ABO Cadets-Volume 2 Chapter 45

Chapter 045: The National Competition

(TN: Changed it back to Suzaku shrugshrugshrug~ sounded cooler and easier to just leave it like that.)

The gathering time for the training is early in the morning at 9:00, Caesar pilots White Feather along with Lin Yuan to return straight to the hotel at the fastest possible speed.

In the cockpit of White Feather, Lin Yuan couldn't help but ask: "White Feather, are you really an S-Class mech?"

Facing Lin Yuan, White Feather turned into the shape of a feather and performed a lively twisting motion, it excitedly spoke to him: "Are you feeling super surprised? I am indeed an S-Class mech! I told you that I have the most advanced firepower system in the Empire mounted on my body, I can immediately blast that hotel into a big pit!"

Listening to White Feather shooting off his mouth in there, Caesar could only feel utterly helpless. As the master of White Feather, Caesar sometimes genuinely really wanted to bring this guy to the Mech Association and wash his brain.

Fortunately, Lin Yuan seems to be quite chatty with it in return. He smiled and said: "Are you really so formidable? Back when Caesar lent you to me for the competition training, the control panel I saw was C-Class, it looks completely different now."

Lin Yuan inquisitively looked at the flashing bright-white nerve wire that floated in the air. The thin line of thread was lightly wrapped around Caesar's finger. Entering through the finger, the peripheral nerves were linked and connected with Caesar's brain. Caesar had no need to manually press any buttons, White Feather will immediately execute any thought from his brain, this was equivalent to "human and machine as one."

White Feather excitedly said: "Yep! At that time, Master had me turn into C-Class to let you practice. Just then I forged a C-Class control panel for you! S-Class mechs can change shape. Do you want to see? I could change into something for you if you want?"

Lin Yuan asked with some interest: "What can you change into?"

White Feather proudly said: "I can change into many kinds of shapes. I can become all types of flying mechs, my original form is a bird. I can change into a dragon, ah, a butterfly, ah, a phoenix, ah, and so on...... Of course, when landing, I can also become a humanoid. This is the most basic skill! When necessary, I can even temporarily remove the weapons from my body for my Master's use, letting my Master directly take over hacking people down!"

Once White Feather's chatter mode is turned on, it's simply unable to stop!

Caesar finally couldn't stand it any longer, he commanded: "White Feather, pick up the pace to the hotel, we'll be late."

"......Oh!" White Feather was forced to give up on the idea of Lin Yuan's detailed discussion over the proposal of the changing shape and sped up its flight speed toward the hotel.

Lin Yuan stood inside the piloting room and looked outside through the porthole to watch the scenery. Caesar walked up to Lin Yuan's side and said in a low voice: "If you like White Feather, I can lend it to you in the future."

Lin Yuan swiveled his head back, "Really?"

"Of course, it looks like White Feather really likes you." Caesar smiled, "However, you're going to have your own mech very soon. I bet when that moment comes, you'll no longer have White Feather in your eyes."

Lin Yuan doubts: "My own mech?"

Caesar nodded and said: "Did you forget? In this National Competition, if our school team can place in the top three, all contestants can receive a C-Class mech...... When the time comes you will have a pleasant surprise."

Lin Yuan remembered this reward and as he listened to Caesar's words, he suddenly began to look forward to it more and more.

***

By the time they returned to the hotel together, it was 8:50 in the morning. Instructor Knox and the other eight contestants from St. Romia Military Academy had already gathered at the hotel's main entrance.

Lin Yuan had been marked by Caesar and there was the distinct scent of Caesar on his body. Fortunately, the medicine that Big Prince had given him completely concealed this scent. The current smell of Lin Yuan's pheromones is still that of a Beta, their classmates held not even the slightest suspicions of him and Caesar.

Lin Yuan couldn't help but gingerly touch the nape of his neck.

The teeth marks on the nape of his neck are very distinct. Even when he just runs his fingers across the marked area, he feels his whole body grow soft. It would unavoidably be discovered. Caesar specially found a high-collared piece of clothing to give to him and cover it. In the future, he'll probably have to wear this kind of high-collared clothing all the time in school.

But it doesn't matter, compared with being able to keep his Beta identity to continue attending school, "the mark on the back of his neck" is merely a trivial matter. Lin Yuan does not mind this at all.

At last, Knox led the group of people over to the mech competition's training site.

Because the rules of the National Competition are relatively complicated, the Mech Association has arranged all the teams to go to the competitions playing field three days before the game to train and briefly familiarize themselves with the rules.

The National Competition is stretched into a three-day schedule, divided into an obstacle course, pressure competition, tactical competition, and the final group showdown. For each competition, every group sends out five players to enter the arena, at most, one person will participate in three matches, and the 10 competing contestants can freely combine.

(TN: Renamed from stress competition, the rules will be explained later.)

Because each match accumulates points differently, as a result, the instructors who lead the team must make a choice when there is an insufficient amount of talented people.

However, Knox was not worried in the slightest. The top ten students of St. Romia Military Academy are reckoned to be one of the very best and outstanding contestants among their peers in the entire Empire. They are rushing straight towards the championship title and will not concede to defeat in any of their matches!

Knox divided the group according to the characteristics of each player and the mech type they are most familiar with.

Lin Yuan and Caesar are the crowned victor and runner-up of the school-wide competition. As the seeded players, they must play in three matches. Lin Yuan is required to compete in the pressure competition, tactical competition, and the final group showdown. Caesar is required to compete in the obstacle course, tactical competition, and the final group showdown.

Under the command of Knox, the intensive training was carried out.

***

Time flies by fast and on the morning of March 3, the National Mech Competition finally began.

The President of the Mech Association, Patrick, personally delivered a speech at the opening ceremony, and the prizes for the top three were also lumped together to be exhibited. Each contestant that is delegated a place in the top three as well as the rest of the school's contestants in the competition who express excellence as a competitor will receive a mech worth more than 500,000 crystal coins. They are also immediately exempt from the exam and receive the piloting qualification certificate for a C-Class mech!

After the president displayed the prize, the audience immediately broke out into an enthusiastic and joyous cheer......

On the VIP spectator's grandstand.

The man wearing a white military uniform suddenly smiled and began to speak: "This year's grand competition looks to be a truly magnificent sight. The number of participating schools has more than doubled compared to last year, right?"

The adjutant next to him immediately and respectfully said: "That's correct General! According to the statistics, there are a total of 98 teams are participating in the National Finals this year and there were 45 last year! Practically more than doubled!"

The man lightly stroked his chin, "En, you take a good look around here, look for a few good seedlings, put their number down and then let me know." As soon as he finished speaking he turned around and walked to the VIP lounge, "I'm going to get a bit of water first."

The adjutant suddenly became lifeless, turning his head, he saw his General leisurely walk as if he was going for a simple stroll in a park, putting his hand in his military uniforms pocket. He walked painfully slow towards the lounge, the four gold stars on his white military uniform glisten and shine under the light.

- Udir Sharman.

(TN: And a new gong appears! Whose? Don't ask don't tell, major, major spoilers~)

- Head of the Japanese Rose Legion, one of the 5 four-star Generals of the Empire.

(TN: Specific kind of rose, it's not specifically Japanese, but it's generally found in Asia and that's the English name. Thought about leaving it as Rose so if you think that sounds better leave a comment.)

The Japanese Rose Legion is a force belonging to the Shaman family. Their warships are emblazoned with a blooming white Japanese Rose and the uniform of the entire legion has also been standardized as white. The ancestors of the Sharman family were very fond of delving into literature and the arts, so they had wished to choose a name from a flower or plant for their legion. A Japanese Rose looks beautiful but is actually full of danger. This is the meaning that the ancestors of the Shaman family meant to suggest when they gave this name to the legion.

As the heir to the Shaman family, Udir naturally also inherited an elegant demeanor along with a shared interest of literature and the arts. As a generalissimo, as far as the study of flowers, plants, and trees are concerned, he can easily write a book about it. Their house was specially built with a greenhouse cultivated with organic soil filled with all kinds of rare flowers and plants. It truly makes their subordinates utterly blush in shame.

Udir has a tall and slender build, he looks very handsome. He also has a head full of long golden hair and his eyes are an azure blue like the sky. It could be easily said that he is extremely eye-catching in a crowd. As an Alpha, it was already strange enough for him to keep his hair so long, but additionally, on the back of his head, he had his hair in a plaited braid as if he were a rebellious artist. Regarding Omegas, he always appeared to never show a trace of longing for one. The Omega Association gave him a choice of a prospective partner for marriage that he refused on the grounds of "dislike". This sort of justification just makes the president of the Omega Association extremely angry but also very helpless!

(TN: Apparently something in China where it's considered that men growing their hair long (or vice-versa) shows that they are seeking attention and have an inferiority complex? This is commonly found in male artist's who wish to show their defiance of the norm especially in a strict country like China where impressions are everything? Not sure take it with a grain of salt.)

Perhaps it was the omega pheromone resistance class that made him sexually indifferent? In any case, he is still a bachelor to date, ranking first in the Empire's primary bachelor ranking chart.

The VIP spectator's grandstand and the VIP lounge are all used by the higher-ups of the Mech Association and important generals of the Military. They are very familiar with Udir. He makes no secret of taking a stroll as he walks right through the lounge. No one finds it surprising.

Although, there was a gossipy figure that even covertly commented about him: "Ah, there is that bachelor......"

Udir seemed to hear, he turned his head back and shot a friendly smile in the other's direction.

The man immediately became frightened and shut his mouth.

General Udir appears to be soft like a gentleman, but he is so ruthlessness that it makes those with any will to live know that they should not seek death!

Udir entered the lounge and beyond any of his expectations, saw a familiar face.

The tall man still had no facial expression, wearing a neat and tidy black military uniform, his face is frozen as if it were coated in a layer of crystallized frost. His deep eyes are glazed over like they were the frozen surface of a lake and with his cold and detached manner, "Any living person who dares disturb me will die" is practically written on his face.

Udir felt no fear of death as he walked towards him, he smiled and said: "Marshal, you also have the spare time to come and see this competition?"

Rosen nodded, faintly "En.", then bypassing Udir, he immediately went towards the VIP spectator's grandstands.

Udir turned his head and looked upon Rosen's arrogantly retreating figure, faintly narrowing his eyes, and then turned around to pour some water.

***

By the time Rosen reached the spectator's grandstands, the matches had already begun.

St. Romia Military Academy has just entered the arena.

The first element of the obstacle course competition is very simple. The five competing contestants from the teams enter the field, thinking about how they should operate their mechs to cross all of the obstacles to reach the endpoint. The average time of the five players is averaged and they are discharged according to the length of time in their school's ranking. The obstacle course has a special requirement- prevent St. Romia Military Academy's air combat mechs from entering the field.

Knox directly sent out a single wolf-type mech that specialized in grounded warfare.

The five-person team consisting of people such as Caesar and Leo is like a uniformed pack of wolves. The five people are piloting the wolf-type mechs over the obstacles one after another. The precise leaps and bounds make the audience erupt out into a wave of applause. They even neatly rise up in one bound, directly leaping over a tall 10-meter wall!

This is the power of St. Romia Military Academy!

In just three short minutes, five people completed the entire obstacle course competition. Making the rivaling school's contestants who had just used six minutes to pass through all of the obstacles prostate themselves in admiration!

At the same time, the field's broadcast announced in a ringing voice: "Congratulations to St. Romia Military Academy team for breaking the historical record in the obstacle course, the new record is 3 minutes and 05 seconds!"

This scene received enthusiastic applause!

When Caesar came down from the field, Lin Yuan immediately gave him a thumbs up: "You were so cool just now!"

Caesar who had obtained such praise put him in a wonderful mood and he couldn't help but smile. He lightly patted Lin Yuan's shoulder: "Good luck with the next match."

Lin Yuan immediately nodded: "Don't worry, I will not humiliate our school!"

Because the rules restrict each contestant to participate in at most, three matches. Knox wants to preserve Caesar for the second day's tactical competition and the final group showdown, the following pressure competition allows him to take a break for the time being.

Lin Yuan and four of his other teammates went out to the playing field together.

The second match is the pressure competition, five contestants must face a siege of a large number of mechs. They have to find a way to kill the mechs to ensure the survival of their teammates. The enemy mech is naturally an advanced special unmanned attack-type mech arranged by the Mech Association. The number of attack-type mechs will be greater and any player who is attacked at a vital part will immediately be eliminated until the five players are completely wiped out.

The longer you resist the attacks, the higher your team's ranking will be.

At the beginning of the game, the five people piloting the mechs formed a large circular formation back to back to meet the mech siege.

Only one or two mechs were attacked at the beginning, and they were quickly KO'd by teammates.

Gradually, the mechs began to attack more and more, each person has to fight one, not even to say that sometimes one person faces a situation where they need to fight two or more mechs at the same time by themselves!

Lin Yuan calmly operated his humanoid mech, traveling back and forth with the rest of his team, and with a sword in hand, he slashed downwards without a trace of politeness and killed the unmanned mechs!

The No.7 player of the St. Romia Military Academy team with the red humanoid mech simply runs on the playing field like a strong warrior! He can not only deal with the position of defending himself, but he can also look after his own teammates!

Just then, one of his teammates had just turned their back when an attack-type mech that appeared behind him. He looked on as the edge of the blade made its way to strike the nape of the mech's neck. During that split second, Lin Yuan, who was not far away suddenly extended his arm and directly moved it sideways to block the other's attack and at the same time he jumped up and swung his sword down and KO'd the enemy!

- It's so cool!

The audience broke out in cheers and applause that almost collapsed the entire roof of the stadium!

St. Romia Military Academy's team were besieged by a group of unmanned mechs, resisting wave upon wave of attacks, and unexpectedly resisted for a full ten minutes! Until finally, more than 20 attack mechs simultaneously emerged. At last, everyone was helplessly wiped out.

The field broadcast once again emitted a ringing voice: "Congratulations to the St. Romia Military Academy team, powering through the pressure competition stage and breaking the historical record. The new record is 10 minutes and 33 seconds!"

There had been two consecutive instances of breaking records, this is the best school in the Empire - This is the strength of St. Romia Military Academy!

Lin Yuan came down from the playing field and went to the school's resting area. He had just barely walked out from the mech's cockpit when Caesar immediately smiled and stepped forward, giving him a bear hug.

"......" Lin Yuan's brain suddenly came to a halt.

Caesar put his chin on his shoulder and whispered into his ear: "You did so well Xiao Yuan, you're truly too strong......"

His voice sounded a bit excited.

Lin Yuan who was met with praise became embarrassed, he scratched his head as he said: "Fortunately, I didn't make the school lose any face."

The teammates hugged each other to celebrate their victory. It goes without saying that this was a completely ordinary act. But strangely enough...... In that split second, Caesar just suddenly stepped forward and tightly embraced him into his arms. Lin Yuan's heartbeat felt like it suddenly stopped for two seconds.

His heartbeat suddenly went out of control...... Probably because...... He was too surprised just now......?

Lin Yuan vaguely thought about it before he returned the smile and hugged Caesar back, then turned and walked over toward several of his other teammates.

To the side, the senior teammates saw Caesar embracing Lin Yuan and also rushed over to swarm him like bees in order to hug Lin Yuan as an expression of encouragement for their junior schoolmate.

Caesar: "......"

The scene of his own Omega being embraced by his other classmates is simply unbearable for Caesar!

Even if the person holding him is Beta, it won't work!

Seeing Lin Yuan being hugged in praise by a senior Beta, Caesar immediately stepped forward. After the senior brother released Lin Yuan, he immediately afterward took Lin Yuan's shoulder in his grip and forcibly took his Omega to the lounge.

Lin Yuan feels awfully puzzled: "Caesar? What are you doing?"

Caesar feigned a calm voice, "Thirsty? Come drink a bit of water."

Lin Yuan didn't have any time to say that he was not thirsty, Caesar quickly shoved a bottle of water into Lin Yuan's hands.

***

On the spectator's grandstands, Rosen's perpetually ice-cold face also broke out into a rare smile.

That No.7 humanoid mech just now was just as bold and powerful as a lively dragon and an animated tiger, the pilot was really Lin Yuan? Many of his moves were learned from the electronic notes he gave him. He didn't expect him to be able to master it after studying it.

In just one short month, the level of this child has actually increased so much?

The both bright and hard-working little guy had improved at lightning speed, it really makes a person feel very gratified

Seeing the contestants leave the game one by one, Rosen smiled, then turned and left the spectator's grandstands.

When he walked out of the spectator's grandstands doorway, he suddenly came face to face with Udir.

Udir smiled and said: "Marshal doesn't want to watch it for a while longer? St. Romia's team just played very wonderfully, ah."

Rosen said faintly: "Of course, they will definitely win the championship."

Rosen left immediately afterward, Udir slightly narrowed his eyes and leaned his body towards the adjutant and quietly asked: "The No. 1 player and the No. 7 player of St. Romia, I want their details."

"Understood! General! I will go get it at once."

All the finalists' information was kept in the hands of the Mech Association. The adjutant quickly took a detailed list of names and returned, Udir looked at Caesar and Lin Yuan's two names on the list. He smiled and said: "Sure enough, the No. 1 player is the Fourth Prince. As for that little guy, No. 7 named Lin Yuan......" Udir paused, "Well, isn't this quite interesting."

Udir handed the list of names back in the hands of the adjutant and said: "After the competition ends, contact Lin Yuan to see if he has any interest in joining the Japanese Rose Legion. This is indeed a good seedling."

The adjutant immediately and respectfully said: "Understood, General!"

***

The first day of the competition ended very quickly. The next day's tactical competition will have all of the competing teams offloaded onto an uninhabited planet near the Sheffield Star to carry out the competition. Ultimately through chaotic warfare will the teams reveal their talent to reach the end and victoriously prevail.

During the evening, Knox specially called upon the five players who would be participating in the tactical competition to the room to carefully brief over a few things.

In the tactical competition, they employ a three-person defense and a two-person charging method. Lin Yuan and Caesar were in charge of breaking through. The other three people will dispose of anyone who gets in their path. The two people who charge through the siege must pilot a kind of flight-type mech.

Caesar is a versatile kind of player and it is naturally reasonable for him to be set up like this. Although Lin Yuan has always liked to operate humanoid mechs, in fact, he had already mastered the flight-type mechs for a long time now. It's just that Lin Yuan was somewhat nervous with being assigned such a formidable task.

After going back in the evening, Lin Yuan couldn't sleep at all, while on the other hand he silently recites the operation manual of the flight-type mechs, while simulating the scenario of how to avoid the besiegers persuing and attacks...... Caesar noticed that on the bed to his side, the little guy was continuously tossing and turning. Finally, he couldn't bear it any longer and switched on his bedside light.

As expected, Lin Yuan really opened his eyes and locked onto Caesar's line of sight. He said feeling somewhat embarrassed: "Did I wake you up?"

"No, I also couldn't sleep." Caesar looked at him and said, "Are you too excited to sleep?"

Lin Yuan nodded, "En, a little bit."

Caesar thought about it, "White Feather, give Xiao Yuan a sleeping pill." Then he once again looked at Lin Yuan and said, "You still have to compete tomorrow morning, you need to have a good rest. Don't think too much. I'll cover you in tomorrow's match."

Lin Yuan hesitated all of the sudden, "What happens if taking the sleeping pills makes it so that I can't get up?"

Caesar smiled and said: "Rest assured, I'll call you out of bed."

Lin Yuan let go of his worries and ate a short-acting sleeping pill and soon fell asleep.

As Rosen expected, the next day's tactical competition, St. Romia Military Academy's team still displayed the finest standard of the Empire! The three team members disposed of any hindrances on the ground and Lin Yuan and Caesar directly broke through with a pair of flight-type mechs to break through and redouble the siege!

Amidst the chaotic battling of the multitude of schools, Lin Yuan and Caesar joined forces to take care of each other and protect each other. They avoid the besiege with their precise operation and with the grandeur of a rainbow, directly attack to the end!

***

After obtaining victories in the past three days, the St. Romia Military Academy's team once again pocketed the championship trophy.

The participating players from other schools were also worthy of praise. Among the participating players, many of them are from remote planets and were selected as prominent players in this competition because of their outstanding individual abilities. Because of this, the president of the Mech Association also personally awarded them the prizes of a C-Class mech.

It was not until the moment that he stood on the winner's podium that Lin Yuan finally realized "It seems that I have become powerful."

While thinking this he felt joyous, he couldn't help but think of the senior who had coached himself.

In the afternoon, no sooner after the Mech Association finished conducting their driver license procedures and having the mechs certified, Lin Yuan urged Caesar to return to the hotel with the prize. "Caesar, didn't that senior say that he would invite us out to dinner after the competition was over? What day did you make the appointment on? Wouldn't it be better for me to invite you guys out to eat next time? You both have supported me so much, I should treat you both to dinner right away!"

Looking at his face full of expectation, I wonder what expression will be on his face after he sees the Marshal?

Caesar smiled and said: "I have an appointment with him to meet up tomorrow night. Won't you first call out your mech to take a look?"

"Right, I haven't seen it yet......" Lin Yuan only then recalled this prize. The mech space button he got was a fine necklace and the silver chain with the red crystal pendant looked especially beautiful. Lin Yuan held the red pendant in the palm of his hand and said excitedly, "Hello, ah. I am your Master, Lin Yuan. Can you come out and say some things to me?"

The pendant suddenly flashed and then a room appeared inside. The red mech stood more than two meters high.

The dark red metal on the mech under the light luminously burns and illuminates the entire room, the contours of the body are smooth and natural, and the red indicator light on its eyes lights up, indicating that the system has been completely activated.

The mech only replied back in a soft and warm voice: "Master, hello."

Lin Yuan stared blankly for a moment, "This voice seems to be a bit familiar?"

The mech said softly: "Yes Master, we have met before, I am Suzaku."

Lin Yuan: "......"

Suzaku continued to say calmly: "Lin Yuan, I am willing to recognize you as my Master. From now on, I will only be loyal to you."

Suzaku merely extended one of its own hands and put it in front of Lin Yuan.

Lin Yuan felt very humbled receiving such favor by a legend!

Isn't the prize for this competition a C-Class mech?

If he remembers correctly, Suzaku is S-Class!? And didn't Suzaku crash?!

Seeing Lin Yuan's shocked face, Caesar smiled and explained: "Actually, Suzaku never crashed. White Feather and I rescued it on the way down and temporarily converted to C-Class. Its intelligence center is still that of an S-Class. It wishes to recognize you as its master because your spiritual threshold exceeds the set value of Suzaku, your spiritual harmony had reached 100% compatibility on your first try."

Lin Yuan: "......"

He was simply unable to believe it at all.

Just as he thought he was finally awarded a prize, in the end, he had thought it was only a small piece of candy. When things came to a head, he discovered that it was unexpectantly a ginormous cake that could only be completely finished after three days......

Lin Yuan was shocked and said: "Then...... how did Suzaku become a reward?"

Caesar said: "I secretly switched out your original prize and palmed it off with Suzaku. Only in this way will the Mech Association not suspect anything."

Looking at the red mech in front of him, Lin Yuan's mood is both highly complex and very excited. The color, shape, and even the intelligent character of the mech is the type that he particularly likes......

It was actually an S-Class intelligence system! He never even dreamed of having an S-Class mech for himself one day......

However, it has already had a master before and moreover, the master of the S-Class mech is definitely an especially powerful character. Can he really have it?

Lin Yuan spoke full of embarrassment: "Suzaku, although I like you very much, it's only that I don't appear to be qualified enough to be your master, right?"

Suzaku spoke in a gentle tone: "No, you are very outstanding. I completely acknowledge your ability, Master. "

After it spoke, it lightly extended its hand towards Lin Yuan's direction.

Lin Yuan immediately rejoiced stretched his hand out and placed on the large palm of the mech. He moved to make the agreement with the mech.

Great! After that, Suzaku would be his own!

Lin Yuan gently touched Suzaku's hand and smiled as he said: "Suzaku, you can rest assured, I will take good care of you in the future!"

Suzaku: "......"

The youth's brilliant smile and candid gaze made Suzaku suddenly feel somewhat moved.

Although this was all to find General Ling Yu, Suzaku genuinely and sincerely recognized the ability of the Small Master.

Suzaku said in a low voice: "Thank you, Master."

Lin Yuan and Suzaku officially sealed the subordination contract between the master and the mech.

After a long time of restraining itself, White Feather finally couldn't help but yell excitedly: "Predecessor Suzaku! Long time no see, ah! You finally found a new master. This is great...... It can now be said that I will now be able to see you every day from now on, right?!"

Suzaku: "......"

Once again encountering this chatterbox, Suzaku suddenly wished to shut itself down.

The author has something to say: I don't want to drag the pace down so the competition is getting settled in one chapter! Cough cough, obviously can't always skip the plot just to write smooches and lovey times~~

I know that everyone is on their toes, I am already speeding up! The next chapter is the Marshal's dinner party!

(TN: Whelp time for an explanation for my break~ I was woken up this Wednesday with 10+ notifications from my friend. The gist of the situation was her mom had severely injured her foot and she needed someone to go with her to an out-of-state anime convention, they were going to be vacationing for a week. The clincher was that they were leaving that day, in fact, 6 hours from when I had woken up. So I had packed my things and we drove all the way. The con took all of my energy and the time back at the hotel wasn't so long, but I still used all my free time to work on it. I'll be back at home by Tuesday so updates should return to normal. Peace~)