Magical Lotus - Mahou Shoujou Byakuren - Episode 3

[DracoOmega]

>Withdraw whatever books or notes we might need for this

[Hello Purvis]

>Raise hand
>Once called upon, "Is she just out for the day, or will we be seeing you all week?"

[Oldmansour]

>Raise hand
>Once called upon, "Is she just out for the day, or will we be seeing you all week?"

>"Vice Principal Mima didn't say." You note a slight wince when she mentions the vice principals' name. She glances out the window, then adds, "Not that I'd mind spending a bit more time indoors."

>Withdraw whatever books or notes we might need for this

>You open your satchel to extract your history notes as Meiling declares, "Before you get to your studies, class, I have an announcement to make. Ordinarily this would be Keine's job, but for today, I get to introduce our new transfer student."
>"I'd heard about that." Rin mutters as the class comes alive with conversation again. "Dey say she's from up north, that her and her family are connected to da yakuza."
>"I heard it was a guy." Letty counters. "That his parents own a fish plant in the south."

[DracoOmega]

>"Barely an hour and people are already spinning stories, I see."

[Oldmansour]

>"Barely an hour and people are already spinning stories, I see."

>"Gossip spreads faster here'n a cheetah on fire." Rin quips.
>"Any guesses yourself?" Letty asks.

[Hello Purvis]

>"Mmm, I'll guess an oni princess."

[Hanzo K.]

>Shrug. "Or perhaps someone none of us would expect. The world is filled with many uncertainties and probabilities after all."

[Oldmansour]

>"Mmm, I'll guess an oni princess."

>Shrug. "Or perhaps someone none of us would expect. The world is filled with many uncertainties and probabilities after all."

>"Another oni'd be somethin' to see." Rin muses as Meiling, or Hong-sensei more formally, calls in the new arrival. "Knock around the peckin' order 'round here."
>It is not, however, an oni that enters into the room, but a pretty green-haired girl wearing a black and grey school uniform with red trim. It takes you a moment, but you realize you've seen her before. It's the green-haired girl that was at Szenska's yesterday, the one who was getting chummy with Konngara's crew. One of them, at least. A strong gust of wind rattles the windows as she turns and faces the classroom. Judging from the murmurs among your classmates, she's popular already.
>"Go ahead and introduce yourself." Meiling invites the young lady as she starts to write out her name on the blackboard.
>"I'm Sanae Kochiya." she says politely yet casually, bowing slightly. "It's a pleasure to be here and to meet you all."

[Hanzo K.]

>Well this was certainly a surprise. Didn't expect her.
>What sort of feeling do we get from her? Senses and all.

(That was outta left field.)

[Oldmansour]

>Well this was certainly a surprise. Didn't expect her.
>What sort of feeling do we get from her? Senses and all.

(That was outta left field.)

>It seems you prediction of 'someone none of us would expect.' was accurate.
>On a hunch, you sweep your extrasensory perception over the new arrival. You have the feeling that your powers are not completely restored yet, nor are they quite as accurate in your human guise as when you are Magical Lotus, but your scan reveals nothing out of the ordinary. She seems to be nothing more than what she appears: a bright-eyed friendly 18 year old girl with green hair with a frog-shaped hairclip and a snake-shaped accessory wrapped around a band of hair on her left.
>And yet.... You can't tell if it's a result of your normal senses or your extra ones, but there's something almost... familiar about this girl. Like you've seen her before, and not at Szenska's. It feels like a very old memory, or the memory OF a memory.

(You didn't expect a 'high school' themed Touhou game not to have Sanae, did you? )

[DracoOmega]

>It seems you prediction of 'someone none of us would expect.' was accurate.

I take issue with this assertion!

>"Well, that's two theories eliminated already."

>Which of Konngara's crew was she chatting with, anyway? Was it someone that we know, or at least know OF?

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, that's two theories eliminated already."
>Which of Konngara's crew was she chatting with, anyway? Was it someone that we know, or at least know OF?

>She spent some time at their table, so presumably she got along well with all four of them. At least as much as Konngara gets along with anyone. But she seemed especially friendly with the one called Ayumi, the oni with the bright blue streaks in her red hair. That one joined Sanae at her own table, and was still there when you left. All you know of that particular oni, beyond her apparently outgoing nature, is that she enjoys buying drinks for people, but only when it's appropriate.
>"I recognize that uniform." Letty muses. "It's Six-Stars High, down in Hai-Lan." That's the informal name of one of the more prestigious high schools on Hai-Lan island, southwest of the main isle of Yamato. You yourself have competed against them in country-wide tennis matches.

[DracoOmega]

>So not all of Konngara's crowd are as unpleasant as the woman herself?
>About how far away is this place?
>Is there anything particular culturally distinct about Hai-Lan as compared to here?

[Oldmansour]

>So not all of Konngara's crowd are as unpleasant as the woman herself?
>About how far away is this place?
>Is there anything particular culturally distinct about Hai-Lan as compared to here?

>As is the case in most cliques, not everyone follows the example of their leader. Ayumi would seem to be an example of that.
>Hai-Lan is located aproximately 120 miles southwest of the tip of Yamato Island, rather close to the mainland country of Luyang. In fact, culturally, the people of Hai-Lan are closer to Luyang than they are to Yamato. The island was colonized by Luyang several centuries ago, then conquored by Yamato a century later. It was fought over for many years until a treaty was reached. To this day, the residents consider themselves more akin to Luyang than their current rulers. The language they speak is closer to Luyang than it is Yamato.
>Normally, this yields a rather pronounced accent, but Sanae's speech shows no trace of it. Residents of that island are usually more tan than than mainland Yamtoans, but Sanae's skin is as fair as your own. As a matter of fact, looking at her, you have the feeling that she's the type of girl Aya would love to meet.

[DracoOmega]

>"She doesn't sound very Hai-Lani, though; perhaps she hadn't grown up there either?"

[Oldmansour]

>"She doesn't sound very Hai-Lani, though; perhaps she hadn't grown up there either?"

>"Ain't it Hai-lanian?" Rin asks.
>"I think it depends on who you ask." Letty replies.
>"Sanae's uniform here hasn't come in yet," Meiling says, explaining her current attire, "so for now, she's wearing her old school's."
>Class Rep Murasa stands and asks of Sanae, "But, isn't that the men's uniform of Six-Stars?" Sanae nods.
>Haruna speaks up again, "So...."
>"Why this one?" Sanae fills in. She grins, then strikes a casual pose, placing a hand behind her head and stretching out one of her legs. "It looks cooler than the girls'."
>A sea of blushes erupt among your classmates, mostly among the girls.

[DracoOmega]

>"Well, she seems off to a good start."

[Oldmansour]

>"Well, she seems off to a good start."

>"Fans already." Letty remarks dryly.
>"Let's find you a seat..." Meiling says to Sanae, scanning the classroom. She points to an empty desk in front of you and to your right. "That one there." The green-haired transfer student nods and makes her way down the corridor of desks, past the faces of her admirers, whom she greets with nods and smiles. She pauses, however, when her eyes fall on you. "The Morning Star." she says, clearly impressed. She laughs a small laugh. "I was sort of hoping I'd end up in your class, but I never thought it'd actually happen."

[DracoOmega]

>"Does my reputation extend even to Hai-Lan, now?"

[Oldmansour]

>"Does my reputation extend even to Hai-Lan, now?"

>"In my old school it does." she informs you. "Not just on account of your skills on the tennis court, either." She extends her hand out towards you. "I'm honored to have the chance to meet you life this."

[DracoOmega]

>Smile gently and return the gesture with a slight bow of our head.
>"Some people make a rather bigger deal of me than I deserve, I think. Nevertheless, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Kochiya-san."

[Oldmansour]

>Smile gently and return the gesture with a slight bow of our head.
>"Some people make a rather bigger deal of me than I deserve, I think. Nevertheless, I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Kochiya-san."

>"Please, please, just Sanae." the green-haired girl replies, blushing slightly. "'San' doesn't sound right attached to my name."
>Meiling calls down to her, "Whichever you prefer, take your seat, please."
>"Yes, ma'am." Sanae replies, drawing a chorus of chuckles from the crowd. Someone calling China 'ma'am' is a bit of a rare thing, unless someone's trying to be cute.

[DracoOmega]

>Politely quiet: "Sanae it is, then. And Byakuren is fine for me, as well."

[Oldmansour]

>Politely quiet: "Sanae it is, then. And Byakuren is fine for me, as well."

>Sanae smiles and nods as the class returns to a semblance of order.
>In cases of independent study, such as the one Meiling has declared here, students review their notes and review their texts on any subject they choose. They are not limited to the current class's subject matter. Students can also study in groups, if they choose. Of course, there are also students who use the time to doddle, slack off, all that stuff. Some even try to get in a little extra sleep. Which is not ALWAYS  a bad idea. It depends on who is the supervisor at the time. And if Mima catches you, then you're in for it. Essentially, it is a free hour.
>Sanae glances back at you and Letty, who is sitting to your right and directly behind Sanae, and asks, quietly, which is quite permitted, "This is normally Kamishirasawa-sensei's class, isn't it?" You note she spaces out Keine's last name a bit, like she's not quite used to saying it.

[DracoOmega]

>"It is, yes. It seems she won't be in today."

[Oldmansour]

>"It is, yes. It seems she won't be in today."

>"Is that normal for her?"

[DracoOmega]

>"Quite unusual, in fact, but everyone has their off days."

[Oldmansour]

>"Quite unusual, in fact, but everyone has their off days."

>"True." She closes her eyes and smiles, somewhat self-consciously. "I'd hate to think I was some kinda bad luck charm for the teachers here."

[DracoOmega]

>Frown.
>"Now that seems more than a little unfair to yourself. I'm sure you'll fit in here just fine."

[Oldmansour]

>Frown.
>"Now that seems more than a little unfair to yourself. I'm sure you'll fit in here just fine."

>Sanae laughs lightly. "Thanks."
>"Not that most people would mind if you made the vice principal takes a few days off." Letty remarks dryly. Which draws a chuckle from everyone in earshot.