Hikaru hadn’t seen Yuki look tired before and thought he would never see her in such a state. He realized there was a first time for everything during the two’s training session on Tuesday morning.
Iziya was currently smashing compressed air with great weight in his back while he was doing push-ups, the mad bolt still being able to observe the baby doll.
She was creating tremendous amounts of ice shards at the other end of the Summerbolt residence’s yard with Rose by her side. Her every breath was heavy, her eyes hardly managing to stay open, her ankles shaking and everything about her indicating she was on the verge of falling over from exhaustion.
(Rose) ‘-More, Yuki. You’ll have to learn to create more ice if you are to succeed in producing clones that can be used in battle.’
(Yuki) ‘-Y-Yes, Rose. I’m trying my best.’
Another minute passed and the rocky grandma tapped the amnesiac’s shoulder.
(Rose) ‘-OK. I think that’s about enough. (Yuki put her hands down, the streams of ice shards coming out of them disappearing as Rose supported her in spite of the difference of height between the two) Well done, my girl. Now you’ll have to start working on shaping mirror images of you from all this ice.’
(Yuki) ‘-Right.’
Saya’s mother allowed the white-haired beauty to lean on her a bit longer before she let her take a step forward on her own. When she was able to do that, Yuki directed her hands toward one of the piles of ice shards, causing a shift in it with some shards starting to come together to form bigger structures.
(Rose) ‘-Remember. Think about molding a body of clay piece by piece. Start with the torso, then the head and finally the limbs. The details come after. And try creating only one clone for now. We’ll work on the speed and the numbers with time.’
Hikaru had focused too much of his attention on his friend and her struggles, one of the masses of compressed air sent at his back by Iziya proving too heavy him.
He was hammered against the ground, some dirt reaching his mouth and some of the dust that had risen from his fall stinging his eyes, the pain in his back from the contact with the compressed air suddenly becoming more acute. Upon turning his head around, he saw his aunt had driven her shoe’s sole in the area of his back where the air had struck, pushing him down with considerable irritation on her face.
(Iziya) ‘-Focus on your own progress instead of Yuki’s, Hikaru! Do you want those bastards from Ulura’s class to grind you to dust that bad?!’
(Hikaru) ‘-I’m not even sure I’m going to survive until the Class Battle, so …’
Iziya now waved with her hand, lifting her nephew up in the air with a gust of wind and using that wind to force him to turn around and face her.
(Iziya) ‘-You’re participating in that Battle even if you’re in a wheelchair and connected to an IV, boy!!! You hear me?!! You brought this upon yourself, so don’t even think about complaining now!! (the wild aunt sighed as she released the gust of wind used to hold Hikaru above the ground) Maybe there’s no need to push you any further right now, though. Go and get ready for school. We’ll resume when I get back from work.’
Hikaru rubbed his hurt back with a sigh while looking at Yuki again, who had now successfully created a humanoid figure from one of the piles of ice shards around her, Rose instructing her on improving the details of her creation.
(Hikaru) ‘-At least one of us is making progress.’
Going to school and taking part in all the normal activities there was actually a relief for the mad genius compared to what he experienced at the Summerbolt residence daily. The only activity the spiky-haired teenager wasn’t looking forward to was eating during the lunch break. While he usually welcomed the fights that broke out in the canteen, right now he was not nearly strong enough to deal with any opponent that would attack him.
Just before the lunch break Line-sensei called all his students to their classroom to discuss something about the Class Battle, so Hikaru seemed to have been spared the trouble. Other trouble appeared on the horizon, however, because due to the time during which the meeting was convened, all of them, including the homeroom teacher, were hungry. Solution to that problem was presented by King’s stores that were significantly increased to provide more energy in preparation for the Battle and thus had enough food for everyone.
(King) ‘-Eat up, guys! Sensei, you too!’
(Tenji) ‘-Thank you, King. And I’d like to apologize to all of you for taking you away from lunch, but I thought this the best time for a strategy discussion. Ulura’s classmates are occupied now and won’t be able to listen in on us, so this is the only chance we have.’
Line started coughing after finishing that sentence, his students noticing the cough didn’t pass as when he had coughed before, Seiren patting him on the back a couple of times.
Eventually it passed, Tenji taking a couple of deep breaths to calm his breathing down.
(Tenji) ‘-Oh, thank you for that, Seiren.’
(Seiren) ‘-You OK, sensei? I know King’s food tastes like crap but that cough sounded like it was quite severe.’
(Tenji) ‘-No, I don’t think it’s from the food. I’ve been coughing like this since this morning. It’s probably nothing, but I’ll go and get checked up after classes are over.’
The Biology teacher took out a rolled-up piece of paper from his bag now, unfolding it on the desk in front of him, the students’ attention immediately being drawn to it.
(Yuki) ‘-Is that … a map?’
(Tenji) ‘-It is, Yuki. It’s the map of the battlefield selected for the Class Battle. The Nebula Park just outside Deckstoru.’
(Vega) ‘-That place’s used exclusively for Class Battles, right?’
(Tenji) ‘-It has been so for a while now, yes. Since this is your first Class Battle, I’ll give you the full proper explanation. I’ll only be doing it once, so … (Tenji stopped because he realized the sound of his voice was drowned by the loud noise that came out of King’s mouth as he viciously devoured his food, the homeroom teacher and his student looking at each other now) Did you think because you gave me food, you can eat as loud as you want while I’m giving an explanation that concerns your survival?’
(King) ‘-Sorry, sensei, but my survival depends on food above all else.’
(Annabel) ‘-King! Just stop eating for a second or do it like a normal person and listen to sensei! I don’t plan on dying because of your idiocy!!’
(Tenji) ‘-Now then, if there are going to be no more interruptions, I’ll continue with the explanation. The high-school education in Barilia consists of four years – Mercurian, Venusian, Earthling and Martian. Class Battles are to take place within those four years only between classes from the same year or between classes who are one year apart. The current Martian Class #3 has fought in a Class Battle twice already – first when they were still Mercurians and then the next year when they were Venusians. They faced older opponents both times and claimed victory in both Battles. The spread of the tale of their might and brutality on the field combined with the name they had made for themselves within the school and the patronage of the Nightsongs transformed them into the masters of Sunbird. (he looked around at the faces of all his students) And now you are to face them.’
(Exo) ‘-Sensei, if the explanation so far was meant to cause us to despair even more, it sure did the trick!!’
(Tenji) ‘-No, Exo. That was not my intent at all. I just want all of you to fully understand the threat you’re facing. This means you’re not to ease up for a second and give it your all. They have defeated more experienced classes before and since they’re facing younger opponents for the first time, they’ll surely underestimate you. Use that. Release as much power as you’ve ever thought you could muster and turn the tables on them. The time has come for the birth of a new legend. The legend of this class! The true heroes of Sunbird!!! End those villains’ reign permanently and change our school’s future!!!’
The room was swept by a wave of battle cries led by Hikaru in response to Line’s words, even Exo looking cheered up by the homeroom teacher’s small speech.
(Tokura) ‘-We’re gonna bring them all down!!! Together!!!!’
Tenji smiled and then raised a hand to calm all his students down, his expression turning very serious.
(Tenji) ‘-I’m glad I’ve lifted your spirits, but while I did say that you have to release all your powers, simply going all-out will not be enough to bring down the Martians. The other thing you’ll need in order to ensure your victory is a good strategy. That’s why I have gathered the whole class here. So we can discuss your strategy for the Battle. (after he said that, Line-sensei’s gaze and those of his students focused on the map he had brought) As per all previous Class Battles, the two classes’ starting points will be at the opposite ends of their battlefield. (he pointed at the one end of the map, where a light-green area was drawn) Your starting point will be here, at the lowest height of the deciduous area near the entrance of the park. (the Biology teacher moved his finger to the other end of the map, stopping at a gray-colored area) The Martians’ starting point is here – the highest part of the rocky area at the other end of the park. In between the two points lies a pinewood area with a big open field at its center, there being a smaller field before it at a lower altitude back at the deciduous area. The Kisdeya River passes through the park a bit further beyond the central field and after the river stands the rocky area where there is almost no vegetation. That’s what your battlefield will look like.’
(Yuki) ‘-How will the victor of the Class Battle be decided?’
Line-sensei coughed a little again before turning to answer Yuki.
(Tenji) ‘-The two classes are to fight each other until all members of one of them have either surrendered or have been rendered incapable to continue fighting. Only murder is strictly forbidden during the Class Battle. You can wound and maim your enemies to your hearts’ content but I would suggest to not go that far unless absolutely necessary.’
(Hikaru) ‘-From a geographic standpoint both sides have equally favorable positioning. They can defend themselves more easily from the higher area they occupy but we’ll have the cover of the trees in the deciduous area. (he put his finger on the light-green ellipsis at the center of the dark-green area of the map) This field here will be where all will be decided in my opinion.’
(Seiren) ‘-Our main advantage over them is that we have more deviants with sensory and healing devas. We’ll have to protect those at all costs.’
(Tenji) ‘-Indeed. That’s why that group should be placed in the center of your class as you move through the field, protected on all sides by their classmates. You’ll need strong deviants for the front group that ought to focus on attack and for the rear group that can focus on defense. The flanks can be made up of fighters of a middle power level to act as the main defenders of the sensors and healers should any enemies slip past the attack and defense groups.’
(Tokura) ‘-I’ll definitely be in the front, then.’
(Exo) ‘-And I’ll definitely be in the back.’
(Tenji) ‘-You guys fight best when all of you are together. In previous Class Battles Ulura’s class has sent small groups to separate some enemies from their classmates while their main force waited further in the field to crush the remainder of the opposing class. After they were done with that, the main group would rejoin the smaller ones to deal with the separated enemies they have been holding off up to that point, thus achieving victory. In short, you can’t allow them to split you up. (Tenji directed his eyes to Tokura before continuing with his explanation) Your role in this will be crucial, Tora.’
(Tokura) ‘-How so?’
(Tenji) ‘-If they attack the class with small groups, you’re the one who should stay behind and deal with them. You’ll be able to do it faster than any of your classmates and rejoin the group to provide support against the main Martian forces.’
(Vega) ‘-What if we’re further split apart before Tora can get to us? Our healers and sensors can’t be left alone.’
(Hikaru) ‘-Each of them can join the assault group, the defense group and the flank groups. We’ll have to pick the members for every group in such a way that they can divide their attention between fighting the enemy and protecting the sensors and healers.’
(Tenji) ‘-I like that idea. Given the numbers of students in the class, the ideal version will be to have four people in the assault, the defense and the flank groups with a possible extra member for the assault group in case Tokura is forced to stay behind.’
(Yuki) ‘-I can be an extra member of the assault group, sensei. I’m pretty sure Hikaru and Seiren will be there as well and I have the best teamwork with those two, so our chances to defeat the enemy will increase if we’re together.’
(Tenji) ‘-If I’m able to secure your participation in the Class Battle in the coming days, Yuki, you can do that, yeah. (he coughed a bit again) Now, back to our plan. While Hikaru’s idea is great, it’s not likely the enemy will just allow you to split each group in such a way that you can both fight them and protect the sensors and the healers.’
(Seiren) ‘-Nice strategy, Summerbolt. If we keep listening to you, we'll only ensure our defeat.’
(Tenji) ‘-No, no, Seiren. His idea can be put to use. You’ll only need to match the timing of your actions. If Tokura is separated from the rest of you, he’ll need to pass through each of the other groups your class has been split in after he’s dealt with his enemies to gather up the healers and sensors. Should he put some distance between them and the main enemy forces, who are fighting the rest of his classmates, it won’t be a problem to protect the healers and sensors, even if that task falls on him alone. After the healer-sensor group is secure, all other members of the class will be able to focus solely on offense. And Ulura’s class will no longer have any back-up to rely on at that point because Tora will have taken them out beforehand.’
(King) ‘-That sounds great, sensei!! Looks like we may yet stand a chance against the bastards if we follow your plan!’
(Exo) ‘-You still haven’t told us who’ll be monitoring the fight besides you and Martian Class #3’s homeroom teacher, Line-sensei. There will be other people present to judge our performance, right?’
(Tenji) ‘-Oh, yeah. It had slipped my mind. Thanks for reminding me, Exo. The Summerbolt family has been chosen to monitor this Class Battle.’
