A day had passed since the inquiry and all parties that were involved returned to their regular duties as you, Suletta, and Miorine were returned to the academy to continue school activities until the duel against you and Guel was to commence. You dawned the Asticassia uniform once more and walked around to find where your next class was, but an awkward and nervous look was spread across your face as you garnered stares from everyone after news spread about the duel between you and Guel. Whispers were going around about how you were helping a witch and that people were confused why anyone would side with the Mercurian girl. You clenched your fists in frustration over how people were not only treating you, but how they were saying such mean things about Suletta. While you were walking down the hall, up ahead were two familiar faces that you recognized were Suletta and Nika as the two seemed to be having a conversation, and not wanting to focus too much on the talks that were going around, you decided to muster up some courage and headed towards them to engage in conversation.

"Don't say anything stupid...don't say anything stupid...don't say anything stupid..." You kept muttering to yourself under your breath before finally arriving to the spot they stood in as they took notice of you.

"Oh! Y/N! Good morning!" Nika waved to you.

"Y-Yeah! Good morning. Your hair seems bluer than the last time I remembered." You said in a nervous cold-sweat as she cocked her head in confusion.

"Really? I didn't do anything different." Nika said while checking strands of her hair.

"O-Oh, really? It must be just me, then, ahaha..." You laughed it off while scratching the back of your head. "I said something stupid!!" You screamed at yourself in your own mind as you failed to follow the one rule you had just set.

"Y/N..." Suletta muttered your name as you turned towards her.

"Did Miorine tell you about what happened?" You asked as Suletta nodded in confirmation.

"I-I-I really appreciate...you wanting to help, b-but..." Suletta stammered as you looked at her in wonder. "Y-You shouldn't be the one t-t-to take on this duel. It should be me." She said as you were surprised by this. "It was me...who started all this. I should be the o-only one...who's involved." She stuttered before growing confused when you suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder.

"I want to help my friend stay here and keep her precious mobile suit. Not to mention, I also laid a hand on Guel back when he started breaking Miorine's things. I was bound to meet some sort of consequence. At least I can fight for two people I can call friends..." You said as Suletta was in awe of what you just said.

"We're...f-f-friends?" Suletta said as your cool and relaxed nature flew out the window and you realized your hand was still on her shoulder.

"O-Oops! Sorry! And y-yeah, I think we can call each other friends...if it's fine with you..." Your voice fell near silent as you averted eye contact and rubbed your arm nervously.

"Y-Yeah! Thank you for being f-f-friends with me..." Suletta said as she bowed her head in gratitude, making you panic.

"A-Ah, please don't show me that much respect. Just act n-normally..." You said as you two were an awkward mess around each other.

"Oh!" Suletta suddenly remembered something as she turned to Nika. "T-Thank you for--!" Suletta was cut off when Nika suddenly got close to you and her with her student handbook in hand.

"I was watching both of your battles! Your mobile suits was amazing!" Nika said with a surprising amount of excitement as you and Suletta exchanged confused glances at each other.

"What?" You both asked in unison as Nika nearly pressed her face against Suletta's with sparkling excited eyes.

"What kind of layer structure is it using for its swarm control? Is it a conventional one? Or is it based on a simultaneous spatial concept?" Nika asked as she seemed to be wanting to take down notes of the Aerial's characteristics.

"My mom said something about 'using successive spaces concurrently...', um..." Suletta trailed off trying to remember what other things she could use to answer Nika's questions.

"And Y/N...!" Nika suddenly pushed towards yourself as you nervously took a step back.

"Y-Yes?!" You asked in surprise.

"What kind of thruster system is your mobile suit using? It was able to jump and clear such an incredibly high ditch with just a single boost! Is it a high propulsion based system? Or are there multiple thrusters that we just couldn't see?" Nika asked as you were surprised she wanted to learn about the Unicorn.

"Huh? W-Well, the Unicorn's thruster pack gives its boost capabilities extra power, but to get into detail right now when I'm off guard is--!" You gasped in surprise when she suddenly pulled away and began jotting down notes.

"So that's it! Now I understand the concept-synthesizing schema and your Unicorn's source of extra thrust capabilities!" Nika said as you and Suletta shared a smiled at seeing how much interest someone was having in you two, and seemingly wanted to establish and friendly relationship with you both. "For Suletta's mobile suit, it enables it to clear the friction--!" Nika's words were cut off when an aggressive voice spoke out.

"Hey! Mercurian wench and the Nobody!" Your conversation was stopped as you turned to see Guel Jeturk walking towards you three with his cronies behind him.

"Huh? The Nobody? Me?" You asked Suletta in shock and nervousness while pointing at yourself as Suletta just hid herself behind you and Nika. "The last duel was voided. Once this out-of-nowhere transfer student is finished off this, I'll settle things for real with you." Guel said as you nervously stood your ground once more.

"Then the one who'll be piloting on behalf of Jeturk Heavy Machinery..." You trailed off as Guel pointed at himself with his thumb.

"Me." Guel answered as you and Suletta both sighed and felt calm wash over you two.

"That's a relief." You both said the same thing.

"A relief?!" Guel suddenly screamed in annoyance and anger after over-hearing what you two said as you both tensed up in shock.

"W-W-Well, you know, I already won once...and Y/N's mobile suit looks really strong..." Suletta said as you gulped down a breath of air.

"S-S-Suletta...I think he's just getting angrier..." You said with a scared and nervous smile as he got in your face, making you lean back in a cold-sweat as he glared at you two with an irritated and irked smile.

"Don't get carried away, you bumpkins!" Guel almost spoke in a growl as the academy bell rang, signaling free time as you both found this to be the chance to escape.

"W-Well then, I'll be going!" Suletta said as she jumped to the side and gave Nika a respectful bow before running off in a frantic manner, confusing everyone.

"A-Ah! I also have to go! I have just remembered I have something to discuss with Ms. Mercury! Until next time!" You said as you gave a friendly wave to Nika before running after Suletta. "S-S-Suletta! Don't abandon me with those scary people!" You cried out as you chased after her.

After making your getaway from a nerve-wracking situation, both you and Suletta decided to head over to Miorine's greenhouse to deliver some items that she needed for her plants. You were carrying some new pots for her smaller plants while Suletta was carrying some bags of fertilizer that Miorine used for her vegetable plants. The two of you walked up to the greenhouse and climbed the steps as you looked inside to see Miorine tending to some of her crops as she took notice of you both.

"Miorine. We brought the items you asked for. A few pots for your flowers." You said as you put the pots down in the entrance.

"I'll leave the fertilizer here." Suletta said as she also left the bags of fertilizer in the entrance as you both knew she didn't like having anyone else in the greenhouse.

"Bring them to me." Miorine said as you both looked up to her in surprise as she turned around to tend to some other plants.

"You don't mind if we come in?" Suletta asked in surprise.

"Go ahead." Miorine said with no care as she crouched down for a tool and you two were left ecstatic over seemingly building the relationship between you two and Miorine.

"Does this mean we're best friends?" Suletta asked as you also felt a bit hopeful.

"HUH!?" Miorine suddenly turned towards you both with a confused glare as you both flinched.

"Sorry!" Suletta yelped as you hung your head in defeat.

"Well, whatever we are, if Y/N loses the duel, it's over for all three of us." Miorine said as you felt some pressure that you didn't need at the moment.

"I won't lose...I already said I'd make him apologize for what he did to your garden." You said as you grabbed onto the flower pots, but stared at the ground nervously remembering how important this upcoming duel was.

"Suletta Mercury. Y/N L/N." You heard a strange voice come from the side as you turned to see Elan Ceres from the Dueling Committee walking towards you two.

"Mr. Elan, right?" Suletta said in surprise as she stepped down the steps of the greenhouse to speak with Elan as you and Miorine stared in wonder. "T-Thank you for..." Suletta tried to thank him for something, but he spoke up in a calm and almost emotionless manner.

"I came here to summon you two to a Dueling Committee meeting." Elan said as his arrival was in regards to the duel.

"They want to meet with us already?" You asked as you walked in the greenhouse with the pots and set them down inside for Miorine to use.

"A committee?" Suletta asked in confusion as you exited the greenhouse and walked down the three steps of the small structure.

"This guy's a member of the Dueling Committee." Miorine answered as you stepped onto the grass with Elan and Suletta.

"You could have reach us via our student handbooks, isn't that right?" You asked in confusion of not receiving any notification of this.

"We hadn't exchanged contact information with each other, and I didn't know how to reach you two." Elan replied as you felt stupid in the moment.

"T-That's right...We just met when watching Suletta's duel..." You said as Suletta shuffled around nervously where she stood.

"May we exchange contacts?" Elan asked as he pulled out his student handbook and you pulled yours out.

"R-Right." You said as you pointed your handbook towards his and with a few moments of sharing contact info wirelessly, you two had each other's contact information.

"Y/N, help me hang one of these pots." Miorine called out as you turned to her.

"O-Okay!" You answered before waving to Elan. "I'll be there once I finish helping Miorine. Thanks for letting us know." You said before heading back inside the greenhouse and leaving Suletta and Elan alone.

"May we exchange contacts?" Elan asked the same question as Suletta nodded and held out her handbook, and the exchange was complete as she stared at her handbook with a smile.

"Number 12 on my list came true." Suletta said as this confused Elan.

"Your list?" Elan asked what she meant by that.

"Exchanging contact info with someone. It was something I wanted to try when I got to school." Suletta spoke in a tiny voice, but Elan seemed to hear everything she said.

"What else is on your list?" Elan asked in wonder of this list she was talking about as she began counting on her fingers.

"Making friends, calling them by nicknames..." Suletta was listing a few when a voice spoke up much closer than it sounded before.

"Going on dates."  Miorine said while fanning herself with the trowel tool she had in hand as you were shocked by this as well as you both stood in the doorway of the greenhouse.

"Ms. Miorine!" Suletta was shocked that one of her secret list items was suddenly exposed.

"S-S-Suletta?! You wanna go on dates that badly?! D-Don't tell me...You're sex-crazed...?!" You said in nervousness.

"That's right. She said so herself." Miorine said in confirmation.

"I am not!" Suletta stammered out in a flustered tone.

"I hope..." Elan spoke up as the Mercurian girl looked at him in surprise. "...you'll fulfill many wishes on your list."  He said as this surprised Suletta, but she just nodded with a smile.

"If you're done, just get going. Too many people are bad for my plants." Miorine said as she headed back inside her green house and shut the door, making you jump in surprise as you close to the entrance.

"Please, if you would follow me." Elan said as he lead the way for you two and it was time to meet with the Dueling Committee.

After making the trip back to the academy main grounds, you and Suletta followed Elan to the building where the Dueling Committee was located and you rode an elevator in silence as you waited to reach their quarters. Now that you were back on official business, you pulled out a small gold pendant that was shaped in the emblem of your Neo Zeon System's logo, and pinned it to the left side of your uniform's chest area to show yourself as a representative of your company that would stand in defense of Suletta and Shin Sei Development Corporation. You took a breath of air before calming yourself completely and almost changing your demeanor entirely as Suletta was surprised to see how stoic and stern your eyes had become. With a ring of the elevator's bell, the doors opened and you were greeted with a familiar face that belonged to Shaddiq, who was waiting for your arrival.

"Welcome to the Dueling Committee Lounge." Shaddiq said as he was giving Suletta a formal introduction while giving you two a brief and respectful bow. "My name is Shaddiq Zenelli. Nice to meet you, Mercurian Miss." He said as he took Suletta's hand in a cordial manner as Suletta nervously pulled her hand away and returned a respectful bow to him.

"Nice to m-meet...Hyee!" Suletta's introduction fell short when she noticed Guel glaring at the two of you from one side of the room and she instinctively hid behind you as Guel scoffed in annoyance.

"Nice to see you again, Y/N." Shaddiq said as you gave him a firm handshake.

"I wish it were on better terms." You said in a calm, and serious tone as you maintained the handshake for a few more seconds before the two of you broke it apart.

"Shall we begin?" Elan asked as you both were confused.

"What?" Suletta asked.

"The oath." Shaddiq said as he placed his hand on his hip and you turned to him as he wore that same friendly smile on his face. "For the duel." As you just nodded in agreement.

Walking around the large couch that they had in their lounge, the large screen that displayed the dueling grounds changed to a blank blue screen that displayed the academies name and logo on the screen as you stood at the center of the room with Guel in front of you. Suletta stood behind you as she was the only form of representation for the Shin Sei Development Corporation, the company that you'd be defending and fighting for in this duel. You held a stoic and serious look on your face as Guel held a similar one and the two of you were staring each other down eye to eye as Elan stood on the side of you both.

"Both parties, deposit your souls on Libra's scales. The duelists are Guel Jeturk and Y/N L/N, who is standing to defend Suletta Mercury. The location will be the 7th tactical testing sector. The one-on-one code will apply. Any objections?" Elan asked the two of you.

"None." You and Guel responded as you two held your stares at each other and Elan gestured towards you with his hand.

"Y/N L/N, what is your stake in this duel?" Elan asked as you turned to Shaddiq for guidance on this question.

"Our duels require you each place something on the line. Money, an apology, a woman..." Shaddiq was listing off different things.

"You're the only one who'd bet a woman." Guel said in spite of his fellow committee member.

"I'm not as bad as you think. And I know they'll always demand I give the girls back." Shaddiq said in defense of himself.

"Y/N L/N." Elan spoke up to get this oath back on track.

"Right." You responded to him before turning your sights back to Guel. "An apology to both Suletta and Miorine." You said your stake in this duel as it was Guel's turn.

"Guel Jeturk, what is your stake in this duel?" Elan asked as broad-stranding male stood across from you as he had his hands on his hips.

"Same as last time." Guel laid out the same stakes from his last duel against Suletta, being that you and Suletta leave the academy if you lost.

"Alea jacta est. The duel is approved." Elan said as he clapped his hands together and pressed them tightly, palm-to-palm as Shaddiq and Secilia stood as witness and the screen on the side returned to display the outside of their lounge.

"How nice for you, Mr. Guel." You heard Secilia speak up as you all turned towards her. "When you have powerful parents, you can even undo the results of a duel." Secilia said as she took her usual spot back next Rouji. "You'll have no excuse if you lose this time. If I were you, I'd reconsider." She spoke in a mocking tone before glancing over at you and sending a wink your way, but what surprised her was when you just smiled back at her, a different reaction than your nervous behavior, making the girl smile in amusement.

"If you want to duel me, just say so, Secelia!" Guel turned his glared towards the girl in question as she just waved him off.

"I'm giving you advice. I don't want to see your market value drop any lower. Ah..." Secilia seemed to have a thought come to mind as she looked at Guel. "Or has it already bottomed out? Ahahaha~" She laughed as Guel seemed like he was about to do something rash when he began stomping towards her in anger.

"Stop it! No!" Suletta suddenly spoke up, surprising not just those two, but you as well.

"Suletta?" You said in surprise as she stepped next to your side.

"L-Laughing at someone who doesn't run away is...It's wrong!" Suletta said as she spoke in defense of Guel's efforts, while the Jeturk heir just stared at her with a stoic look while the room remained silent.

"...Well then, now that the oath has been finished. I believe we'll take our leave." You said to them while gently taking hold of Suletta's shoulder. "Thank you for sparing us your time." You said as the two of you bowed to them all before making your way to the elevator.

"I'll see you off." Guel said which surprised you both as he made his way to the elevator as well.

"Thank you, Guel." You said as he remained silent as the lift doors opened and you all entered the elevator and began to ride it down to the bottom floor.

"Why would you say something like that?" Guel asked while leaning against one of the walls of the elevator as you and Suletta turned to him. "Don't you want to laugh at me, too?" He asked as you glanced to Suletta to see what she would say.

"It's because 'If you run, you gain one.' F-For example, if you're facing a strong enemy..." Suletta managed to capture Guel's attention as the lift stopped at the bottom floor and the three of you walked out. "...by running away, you'd gain safety and security." She said while turning back to Guel.

"I wouldn't run." Guel said his opinion of the situation.

"But if you fight, you might lose!" Suletta said to him as Guel remained stubborn and persistent.

"I wouldn't lose!" Guel exclaimed before lowering his head and turning it a bit to the side. "The last time was a fluke." He said in a lower tone, but was still audible to the two of you.

"It wasn't a fluke." Suletta said as Guel instantly countered.

"If I hadn't let my guard down, I would have won." Guel defended his stance of the battle before.

"Which is another way of saying you lost, right?" Suletta said nervously as this was beginning to irritate Guel. "But either way, it's okay." She said as this confused him.

"What? What's okay?" Guel asked in confusion as Suletta began counting on her hand.

"If you move forward without running, you gain confidence in yourself, or experience, or recognition. You gain a lot more than you would by running. That's why 'If you run, you gain one.' And, 'If you move forward, you gain two.'" Suletta said while pushing out both her pointer fingers to replicate her saying.

"That's quite the philosophy." Guel said in an almost sarcastic tone.

"My mother taught it to me." Suletta said as she smiled in reminiscence of her mother as Guel's sarcastic smile instantly turned back to a serious look as he turned towards her. "My mother is always strong and kind." She began to speak the strong points of her mother as you smiled at how calm she was being.

"A good parent, huh?" Guel said as he tried to think of his relationship with his father, and how it wasn't like hers.

"Yes. My life's goal is to be like..." Suletta was about to speak more, but her voice fell silent when she noticed he was walking off somewhere else.

"There he goes." You said as you two watched him leave.

"I don't get him." Suletta said in confusion of his actions, but was even more surprised when you suddenly walked off in the same direction as him. "W-Where are you going?" She asked as you waved to her.

"I actually forgot something and its in the same direction as he's going. I'll see you when the duel starts." You said before turning around and leaving the Mercurian girl as she was stumped.

"I don't get him at all, either." Suletta sighed as she just turned around and walked off in the other direction.

After leaving Suletta to her own activities, you turned the corner of the hallway and watched as Guel walked in a sulking manner down the hall.

"Guel." You called out as the hot-shot pilot turned around.

"What is it?" Guel asked as he felt annoyed that you followed him as he watched you walk up.

"I admire the effort that your displaying towards this duel. It proves me wrong of the way I thought of you before. You aren't as cocky or hot-headed as I thought, and just decide to handle situation in your own way. And from watching your previous duel before you fought Suletta, I can tell." You said as you walked up and stood next to him as you two didn't share any eye contact in this conversation. "You have good reflexes. But a little reckless. A temperament befitting a pilot." You said as he was confused on how to take these words.

"What are you getting at?" Guel asked as you turned to him.

"Regardless of the duel, as one pilot to another, my respect for you is held in high regard, and I promise you that I'll face this duel head on with all my efforts in respect to your own efforts." You said to him as you bowed your head in respect.

"Is that so? Well, do as you like while you can. Because I don't intend on making the same mistake twice." Guel said as he left once more and you watched him disappear around the corner of the hallway.

"Truly a personality befitting of a pilot..." You smiled as you turned back and walked in the other direction as you wanted to prepare before the duel commenced, but an alert popped up on your student handbook as you pulled it out and saw it was a message. "Hm? A text from Elan? I wonder what he wants." You said in wonder as you opened the text and read it before growing surprised. "Eh? I have to do that?" You said in surprise of what you had just read as your steps echoed through the hall.

Play Song At Top
Title: Get Ready For the Duel (Gundam: Witch From Mercury OST)
Link: &list=OLAK5uy_k14rYxQAp-2xDi-Tpe5atVxWzXtEILWC0&index=26

After taking the oath for the duel and getting some time to prepare yourself for this high stakes event, you were in one of the Mobile Suit loading bays and aboard your Unicorn, and sat in a jump seat behind you was Suletta who was told she needed to be aboard the mobile suit as well during the duel. You were waiting for the ground crew to finish preparing your armaments as you were entering this duel with your Unicorn's shield that was armed with dual Beam Gatling Guns, and a Beam Rifle that no one had seen before that was shipped with other armaments for your mobile suit when you arrived to Asticassia. Suletta watched in awe as the cockpit lit up with lights and words appeared all around the cockpit before the optical sensors switched on and displayed the outside view of the Unicorn.

"Amazing..." Suletta muttered as you turned back to her.

"What is?" You asked in wonder.

"A-Ah! I was just amazed by everything in here. It's a totally different cockpit compared to the Aerial..." Suletta said as you were starting the Unicorn's main systems.

"Pilot, your armaments are all loaded. Ready to deploy." One of the ground crew members spoke into your comms.

"Roger. Thank you, ground crew." You thanked them for finishing the final preparations for your mobile suit as the Unicorn was being loaded into the shipping container that would be sent to the dueling site.

"La+ Program, online. Armament, all reading in the green. Looking good, Unicorn." You praised your machine Suletta poked her head around to look at your console.

"La+ Program? What is that?" Suletta asked in wonder.

"Hm? Oh, it's the main program that the company I'm under loaded onto the Unicorn." You explained to her as she nodded.

"I-I see..." Suletta said before you two noticed someone connected to your communication line and on your console HUD, Miorine appeared.

"Y/N. Suletta." Miorine called to you both as you two were surprised by her sudden appearance on screen.

"M-Ms. Miorine!" Suletta was in shock to see the princess directly communicating to you two.

"How were you able to connect to us?" You asked in confusion.

"I registered myself in your contacts." Miorine said in such a casual tone as you checked your handbook that was connected to your cockpit on the side, and saw her contact info was in fact there.

"How could you just..." Suletta was surprised when she checked her own handbook and saw she also made herself a contact on Suletta's list.

"Listen, Y/N. Your future, Suletta's, and mine depend totally on this duel's outcome." Miorine said as you put down your visor on your helmet.

"I understand. I'll make sure to claim victory." You said in reassurance.

"Suletta..." Miorine called to the Mercurian girl as Suletta poked her head around to look at the console. "Don't forget the deal we made." She said while gesturing with her pinky as you raised your brow when Suletta also raised her pinky out.

"Right." Was all Suletta said as the Unicorn was finished being loaded into the transport container as the doors closed.

"Here we go..." You said as you felt the container get launched and you propelled down a track that would take you to the dueling sight, and kept a stoic look while Suletta held onto your seat nervously.

Flying down the track and towards the dueling zone that was set by the Dueling Committee, the ground bay doors into the 7th tactical testing sector opened and from the surface of the zone, your container appeared on one end, and on the other was Guel's container. Everyone in the school was tuned in to see just what sort of outcome would happen now that one of the newest students to Asticassia was about to face off against the academy's ace. From the Dueling Committee's lounge, Elan sat in front of the screen as the announcer and coordinator of this duel while the other members watched. From the Jeturk house's control room, the president himself, Vim Jeturk, had arrived to see the outcome for himself, while from a far distance away from the academy and floating in space, Iilya and Char watched from her room as they gained special access to the event. 

"With mutual consent by both parties, we will now begin the duel." Elan's voice was broadcasted over the network of viewers as the lights atop the mobile suit container lit up and decompressed as the doors slowly opened. "As always, victory will go to the first one to break the blade antenna of their opponent's mobile suit." Elan explained the condition of victory to the audience as the camera's zoomed in on the horn of the Unicorn. "The observer shall be Elan Ceres from Peil House." Elan announced himself as the witness to this duel as Miorine's communication line was still connected to yours.

"You can come out of your MS container. State your name and student ID number." Miorine explained as you took control over your mobile suit, and the eye-slit unit of your Unicorn shined bright green. 

"Roger. LP053.  Y/N L/N, Unicorn, launching!" You announced as you pressed the launch button on your side console, and the container launched you out as the Unicorn landed on its feet stood tall.

"Both parties, face off." Elan said as Guel's camera from inside his mobile suit appeared on your screen and displayed his information and duel record, and he was able to see yours as well. "Y/N L/N..." Elan suddenly spoke to you as you grew confused.

"Yes?" You asked.

"Please recite the duel vow." Elan asked for you to start the vow as you looked at Guel through his screen with a serious look.

"Victory is never decided by mobile suit performance alone..." You started the vow as Suletta gripped onto your seat nervously and braced for the beginning.

"Nor by the skill of the pilot, alone." Guel responded as he prepared to defend his pride and reclaim what was his.

"The result itself is the only truth!" You and Guel spoke in unison as there was one thing left to say.

"Fix release." Elan spoke the final words of the vow as the duel was on.

"Hold on!" You warned Suletta while tightening your grip on your controls and bracing yourself in your seat as she was confused.

"Huh? H-H-H-Hold on?! To wha--HHHYYYAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!" Suletta's scream echoed through the broadcast as the Unicorn took off at unimaginable speeds, soaring above the battlefield as the duel between you and Guel had officially begun.