Kyoto Military Academy

[AN: This chapter marks the end of the 'Journal Chapters' that give an over-detailed rundown of his early childhood, now we get back to good old 1st person.]

[3rd POV]

Seven-year-old Kouzuki Genkei looked up at the newly finished Kyoto Military Academy where he would spend the next 11 years. Due to the BETA slowly creeping eastward, the Empire revamped most schools towards a martial education, Genkei's former school was made an all-girls school, while he was transferred to the newly built Military Academy.

The four-story building made of brick flew the flag of Japan alongside the flag of the IJA and IJN(Imperial Japanese Navy). With a deep breath, Genkei took his first steps onto this new stage.

[1st POV]

[Genkei]

An older student was kind enough to hold open the heavy wooden door for me when I approached the entrance, a quick bow was shared and I continued on my way. Small things such as this were taught from a young age to most of Japan, I can't help but wonder how children in other countries are taught. Those wooden doors concealed a large open room with marble tile floors, an arched ceiling, and uniformed IJA sergeants handing out schedules and pamphlets to lines of students.

From the ceiling hung 12 different signs above the Seargent's that had the grades listed from Ichinen to sannen, I joined the line below ninen, second grade. I could see my friends in the other lines because they were older than me, I hoped I could see them in any of my classes. The next few hours went much the same and also much different from my old school.

While I did the same of memorizing my pamphlet and schedule, I also had to go get my head shaved by an IJA barber, strip in front of a doctor who gave me a physical, and get many different vaccines, the tetanus shot was very sore in comparison to the rest. I was thankful that the doctor was male, I wouldn't be able to look them in the eyes if a woman saw me get teary after a shot.

I could tell that this was more military and less school right away, but that was fine with me, as a future Samurai, it was my duty to join and protect our Empire. Before long we were ushered to a large auditorium and listened to an old man revealed to be a former IJA Major give a speech on the school, our future, and the fight against the BETA before we finally got to meet our teachers.

It seemed the classes were the same as my previous school, with the 1st through 5th grade remaining in one class, while the 6th to 12th grades went between classes to the teachers that specialized in each subject. However, we also had new classes to prepare us for military training along with the normal PE replaced by PT, exercise, and drills. We weren't yet allowed near weapons but it would happen eventually.

The classrooms themselves were quite strange in my opinion, with the teacher at the lowest height with their desk and blackboard while the students sat in a half-circle of tables that got higher up as you went back, similar to stadium rows. I was assigned to the middle of the rows in the middle of the room. While most of the boys talked amongst themselves, I stayed within my own thoughts while waiting for the teacher to show up.

[a few minutes later]

*Rolllllllll* *Clack*

I was brought from my thoughts by the sounds of the door sliding open and closed, it appears our teachers arrived. A middle-aged man entered the room, I noticed that his posture was rigid and he seemed to glide along the floor instead of walking since his head didn't bob up and down as he went. He wore an IJA uniform in its base green color along with strips revealing him as a sergeant, most likely, he was the instructor.

Once at the desk he turned to face the class of children, I couldn't see him breathe nor any movement save his eyes which seemed to look through each one of us. A tense few seconds later, he let out his breath and turned to the blackboard before writing on it and stepping in front of the desk and sitting on it. "Rise!" He commanded, as one we all jerked to our feet merely off the tone of his voice, "Bow!" And we bowed at once again, his tone commanded action and we did it without a second thought, "Be seated!" And we were seated, each one of us surprised at our unconscious movements, but not willing to be the one to admit we did it unconsciously.

He pointed to the board behind him while saying, "I am Instructor Kojima, you will address me as Instructor, Instructor Kojima, Seargent, or Seargent Kojima. If I hear anything else when you address me you will be punished! If I hear you talk without permission you will be punished! If you do anything disruptive you will be punished! Am I understood!?" To which we all replied with the safest address of, "Hai, Instructor Kojima!"

The instructor gave a nod of approval before continuing, "I did not expect to be put in charge of children when I signed up for this, but it does not matter, I will merely teach you the same way I would have taught the older teenagers." He stopped to pull out a book from his desk and held it up, "This book is under your desk, get it out." To which we did. I noticed the yellow book had the title, "The Imperial Japanese Army: A Breakdown" He dropped the book on his desk resulting in a bang before saying, "We will discuss this book for the majority of the day, and do one other subject for the last hour of the day before you all leave. Today's subject is Maths for your information."

A boy a few rows in front of me groaned at the mention of math, the Instructor heard him, however, and screeched, "You there! Drop and give me 20 pushups! If I hear a noise from you it's another 20!" The boy froze when addressed and was only knocked from his shock when the boy to his right stomped his foot, making the boy yelp. "Very well, maggot, 40 pushups it is!" The instructor showed no mercy...

[10 am Training Field]

[3rd POV]

Genkei's class was now on their 'PE break' aka, extra work. There was a circular track measuring 200 meters in circumference as well as an obstacle course in the background for the older students. Genkei could just barely make out the outline of the indoor shooting range as well. The students were all wearing a pair of child-sized boots, a pair of green cargo pants, and a t-shirt. These were the exercise for the students, made to help them get used to military BDUs. On another note, there was also a normal uniform which looked like an IJA dress uniform with no insignia that was given out to be worn starting tomorrow.

"Attention!" Instructor Kojima called out and ordered the students into lines, shortest at the front and tallest at the back, Genkei was near the back of this group. "This school is here to prepare you for becoming an Eishi(TSF Pilot) as soon as possible! However, in case you prove incapable of this, you will become infantry and get a chance to change to a new MOS! The first thing to prepare you for this is the tried and true PT. Give me five laps around the track, if you can't make it, ill let it go for the first week, but by the end of the week, I don't want to see you even sweat! Am I understood?!"

The students gave a shout of, "Hai, Instructor Kojima!" Before running to the track, eager to prove themselves. Most of the children sprinted as fast and hard as they could from the get-go, only Genkei and 4 other kids didn't sprint but instead jogged. Genkei recognized 2 of the boys from the Takamura study group, he still had to go to the Takamura residence for etiquette training after all.

By the second lap, most of the sprinters were on the ground panting, while some pushed themselves till they vomited and collapsed. Only the group of five, including Genkei, finished the five laps. For Genkei and the Takamura group, it was thanks to regulating their speed and breathing to conserve energy, he assumed it was the same for the other 2.

Before long, all the kids were regrouped, some bent over at the waist due to cramps. "Tomorrow, I expect you all to pay attention when I tell you how to properly stretch and run, let this be a reminder that even the simplest things can be done better, and do not hesitate to ask me or another Instructor, or an older student, for help or instruction. Now, go to the PX...I mean cafeteria and eat. We've got more book study today, so no dozing off when you get back. Dismissed!"

With his dismissal, all the boys eagerly began the trek to the cafeteria.

[AN: My Grammarly subscription ran out so the chaps might not look as good as they used to, if you notice any grammar fucky wucky's, leave a paragraph comment beginning with ERROR: and I'll fix it. Thanks in advance. Hope you all have a great day!]