Welcome to the New Year

[garden_of_maidens]

"Gokigenyou."

"Gokigenyou."

The clear morning greeting travels through the serene, blue sky.

Today, once again, the maidens that gather in the Virgin Mary's garden smile purely to one another as they pass under the tall gateway.
Wrapping their innocent bodies and souls is a deep-coloured school uniform.

Walking slowly as to not disturb the plaits in their skirts, so as to not toss their white sailor scarves into disarray... such is the standard of modesty here. Running because one is in danger of missing class, for instance, is too undignified a sight for students to wish upon themselves here.

Lillian Private Academy for Women.

Founded in Meiji 34, this academy was originally intended for the young women of nobility, and is now a Catholic academy of prestigious tradition. Placed in downtown Tokyo, where you can still see traces of Musashi Field's greenery, it is protected by God, a garden where maidens can receive tutelage from pre-school to university.

Time passes, and even now, in Heisei, three era-names past Meiji, it is a valuable academy, where nurtured ladies raised in greenhouses are shipped out in carefully packaged boxes after 18 years of schooling - an arrangement that continues to survive.
As the last note of Maria-sama's Soul rings through the chapel, echoing into the high rafters, the Yamayurikai stands tall at the front of the procession, ready to give out the gifts of rosaries to their newest arrivals.

The respective classes of each first-year are called, and each one receives their gift from the Yamayurikai members. The second and third year students are sitting by, simply watching, perhaps commenting quietly to each other whenever a particularly interesting first-year passes by, but they are quick to silence when the stern gazes of the nuns passes over them.

A new year has come to Lillian Academy, and the students are ready to start their adventures in life, love, and everything else.

Info | FAQ | Rules

[Open post for the welcoming ceremony and the beginning of the year! Feel free to use this for the actual ceremony, shortly thereafter, or the general first day of school. Welcome!]

Comments

Mitsuru Kirijo | Third Year

[penthesileia]

[If there were ever any doubts about who the Rosa Chinensis would be at the beginning of her third year, they were few and mostly whispered in private. Everyone knew that Mitsuru Kirijo would be the Red Rose. Kirijo Group is one of Lillian Private Academy's biggest bankrollers, and the inheritor to its sprawling business arms might as well own the school.

The Yamayurikai may not have absurd levels of power or influence in the school, but Mitsuru herself does... if she so wished. Normally, however, she's inclined to be as much of a normal student as she can possibly be.

Unfortunately, that's not as often as she'd like.]

[A]

[In the opening ceremony, Mitsuru stands in the front of the room with the other Roses. One by one, the first-years come up, and one by one, she gives them their rosary with a polite smile and nod of her head.

And then, the first years are gone, off to their initiations and introductions to the school proper. Mitsuru exhales, softly, before remarking to the person closest to her-- you:] It's a shame I won't be able to greet them again next year. They seem so... energetic. It's really quite refreshing.

[B]

[Most high schools in this country would have a kendo club, and so does Lillian Academy. It also has a Western fencing club.

There's a demonstration for first-year students, on an outdoor stage amidst all the other clubs advertising for new members. Two young women are on the stage in full fencing garb, each holding a foil. One lunges, the other parries, and in the blink of an eye the second has landed a hit directly on the chest of the other.

They bow and turn, and Mitsuru-- victorious, of course-- removes her helmet, her dark red hair spilling out of confinement and down her shoulders.]

[aquavitae]

[As the team captain of Lillian Academy's kendo club, Aqua usually doesn't have time to keep up with the other sports clubs, despite how much she would like to. She picks up news when she can, goes to tournaments if she's free, and tries to keep up good cross-club relations. The first few weeks of the new term is the best time for her to work on this, when the only club obligations are recruitment and spring cleaning.

It's how she finds herself observing the fencing club demonstration. Fencing and kendo are completely different styles of sword-fighting, but the intense need for focus, speed, and form is the same. It makes watching the match very enjoyable despite needing to stand her ground against the tide of the audience. Everyone knows it's Rosa Chinensis under that helmet.

She claps along with the rest of them, and when the crowd eventually, finally disperses, she takes the chance to approach the redhead. She only wants a few words.]

That was a wonderful match. Thank you for the opportunity to see you in your best form, Rosa Chinensis.

[penthesileia]

[Mitsuru pulls her white gloves off, tucking them into her helmet, which she holds between her elbow and her side. She runs a hand back through her hair, pushing sweat-darkened bangs off her forehead, and smiles at the other third-year approaching her.] Please, Aqua. I think we've known each other long enough that we don't need to use titles, don't you?

[aquavitae]

Sorry, Mitsuru! Force of habit. It's been so long since we last talked, just the two of us.

[She smiles warmly as she offers a handkerchief.]

I do mean it, though, about your match. It's been a while since the last time I watched you fence, but you're still as formidable as ever.

[penthesileia]

Thank you-- [She says, taking the handkerchief and dabbing at her brow for a few moments before folding it up-- one-handed, at that.] Really, I'm rusty. My form was terribly inadequate. I'll have to be sure to spend time practicing if I'm going to get anywhere at Nationals this year. I'm surprised you're not demonstrating yourself, actually. Did you leave it to your juniors this year?

[aquavitae]

Modest as always.

[Her words get a little wistful.]

Yes, they were eager to prove themselves, and I'm only going to be captain for so much longer. I thought it would be a good experience for them.

[penthesileia]

[Mitsuru nods, handing the handkerchief back to her.] I can certainly sympathize with that. I've scheduled some underclassmen demonstrations for later this afternoon. It's a little funny, thinking that we won't do this again, isn't it?

[aquavitae]

It is. But this is only high school. I'm going to join the team in college, too.

[She reaches out to take the handkerchief back, searching her friend's eyes. They've spoken about the Kirijo family business before, but now that they're third years...]

What about you, Mitsuru?

[penthesileia]

I'd certainly hope so! You've got really remarkable talent, it'd be a shame to see it go to waste. [She pauses before answering.] I'm not certain. I may not actually pursue higher education, if I'm needed for Kirijo Group business. [She's not happy about that.]

i guess i should tag this huh - A

[ofwindandarrows]

[Well, if Mitsuru's status wasn't in any question, though, Yukari's was. She'd been dodging rumor after rumor after rumor, not willing to share the status of her being someone's soeur. She'd been a firebrand in her first year, and grabbed the attention of more than a few suitors, but she'd been so quick, so harsh in turning any and all of them down that it almost seemed offering was a folly.

It had also not been much of a secret, though she tried to be polite, that she hadn't much cared for that year's Chinensis en Bouton - something about strife between their families, was the rumor, but, as with her soeur status, Yukari wouldn't humor anything, so no one actually knew the truth. Still, there was always a strange friction that never really seemed to be resolved, even at the end of the year, and yet...

The gossipy rumor mill is up again this year, this time the whispers flooding the crowd are because Yukari is standing up at the front with the rest of the Yamayurikai - as this year's Rosa Chinensis en Bouton. She seems nonplussed, at least for now.] Yeah? They definitely seem to have even more energy than my class did last year. I'll have to report back to ya next year if it's the same.

[penthesileia]

[And at least in this PSL, they aren't banging every night. Or are they??? Mitsuru chuckles softly, reaching up to flip her hand through her hair.] Maybe it's just a matter of perspective. I might be feeling nostalgic already, and we've only just begun the term. But I'd like to hear that either way. I'll be relying on you to keep things orderly when you're in my position, Yukari.

[ofwindandarrows]

[Most likely not. Yet. Possibly not for a while. Also I would like to inform you I saw that Utena reference. I c wut u did thr.] Yeah, cuz you're already super old, right? [She gives a little giggle, as she glances back over at her grande soeur.]

I'll do my best. But it's not like the Yamayurikai is a one-person show. [Which is as much a reminder to Mitsuru as herself.]

Speaking of which, try not to have too much fun with us trying to figure out who to take as our petit soeurs.

[penthesileia]

[She gets the message. But it would be simply out of character for her to not try to do the lion's share of the work.] Of course not. Still, it'd be a terrible example for me to foist my duties off on my underclassmen. We all must pull our weight, after all.

[Her lips turn upwards into a little smile.] Are you planning on finding one after all? My, you've really taken to the institution.

[She's teasing you, Yukari...]

[ofwindandarrows]

[Well, and Yukari understands in her own way but.

... She's going to worry about it.] Yeah. But not a whole lot more than others.

[The second part sort of makes her stuck between rolling her eyes and also... maybe smiling a little.]

I know, right? It's terrible. Playing along at a harmless game.

[Oop. Maybe a bit much sarcasm.]

[penthesileia]

You're just "playing along"? That's a little disappointing, I thought you might finally be taking it seriously. [Still teasing.]

After all, your choice has a little more weight than that of most of the girls here.

[ofwindandarrows]

I mean, I don't hate it. [That's not exactly the most shining praise, there, but...]

But... I dunno. I guess if a First Year catches my attention, then they do, but if not, I always have next year. And if not then... well, I guess the red rose family has an overhaul. [There's the gentlest edge of a threat there, too. She'll do it, Mitsuru. She'll make sure it's only her until she graduates. Don't tease her too much!]

I can't imagine I won't find one, though, and I'm sure you can dote on 'em, too.

[penthesileia]

[Mitsuru's only answer is to raise a skeptical eyebrow. You wouldn't dare, Yukari.] In that case, I suppose I'll just have to trust in your judgment.

[Wait a minute.] ...do I... "dote"?

[ofwindandarrows]

[She would absolutely, just try to get into a Stubborn Competition with her.] Good.

[She gives a sort of half-grin at that question, though.] All the third years do it to the first years, c'mon. It's like your... great-petit-soeur. [Way to make her sound like a grandma, Yukari.]

[penthesileia]

Can you rephrase that? It makes me sound way older than I'd like. I really don't think I'm the doting type...

[ofwindandarrows]

[She just gives a half-grin. No, she can't rephrase that. You started the teasing game, Mitsuru, now enjoy it.]

I dunno. You don't really know until you're in that situation, right?

[penthesileia]

I suppose so. I was fairly strict with you, though, wasn't I? Most of the school sees me as the authority type. [Who they are terrified with.]

[ofwindandarrows]

Well yeah, but it's not like that's all you are. [Actually, she's pretty squishy and caring in her own...... Mitsuru-y way.

That Yukari can't really... describe.]

... I mean, is that all you think you are?

[penthesileia]

Well, no, not all that I am, certainly not. [How to explain it?] It's just that I've cultivated this particular image over the past few years and I do try to live up to it.

[Kirijo life.]

[ofwindandarrows]

You like people to be afraid of you? [Something about her tone is almost teasing.] Cuz I'm pretty sure you're not that scary, unless you try to be. [Then she's terrifying, but that's for a different time.]

[penthesileia]

Not afraid, per se... it's difficult to explain. [Maybe a little afraid. She just doesn't want people to take her lightly, that's all!] --at any rate, that seems beside the point!