This project is so fun. And the sheep jokes just keep coming. It's hilarious.

Enjoy.

~~~~~

When it came to the dojo Houki was the one who primarily trained inside. There were others that would pick an area inside and Houki would let them do their thing, however when it came to the art of kendo she always had taken it very seriously. There were only two ways of training in her eyes. The right way, and the wrong way. 

The first step was getting (First) into his robes. Getting the right size and making sure he could move while having it not too baggy. Fitting and learning how to dress the part took only minutes.

"A wee firm. But not bad." He smiled.

"You're not going to be comfortable in battle. It's about adapting to the moment. When called upon, you must be ready." Instructed Houki.

"Aye Sensei." He nodded.

"Get your stretching out of the way first. Concentrate on lower body. A stretched and firm lower body and core will be your strength."

"Aye." He looked down at his bare feet. Bending down to touch his toes. Unlike others back home, he could stretch and touch his toes. He was in decent shape. By all means not chiseled, but not weak and/or plumb either. Closing his eyes he focused on his breathing. Time to test me skills. That wannabe Queen will see sure enough. Still, (First) had this image of Cecelia. She was beautiful. Although her personality countered the attractive scale by half. Come on. Focus.

"Your head in the right place?" Asked Houki.

"Huh?" He looked up. "Sorry."

"No goofing off. The longer it takes you to get it together, the longer it will take you to finally work on your strike. And if you know my training, one would practice one-hundred strikes in each style. Overhead, sideways, three-quarter, counter, and more. Some may be at it for hours. But some are so technically timed and aligned that they could perfectly execute while blindfolded." 

"Jeepers. Impressive." (First) was a little startled. Knowing his challenge was even greater than he imagined. 

"Don't worry. No one is mastering it in a day. Even I am not that good. And unless you wanted to prove that in a match, be my guest."

"That's a ship lost at the harbor now..." He gulped.

"I'll take that as a no. Smart." She tried to hide her smirk.

This lassies could kick your arse and then bake you a cake. I thought these were only in manga. Shite, I be wrong. Sensei Houki one of the many here in this here academy. While going into it slow, he was still going to have much to do. It didn't come his part-time plumbing muscles either. This was going to work on his weaknesses. He wasn't weak, but as someone spending countless hours coding and programming at a desk, poor (First) had to do some conditioning. Gain perhaps a little bit of good weight and get better core strength so he could pilot and fight easier. 

~~~~~

After two hours of training it was time to recover. Sensei recommended ice, a protein shake, and a good night's rest. With that he went back to the dorm and he started to set up the bathroom with ice and cold water. A good dunk tank to help with recovery. He shivered in the ice bath as he drank his protein shake bottle that Houki handed to him before he was able to head out shopping. The twenty minutes he had to submerge up to his chin felt closer to an hour. Ichika found him in a towel in the dorm drying off before he was looking forward to his shower. 

"Recovery?" He asked.

"Aye." (First) nodded. "Better prevent being sore. The water be cold back home. But this, this be cold."

"I get it. So, I'll shower real quick and then I will let you warm up before we head and grab dinner. I can show you what I recommend. Nothing restricting, right?"

"Aye. Not that I am aware."

"Good. I'm trying to grab me a steak before they run out. We could both use it. Especially you. You have sure earned it." He nodded. "Steak and potatoes for a hard working man. Treat yourself no matter how good or bad the day is. Keep your confidence up."

(First) smiled. Feeling a little annoyed with the thought of weakness, although it was his first day and he was given all the tools to succeed. Ichika realized that the only thing that could hold him back is his own mindset. "Sounds proper. Medium-well Boyo." He nodded. 

"My kinda guy. Alright. We'll both wash up and meet the girls in the cafeteria. Careful. Your not so favorite one will be joining us..."

"Aye..."

After getting washed up, (First) put on some trousers and a brown sweater before heading down to grab himself a tray and plan to get to his studies after the fact. After grabbing some grub and sitting down it wasn't two bites into his steak in when Cecelia decided to walk to the table. Time to see if they would eat in peace.

"You certainly dressed clean. What's the special occasion?" Asked Cecelia taking a seat. 

"A hard day's work of training and then proceeding with studies. Hope this is just normal procedure." He nodded and took another bite. 

"How's your new roommate Ichika Dear?" Cecelia looked at her crush.

"Well, good. Everything's fine. Why wouldn't it be?" He pondered.

"Farm types is all." Cecelia replied sarcastically.

"Cecelia?" Houki waited for Cecelia to move over so she could sit down. 

"Oh yes. Excuse me Miss Houki." Cecelia moved over to the center to sit next to Ichika.

"By the way. A little less conflict with a dojo student in my presence if you don't mind." Houki just closed her eyes and waited for a response. 

"Very well. Though how has he performed? I'm sure the basics just like myself? Surely it cannot be that difficult." Again, yet another backwards compliment.

"Your strengths are different than his." Houki shook her head. "(First) and I for our techniques, training, and I.S. units for more physical based. We rely more on raw strength. Yours is evasion, tactics, strategy, and agility. Again, we shouldn't compare."

"Pardon? Compare?" Cecelia was confused.

"We are comparing different tactics. You don't want to compare an apple to a watermelon now, right?" Houki just looked at her with an annoyed glance. 

"That, we shall not..." Cecelia nodded. "Very well. I'll leave Sheepie alone."

"Before we continue to indulge and get to homework (First), we have morning drills tomorrow. Sundays will be days off but here since we have school six days a week, morning drills will continue unless there are holidays. 5AM I will be at your door. And maybe you can even bring Ichika along if he knows any better." She glared at his roommate. "No exceptions. Drills, then food before we head to class. There will be an hour before classes for you to get it together. Sound good?"

"Aye. Right." (First) nodded. "Right, Sensei."

"Uh, me too?" Questioned Ichika. "How'd I get into this?"

"Because your weakness is showing. Don't make me drag you out of bed either Ichika." Houki pouted. "Hmph. Thought you'd be better than that."

"Oh dear. Must they?" Pondered Cecelia.

"I do believe training indoors at the early hours is fine. No?" Charlotte knew this could go on for a while unless somebody said something. Rin and Laura who just got to the table weren't even getting in the middle. It wasn't for them to say. 

"Fair." Cecelia agreed.

~~~~~

It was 4:30AM the next day as (First) hit his alarm clock. He stretched and let out a yawn. Proceeding to kick one leg over. "Roomie." He yawned again. "Arise."

Ichika yawned and turned over. "So early..." He complained. "What's this all about?"

"Do you want Houki to drag you out? Or would you rather stretch early and drink your water before she be barging in?"

"Well, I guess." Ichika groaned and proceeded to get up. "Early. Man."

"Aye. Wee early." (First) finally stood up and went to stretch more. Arms, back, and down to touch the toes. "The ice be working."

"That's good. Might need to get one after today." Ichika was up too. Up to get changed into his training attire. "So, up a few minutes early for training with Houki?" Turning the lamp and closing the shade between the beds. "Alright. You got your air legs gone."

"Aye. And you glad you be woken at the crack of dawn before Sensei gets here and you don't look like a damn nappy?" His voice got a tone louder.

"Yes Sir."

"Aye. You'd be ruined then. Let's look sharp."

The lads got dressed for training and proceeded stand by the door drinking water to hydrate a little early before they were going to sweat it all out anyway. Sensei was going to get a pleasant surprise. Ichika informed his new roommate that Houki could have quite the temper. With that, obeying the Sensei and showcasing good habits was to avoid conflict and to show pride and good gracious. It wouldn't be long.

There were two loud bangs on the door. "Ichika. (First). You two better be up." Houki opened the door. "It's about time that I made sure that you-" She stepped in to see two beds already made. 

"Uh, behind you Houki." Ichika smirked.

Houki turned her head to see her two subordinates ready to go. Drinking water and ready to go with her without hassle. "This is unusual."

"Sensei. Lassy. Top of the morning." Winked (First). 

"I see..." Houki did not expect this. The situation was too easy. Almost as if, she enjoyed getting Ichika's butt in gear. "Very well then. Onward."

"Aye."

"Aye..." Ichika was learning. Somehow learning and actually taking in his roommate's culture. 

The training went as before. Morning drills and afternoon would be for studies. Since he hasn't flown much yet, the afternoons would just cater to research, looking up weapons, specs, and eventually I.S. training in his unit itself. Long way ahead and so much to catch up on. Although he was determined. To get his work done, succeed, and eventually for his British lass rival, defeat the British for the first time in history. (As I have said in my Azur Lane fanfics, "The British never lose." I got it from a history article somewhere.)

The training for morning drills is as intense as always. With a skip of the ice bath and jumped right into a hot shower while stretching as best as one can while under the water. Followed up by breakfast. In the cafeteria (First) was watching a 101 video on the I.S. unit's propulsion at high speeds. A key he would have to figure out with time with his unit since he could only see a melee weapon at the moment. Meaning he was currently at a disadvantage. But he had to master melee before he could use a ranged weapon. He remembered his brother telling him as much as a wee lad. 

Brother. You be knowing Father isn't great with words. (First) pictured his brother flinging rocks at a wooden target with a slingshot. Before you use a tool, you be wanting to do it by hand first. Feel it. Grip it. Power it. Make it yours. As wee babies we learn to crawl. Then we learn to walk. And then yee learn how to run. Let you what. I'll find you a slingshot if I like how you throw the rocks at the target. 

(First) sighed happily thinking of a childhood memory. He took a moment to cut a piece of an apple and cut it. "Yes lad. Learn to fly. Then learn the sword. Then yee learn the gun."

He finished his apple which was the last part of his breakfast before grabbing his laptop and proceeding to the classroom a half hour early. Cecelia, Houki, and Rin were about to have a seat with Ichika. Throwing the core out in a bin as he made eye contact.

"Leaving so soon?" Asked Ichika.

"Early start." (First) smiled.

"For the herd?" Smirked Cecelia.

"To hit the books. Don't get your knickers twisted Little Lamb. Because yes you win the UK, but I be damned if I go down without a fuss." He waved her off. "Top of the morning to you though. Try the crepes instead of beans on toast."

She gasped. "My word..." Cecelia was baffled. Taking the highroad with backwards comments. Doing it in such a proud way too which embarrassed her just a little where it hurt her ego. "Of all things. I am no lamb."

*Baaaaaaaahhhh*

~~~~~