========== Lunchtime, at the cafeteria ==========
The café is mildly packed with Academy students, with most of them walking to their respective tables while the rest are queuing up at various stalls for their food.
In the midst of the café bustling with students, Tsurugi is sitting at a round table next to the windows with her share of food and drink on the table.
With a somewhat tall bench backrest hiding her from view of most of the students, she heaves a sigh while gently putting her palm on her face.
‘Man… I totally forgot how lively school life can be…’
She then raises her head and looks out the window.
‘Then again… At least Orimura-sensei allows us to meet after lunch for our private trainings.’
She turns her head to peek out from the side of the backrest then slips back in upon realizing that no one has taken notice of her presence.
‘And it seems I’ve escaped the horror of interrogation from my classmates… Guess I’ll just ea—’
As she was about to grab her eating utensils, Kirin voice sounds up from her side.
“Ah! Katami, there you are!”
“Hey there, Arakaki!” She turns to Kirin and waves at her as she walks over to the table.
“May I…?”
“Y-Yeah sure! Please take a seat!”
Kirin smiles then proceeds to sit across Tsurugi, placing her tray on the table.
“I was wondering if something’s wrong seeing how you just disappeared right after class.”
“N-Nothing’s wrong! I was just…
uhh… I was looking for the restroom… you know…”
Kirin raises an eyebrow at her reaction then grins wide.
“W-Well then… That’s… normal. Let’s eat!”
“Right…!”
“Also, don’t worry about being formal. We’re classmates! You can just call me Kirin!”
“Ah… Likewise, you can address me as Tsurugi.”
The girls smile cheerfully then proceed to eat their respective foods.
‘This is all right. Kirin doesn’t look the type that will keep hammering me with questions… I can eat in peac—’
“Katami-san~!” Says another familiar voice, prompting Tsurugi to turn her head and see a few of her classmates smiling at her.
‘…On second thought… Maybe not…’
“May we join you two?”
“Yes please! The more the merrier!” Kirin arbitrarily replies, directing Tsurugi’s attention to her as she shifts herself and sits next to her while her other classmates sit at the remaining empty seats.
As the students eat their foods, another voice interrupts them.
“Aha! Found you!”
Slightly irritated, Tsurugi turns her head to her side again. This time, she sees Lingyin standing next to her, along with the other Personal IS pilots.
“H-Hi!”
“Glad to have you as a fellow schoolmate here, Tsurugi.” Charlotte remarks.
“Then again, seriously? Summer enrollment? What were you thinking…?” Rin asks with slight disbelief while Houki and Ichika walk up next to her.
“Even so, you still managed to successfully enroll. Congratulations!” Houki says to her with a cheery smile as Ichika looks around the café and then to Tsurugi.
“Speaking of which, where’s Inami?” He asks.
“Umm… About that…” Tsurugi utters as her mind frantically tries to think of an excuse.
‘Crap, I can’t tell them that Ina-kun’s here as well…! What do I say… hmm…’
She looks back at Ichika with a small smile as she cooks up an excuse.
“I-Ina-kun is… away for the moment. He has some other stuff to catch up on.”
“I see… In any case, congratulations on the enrollment!”
“Thanks, you guys! Also, where’s Cecilia?” Tsurugi prompts upon realizing that Cecilia’s absent from the group.
“Oh, she’s right over there, holding an empty spot for us.” Houki directs her attention to a few tables behind. Tsurugi peeks out and sees Cecilia waving at her, prompting her to wave back.
“All right then, we’ll be going now. Catch up with us sometime, yeah? We want to hear about your enrollment!” Rin prompts her as the others begin to walk away.
“S-Sure…! See you!”