[color=lightcoral]"I just figured you'd have more expensive tastes is all,"[/color] Sara said with a noncommittal shrug. People in Hamasaki's position weren't exactly unheard of at the academy- there were plenty of kids whose parents owned major companies and manufacturers, a lot of them were in their own little rich-kids clique.


Sara watched Rio as she spoke- the tall girl was an interesting thing. She certainly looked the part of many of the rich kids on campus- many of which didn't spare Sara the time of day- scholarship kid and all. Sara waved away a waitress who came to take her order, the store looked busy enough that it'd be a while before she got any food, and she didn't feel particularly hungry. Sara tilted her head to the side in mild amusement as Rio asked Sara about what team she was on last year. 

[color=lightcoral]"I wasn't on a team last year."[/color] Sara explained, [color=lightcoral]"I didn't have my own GEAR, so I couldn't be a part of the competitive scene even if I wanted to- they're not exactly affordable for someone of my economic status."[/color] she said with a sigh, looking out the window.

[color=lightcoral]"I spent most of last year test piloting test models for different manufacturers. I think I did the trial runs for your family's 'PARA' line GEARs. I tested with Lockheed Martin last winter and over the summer they offered to lend me my Valkyrie for extended stress testing."[/color]

[color=lightcoral]"I did watch a lot of the matches though- what about you?"[/color]