A young Seitojin woman walked out the cafeteria with a small bag of fruit. Students of the Xiang Yu Military Academy weren’t supposed to stash food in their rooms, but Kimi received special permission from the principal as a condition for her enrollment. She was even given a small icebox.

The school was mostly populated by seconds sons and third daughters from elite Seitojin families, so when the houseless orphan girl was admitted there was quite the uproar. Not that she cared. Only one thing kept her here, and popularity amongst cast off nobles wasn’t it. She looked at her pilfered apples. Maybe two things.

While Kimi was walking away admiring her haul, she found herself ambushed by a gang of four women surrounding her on all sides. A familiar bunch, popular in spite of the low standing of their families thanks to decent performances in the class ranking. They backed her into a narrow space behind the main building.

“Looting the pantry again?” the leader of the clique, Kira Yamada, said. She was the only one in Kimi’s estimation worth paying mind too. She was tall, and rather pretty, with long back hair tied into a braid. For some unknown reason Kira took a disliking to Kimi a few years ago.

“I’m sure the starved rat will put it to good use,” one of the girls said. Kimi decided Cindy was as good a name as any for her. She was well built, so probably a Guardian. Tough and trained to fight with her fists. “I mean, she’s flat enough to pass for a boy.”

Another girl laughed. This one was around Kimi’s size, with unusually pale skin. Likely an Arteficer. It was against the rules at Xiang Yu to carry weapons, but artes were naturally easy to conceal so she might have a few hidden tricks. Kimi decided she looked like a Mindy. She said, “Could just be the clothes.”

Kimi glanced down at her outfit. She wore loose fitting camo fatigues from the school quartermaster. It was unisex attire, so it was unclear how they were boyish.

“I suppose orphans get what the army buys them,” Cindy said.

“Or what they can steal,” the fourth girl said. She was the tallest of Kira’s crew, with the lean arms and sharp gaze of a Lancer. Specialized in ranged weapons, and useless in melee. Sandy was a fine name for her. She reached for Kimi’s bag of fruit, so she flinched back and tucked it under her arm. The girls laughed.

“Can I help you?” Kimi said.

“Can you help us?” Cindy scoffed. “That’s rich from the charity case.”

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“You should be asking if we can help you,” Mindy said. “Especially with dressing yourself.”

“Does it matter what I wear?” Kimi asked.

“That’s a good point,” Cindy said. “You’ll look like a boy no matter what.”

“Or maybe we aren’t worth the bother,” Sandy said. “The little wannabe superstar is too good for us.”

“Is that is?” Kira asked. “You think everyone’s beneath you ‘cause you’ve been on missions already?”

“That’s not…” Kimi trailed off. It was true she’d been given tasks by the school, but not for being anything special. In fact, it was rather the opposite. She had no family, and in spite of her age could pass for a child. A helpful combination for spying on political dissidents, or occasionally disposing of them.

“So what is your problem?” Kira said. She pushed closer to Kimi, backing her into a wall.

“My… problem?” It wasn’t something Kimi gave any thought to. If there was more to life than a warm bed and plentiful food she never heard of it. “I don’t know I have one.”

“You do now,” Cindy said.

“In the form of an imminent beat down,” Sandy added.

“Let’s kick her ass!” Mindy finished

Kira blocked her crew with a raised fist. “I’ll handle this. You three keep a look out.”

“Alright boss,” Sandy said. “Put that bitch in her place.

Kimi was uncertain how it happened, but a fight was about to break out. Luckily, Kira looked to be her only opponent.

They’d never sparred—not close enough in the school ranking—but Kimi didn’t mind the chance, especially with Kira unarmed. Normally a Scout, like herself, couldn’t defeat a Saber of the same rank, like Kira. Stealth and speed weren’t much help in a one on one duel with a tech heavy melee specialist. With Kira reduced to her fists, Kimi actually stood a chance.

Her opponent opened with a flurry of punches, which Kimi dodged easily enough. It wasn’t that Kira lacked genuine skill—Kimi would last only seconds in a real fight—but she never practiced martial arts on her own. Kimi made a mental note to complain about the lack of mandatory hand to hand training.

She would gladly volunteer her experience.

Still, that was a problem for another time, for now she had to deal with Kira. Kimi always kept some unarmed techs loaded and could win with a few quick jabs. But then… Kira’s clique might not take kindly to an ignoble defeat. Perhaps something more theatrical might convince them to drop whatever this was?

Kimi grabbed one of Kira’s arms mid swing, then flipped her up and over the shoulder into, then through the wall behind her.

Kimi turned to face the remaining girls, keeping her guard. “Well?”

They shared a look amongst themselves, then scurried out of sight.

“Pretty mediocre allies.” Kimi shrugged. She turned to examine the hole in the wall. Most people underestimated grapple techs, but they could be highly effective in the right circumstance. “I better finish with Kira.”

She stepped through the gap, brushing a cloud of dust from the air. Kira was laying in a pool of blood, from where her ribs ripped through her chest.

Kimi spent a moment looking over the damage, her lips pursed. She sighed. “I can’t leave you like this, now can I?” She reached into her coat to grab something from a hidden pocket. “It’ll be over in a minute.”