The group of friends made their way down the hall and into Del's Homeroom Class. As they entered the room, everybody turned and stared at Tsukuru.
He let out a sigh.
'For crying out loud, what's the big deal?!' he thought in annoyance. 'Everyone here knows that I can summon Beasts!'
Reiju's voice popped up in his head.
"In their defense, that is a very big Beast," she replied. "On top of that…haven't you noticed it yet?"
Tsukuru's eyes narrowed, and he looked back.
'Noticed what?' he asked.
There was a pause, and then Reiju spoke again.
"The System altering the Gargoyles from my original, intended design into a more Humanoid frame has created an unforeseen consequence," she replied.
Tsukuru's face tightened.
'Which is?' he thought sharply, starting to get annoyed.
He heard Reiju let out a sigh.
"They now resemble Winged Dalki," she replied.
Tsukuru's eyes widened as he heard this.
He remained quiet for a moment.
'That's ridiculous,' he thought back. 'She looks nothing like a Humanoid Dragon,'
Tsukuru heard Reiju let out a bitter scoff.
"She is a large, Humanoid Beast, with wings, a tail, and sharp claws," she replied. "You really think that those who have lost everything due to the Dalki will care that she doesn't have scales covering her body, or spikes on her back?"
Tsukuru gritted his teeth.
'That's bullshit,' he thought.
"Yeah, well, try explaining that to everyone else," Reiju replied
'Then, maybe they should learn how to control their emotions,' Tsukuru thought back bitterly.
There was a long pause.
'You're not one to talk about having emotional responses," Reiju replied.
Tsukuru ignored his mother, and the group traveled back to their regular spot in the back of the room.
Like usual, Starrk took his spot leaning against the wall behind them.
A few minutes later, Del walked in.
He turned towards the students, overlooking them all.
"Alright, listen up, everyone," he replied. "I've got an announcement."
Several of the students, Tsukuru included, raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Due to the Portal Outing taking place on Monday, the higher-ups have decided that all classes today will be cancelled. You are to use the next three days to train together with your teammates so you can work together as an effective unit of the Portal Outing."
Almost immediately, a hand shot up into the air.
Seeing the owner of the hand, Tsukuru fought the urge to slap himself.
Del let out a deep sigh as he saw the hand.
"Yes, Hubert?" he asked in a deadpan tone.
"What about our Combat Classes?" the boy asked.
"Are the Combat Classes a class?" Del asked dryly.
Hubert remained quiet for a moment.
"...Yes?" he asked in a nervous tone.
"And did I not just say that all of today's classes are canceled?" Del asked in the same dry tone.
Hubert was silent again.
"...Yes?" he asked nervously.
"Then put your hand down," Del replied.
Hubert slumped down into his seat, putting his hand down.
Del then turned his attention from Hubert to the other students.
"Alright, you all heard my announcement," Del replied. "Now, getoutofhere."
The sounds of chairs scraping and people shuffling could be heard, as the students began to move.
Tsukuru let out a sigh, and began to get out of his chair.
As he did, Galina jumped out of her "Bag", leaping high into the air.
While mid-air, her liquid metal body was convulsing and spasming, the liquid metal stretching out in random directions.
The next second, her body transformed into her Humanoid form.
Tsukuru looked back at her.
"He said that 'classes were cancelled'," Galina replied, pouting with her arms crossed. "That means that Galina doesn't have to be in Galina's ball form!"
Vorden looked over at Quinn next to him.
"It's more of a blob than a ball," he whispered.
Quinn shook his head in agreement.
Galina instantly whirled on the two, a look of annoyance on her face.
"Galina's not a blob!" she yelled, shaking her arms up and down as they were out at her sides.
Tsukuru sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
He then heard Reiju's voice pipe up in his head.
"Not so easyraising kids, now is it?" she asked, a tone of smug amusement in her voice.
Tsukuru pinched the bridge of his nose even harder.
'Don't…start,' he thought back.
Tsukuru turned to Quinn, Vorden, and Peter.
"Alright, let's get out of here," he replied, as he started to look around. "Now, where is-"
Tsukuru's words were cut off, as he heard a cold voice from behind him.
"Hikiko."
Tsukuru sighed, and his shoulders slumped.
He looked behind him, and saw Erin with Layla in tow.
"Well, she sure moves fast," Reiju replied.
Tsukuru ignored his mother's words.
He turned back to Quinn and Vorden.
Vorden smiled.
"So, where to?" he asked.
Erin narrowed her eyes.
"One of the training rooms, obviously," she replied coldly.
Vorden glared at her.
He still wasn't happy that she was part of their group.
Tsukuru turned back to her.
"Erin, it's likely that all of the other classes received the same announcement we did," he replied. "Even with how numerous and how spacious the training rooms are, they're still likely to be cramped with all the other classes having the same idea."
Erin's eyes tightened.
"Well, do you have any better ideas?" she asked.
Vorden gritted his teeth.
It was as if he and Quinn weren't even THERE.
Tsukuru thought for a moment, his hand under his lip.
His eyes widened in realization.
"Hang on a second," he replied.
He brought his wristwatch up to his chest, and pressed his finger against the screen.
Cycling through the number of applications, he soon selected the "Contact Lists".
Then, he began scrolling through the list of the school's administration.
Normally, he would have just used his wristwatch's voice-command program that he had Logan put into it, but Layla, and more specifically, Erin, were there with them.
And he didn't feel like explaining to them about how he had his brother modify his wristwatch.
Eventually, the name "Paul Snelleart"appeared on the screen.
Tsukuru pressed the name, causing it to light up, and for a communication to be sent out.
***
On the second floor of the main school building, General Nathan, General Duke, Sergeant Faye, Sergeant Leo, Sergeant Shizuka, and Sergeant Dillon were all standing in front of Head-General Paul's desk.
A few feet away from the desk, propped up against the left side of the back wall, there was a Portal set up.
The Portal was currently active, with its interior filled with a vortex of white energy.
Back at the desk, Paul was off to the side, leaning over it.
He had a metal carrying box on the desk, that he was latching shut.
"Alright," he replied, turning to the others. "I should only be gone for a few hours."
He narrowed his eyes, as he looked from one to another. His gaze lingered on General Duke for a moment longer than the others, giving him a stern look.
"Hopefully, this time when I come back, we won't be in a state of emergency," he replied in a low tone.
Duke let out a "Tch!" in annoyance, and glanced to the side.
The box now securely shut, Paul reached over to grab its handle.
But, it was then that his wristwatch began beeping erratically, its screen flashing.
Paul's hand froze halfway towards the metal box's handle.
He ripped it away, and brought it up to his chest.
Looking down at the screen, he saw the name "Hikiko Tsukuru" being displayed.
"Student Hikiko," he muttered.
Duke ground his teeth upon hearing Tsukuru's name.
Paul stared at the name on his screen, seeming to be trying to decide if he should answer it or not.
A moment later, he pressed the "accept" option on the screen, and the communication was established.
"Yes, Student Hikiko?" he asked.
There was a slight pause, then Tsukuru's voice crackled through the speaker.
"Sorry to interrupt you, Head General, but I was wondering if me and my group could train in the Assembly Hall," he replied.
Paul raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"What's wrong with the school's training rooms?" he asked.
"Normally, nothing," Tsukuru replied. "But, given the fact that most likely all the other classes will be having the same idea, I fear they may be a bit packed."
Paul's face tightened.
"Hmm, I see your point," he replied. "Very well, but I shall be assigning an overseer to make sure the place doesn't get destroyed…AGAIN."
Paul then ended the communication, and turned towards the others.
He gave each of them a long, hand look, before finally stopping on Shizuka.
"Sergeant Shizuka, I need you to-"
However, before Paul could finish his sentence, Sergeant Faye stepped forward.
"Actually, Head General, may I be the one to watch over them?" she asked.