Chapter 2: School, Sassbots, and Shocking Revelations
(In which I walk into a new life, meet two weirdos, and somehow become the responsible one. Yeah, I don't know how that happened either.)
So I left Hikaru's shop with a brand-new Arcbeetle in tow, practically burning a hole in my pocket with its sheer battle aura. Seriously, that thing looked like it wanted to challenge traffic lights to duels.
Ikki and Erica walked beside me, chatting like I hadn't just bought a miniature laser tank. Erica carried Metabee's box like it was made of glass and dreams, and Ikki was walking with the same giddy bounce I used to get when Iruka-sensei gave me extra ramen coupons.
"Riverview Senior High," Erica said as we strolled past some ramen stands. "That's where we go. Grade eight, Class 2-B."
"Senior high in grade eight?" I asked. "How does that work?"
"It's complicated," Erica said. "But basically, it's middle school merged with the first years of high school. We get the cool electives early."
"Cool electives?" I tilted my head.
"Oh yeah," Ikki said with stars in his eyes. "We've got Robot Battle, Medabot Customizer, Robotics and AI Foundations—all the good stuff!"
"Wait, hold up," I said. "You guys have full-on classes dedicated to Medabots?"
"Totally!" Erica grinned. "Robot Battle's the flashiest one—tournaments, strategy training, match reviews, the whole deal. The Customizer class is more technical: mix-and-matching parts, medal compatibility, design theory. And Robotics teaches actual repair, core integration, AI tuning…"
"That sounds awesome," I said, mostly because it was awesome. In my world, we barely got kunai-throwing 101. These kids were learning mech engineering at 14.
Erica pointed to Ikki with a smirk. "Too bad Mr. 'I Bought Fifty Medabot Stickers and Now I'm Broke' here can't afford Robot Battle class."
"Hey!" Ikki pouted. "That sticker set was limited edition! And I'm still in Robotics!"
"Because it's free if your grade's high enough," Erica added.
"I work hard for those grades!"
"Sure, Ikki."
I chuckled. "So, no Robot Battle class, but you're still obsessed with Medabots?"
Ikki nodded fiercely. "One hundred percent. I study old matches, memorize part stats, read design forums—"
"—and somehow still didn't know who used Metabee before," I cut in with a sly grin.
Ikki blinked. "What do you mean?"
I pointed to the box in his arms. "That Metabee you got? It's not just some old junker from the storage room. That's the same model Hikaru used to win the national championship ten years ago."
He froze.
"W-wait. What?!"
"Yep. That's the Metabee Version 1. Probably not the exact unit, but it's the same design, medal class, and parts set. That's why Hikaru even had it lying around—nostalgia."
Ikki stared at the box like it had just turned into a golden trophy.
"I… I didn't know. I mean, I've watched matches from the last five years, but I never checked the classics. I thought it was just some rusty backup!"
"Shows what you get for ignoring history," Erica teased. "You might actually have a legend in that box."
"Metabee…" Ikki whispered dramatically, holding the box like it was a sacred relic. "We're gonna go places, buddy."
I chuckled. "Just take my advice: accept what you've got for now. Upgrade when you win matches or save up. Hikaru wouldn't have given it to you if he didn't think you could do something with it."
"Yeah…" Ikki nodded. "You're right."
"Oh wow," Erica said. "Did you just give Ikki Tenryou practical advice that didn't involve duct tape or delusion?"
"Hey!" Ikki shouted.
I grinned. "Guess I'm just a responsible adult now."
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"Alright, the moment of truth!" Ikki shouted dramatically in the middle of the park, crouched over his new Medabot like a mad scientist. "Behold, the resurrection of a legend!"
We were under a tree, next to a busted vending machine and two pigeons having an aggressive staring contest. The perfect place for a life-altering moment.
"Dude," I said, leaning against the tree, Arcbeetle standing beside me like a silent bodyguard. "You're just putting a medal in a robot. It's not surgery."
"It feels like surgery," Ikki muttered, tongue poking out the side of his mouth as he slotted the parts together. "Delicate… sacred… legendary…"
"Sacred my butt," Erica snorted, arms crossed. "That's a ten-year-old hunk of metal and a mystery medal you fished out of the riverbank."
"Shhh!" Ikki hissed. "Respect the moment!"
With a dramatic pause that was totally unnecessary, Ikki inserted the medal into Metabee's core slot.
Click.
For a second, nothing happened.
Then the body lit up with a golden glow.
"Uh…" I said. "That's… not standard."
"Definitely not," Erica murmured, eyes wide.
Metabee's eyes flickered to life. The glow faded to a low hum as the Medabot's limbs jerked, then stabilized. He stood up slowly, joints clicking, pistons adjusting, head turning side to side like someone waking up from a long nap.
Then he looked at Ikki.
And immediately scowled.
"Oh great," Metabee said, voice smooth but sharp. "What is this? Who are you?"
Ikki blinked. "I'm Ikki! Your—"
"If you say 'master,' I'm turning off my audio receptors."
Ikki froze. "Uh… partner?"
"Closer." Metabee dusted off his arms like he'd just rolled out of a dumpster. "But let's get one thing straight: I don't take orders. You're not some Pokémon trainer on a Saturday morning cartoon."
Erica burst out laughing. "Oh my god, your Medabot's got sass."
"Too much sass!" Ikki said, scandalized. "You're supposed to be my buddy! My ride-or-die battle bot!"
Metabee folded his arms. "Buddy? Buddy?! You picked me up off a riverbank, dude! That's not friendship, that's littering with extra steps."
I whistled low. "Wow. This guy's got more attitude than I did at age twelve."
"Thank you," Metabee said, nodding at me. "At least someone gets it. And you! With the beetle tank!" He pointed at Arcbeetle. "What's your deal?"
Arcbeetle stayed silent, then gave a short, electronic shrug.
"Oh, strong and silent. Classic. Respect."
Metabee turned back to Ikki. "Look, kid. I'm not saying I hate you. Yet. But you're gonna have to earn my respect, not just plug me in and expect instant loyalty. I'm not your sidekick."
"But—but we're supposed to battle together!"
"Yeah? Well, battle this!"
Before we could blink, Metabee turned and ran. Like, full sprint. Dust clouds, anime speed lines, the works.
"HEY!" Ikki yelled. "GET BACK HERE!"
"I'M A FREE BOT!" Metabee shouted over his shoulder. "I AIN'T JOINING NO POKÉMON JOURNEY!"
Erica was on the ground laughing. "Best. Robot. Ever."
I was trying not to laugh myself, because honestly, Ikki looked like someone had just canceled his birthday.
Ikki stared at the horizon. "Did… did my Medabot just… quit?"
"Yup," I said.
"On day one?"
"Technically minute five."
"I'M SUPPOSED TO BE A CHAMPION!"
Erica patted his shoulder. "You might want to start with 'robot wrangler' before we shoot for 'champion,' partner."
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Ikki looked like he was on the verge of tears. "He called me a wannabe Pikachu trainer!"
"And you want me to help catch him?"
"Yes! Naruto, please!" Ikki begged. "You have a top-tier Medabot! You have battle experience! And… and your hair is cool!"
"Flattery will get you everywhere," I smirked. I turned to Arcbeetle, who had been silently standing beside me like a crimson mech statue. "You up for some mischief control?"
Arcbeetle's red eyes glowed. "Define mischief."
"Rogue Medabot with the personality of a sarcastic burrito. Name's Metabee. He's currently causing a scene."
Arcbeetle's arms clicked as the cannons calibrated. "Mission accepted."
Erica whistled. "Dang. You just flipped his 'serious business' switch."
"Yeah," I said, cracking my knuckles. "Arcbeetle doesn't mess around when it's time to work."
Fifteen minutes later…
We found Metabee halfway up a jungle gym, yelling at a group of pigeons like a drunk philosopher.
"WHO GAVE HUMANS THE RIGHT TO INSTALL MEDALS?! WE DESERVE FREEDOM! EQUAL RIGHTS! ROBOT VOTING!"
A toddler nearby clapped. "Yay robot!"
Erica took out her phone and whispered, "I am so posting this."
I nodded at Arcbeetle. "Alright. He's not gonna come down easy. Let's do this."
Arcbeetle stepped forward, calm and cool as a ninja in sunglasses. "Target acquired. Engaging with minimal force."
"Wait, wait!" Ikki ran forward. "Don't break him!"
Arcbeetle nodded once. "Understood. Subdue with precision."
Metabee spotted us. "Oh look, it's the walking refrigerator and his pretty-boy pilot! You here to drag me back to that try-hard middle schooler?"
"Yup," I said. "Arcbeetle, show him why you don't sass a bot with tactical-grade ankle rockets."
Metabee jumped off the jungle gym, landed in a combat stance, and pointed both arm-cannons. "I am not going back! This is my revolution!"
"Then welcome to the resistance," Arcbeetle said flatly—and launched.
The next three minutes were pure anime chaos.
Arcbeetle zipped forward with jets on his feet, slid sideways like a skater, and fired a stun blast. Metabee cartwheeled out of the way, flipped over a bench, and yelled, "Parkour!"
They exchanged rapid fire—Arcbeetle with his precise three-barrel shots, Metabee with wild, sass-fueled blasts that nearly singed a hot dog stand.
"YOU CALL THAT AIMING?!" Metabee screamed.
"I call it mercy," Arcbeetle replied.
Metabee tried to charge his arm-cannons—only for Arcbeetle to zoom in, hook around a tree, and trip him with a leg sweep. The sassbot hit the grass.
"I surrender!" Metabee yelled dramatically. "But only because I need a systems reboot and not because I respect any of you!"
Arcbeetle pointed a barrel at his face. "Noted."
After the battle…
"Okay, okay," Ikki said, kneeling beside the pouting Metabee. "I get it. You're independent, you've got personality, and maybe I'm not the most impressive pilot. But I'm willing to earn your respect. Deal?"
Metabee squinted at him. "Will you stop calling me 'buddy' like we're in a children's cartoon?"
"…Deal," Ikki muttered.
"Fine." Metabee rolled his eyes. "I'll consider staying. But only if I get oil baths, weekly maintenance, and a cool hat."
Ikki blinked. "A hat?"
"I have fashion standards."
Erica was dying from laughter behind a tree.
I patted Arcbeetle's metal shoulder. "Good job. You didn't even fry him."
"He wasn't worth a full charge," Arcbeetle said flatly.
"I heard that!" Metabee yelled.
I just grinned.