[h3]They neared the class...[/h3] [hr] After their jaunty stroll outside, the transfers approached class 2A in the large hall of the Academic Wing. There were a pair of students waiting to greet them as they walked down the hall. A [url=https://i.imgur.com/nDLzJPE.png]girl[/url] with long orange hair and hazel eyes, while standing next to her was a [url=https://i.pinimg.com/736x/57/ca/4d/57ca4d54bbb03b23e6f04c793e3f2756.jpg]boy[/url] with nearly black hair and red eyes. Evelyn Aster and Masaru Embers were waiting for the transfer students, it seemed, and though the transfers didn't know them exactly, everyone knew the transfers. The girl greeted them. [color=orange]"Hey, glad you guys were able to make it!"[/color] She beamed. [color=orange]"I'm Evey!"[/color] [color=red]"Masaru,"[/color] Masaru said quietly. By contrast, he seemed to be uninterested. But he was here, wasn't he? The transfers may not have realized it, but as the five new students of the sophomore class, that meant they had not participated in the grade-level annual tournaments the year prior. They were the five new students that had been accepted, from the utmost of selective applicants, and while everyone in the sophomore class had battled each other at least once during their freshman year, no one knew what to expect from the transfers. Especially after the morning assembly. Everyone was wondering how the new kids at school would fair in battle. And that would bring a whole slew of challengers to them, but that was for another time... Anyways, it may not have been obvious to them, but Evey and Masaru, bearing the number 2 and number 1 spot in the school respectively, had earned their spots for good reason. They were analytical, sharp, and they scoped out the competition like hawks. Just like they were properly doing now. Because until Masaru had crushed an opponent in battle, he didn't usually assume he could just beat anyone. He had confidence, no doubt, but pokemon battles always had [i]some[/i] small luck component to them. So he kept up his guard accordingly. It was the same for Evey, but being on the breeder track, she was also curious about Tim. She knew some about the incoming breeder students, being one of the top students in the program, but she didn't know enough to satiate her curiosity. [color=orange]"Now listen, about this morning, that must have been terrible when they were making fun of you all. And I'm so sorry about it."[/color] Evey bowed her head before looking up again. [color=orange]"But it has to be said, some of you were causing a disruption. We're going to be having other assemblies in the school year, so some of you need to tighten your act. 'Kay?"[/color] Her sentence ended with a giggle, as if she thought their antics were funny, but not as if she were laughing at them. Or was she? [color=red]"Evey,"[/color] Masaru spoke up. [color=red]"Nobody cares about the listening to the rules. You're not here for that either."[/color] His eyes locked with Troy's as he spoke. [color=red]"After all, wouldn't you like to know more about how the new students will fare in battle?"[/color] While Masaru wasn't necessarily underestimating Netty, Zaria, or Tim on what they had to bring to battle, Troy had obviously had the most composure during the morning fiasco. He hadn't seemed affected by anyone's jeers or taunts at all, and that had impressed Masaru. An opponent with strong composure meant a challenge, a challenge for him to win. Of course, he'd need to test his mettle against the other transfers as well. But that was for another day... [color=orange]"Easy for you to say!"[/color] Evey snapped. [color=orange]"It's my damn job as prefect to make sure the students know the rules!"[/color] Realizing that she didn't sound like her bubbly self, she doubled back to being all smiles, tilting her head and batting her lashes. [color=orange]"Ehehehehe~ I mean, stop being rude, Masaru!"[/color] She turned to Tim. [color=orange]"You're a student in the breeding program, aren't you? Is your Rockruff specially raised?"[/color] And would it be able to beat her pokemon? No, that was impossible. She was the best breeder at this academy! It was clear that the two of them were more interested in Troy and Tim, though Netty and Zaria could have commented or shared their thoughts with each other. As Evey and Masaru had stated their interests, the floor was left to the rest of them-- mainly Troy and Tim-- to respond. It was only a few minutes until class, so they didn't have much time to talk, but Tim and Troy had enough time to get a few words in, at least. [@Ryik][@LuckyBlackCat][@Crimson Flame][@jujube]