It was warm and comforting. Zeta was floating in a pod outside the glass display. The professor watched saying something but she just couldn't tell what she tried. Really hard to focus in on his words, but the more she focused, the more reality began to distort things started to pixelate sounds became static. The world was crumbling, then she woke up.
Looking all around. She didn't recognize this place. It was not the liminal space she's used to It was a one-room apartment. Our memories were starting to come back 2 days ago she finally managed to escape that wretched place. Now she lives in this place called a apartment.
Thanks to Marin. She has furniture and clothing as well as a desk, but the apartment is only one room excluding the restroom funny enough! Marin lives in the room next door. He can't afford a big apartment with a salary. Luckily, zeta's inheritance hauls more than enough to rent out the room next door so that he can keep him as a guardian.
Logic: you should start getting up and getting dressed. You don't want to be late.
She said as she manifested before zeta, she looked reluctantly at the uniform hanging over the wardrobe a skirt with a plaid design a baggy sweater and a button of blouse.
As she put on the uniform she got to look at herself in the in the full body mirror no defining features, dull dark hair shoulder length and hints of red on the lower parts of her eyelids. Signs of crying again.
Zeta: I must do something about that. This crying thing is starting to affect me more than it needs to.
Logic floated next door.
Logic: according to this grieving guide from online. It's best to just let it happen and it'll solve itself either that or do therapy.
Is it a grabbed a handful of hairpins and started bunching her hair the way Marin did before and sticking them in.
Zeta: what's therapy.
Logic: I'll tell you later. We'll be late.
Circuit High School is a public school that uses uniforms to enforce public discipline in the students. Many of the students who go here tend to graduate and go to college thanks to the wide range of opportunities, the school as available.
Logic: at least that's with the Wikipedia page says.
Logic remarks as they walk down the hallways towards their first class. Entering the classroom, the teacher only gives her a glance before waving her over zeta comes next to the teacher to introduce her to the class.
Teacher: all right class. This is the new student zeta sprocket.
Instinct appeared eyeing everyone with extreme hostility.
Instinct: are a kid listen app. Our plane is very simple. You're going to find the biggest kid and then beat him up. Then find the toughest kid and beat him up. After that no one will mess with you ever.
He said with a confident look as he crosses his arms while leaning back as if he said them. Most brilliant thing ever. Then logic bust his bubble.
Logic: first this is a school not prison. Second, you do one or the other neither both. Otherwise the wardens will put you in an isolation cell.
Zeta ignored them. No one could see them but her anyways and their conversation kind of went over her head. Besides, she was struggling to keep the skirt down with her hands while also trying to get to blush not being used to this both crowds and the new outfit.
Usually as high gear he would be the most powerful being in the room and with the armor he's able to control that power making him unparalleled in confidence much without the armor she doesn't have control over her power. It's still as strong as her high gear form much not as much control meaning she could accidentally destroy the entire school in a blink of an eye.
In other words, without our powers to hide behind, she has no social buffer and that makes her inches. Since she's been in isolation for so long, she's not actually used to talking to people.
The crowd looked at her. Waiting for a response none would come instead she looked away. Hoping they would all just go away or leave her alone some of the students thought she was just a cool type. Who didn't really like using words that much, only the teacher and one or two students caught on that. She was just shy.
The teacher realizing she wasn't going to get an introduction out of her in the community of spot part I said walked over and sat down an extra girl with glasses and a bowl cut with a ponytail The teacher began the lesson. It was just physics zeta thought about paying attention but logic was already engrossed in the lesson, not because it was educational for her. She already knew everything the teacher was teaching and was mostly just making notes. Criticizing things that were wrong or were incomplete due to the educational systems. Drip feeding method of not teaching the students. Everything in favor of bringing it down into small portions to better absorb or something like that.
Since the logic had the lesson covered, zeta felt it would be okay to get a little distracted. She let her eyes stripped over to the girls in the classroom, all of them having varying hairstyles and more of their uniforms in various ways to come off as unique. But all in all they would be described as pretty. She then and looked at her own reflection using the TV over on the right corner in the room.
Zeta: (yeah I still don't get it. I look nothing like them)
Instinct: I disagree. You look more like them than like those.
He said as he pointed to the other side of the room where a group of desks had. Some guys sat together. Some of them taking notes and paying attention to the lesson others either sneakily on their phones or trying to secretly do their homework under the desk before the teacher tries to collect it.
Zeta just didn't get it. She's supposed to be part human yet. Even in our high gear form she looked more pretty than him handsome yet at the same time she was in nowhere on the level of those around her. While still looking around, she noticed something on the desk next to her.
It was an odd fabric bag containing writing utensils but what caught her eye was not that but a decoration on it it was and a fabric patch of top gear. Seeing that guy here irked her so much she could feel the voices telling her to kill returning. Logic felt this but didn't look away for the lesson replying.
Logic: you can't keep letting these emotions win. You need to gain control. Try humanizing the situation. Speak to the owner.
Acknowledging logics advice she leaned over a bit so that she was within whispering range of the girls sitting next to her wearing glasses.
Zeta: hey.
She whispered to the girl next to her.
The girl looked over most startled and confused.
Girl: Yes
she said in a baffled voice. Clearly unsure on why this conversation was happening. Zeta was startled she didn't even realize she had no plan about starting a conversation. What was the next step.
Instinct: give her a compliment girls like those.
Zeta looked at the girls ponytail.
Zeta: Nice hairstyle.
The girl looked at her ponytail again then that zeta as if wondering if she was mocking her.
Girl: thanks?
She said I'm certain of the context of that comment zeta noticing this of course felt like she messed up and tried to fix her mistake.
Zeta: yeah I like it. It's a simple look as you can clearly see I'm bad with hairstyles.
She said it responds with an awkward whisper picking up on on the tone of zada's voice. The girl began to relax a bit noticing that she was just shy. Not mean tried to return the compliment.
Girl: I don't know. I kind of like it. It gives off this complex look.
Zeta: I agree, the amount of hairpins that I had to put into this thing is indeed a complex mystery.
The two chuckled as if if that joke. They both understood being told. One of the girls sitting in front of them newest this quiet laughter and glance back before returning to writing her notes.
Zeta found her eyes. Wandering back to the bag with the fabric patch of top gear. She couldn't help it ask emotions. Just wouldn't rest unless you did.
Zeta: so about that bag?
The girl looked at her bag and smiled.
Girl: oh this! I'm a fan of top gear whenever I'm downtown and I happen to hear he's fighting someone I like to go watch sometimes. What about you? Are you a fan.
Zeta remembered that pathetic creature lying on the ground after being gravely beaten then remembering her father.
Zeta: no not really.
The girls smile began to soften a bit and turning the frowning area. Zeta noticed this and to realize she might have killed the mood of it and tried to save it.
Zeta: did you see that fight 2 days ago.
The girl perked up a bit.
Girl: I missed it but everyone online was talking about it. Apparently a new enemy that goes by the name high gear appeared and beat him from what I saw with the videos and second hand accounts. It's likely to be one of those pallet change villains that look like the hero and sometimes they become arch nemesis. Other times they become anti-heroes or sometimes they just become one-off villains. I wonder which one he will be.
Zeta nodded at her speculations they were very insightful though it was insulting to be called a pallet swap variant of top gear.
Zeta: I agree. I can't wait to find out myself.
The girls smiled at zeta hearing those words she felt as though she found a kindred soul of sorts.
The rest of the day went on with at somewhat no hench school was practically easy considering logic was basically acting as a student and zeta was just there the stand-in for her lack of a body. Meanwhile instinct, mostly just whatever he was mostly just dormant only occasionally appearing before outdoor based activity is or food. By the end of the day they were preparing to walk home.
Instinct: man, this school thing was way better than I thought it would be, especially that lunch. Pizza is a nice food. I overheard some of the students talking about going to get burgers. Those sound good too. Didn't Marin give us pocket money. We should go try some.
And zeta walked out considering instinct's proposal. She spotted someone familiar standing at the entrance. It was the girl with the ponytail. Clearly waiting for someone and she prepared to walk by not wanting to over familiarize herself. The girls stopped her dead in her tracks calling out to her.
Girl: zeta wait?
Zeta turned around. Willing to hear what she has to say considering they did have good rapport earlier today. The girl looked at her confused then her eyes widened.
Mia: oh I never introduced myself. I'm Mia. Nice to meet you.
She's stuck out her hand zeta looked at it. Confused.
Logic: you're supposed to grab it with your opposite hand then shake it but not too furiously.
She did as instructed which cost the girl to grow happier.
Mia: so um like I was thinking of hitting up a few of my favorite spots downtown. I thought your new around maybe haven't seen the town yet. I could possibly show you we could possibly eat some lunch together and hang out. I mean if you're busy I totally get it.
Zeta stood there for a minute considering turning her down.
Logic: you should accept her request.
Instinct: yeah totally we can use her to get burgers. Maybe even more burgers with both our pocket money and whatever she has.
Zeta: (why? )
Logic: grieving guide.
Zeta didn't ask more and instead shook her head in agreement. Mia's eyes widen in excitement as she jumped and honked zeta.