Jim and Claire made their way across the way and found themselves inside of a dining area filled with tables.

Jim Lake Jr: 'Wow. . . we get a whole dining area? That's pretty neat.'

Jim then noticed a two young women sitting down at one of the tables. One of them appeared to be talking to the other, who wasn't paying much attention and was tapping away on her phone.

???: "Yeah, so Hawaii was fun. I wouldn't say I'd ever go there again, but I don't think I wouldn't, either."

???: "Oh God. . . make it stop!"

Claire Nunez: "Um. . . hi? Is there something wrong over here?"

???: "Oh, hello. No, were just having a friendly chat, that's all."

???: "That's putting it nicely, I guess."

Jim Lake Jr: "Right. . . I'm Jim Lake Jr. And this is Claire."

Claire Nunez: "Hi. Nice to meet you."

Lila Rossi: "I'm Lila Rossi. It's so nice to meet you too."

Claire Nunez: "What's your talent?"

Lila Rossi: ". . ."

Jim Lake Jr: "Are you not gonna tell us?"

Lila Rossi: "I don't know. . . maybe I'll keep it a secret."

LILA ROSSI: ULTIMATE MANIPULATOR

Jim Lake Jr: "Okay. . ."

Jim Lake Jr: 'Her name did pop up on the thread when I saw it. I think I saw that it was. . . Ultimate Manipulator? Perhaps she's someone I should avoid.'

Lila Rossi: "I hope we can become good friends while we're here."

Claire Nunez: "That would be cool."

Jim Lake Jr: 'I don't know. . . if what I read in the thread was right, then she's someone to look out for.'

Claire Nunez: "And you are?"

???: "Who, me?"

Claire Nunez: "Uh, yeah. Who else?"

Loona: "I'm Loona."

LOONA: ULTIMATE SECRETARY

Jim Lake Jr: "You're the Ultimate Secretary, right? So, that means you work in an office?"

Loona: "That's right."

Claire Nunez: "Then why are you at school? How old are you, anyway?"

Loona: "Why does that matter?"

Claire Nunez: "I'm just curious. I mean. . . you look like you're our age. But if you work at an office-"

Loona: "Okay, fine. My, um. . . dad, got me a day job here. And I acted as his secretary, I guess."

Claire Nunez: "So. . . you got an office job at Hope's Peak? That's pretty cool."

Loona: "Yeah, it's whatever. So far, it's better than my old job."

Claire Nunez: "What was your old job?"

Loona: ". . . I can't say."

Jim Lake Jr: 'She's a strange one. Why are so many people here so secretive?'

Loona: "Shit. . . I can't get a good signal here! What's wrong with this place?"

Suddenly, there was a loud noise coming from another room. Jim instantly looked towards where the noise came from.

Jim Lake Jr: "What was that?"

Claire Nunez: "That must be the kitchen."

Jim Lake Jr: "Let's go see who's in there."

Loona: "Okay. . . bye?"

With that said, Jim and Claire went into the kitchen to see what happened in there.

When they got in the kitchen, they saw three people in there. Well, maybe "people" wasn't the best word to describe them. One of them was a humanoid turtle, and the other two was a anthropomorphic echidna and a bat.

???: "You think you can take me? I've been training my whole life for my title! Don't think I won't kick your butt!"

???: "Oh, you underestimate me, reptile! I've been trained in the ways of the echidna warrior! Also for my whole life!"

???: "Well then. . . we'll have to see who's stronger then, huh?"

Jim Lake Jr: "What's going on in here?"

???: "Oh, thank the stars you're here! You've come in just in time."

Jim Lake Jr: "What?"

???: "This doesn't concern you! Leave us to our fight."

Claire Nunez: "Why are you guys fighting?"

???: "The red masked turtle challenged me, so I must accept!"

Claire Nunez: "No one has to fight anyone! Don't schools usually have a policy against this sort of thing?"

???: "Well, I haven't actually been to school before."

Claire Nunez: "Let's just calm down and get to know each other first. For instance, what're your names?"

Knuckles: "I'll start. My name is Knuckles. I'm and Echidna Warrior and the guardian of the Master Emerald."

KNUCKLES: ULTIMATE GUARDIAN

Jim Lake Jr: "What's a Master Emerald?"

Knuckles: "It is a very large jewel that holds great power! And I have been trusted with the duty to protect it!"

???: "As of they'd get someone as small as you to protect such a powerful gemstone."

Knuckles: "I'm more than capable of the job! I've fought many battles before."

???: "So have I. That's how I became the Ultimate Fighter."

Claire Nunez: "Well, you sure got some big talk."

Raphael: "Anyway, my name is Raphael. But you can call me Raph."

RAPHAEL: ULTIMATE FIGHTER

Claire Nunez: "Raphael? You mean, the like the Italian painter from the Renaissance era?"

Raphael: "Yeah, my father named me and my brothers after them. I don't really know why, though."

Jim Lake Jr: "I guess he had a fascination with Italian Renaissance painters."

Raphael: "Maybe."

???: "Hello, did you forget me already?"

Knuckles: "Oh right. . . she's still here."

Rouge: "Well, that's hurtful. Anyway, I'm Rouge. I'm the Ultimate Thief."

ROUGE: ULTIMATE THIEF

Jim Lake Jr: "You're a thief?"

Rouge: "Well, I do enjoy shiny jewel and gemstones. Who wouldn't want to live a life of strong such precious items?"

Claire Nunez: "And you haven't been caught for it yet?"

Rouge: "Oh, I'm actually quite close friends with the police."

Claire Nunez: "That's a little suspicious. . . but l let it slide."

Jim Lake Jr: "So. . . is there a reason you're all. . . not human?"

Raphael: "That's rather discriminatory."

Jim Lake Jr: "Am I not supposed to ask that?"

Knuckles: "Well, me and Rouge are Mobians. So, we're not originally from this planet."

Rouge: "But the humans took a liking to us quickly. Especially me."

Knuckles: "Get off your high horse, Rouge!"

Raphael: "And as for me. . . well, I'm a mutant. I was created by a mysterious ooze from another dimension. And raised to be a ninja by my father!"

Jim Lake Jr: "Are you getting this at all, Claire?"

Claire Nunez: "I mean, it's all a little weird. . . but we've seen weirder, right?"

Jim Lake Jr: "I guess. . ."

Raphael: "Anyway. . . where were we?"

Knuckles: "I was about to show you the true power of the echidna warrior!"

Claire Nunez: "No, guys? Please!"

Jim Lake Jr: "Let's just get out of here. We don't want to get caught in the crossfire."

With that said, Jim and Claire quickly left the kitchen and the dining area. They were back out in the main area now as they took in what they had seen.

Claire Nunez: "That was. . . something."

Jim Lake Jr: "I'll say. Our classmates are interesting so far."

Claire Nunez: "Jim, look!"

Jim looked up to where Claire was pointing and saw a small butterfly flying towards another hallway.

Jim and Claire followed it until they came across two more young women on the hallway. They both had black hair and purple eyes.

Jim Lake Jr: 'What are they doing? What's with these rooms?'

???: ". . ."

Jim Lake Jr: 'Ah. . . The younger looking one is looking at me. . .'

Claire Nunez: "Uh, hi. My name is Claire. And this is Jim."

???: "Oh, hello there. Don't be shy now. Come over here."

Jim and Claire looked at each other before walking up to the two girls.

Shinobu Kocho: "I'm the Ultimate Insect Hashira, Shinobu Kocho. It's an honor to meet some more of my classmates."

SHINOBU KOCHO: ULTIMATE INSECT HASHIRA

Jim Lake Jr: "What's a Hashira?"

Shinobu Kocho: "It's just a special position for skilled swordsmen and swordswomen like myself and Kanao here."

Kanao Tsuyuri: ". . ."

KANAO TSUYURI: ULTIMATE ???

Claire Nunez: "Sweet, she's so cute! What's your ultimate talent?"

Kanao Tsuyuri: ". . ."

Shinobu Kocho: "Oh, she doesn't talk much. But don't take it personally, since she's like this with everyone. Even me."

Claire Nunez: "I see. So, you're both close?"

Shinobu Kocho: "Well, we adopted her when she was young, so we're basically sisters. I'd say we're close."

Jim Lake Jr: "We?"

Shinobu Kocho: "Yeah, me and my older sister. Although, my older sister was killed a few years ago by a demon."

Claire Nunez: "Did you say. . . a demon?"

Shinobu Kocho: "Don't worry, though. Based on what I've seen, there's nothing we have to worry about. Demons won't be getting in. But on the other hand. . . it doesn't seem like we can get out."

Jim Lake Jr: "Wait, what do you- ?"

*DING DONG DONG DING*

Jim Lake Jr: 'What the- ?'

Suddenly, a monitor right next to them turned on and a silhouette came on screen

_______

???: "Ahem. . . am I on? Good! Attention, everyone! This is your principal speaking! Please meet in the gym ASAP! It's about time for the entrance ceremony! I'll be waiting. . ."

_______

Jim Lake Jr: 'That voice. . . it's so cheery and annoying. Who's voice is that?'

Shinobu Kocho: "Oh. . . we have to go to the gym now. Sorry we couldn't talk more."

Claire Nunez: "It's okay, Shinobu. We can talk more later. For now, we should listen to the mystery person. They did say they were the principal."

Jim Lake Jr: "Right. . . you're right. Let's go. I'm sure everyone else will be there, too."

Kanao Tsuyuri: ". . ."

Jim Lake Jr: "But still. . . why am I getting a bad feeling about this? It feels so weird. . . '

To be continued. . . .

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