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.

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[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

[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.]