[i]"...Tanaka, Kazuki."[/i]

Kazuki's head perked up after hearing his name being called. He'd been daydreaming again, and not five minutes into the class. With a halfhearted wave of his hand, he answered, "Present," and felt a wash of calm as the teacher moved on to other students. 

Kazuki's mind had been on other things besides roll call. Tracing a finger over the Battle Deck at his side, Kazuki's thoughts revolved around the device's potential with a Chip of his own. A few other students in the class had their own Chips, albeit low level. But Kazuki felt a tingle on envy that they had one at all. Without a Chip, the Battle Deck was a hunk of metal in his pocket, fit for little purpose other than a paperweight. He'd already spent a year at the academy without a Chip, and resolved to find one this year, although he had almost no idea how to start. 

He sighed, tapping his hand on his desk. Either his luck would turn around this year, or he'd be even farther behind.