They’re amazing!” Really she had a lot of questions, but knew enough not to ask in front of the boys. “Look, I need to wash the blood out of my hair…so I thinking of just screwing the-“ Aurora was interrupted by the second announcement and then rolled her eyes. “There’s blood in my hair…I am pretty sure that’s more important then a stupid student gathering whatever it is.” Quickly Aurora put her cell in her bag and then glanced back at Will with a raised brow seeing that he was completely red in the face. The girl let go of Kat’s hand turning more to face the new kid, “Uhhh…Kat…this is Wang…” The girl smirked knowing clearly why the boy was looking like this, “Wang, get a hold of yourself ok…please. Just breathe...”

"Ah! Yes, of course! I will... take...."

Waiting for the boy to finish his response, Emily realized he was staring at her face. Not in the same way love struck way Book was of course, but a different kind of interest. She was unable to pinpoint exactly what kind as his sudden smile appeared, “He looks so stiff! Ick… is there something on my face?!” She wondered as he spoke, "....you there.. in no time at all! And if you allow me, I'll gladly be your escort."

He bowed to her; Emily just stood there unsure of what to do. Should she bow too? What if it’s disrespectful? But what if not bowing is disrespectful too? What if blinking too many times is disrespectful? Oy so many questions and yet there were no answers to her questions. It wasn’t until he reached out his hand as if to offer her a “handshake”, and smiled that she began to calm down. God, being the newbie sure is scary when you’re alone. "I am Jake Sasaki. It is indeed, nice to meet you miss."

“Ah, I’m Emily Jones. It’s nice to meet you too Jake.” She giggled nervously as she returned his gesture. "LAST WARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. TODAY'S ASSEMBLY IN THE NORTH AUDITORIUM IS NOT OPTIONAL. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND; THOSE FOUND SKIPPING OUT WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY. I REPEAT, THIS IS YOUR LAST NOTICE. PLEASE PROCEED TO THE AUDITORIUM AT ONCE."

“Oh no!” She panicked, late again? God forbid! Emily refused to be made a fool again due to tardiness! “Maybe we should hurry?” She was moving about a bit, twisting her hands and staring at the boy anxiously, her nerves getting to her again.

Kanaye's eyes widen slightly as he sees the blood matting the back of her hair, "Aurora...." He started before bringing his glare to William, his eyes not just latently intimidating, but noticeably fierce as they scream out a primal challenge to the man so close to his woman. He brings much more affectionate eyes back to the girl, continuing his thought, the smallest bit of worry making their way into his tone, "What happened? Your bleeding." He brings a gentle hand to the back of her head, parting the hairs and inspecting the reddened area. His eyes focusing on her skull, all the while projecting the idea of forgiving him into her mind. "Oh...This isn't good at all, my dear....Allow me to escort you to the nurse's office. Even blood so pure as an angels shouldn't be allowed to dim your beauty."

Not even waiting for an answer he slipped her arm in his and began to walk her in the direction of the infirmary. "This simply will not do at all." With that his focus seemed to slip somewhat elsewhere, his instincts taking over while he drags her, his thoughts placed almost entirely on forcing that thought into her mind. Forgive. Forgive. Forgive. He didn't particularly care if she did, in truth. However, he didn't feel like dealing with such a ludicrous upheaval when it could be easily solved. The trip to his locker could wait, he wasn't in a rush to go anywhere anyways. His will was as unbending as always, it was his way or no way.

She was spacing out when he bowed, perhaps having a culture shock, but it wasn't until Jake offered the handshake that she seem to loosen up.

“Ah, I’m Emily Jones. It’s nice to meet you too Jake.” Emily. Nothing like a good simple name.

"Emily... that's a-"WARNING FOR ALL STUDENTS. TODAY'S ASSEMBLY IN THE NORTH AUDITORIUM IS NOT OPTIONAL. ALL STUDENTS MUST ATTEND; THOSE FOUND SKIPPING OUT WILL BE PUNISHED ACCORDINGLY.

Jake covered his face with his palm. Second time he was interrupted today by the intercom. He didn't bother speaking out again...

I REPEAT, THIS IS YOUR LAST NOTICE. BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH

They sound like they would cut our heads off and sell them to the highest bidders if they didn't make it. They were never this mean on the intercom. Maybe, surely they would have something good to offer to all students this year, perhaps something keep the students quite, since a lot of people goofed around during these reunions. It was interesting to say the least, to be threatened. But what if students were in the bathroom, hell what if students couldn't even make it to school on the first day!? You don't know if in their way to school they might of crashed or get mugged! You don't know if they got attacked by birds...

“Oh no! Maybe we should hurry?” She was right, instead of conjuring ways to contradict the intercom, maybe they should actually just get there. After all, that was what Emily was asking for.

"Yeah I think you're right." He watched her pace and twist her hands, one could say she was dancing. Jake chuckled a bit, then proceeded out of the room, with Emily behind him. As he walked out the hall and out of the building itself, he didn't want to make the new girl feel out of place with silence, so he decided to break the ice.

"Don't mind if I seem imprudent, but I can tell you're America." Yes he could tell she was America. Without an "n" at the end. He was trying to speak English, which he could, but didn't speak it often. Obviously this was a fault of not using the word correctly, he wasn't stupid, just a little ignorant on the language. Luckily he caught himself. "...American!" He briefly stopped walking to correct himself, then resume after he got it right. "Although I may seem foreign to this country as well, I've grown most of my life here, in Japan." He finished, obviously trying to speak English again. In moments the auditorium could be seen; you could see the big building with students walking in, and occasional ones that came out to wait and look out for friends.

"That's the one." He pointed out to Emily. He continued guiding her until a line of students gathered to go in, then it was impossible to walk in. That last intercom message must've startled a good number.

"We'll just wait 'til the lines die down a little."

Daichi gasped as Aurora took his hand and commented on his boobs. Blood quickly rushed to his face, complimenting the silver hair and that hung loosely around it. He was both embarrassed at Aurora calling out the fact that he had boobs, and at the pure mention of the word. It was going to take him a while to get over having these things.

"Aurora, why do you have blood in your hair?" Kat asked, a concerned look on her face wiping away the red that previously occupied it. She had no idea that the fall she had taken previously had caused her any injury worth noting. "Are you okay?"

Only half paying attention because of the discovery of Aurora's injury, Kat bowed to Wang politely as her friend introduced him. She quickly turned back to Aurora, frowning. Before she even had a chance to open her mouth and speak, Kanaye had dragged Aurora away. Kat found her hand reaching out towards her friend for a moment before jerking it back to herself. She lowered her head the ground, mumbling under her breath. There had gone her only hope, dragged away to the nurse's office before Kat could volunteer to take her herself. She wanted some alone time with Aurora, but it seemed that it was going to be harder to manage than Kat previously thought.

"Fuck."

Remembering she wasn't alone, Kat lifted her head and looked to Wang. Her eyes stopped on the lump that seemed to be growing in his pants.

"What the HELL, dude?" Daichi shouted.Quickly realizing how out of character this outburst seemed to others, he cleared his throat, getting ready to speak again and hope the previous comment could be forgotten.

"Wang, was it? That's an odd name." Kat said, more daintily this time.

Clearly staring at both Aurora and Kat, nothing short of a kick to the crotch would have stopped him. He just couldn't look away, or stop blushing....or breath regularly... Another boy had approached the group, and he seemed to know Aurora, as well as her know him. What scared William was the deathstare he received from this boy. It didn't have much effect other than to distract him for a second or two. About 20 feet deep in dirty dreams that he really didn't want to have, William tried to escape them with the next Intercom Screamingfest, however failed and stood with his mouth open like a idiot.

Aurora's questions to Kat didn't help William much, but rather made him think of her boobs. Sick of imagining things he shouldn't, William flicked on his PSP in his pocket, and let the sounds of MC Chris on his headphones to distract him. He finally returned to a normal thought process, still red as a firetruck, just in time to hear Aurora talking about him. "...Wang? ..My-My name's War-Warinai Wi-William...of forget it." Noticing a smirk on Aurora's face, William jumped from firetruck to apple, hearing her comment made it worse. "I-I'm tr-trying to...I guess you two have left me breathless.." He tried to look cute and distract them from his mid and lower section.

The boy that had come over had taken Miss Cho with him to the nurse, so William decided that he'd stay with Kat, fearing this fellow that looked deadly. "It-It's nic-ice to meet you Kat..I'm William. Di-did you want to follow them, or do you want to he-ead for-or the Auditorium...I don't know where to go..and I kind of need directions.." William once again looked a little helpless.

After their introductions, Emily followed Jake to the Auditorium. It was silent at first and a little awkward until Jake spoke up, "Don't mind if I seem imprudent, but I can tell you're America. ...American!" Emily had just barely caught the correction as she replied to him, “Ha no it’s fine, yes I’m American. This is my first time being in a foreign country, though I really do like it here.” And she meant it! It was a beautiful and extremely active place which she wanted to learn more about even though it’d been only a week since she’s moved here. Lost in her thoughts, Emily wasn’t paying attention and nearly walked into him when he stopped walking.

“God I hope he didn’t see that.” She thought as they continued their path. After a moment more of silence, Jake continued the conversation. “Although I may seem foreign to this country as well, I've grown most of my life here, in Japan." She smiled at his English, not because it sounded funny or because he was missing a word or two in his sentences, no not that at all. It actually sounded.. good! He had a kind of poetic vibe to his accent which suited him quite well and he wasn’t shy about speaking either.

As they neared the auditorium, a long line blocked their path making it almost impossible to enter quickly as people continued to walk in and out. "That's the one." He pointed out the building to Emily. They continued walking until they reached the very end of the line, Emily being anxious took time to continuously look over the line dreading it’s undeniably long length. She couldn’t believe that this many people where left to go inside. "We'll just wait 'til the lines die down a little."

“Ick! How will I find Book then??” She thought as she quickly considered her options. One, wait here forever and never get a GOOD seat. Two, cause a great distraction which insisted of throwing objects at random people which would result in a possible brawl OR just skip everyone. Taking the latter as the best option, Emily grabbed Jake’s arm, “To hell with waiting!” she said as she practically dragged him in the auditorium.

A few people complained as she made her way through the insanely massive crowd, yet she paid them no mind. All she could think about was finding a way to reach Book and see where they’d go from there. She was also wondering what it was that she liked about him so much. Was it his smile? His charm? His weird yet interesting personality? Or maybe it was just everything about him that was driving her crazy. Finally entering the auditorium, Emily realized it had yet to get seriously crowded as a good amount of empty seats proved. “Great! Let’s fine some seats!” And without another word, Emily continued dragging Jake around until she found what she considered good seats.

“Hey, mind if we sit here?” She asked the blonde girl from earlier who had walked away from Jake.

“To hell with waiting!” She had a point. But what else could they do? They couldn't just go and cut through everyone in the line. That would be rash and unethical.

"Well I am sure if we-aaooooo..." He was being dragged by a girl. Such force, such rashness; it must be her American blood. As she pulled with such force on his arm, Jake tried to keep up the pace, but he kept stumbling upon the crowds of sweaty teenagers. "How is she doing this?" He thought to himself, while watching her go through everyone, she didn't seem to mind. He didn't either, but he also wouldn't have minded waiting. I guess she wanted to get a good seat really bad.

After a few smacks in the face by passing students, they were in the auditorium, which surprisingly wasn't that full. As they stopped, Jake thought of catching a breath, “Great! Let’s fine some seats!” She said. " Yeah we might be able to-...aaaooo..." there wasn't even a five second pause. She dragged for a while til they had reached some seats next to the girl Jake had tried to approach earlier. What coincidence.

Emily asked her if we could sit down next to her, which she politely agreed to. "Why didn't she agree to me..." He silently spoke to himself with a curious and almost pathetic face. immediately after the blond girl stood up and backed up, Emily pulled on Jake again and shamelessly pulled him into a seat right next to the other girl, and with Emily in the other side. Well that a rare treat... if it was one. Since both girls seemed to be a bit of opposite to each other; One being all polite and 'rejectful', and the other being all rash and care-free, but whatever, they were both new, so they deserved a break, and besides these were just first impressions.

Jake sighed and finally was able to breath, he then noticed Emily was still pulling his arm, and she made motions as if trying to find someone. and aside from the horrible music they were playing, the ambiance wasn't too bad, he just wished to get this over with.

"Are you looking for someone Emily?" He asked being cautious of not being too invading. "I've seen you look about for a bit now."

Without an answer from Kat, some weirdo teacher approached them, and William didn't want to find out what exactly he meant by by cleaving his mind. " I'm sorry sir, I'm new here.... I don't know where to go... I'd gladly take your help in getting me there." Even if he was supposed to go there, he still wanted to make sure Aurora was okay, since he caused her fall. Be stood next to the teacher, showing him a "lead the way" gesture.

Unsure if it was pure luck, or mind over matter, William felt something painful in his guts somewhere, most likely food poisoning if anything. His diet wasn't that good recently, living off scraps and snacks since he moved here by himself with the little amount of money he still receives from the government, for what he gets that check, who knows. Will held his stomach, a disturbing gurgle escaping his mouth. "...On second thought...caaannnn I gooo to the nuuurrrsseee...?"

Her cheeks flushed just a bit when Kanaye put his hand at the back of her head, and what really got her was the part where he said:

…Even blood so pure as an angel's shouldn't be allowed to dim your beauty.

Well, but of course! But, still hearing it from another person was always nice at times. And Aurora had also heard Kat ask if she was alright and what happened. It was so wonderful to be the center of attention! Before Aurora could even attempt to gush, answer them, or introduce the others to her current boyfriend, Kanaye slipped his arm in hers and pulled the girl away. She let out a light yelp in surprise at his actions as he started to drag her off. “Wait! Kanaye!” Aurora dragged her feet a bit just to slow them down before smiling at him. “Darling, your really so sweet, but we have to wait for Kat…she’s new and my friend! Why, remember? You’ve met Kat before at one of my parties, Oh I am sure you have.” The woman made sure her words were incredibly fast so it would confuse boy, it was a tool that all girls had, speak fast and numb a man’s ears so all he could do was agree. It didn’t always matter what was being said, well sometimes it did she guessed. Aurora turned gesturing to Kat and the Wang boy to follow. “Come on Kat! Come with us!” There was no way in hell she was leaving her friend out in the school yard by his/herself. Besides that she still wanted to see his/her boobs.

Aurora’s plans were damped though when some teacher came down the hall shouting at them. Instantly the girl moved closer to Kanaye knowing he’d protect her. Hell it was half the reason she dated him, if anything happened to her usually she could go to him and he’d take care of things. No need to get her hands dirty, though she rarely needed his help. The teacher was Mr. Allen Smith, from America and the first thing he did wrong was call them all children. Aurora instantly wrinkled her nose at that clearly annoyed with the name. She watched the mad or just every excited man take out the English book as he went on his little rant, “Cleave?” What the hell? And then that Wang kid spoke up and was-well he didn’t sound at all good. Turning her head Aurora raised a brow and looked at the boy, fearing he’d puke on her or something. Again she motioned for Kat to come forward before looking back at Mr. Allen more urgently, “Look, Wang over there is sick. And-“ She paused pointing to the back of her head while sniffling a little pretending like she was more worried than she actually was, “Well there’s blood in my hair, and I might still be bleeding, and-“ She paused putting the back of her hand on her forehead like she had seen in her mother’s movies. Aurora let her body go weak, “Everything is starting to spin…” Dramatically the girl let her shoulder bag slip off her shoulder and land on the ground as she completely let her legs drop out from under her.

Daichi tuned Wang out, ignoring his every word as he watched his friend get dragged down the hallway by Kanaye, of whom Daichi supposed was her boyfriend. He walked a few feet towards Aurora as she yelled for him to follow, not even noticing the teacher that approached him and Wang from behind. He was too lost in thought, fear rising up in his throat about what he was supposed to do.

Finally, after Aurora yelled at her enough down the hallway, Kat started making her way towards the couple, glancing back at Wang as she walked. She blatantly ignored the professor that was shouting at them, and shot a sympathetic glance at Wang as she distanced herself from him. Kat could see he was doing the dance of doom, one that meant he would be MIA from all activities for quite some time. She knew that feeling, and felt bad for leaving the fellow behind to the mercy of the teacher.

Finally turning completely away, Kat ran to Aurora only to find her in the floor.

"Aurora!! What happened?!" Things seemed to happen every damned time Kat turned her back. She threw herself to the floor beside her friend and brushed her hair back away from her face. "Is there something I can get you?" She was totally convinced that Aurora had fallen due to lack of blood. Although Daichi was always book smart, he never knew too much about the real world until he met Aurora.

Before Aurora could reply to any of her questions, Kat yelled to the professor down the hall with Wang. "HEY!! CALL THE NURSE!"

The lights dimmed. The band hushed. And a sudden silence descended upon the crowd, naught but scant mutterings and whispers traversing the frigid auditorium air. The eyes of a couple thousand adolescents and young adults turned their devout attention to center stage, the crowd's numbers easily enough to form a formidable legion - and a rather deadly one considering the gifts each and every one of them had been blessed with at the hands of RXA and the Japanese government. The doors slammed closed as the band kicked up for one more short tune, with a beat considerably more sinister in melody. The percussion beat like the rhythm was to be used for a death march rather than a high school assembly. And the entrance would only be one as strange to match - Vice Principal Kyunagi arrived not through the curtain backdrop to the stage, not through a side door, not walking on stage from a seat in the front row. None of that. A sudden shot of steam was released from the stage floor as the sound of some terrible machination decompressing echoed throughout the north auditorium. Like the sound of some ungodly beast that had been frozen away and kept in captivity for the past three months was being released from its prison. And for all intents and purposes, that's precisely what was happening.

A large platform elevated from the floor of the center stage, first emerging from the very bottom and then rising until it peaked well above the stage's ground level, rising above the student populace that watched on intently, fear suddenly striking into the hearts of that veritable legion, suddenly rendered weak and powerless before that kind of spectacle. The beatings of those drums became louder and louder, practically deafening as that elevator-like contraption reached its summit and came to a clanging halt, the band gradually lowering its volume as from either direction hordes of security stormed the auditorium, armored and wielding rifles, they poised themselves about the platform - Kyunagi's security detail. And at long last, that rhythm section finally fell to just barely above the sound of a whisper, although it wouldn't matter, for the Vice Principal of Nottori High School had a voice that, when the circumstances called for it, would not be drowned out.

"Ladies and gentlemen of this year's Nottori High School first year, second year, third year, and fourth year class, we welcome you!"

The sight was absolutely frightening. He extended both arms forward and into the air, pointing to the very depths of that auditorium as he continued speaking, delivering the first address of the new year. And yes, ladies and gentlemen, this was precisely what was to be expected at a Nottori High School assembly.

"There are many changes that come with every school year. It's something to be expected, as you all know. However, this year there are going to be some differences that perhaps might shock, surprise, and even astound you. In light of those events-that-shall-go-unmentioned which took place at last year's end-of-semester assembly, we have taken extra precautions to ensure that this year's welcoming ceremony goes off with any problems." He gestured a hand towards the leagues of armed soldiers down at the bottom of the platform on stage beneath him. "Don't fret however, dear students. They are merely armed with tranquilizers and tazers - there will not be any fatalities this year."

The odd way he said that...made it seem like there had been casualties before. Something wasn't right..

"Now with that being said, I'm about to introduce your one and only Nottori High School Student Council President to offer you a rousing introduction to the school year and what events we have planned for you all! Don't worry, you'll be seeing me again shortly after that. I'll be joined by a colleague of mine from the Japanese government, who happens to be sponsoring most of our activities this year, and together we'll tell you all about some of the protocol changes that have been made to ensure that Nottori High School remains number one in Japan!" At that last word, the crowd gave a lackluster round of applause, scattered throughout until suddenly the rifles of a few of those armed security were turned on them, that weak clapping growing into an abundant ovation.

"And now ladies and gentlemen, I give you the incomparable, the wonderful, the face of your Nottori High School, the student council president herself, MISS AYANE YAMAMOTO!"

It started with a bass beat, a hard hit that blasted in completely out of nowhere before the skillful sound of a DJ scratching out a record cut in across and then retracted back on the same note - the perfect lead in to the upbeat trance rhythm that suddenly resonated throughout the auditorium. Laser strobes, flashing lights, and smoke filtered along the stage and through the crowd as the wonderful Miss Ayane backflipped out from behind the curtain and danced her way on stage before a roused audience giving her all she was due. The agile council president then planted an arm on the front of the stage, bent at the elbow, and propelled herself a full thirty or so feet into the air, landing atop the platform aside Mr. Kyunagi, who would soon relinquish it to give the floor to the enthusiastic girl. The rest of the student council suddenly came bounding in from either side of the curtain merging in between those guards, flipping and dancing and sliding and moving to the beats of that blaring melody before suddenly a shower of confetti poured down from the ceiling, a cascade that fell atop the crowd to elevate the entire show to yet another level of exuberance.

"WOOT WOOT! SO WHO IS READY TO START THE NEW YEAR?!" Her voice called out to the full auditorium of Nottori High School, expecting to get that full shout of excitement and school spirit returned right back at her. It was like a tidal wave, despite the armored troopers, despite the malice and fright of Vice Principal Kyunagi and his words, the student body erupted into a frenzy of pep and cheer.

Even the wandering samurai mascot made his way rushing about the front row of seats, swinging about his foam blade wildly to chop down whatever enemies might dare challenge the one and only Nottori High! And honestly now, what school - either in Japan or anywhere in the entire world - would be dumb enough to challenge this?