Destiny (Anime Style)

Chapter 7: Study Session

It was a new day. Leah woke up and did her usual routine. She took a shower, got dressed and cleaned her room. Then, she headed to the kitchen and prepared breakfast, only to realize Ravi still hadn't woken up. Something that seemed weird and that also make her decide to go check on him.

"Ravi! Are you up already?!" she asked after knocking on his door a few times.

"Yeah! I'll be out in a minute!" Ravi answered from inside.

On her side however, the young girl wanted to check just how messy the room ended up after Ravi slept in it. "Actually, I'd like to check something! Can I come in?!"

"Yeah, sure!"

Leah opened the door and then startled when she found Ravi in the middle of getting dressed without his upper clothes. "EAH!" she yelled as her face became as red as a tomato and her expression was full of embarrassment, after which she turned around to avoid seeing his body. "Wh-why are you half-naked?! You t-t-told me I could come in!"

"Well, yeah. Why? Is there a problem?"

"N-no! I Just... wanted to see the room! B-breakfast is ready! So... hurry up!" she added while leaving the room and closing the door in a hurry, to which the blue-haired boy couldn't help but to tilt his head slightly in sign of confusion.

In any case, Leah didn't really go to the kitchen immediately. After closing the door, she leaned on it for a moment while still red and nervous for what just happened. However, and to her complete surprise, she actually enjoyed it a bit.

'Oh... jeez! His body is... so fit!' she thought while closing her eyes and blushing like never before. Then, she shook her head in order to cool herself a bit and went to the kitchen.

Wire and Cybel woke up a bit later, and after having breakfast all together, they headed to the Tower. It was time for Ravi to become an official guardian... trainee.

Nonetheless, just as the group entered the Tower and headed towards the information center, a male exo that happened to be walking around noticed the young girl and approached her all excited. "LEAH!" he screamed while rushing towards Leah and hugging her.

"CAYDE!" Leah yelled back, happily.

The exo's name was Cayde and he was Leah's mentor. Since he was an exo, there was no real way to know his age but he sounded like a middle-aged man... with a childish personality.

"You are finally back! Where have you been?" Cayde asked while letting Leah go. "You've been absent a very long time!"

"I know. It's only that my ship crashed in the desert and I got stuck there for like a week"

"Really? But you've been absent longer than that"

"I was recovering from some injuries, and also..." Leah stopped mid-sentence and stared at Ravi.

Cayde noticed this and approached him. "So, who's your new friend?"

"Hi, I'm Ravi Azarov" the blunette replied with a smile.

"Ravi, huh? I assume you have something to do with Leah being absent for so long" Cayde stopped for a moment and then continued. "Wait, don't tell me..." He then rushed to give Leah a hug while patting her head, gently. "I can't believe it! My little Leah finally found herself a boyfriend! Now that's some exciting news!"

"HUH?!" Leah yelled while turning all red.

"Boyfriend? What's a boyfriend?" Ravi innocently asked.

"N-NOTHING! IT'S NOTHING!" Leah claimed, nervously, after which she then turned to Cayde again. "And he's not that to me! We are just friends, that's all!"

"Is that so? Well, it doesn't matter" Cayde replied. "You should get ready if you plan to resume your training and classes. I believe you have a lot of extra work to do" he then added while leaving as Leah took a very long sigh of tiredness.

"Wait, training and classes? Leah, are you a trainee?" Ravi asked the human girl.

"Well, yeah... I'm technically not a guardian yet. But I'm in process... hehe..."

Following that, Leah helped Ravi with the registration. The process was a lot simpler than one could imagine. One had to write his/her name on a paper, as well as some other info and then took a picture for the record.

However, that was only the registration for the admission test, which was actually divided in 2 parts: knowledge exam and practical exam. These exams were held very often since there were lots of people who wanted to be guardians, and Ravi's exam in particular was programmed for 2 days later.

After registration, Ravi accompanied Leah to see her mother who worked at the tower. And on the way, they kept talking about some very important stuff. "So, there is a practical and knowledge exam. That actually sounds easy" Ravi confidently claimed.

"Don't be so full of yourself" Leah warned him. "You may know a lot about science and math, but the knowledge exam includes social studies and history too"

"What?" the blue-haired boy asked with a worried face. "Oh, come on! Why couldn't it just be science?! I'm gonna need to study hard these 2 days but... I don't really know where to start"

Leah though for a moment. "If you want I can... you know... lend you a hand" she then finally offered while looking to one side.

"You mean you can be my teacher?! That would be awesome!" Ravi got excited again, but then another important question took form inside his mind. "What about the practical exam?"

"Well... It's almost always different. So, there's not much I can tell you about it" Leah bluntly replied. "The one in charge of it is usually a trainee as well, but with a lot more years of experience and training"

Ravi startled slightly after hearing these. However, he then decided to shrug his insecurity off and leave the matter aside. A while later, both teenager finally arrived to where Leah's mother was.

"Mom! Are you here?!" Leah asked out loud.

While she kept ok calling for her mother however, Ravi stared amazed at the place they were at. It was a huge hangar divided in a huge landing zone for ships, and an area of maintenance where lots of mechanics and engineers worked in their own business. It was like Ravi's bunker/home, but 10 or maybe 100 times better.

At any rate, it didn't took much longer for Leah's mother to finally show herself. She was a middle-aged woman with short blond hair who was wearing some black, old and dirty pants, a black shirt with short sleeves, a pair of gloves, a belt filled with tools and materials, a pair of brown boots, and some goggles along with a red bandana hanging from her neck. Ironically, she seemed like the total opposite of her daughter.

"Ah, Leah!" the mother claimed, happily, while hugging the young girl. "You are here!"

"Yes, I am, mom" the girl replied with a smile but with a bit of disgustment too. "Please don't hug me anymore. You know I don't like how dirty you look while working"

"Hahaha... I know" Leah's mother laughed and finally let her go. Then, she turned to face Ravi. "And who do we have here?"

"Hi, I'm a friend of Leah. My name is Ravi" this last one answered, joyfully

"Now that's an unusual name" the woman replied with a smile.

"Ravi, this is Amanda Holliday, my mom" Leah claimed while introducing her mother to Ravi. "She's the engineer chief here at the tower"

"Engineer chief?!" the bluenette yelled, excited. "That means you are like a genius here, right?!" he then asked while closing in to Amanda.

"Well, I wouldn't say genius... but I do know about technology, just like everyone else working here" Amanda replied while scratching her head.

Ravi noticed something just then... Something that was lying on the floor at one side of the messy room... Something that looked really similar to the engine Leah and he worked so hard on back in Old Russia. "Amazing! Is that another type of engine!?" the young boy asked in excitement while approaching the machine, to which Amanda couldn't help but to follow him a little amazed at his curiosity.

"Not exactly an engine. But it is a new power source I've been working on"

Amanda and Ravi just kept talking while Leah, Cybel and Wire stared at them while sweat-dropping. What is more, the human girl had a confused fake smile on her face given that she didn't really understand a thing of what both her mother and friend were talking about. Ravi on the other hand, told Amanda about the powerful engine Leah and he had built together back in the wasteland.

"WHAT!? YOU BUILT AND ENGINE WITH THAT MUCH LIFESPAN?!" Amanda screamed in disbelief.

"That's right!" Ravi claimed, happily. "It can go for years and years without running out of power, and it's also a lot less prone to heat! You can check it out yourself. It's inside Leah's ship after all"

"B-but...How did you even accomplish that? I thought the Tower already had the best of the best among engines for spaceships!"

"Well... It was hard, but we did it together nonetheless. If it wasn't for Leah, we wouldn't be hear after all... haha..." the blue-haired boy finished with a smile, after which Amanda turned around only to look at her daughter checking up some other stuff on a nearby table.

"I see..." the mother finally added with a soft smile.

"I don't wanna interrupt, but we should really go now" Wire then stated, barging into the conversation.

"That's right, don't forget you need to study for your guardian entrance exam" Cybel added while talking to Ravi.

"Yeah, you are right" this last one agreed.

"So, you wanna be a guardian too?" Amanda asked.

"That's right, and I need help with the knowledge exam. That's why Leah offered herself to teach me" Ravi turned to face Leah. "Let's go back to your house. I wanna study all day before going to sleep"

Leah startled and turned around with a red face. Apparently her mother didn't know Ravi was staying with her.

"Ohh? So, you are living in the same house. You are much more than just friends, aren't you?" Leah's mother muttered with a mischievous smirk.

"Of... of course not!" Leah yelled in embarrassment, only to then pull her mother closer and whisper her something. "Do you remember the guy I told you about this last few days?"

"Oh! You mean the one you couldn't stop smiling for while telling me how he saved you?

Leah blushed even more after hearing that. "Y-yeah... It's him"

"Hahaha..." Amanda laughed. "I know. By how you are acting right now, and how you acted while talking about him before... it was quite easy to deduce... hehe..."

"Just... stop teasing me, ok?"

Leah got tired, and so, she grabbed Ravi by his hand and finally took him out of there in a rush.

"IT WAS NICE TO MEET YOU!" the boy finally yelled to Amanda right before being pulled out of there for good.

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...

At any rate, the next 2 days were a full and never-ending study session for Ravi. Just as she proposed, Leah helped him with everything she knew and/or believed that would come in the knowledge exam: History, Art and Culture, Philosophy, etc. There were many times when the bluenette just wanted to sleep; but Leah would always make sure to encourage him. Though it would be more accurate to say she forced him to continue studying despite how tired he was.

Then, the day of the exam finally arrived, and they both woke up very early because of it. Leah finished taking a shower, and Ravi was still a little drowsy from studying till late the previous night.

It's important to know that the only bathroom in Leah's apartment was midway from Ravi's room to the kitchen. And so, just as the bluenette boy was heading towards the kitchen in order to have some breakfast, the young girl came out of the bathroom... and they both inevitably bumped into each other.

They fell to the floor while groaning. "Ugh... what happened?" Ravi asked with his eyes closed as Leah slowly opened hers.

"Mmhg... that hurt... What just... eh? AHH!" the young girl screamed while turning as red as a tomato.

They were in a rather interesting position. Ravi was on top of her semi-naked body, covered only by a very small towel which easily highlighted her features. What is more, he was leaning in something very soft and squishy, though he didn't know what it was since he was still a little numb.

"Mmmh... Wh-what's this on my hand?" the bluenette asked as he finally opened his eyes only to realize what he was touching. Because he fell over Leah, he unintentionally leaned on her breasts with both of his hands. She was of course still covered by her towel, but that didn't really make the scene any less lewd to be honest.

In any case, the poor and all flustered girl didn't know what to say. She was too embarrassed and nervous to even think or move.

Just then, Ravi began talking again in a very innocent voice. "Mmm? Wow, they're even bigger and softer than they seemed" he then muttered while referring to Leah's breasts.

On her side however, the young girl finally couldn't take it anymore... And so, she slapped Ravi out of the way, making him scream in pain and crash against the wall.

"Wh-what did I do now?" the blue-haired boy asked in a painful tone.

"F-FORGET IT! JUST... GET READY! BEFORE I CHANGE MY MIND AND KICK YOU OUT OF HERE!" Leah finally yelled while entering her room with embarrassment and shutting the door in one go.

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After this... little weird incident, they both got changed, ate breakfast and then headed to the tower along with Wire and Cybel. Leah was wearing her typical white sweater with her black pants and brown boots; while Ravi, on the other hand, had his white shirt, black modern jacket, blue pants and grey sneakers.

The group was forced to wait till the time to start the exam. And then, some minutes later, Ravi was finally called along with another group of potential guardian trainees. There were like 30 of them, both girls and boys, including Ravi; and they all entered a special classroom at the very end of a narrow hallway. The knowledge exam was about to begin.

Leah remained the whole time waiting outside the room, hoping that Ravi's exam would go well until he finally came out almost 1 hour and a half later.

"So, how did it go?" Leah asked with concern.

"It was fine" Ravi bluntly replied. "I'm pretty sure I got the max score on math and science. I'm not so sure about the rest though, but I think I did good enough"

"I see... that's a relief"

"It was all thanks to you" the bluenette replied, happily, causing the young girl to giggle bit in return.

"Anyway, the practical exam will begin soon. So, I suggest you get ready"

That's right, it was now time for the unpredictable second exam. Ravi had to change his outfit into one granted to him by one of the exam assistants. It was a grey shirt with short sleeves designed to give more protection and be more easy to move with, as well as a new and lighter pair of pants and some training boots.

Just then, someone began shouting. "OKAY THEN, EVERYONE WHO IS TAKING THE EXAM, COME WITH ME! WE'LL BE STARTING THE PRACTICAL EXAM NOW!"

Leah turned around to see who was talking so loud, only to startled a few seconds later. "Oh no" the young girl muttered in a concerned voice.

"What's wrong?" Ravi asked as they both followed the unknown person, who by the way, was the one in charge of the practical exam.

"I know the one who is in charge of this exam. His name is Derek. He's also a trainee, but with 3 more years of experience... and he's probably gonna be a problem"

Ravi startled, slightly after hearing this. "Wh-why do you say that?"

"Because it's not very common for him to be in charge... And when he is, almost none of the possible trainees pass"

The blue-haired began worrying for real this time. Though he didn't really show it due to the kind of childish innocence that ruled his mind.

In any case, when the entire group finally reached a certain point in the Tower's hallway, Leah, Cybel and Wire had to leave Ravi alone since none of them were allowed to enter wherever the applicants were going.

"GOOD LUCK! I'LL BE WATCHING YOU FROM THE SEATS!" the girl yelled before leaving, puzzling Ravi a bit along the way.

'The seats?' he asked himself, only to then realize where he actually was. It was an indoors training field with nothing but a large esplanade of concrete, lots of seats around, and a glass roof above. Like a full stadium, but a hell of a lot smaller.

"OK THEN! LISTEN TO ME!" Derek shouted in a serious tone and after gathering all the applicants at the center of the field. "MY NAME IS DEREK JOHNS, AND I'LL BE IN CHARGE OF YOUR PRACTICAL EXAM!"

Each of the ones taking the exam felt terrified after hearing him talk, except Ravi. He was more weirded out due to such out of place voice which was kind of ridiculous according to him.

"As you can see, the exam is public. Whoever wants to come and see you are free to do it!"

Derek was right, there were lots of people sitting around and waiting for the exam to begin. Not nearly enough to fill half a stadium, but enough to make someone nervous nonetheless. Just then, Ravi found Leah, Wire and Cybel among the spectators. They were also there, watching.

"I gotta warn you though. My exams are usually very... painful. So, if any of you don't wanna embarrass yourself, or feel any kind of pain, just leave while you still can" the one in charge of the exam finally claimed with a sadistic smile.

Seems like this exam wasn't going to be easy at all.