rakuen | On the platform: Meet the new characters!

As you all crowd onto the platform and peer through the thick fog that chills the air, you are met by four girls and five boys. One of the girls is a somewhat humanoid grey-skinned, finned alien, but the rest all seem human. All nine are in uniforms that would match if not for the colour differences - skirts and trousers, waistcoats, and light summer shirts that seem totally inappropriate for the dense fog. They're all sodden and cold, and most are irritable. Each has a beret with a crest pinned to the front - three depicting a shield on green, the other six a sword on red.

At the first lull in the chatter, one sickly-pale, shield-crested girl speaks up, cutting through your conversations with her cold, soft voice.

"Attention, please."

She explains that the nine of them are the current prefects of Rakuen, representing the two schools on the island. Nanami, she points to herself, Yuri and Lelouch of Fortitude; and Santana, Flynn, Feferi, Gino, Nephenee and Kevin of Conquest. She doesn't care to explain why the prefects in red and white outnumber those in green and black two to one.

Santana interrupts, "Yeah, yeah. Look, come over when your name is called so we can all get inside." They all move to stand in two groups some distance away from each other, and the two that spoke read off names from their clipboards.

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"What's your last name and can you guarantee it isn't as dumb as your first name?"

She quirks an eyebrow at him, "Maybe I can."

He spread his hands helplessly.

"To guarantee that, I would have to understand how you judge good names, and you haven't provided any examples."

He smiled and extended a hand, mostly because she didn't seem the type to take it.

"Koizumi. Perhaps I should rephrase-- would you tell me about our situation?"

She applauds sarcastically, "Very good, someone knows how to ask a real question. You're here on this island, you can't get out, if you attempt yo walk the train tracks you will die and wake up in your bed. In fact, every time you die you will wake up in your bed. You're here to fight and you'll be either a Player or a Weapon, it changes with the round. Anything else, Koiz?"

Koizumi was good at taking things in stride. Nonetheless, the smile petrified on his face. It was the bit about death that did it. Alter time, alter space, alter the roles and destinies of any individual, do what you will, he had seen it before. But changing the rules of life and death? As far as he knew, that was beyond even--

...even... even who? He couldn't remember. But it was important, he was sure of it.

"Yes, actually." He was only half paying attention now, pushing back the vague ache that rose behind his eyes as as he strained to remember. "Why? And if you would be so kind as to introduce yourself...?"

"I'm Santana Lopez, head Prefect of Conquest and one of six staff members, meaning I tell you something and you do it, got it? And for why we're fighting, it's to reach a bigger goal, one I can't tell you about, but it'll get you back home."

"Keeping secrets, hmm? Is there any proof that you're telling the truth about getting me back home, or should I take it on faith that my benevolent dictator is telling the truth?"

There's no real hostility behind the question, but he does look somewhat sceptical.

She laughs, "You just gotta suck it up and believe me, I can't give you any proof but I have experience, once upon a time I was in your position."

He echoed the laugh.

"Then I leave myself in your hands, Ms. Lopez." He had no intentions of doing so, of course. He intended to do research of his own, even if it meant crossing her. But niceties were important, and besides, she had been more helpful than she had to be. He appreciated that.

"Thank you. I look forward to an interesting school year." And a short one, if he had anything to say about it.

On the platform: Meet the new characters!

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