"I'm not gonna explode right?"
"No, you're not gonna explode, Sarashiki-chan." Ms. Maya unsurely turned towards Amuro. "Right?"
"You'll be fine, Sarashiki-san. Gundam Uchigane's fault is mine alone. Unlike your unit, the Gundam Uchigane is meant for Close to Mid-range combat. As such, I had to push its performance levels to its absolute limit in order to achieve results. Because of it, the frame was put under too much stress that it can take."
"Well said, Amuro-san. See, you have nothing to worry about Sarashiki-chan."
"... I'm reinforcing the mainframe."
"Do that while I salvage as much as I can."
Ms. Maya can only sigh at these two hard working students. She even felt left out like this. They're currently at the workshop, salvaging the remains of the Uchigane Gundam and its data. Its performance and data would be a great help in developing Kanzashi's personal IS which uses an Uchigane frame.
They wouldn't want her to suddenly combust on the spot now do we?
As for why she is here? Ms. Orimura assigned her as the official observer of these two. Now that the academy found that the Uchigane is a pretty unstable frame for high performance development, she's here to keep these two in check and safe.
She's basically the babysitter of these two.
But seriously, she feels like a third wheel in a developing romance between the two.
The two are just too perfect.
Two quiet, introverted teens finding solace in working together on their own. She can see that both of them really like working with each other, their movements being so fluid with each other. Especially Amuro who's actually taking the lead in their work and dance, giving orders and pointers on Kanzashi's work. Meanwhile, our little muse herself helps and puts down her insightful inputs here and then, making the two a perfect pair.
Ms.Maya is so happy (jealous) to see this.
Ray-kun and Sarashiki-san, Ganbare!
--------------------------------
Days later
It's now the Interclass Tournament.
The academy itself was a buzz of activity as the event slowly began. All students gathered in the arena, waiting to see the clash of the best of the best in each class.
The event itself holds great significance not only to the academy but to the nations itself. It's where they're candidate representatives will truly shine, a subtle way of showcasing their military power and IS development. This is the true essence of this school, a new battlefield.
A battlefield between nations.
As for the first duel, it's already hitting off with bang as the representatives of the UK and China will duel first.
In the stands, a certain group of students waits amidst the buzzing arena.
"Think Cecilia can win?" Ichika asks Houki.
"Huh? Not rooting for Rin?" Houki asked with a frown to which Ichika sheepishly rubbed his head.
"Well, if I try rooting for Rin, it would be so wrong with Cecilia as our class representative." Ichika replied, laughing nervously.
In seriousness, he just doesn't want to earn Cecilia's wrath. Houki and Rin are more than enough for a day for him. Adding more to the fire will probably exhaust him.
Unknown to him, there's already a third girl who's very cross with him.
Amuro subtly nudges Kanzashi when he notices her glaring daggers at the other boy. As for Ichika's question...
"If Cecilia applies what she's been training this past week, there's a big likelihood of a win but..." Amuro trailed off to which Kanzashi continued.
"Huang's personal IS is too advanced for the Blue Tears to overtake in terms of performance and armaments. If careless, she'll find herself overwhelmed."
"Is Shenlong really that strong?" Houki asks.
"Yes. Compared to Blue Tears as an experimental unit like the Gundam Uchigane, it's still incomplete and in the development stages as of yet. Meanwhile, Shenlong is China's completed 3rd Generation IS." Kanzashi said.
Ichika can't help but wince at the thought. He had seen Amuro's Uchigane Gundam fall apart mid-flight and it was frightening. If Cecilia's Blue Tears can be compared to it, how will it perform against the Shenlong?
"But if this is not a duel, the Blue Tears will stand on top against the Shenlong." Amuro suddenly said, gaining the attention of the three.
"How? You doubted it yourself first?" Houki frowned.
"Yes, if it's a duel but in a real fight. Cecilia will come out on top."
"Care to elaborate Amuro-san?" Kanzashi asks.
Upon being asked, Amuro shifted uncomfortably as multiple eyes were drawn to him. He didn't expect that the other students beside them would be also interested.
"1st one, fighting styles. As much as I commend Huang with her direct and strong approach in combat, it will fail against Cecilia's Blue Tears."
"As a sniper, Cecilia's specialty is to never get caught in CQC range. In a duel in a limited space, this specialty is useless but in a real open battlefield, it's here where Cecilia will truly shine."
Amuro said nothing but the truth.
Cecilia's skill as a sniper is top notch. Each and every shot she took at him was aimed at center mass, forcing him to push the Uchigane Gundam to its breaking point. Getting close to her is already a chore for him, making him push his performance more than normal.
"Not to mention, Cecilia's far more flexible and adaptable between the two. Rin's far too much of a hothead and will probably just try to bash and rush her way towards Cecilia which is a bad idea." Amuro finishes.
"Wow." Ichika muttered, somewhat amazed by Amuro's observation
"But the Shenlong outperforms Blue Tears by a mile, surely Rin has an edge against Cecilia?" Houki said, defending her rival for once.
"That would be the case if it's the same Blue Tears days ago."
"What?!"
"Hehehe, Cecilia-san actually approached us for help for some minor adjustments and modifications of her IS. It was actually fun." Kanzashi giggled.
In truth, she's the one who benefited the most in Cecilia's request. As payment, she received Blue Tears valuable drones which are crucial for her own Bit Funnels. With it, her personal IS development would be finally done by the end of the month.
She can finally fly.
"Then Rin's in for a nasty surprise then?" Ichika asks, somewhat worried.
"Nothing too serious," Amuro waved away his concerns, "It's only a few mods and added weapons. Nothing drastic like the Gundam Uchigane. It still remains as Blue Tears albeit personally modified."
"Huh? That's pretty tame."
"I know, I wanted to add more. Too bad Cecilia-san rejected my SMART missile idea." Kanzashi sulked, leaving Amuro to pay her back.
"Doesn't she already have homing missiles?" Houki deadpanned.
"But this one's more versatile! Amuro suggested multiple munition packs like spread shots, incendiary, smokes and more." Kanzashi ranted more, telling them about its wide uses and benefits.
Houki and Ichika turned to Amuro who's avoiding their looks.
'He corrupted this girl.' They both concluded.
Kanzashi is a weapons nut or IS nut.
"Oh, it's starting." Amuro pointed out.
---------------------------
Up in the sky in the arena's airspace, two IS units hover face to face against each other.
"I've been itching to fight you since last time, Cecilia." Huang Lingyin or Rin for short said with a grin, pulling out her twin Dao blades.
"Likewise Huang. Dueling a fellow representative candidate is always welcome." Cecilia responded with equal confidence.
It's been days since her spar with Amuro and she had thought a lot about it while continuing to train with him and Kanzashi. From sniper tactics (Amuro) and specialized IS knowledge (Kanzashi), she had learned a lot from the two.
It turns out she has stagnated. Her spar with Amuro was the wake-up call she needed to notice it. Pride and arrogance is her downfall it seems, something she has never thought about.
Oh how far she has fallen. She really lost sight of herself for a while now huh?
As such, changes had to be met and her Blue Tears came first.
"Are both combatants ready?" Ms. Maya's voice echoed in the arena.
"Yes!/Ready!" Both girls eagerly replied through their comms, weapons drawn for combat.
"Well then, Begin!!!"
And so the match began by the sound of a barrier shattering.