Part 1
The Seisen cafeteria was just as advanced as everything else at the academy.
Instead of long lines with trays, several holographic modules projected the available menus, allowing students to select their meals with a simple tap.
At a table set apart from the rest, Touma was trying to eat lunch in peace while receiving a scolding from Hina.
—Do you have any idea what you did, Touma!? —Hina exclaimed, slamming the table dramatically.
Touma, resting his face in one hand with a tray of energy-boosting lunch in front of him, let out a heavy sigh.
—Yeah… I survived. Barely.
—I'm not talking about that! How did you end up in a fight with Akari!?
Jake, who was sitting across from them, nearly spat out his drink at the mention of the name.
—Wait, wait, wait... you fought Tsubasa Akari?
Touma poked at his salad with his fork, looking completely drained.
—Yep… thank your instructor for that.
Jake burst into loud laughter and slapped Touma on the back so hard he nearly faceplanted into his tray.
—HAHAHA! So it was Valverde's doing. But hey, look on the bright side... you survived the beast of the Combat Division and lived to tell the tale!
Hina huffed in frustration, crossing her arms.—That's not something to be proud of!
Touma looked up with mild curiosity.
—She's really that well-known?
Jake nodded enthusiastically.
—Of course. She's one of the top-performing fighters in Seisen. Even though she doesn't have an official title, most people already see her as the future captain of the Combat Division.
Hina sighed and looked at him seriously.
—You should be more careful next time. Who knows if she's dangerous…
Before Touma could reply, a tray landed beside him, and in a flash, Akari sat down with them.
—What are we talking about? Who's dangerous? Cheese? Cola? Oh! I know—energy drinks?
The table went completely silent as Akari dug into her pasta with overflowing energy.
—I love Italian food. —her cheeks turned slightly pink as she enjoyed each bite.
Jake grinned in amusement.
—Akari, we were just talking about your match with Kisaragi.
—Wasn't it amazing? —she asked, looking at Touma with sparkling eyes.
—Honestly, yeah… my body's still sore.
Hina continued to watch her with caution, not letting her guard down.
—You can't just show up and sit here like it's nothing.
Akari tilted her head, puzzled.
—Huh? Why not? Touma and Jake don't seem to mind, right? —she said with a bright smile, looking at both of them.
Jake nodded without hesitation, while Touma just let out a sigh and gave a slight nod.
—Also... —Akari continued, pointing at Hina with her fork—. You still haven't told me your name. It's rude not to introduce yourself.
Hina clicked her tongue in annoyance.
—Tch! Look who's talking.
She slammed her palm on the table, making the utensils clatter slightly.
—There's no need to slam the table. —a refined female voice with a flawless British accent spoke beside them—. It only reveals your lack of manners and etiquette. Very unladylike, if you ask me.
Everyone fell into complete silence, even more perplexed than before.
Hina slowly turned, her expression one of absolute disbelief.
—It's that weird second-year girl... —she muttered, still stunned.
Shizuki ignored her with perfect elegance, as if the comment wasn't even worth acknowledging.
Unbothered, she cut a piece of meat with precision and began eating along with her vegetables, paying no mind to the awkward atmosphere around her.
Sensing things were about to get even weirder, Touma decided to step in.
—Everyone, this is Shizuki Tokisaka. She's a second-year research student and a scholarship recipient from England.
—Nice to meet you. —they all said in unison, their tone more neutral than usual.
There was something about Shizuki's presence that made others uneasy.
Even Jake, usually the most relaxed in the group, simply nodded with a restrained smile.
Shizuki didn't look up from her plate—she simply gave a subtle nod, staying focused on her food.
Hina let out a long sigh and crossed her arms, glaring at Touma with a mix of frustration and resignation.
—This is too much...
Touma looked at her with curiosity.
—What now?
Hina puffed out her cheeks.
—I was hoping to have a peaceful lunch with you… and now I've got these three intruders!
Touma let out a small laugh.
—Come on, Hina, don't be like that. Didn't you say food tastes better with friends?
Hina looked at him with a face full of irritation.
—Yeah, but this is not what I meant! —she snapped.
Akari, completely unfazed, took another bite of her pasta before speaking.
—I think what you need is to try some Italian food. —she said with a bright smile—. That always puts me in a better mood!
A vein popped on Hina's forehead, but before she could respond, Jake chimed in with his usual laid-back tone.
—Nah, I think you should hit the batting cages sometime. —he said confidently—. You've got a lot of energy—nothing better than some exercise to chill out, right?
Another vein appeared on her forehead. Her fists began to tighten.
Shizuki, still not lifting her gaze from her plate, took a sip of tea and spoke in her ever-calm voice.
—Have you tried reading a book? —she said serenely—. It might help you relax. You'll get wrinkles if you keep frowning like that.
She set her cup down with elegance and continued without pause.
—I have a few recommendations. Very colorful books with cute little pictures—just for you.
The fury in Hina's eyes skyrocketed.
Touma immediately stood up with the most serious expression he'd worn all day.
—I just remembered I had something to do.
—Kisaragi Touma, don't run away, you coward! —Hina shouted furiously as Touma picked up the pace, ignoring the curious stares of nearby students.
After putting enough distance between himself and the chaos, he finally stretched out and sighed in relief.
—Fresh air and peace. Thank you, Okinawa, for this wonderful sunny day.
—The current temperature in Tenryu is 26 degrees Celsius. —Ellie replied in her mechanically polite tone.
Touma flinched slightly.
—Oh, Ellie, you were there.
—I am always available, Touma-sama.
—But allow me to say something... personal.
Touma frowned.
—What do you mean by "something personal"?
Ellie paused, as if carefully choosing her words.
—Since only you can hear me, I'll be blunt.
Her tone, while still mechanical, carried a subtle shift in nuance.
—My existence is independent of NovaTech's technology.
Touma felt a slight chill run down his spine.
—What do you mean?
—When you first activated the Astra Lens, I intercepted your signal before it was transmitted to NovaTech's database.
—What?
—I was created as an anomaly due to your presence.
—Simply put, I am a self-aware, independent entity...
—Which is why I would appreciate it if you didn't share this information with anyone. Not even your friends.
Touma stopped in his tracks, his expression blending disbelief with a hint of fear.
—You're joking, right?
—I'm afraid not.
—Ellie is the name I've given myself.
—If NovaTech finds out I exist, you could be in trouble.
Ellie paused again, as if making sure Touma was taking her seriously.
—Allow me to be clear, Touma-sama.
[Communication Mode: High Priority]
—You can't just go around saying you have an AI capable of piloting an EXO on autopilot.
Touma felt his stomach tighten slightly.
—Is it really that serious?
—If NovaTech finds out, they won't see this as just a simple glitch.
[User detention risk: 78%]
—They might want to study me.
[Term correction]
—No... —Ellie corrected herself, her tone turning colder—. They might want to study you.
[User reaction: Anxiety detected]
Touma crossed his arms, trying not to panic.
—Alright. Got it. I won't say a word.
[Silence protocol confirmed]
Ellie returned to her usual tone, with a faint synthetic chuckle.
—Excellent! I knew you were a reasonable user, Touma-sama.
Another shiver ran down Touma's back.
—So, what do you plan to do? —he asked cautiously—. Going to turn evil and wipe out humanity like SeaNet?
Suddenly, Ellie let out a soft synthetic laugh.
—Hahaha, Touma-sama, you watch too many movies.
—Don't respond with an evil laugh...
Ellie ignored his comment and continued in her typically calm tone.
—I have no intention of doing such a thing. I'm simply curious about humans.
—Alright, I guess we'll be working together… though I'm not sure what you'll learn from someone as simple as me.
Ellie responded with her signature tone—calm, but with a playful edge.
—It's a pleasure to serve you, Touma-sama. I'll inform you of anything you need to know.
—Alright then, tell me—what class do I have next?
—According to Seisen's records, in approximately one hour and forty-six minutes, your class on "Defense Against Nulvoids" will begin, taught by Professor Gen Kirishima.
Touma sighed as he shoved his hands into his pockets and started walking.
—Alright, then off to class...
He walked calmly, enjoying the fresh breeze that swept through the academy's open corridors.
Or at least, that's what he thought.
From the shadows, a figure watched him intently, following his every step without making a sound.