Ethan sat stiffly in an uncomfortable chair outside the administration office, her hands folded in her lap to hide their trembling. Her bra was pinching uncomfortably beneath her uniform blouse—she still couldn't figure out how to wear the thing properly, but she'd made a determined effort this morning to appear as appropriate and put-together as possible. The teleportation incident with Kira had triggered exactly the kind of institutional response she'd been dreading since her arrival at Whateley. Three days of relative calm—of small but meaningful progress in her control sessions—had lulled her into a false sense of security. Now she was facing the consequences.

"They're ready for you," the administrative assistant announced, not unkindly.

Ethan stood, smoothing her skirt in what had become an unconscious habit, and entered the meeting room.

The space was set up like a small conference room, with a polished wooden table surrounded by several chairs. Professor Reynard was already seated, her silver-streaked hair pulled back in its usual practical bun. Dr. Aguilar sat beside her, offering Ethan a reassuring nod as she entered. Chief Delarose occupied a seat near the head of the table, his security uniform crisp and his expression professionally neutral.

At the head of the table sat a woman Ethan had seen only from a distance before—Headmistress Elizabeth Carson, whose elegant bearing and carefully styled blonde hair belied the legendary power she was rumored to possess. Unlike the others, who regarded Ethan with expressions ranging from concern to professional detachment, the Headmistress studied her with piercing blue eyes that seemed to assess and evaluate on multiple levels simultaneously.

"Please, take a seat, Ms. Anderson," Headmistress Carson said, gesturing to the empty chair directly across from her.

Ethan sat down, extremely conscious of all eyes on her.

"I understand there was another teleportation incident during your specialized control class," the Headmistress began, her tone measured. "Can you explain what happened, in your own words?"

Ethan recounted the events as objectively as possible—the successful teleportation of the wooden cube, Kane's threatening appearance at the window, the disruption to her concentration, and Kira's unexpected arrival.

"The stress from seeing Kane, combined with Kira entering the room... it was too much. I lost control of the energy I was channeling," she concluded.

Chief Delarose leaned forward. "We have some concerns about the scope of your abilities, Ms. Anderson. Your incident with Mr. Harding already demonstrated you could teleport another person, but now we've seen you can affect multiple individuals simultaneously. We have no way of knowing how many people or objects you might teleport at once." He consulted a note in front of him. "Furthermore, the pattern of clothing transport remains inconsistent—sometimes with the individual, sometimes left behind. You require extensive testing as soon as possible to determine these parameters. The security implications are significant."

"I understand," Ethan replied, her voice small.

"The standard protocol for students with potentially hazardous uncontrolled abilities is isolation until sufficient control is established," Chief Delarose continued. "This typically means confinement to your room with remote class participation, or in more severe cases, transfer to Hawthorne Cottage where specialized containment is available."

The thought of being confined to her room indefinitely, or worse, transferred to the facility for students with the most dangerous or debilitating powers, sent a wave of panic through Ethan.

"I'm making progress," she insisted, looking toward Professor Reynard for support. "Before Kane showed up, I had successfully teleported the moving object exactly where I wanted it. I'm learning the techniques—I just need more time to apply them under stress."

Professor Reynard nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Ms. Anderson is correct. She has shown measurable improvement in her control sessions. The incident occurred during an exercise specifically designed to test her limits by adding distractions and complexity."

"And how many more students might be involuntarily teleported during these 'tests'?" Headmistress Carson asked, her voice calm but penetrating.

"With respect, Headmistress," Dr. Aguilar interjected, "complete isolation could be counterproductive in this case. Ms. Anderson's abilities appear to respond to emotional triggers and social stimuli. Removing her from normal interaction might temporarily prevent incidents but would likely hinder her development of real-world control strategies."

A moment of silence followed as Headmistress Carson considered this perspective, her fingers lightly tapping the table.

"What would you suggest instead, Dr. Aguilar?" she finally asked.

"A modified schedule with supervised integration," Dr. Aguilar replied promptly. "Reduced class hours to minimize stress exposure, paired with a student attendant trained to recognize pre-teleportation signs and assist if an incident occurs."

Chief Delarose frowned. "An attendant couldn't prevent a teleportation."

"No," Professor Reynard agreed, "but they could alert staff and assist any affected bystanders. It would provide a safety net while still allowing Ms. Anderson to develop practical control in real environments."

Another silence fell as Headmistress Carson considered their points, her gaze never leaving Ethan's face.

"Very well," she said at last. "Ms. Anderson, we will implement a modified approach. You will attend half-days of classes, with the remainder of your studies conducted remotely. You will be assigned a senior student attendant with abilities suitable for managing potential incidents. They will accompany you during all in-person classes and campus activities."

Relief washed through Ethan, quickly followed by a new anxiety about the constant monitoring.

"However," the Headmistress continued, her tone firming, "let me be absolutely clear: this is a provisional arrangement. If we don't see consistent improvement, or if another serious incident occurs, we will have no choice but to implement full isolation protocols or transfer you to Hawthorne. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Headmistress," Ethan replied quickly. "Thank you for the opportunity."

"Your new schedule will be provided this afternoon, and you'll meet your attendant tomorrow morning," Chief Delarose added. "Until then, you're excused from classes."

As Ethan left the meeting, the mixture of relief and renewed pressure left her feeling oddly hollow. She'd avoided immediate isolation, but the threat remained, hanging over her like the sword of Damocles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jordan, Emiko, and Jasper were waiting for her in one of Melville Cottage's small study lounges. As Ethan approached, their conversation halted, three pairs of eyes turning to her expectantly.

"Not expelled," Ethan announced, dropping into an armchair. "But close."

"What happened?" Jordan asked, leaning forward with concern evident in his expression.

Ethan explained the meeting's outcome—the reduced schedule, the assigned attendant, and the conditional nature of the arrangement.

"That's actually better than I expected," Jasper said, his usual energetic demeanor subdued. "After you teleported another student, I thought they might go straight to Hawthorne."

"I think Professor Reynard and Dr. Aguilar advocated for me," Ethan replied. "But it's clearly my last chance."

"How are you feeling about it?" Emiko asked, her serene gaze studying Ethan with genuine concern.

Ethan sighed, sinking deeper into the armchair. "Honestly? Relieved and terrified at the same time. I avoided the worst outcome, but now there's even more pressure to get this under control."

"The attendant thing is a bit much," Jasper commented, leaning back in his chair. "Like having a parole officer following you around."

"It's standard procedure," Emiko noted. "Remember when Zack Neumann kept accidentally turning things to glass? They assigned him an attendant for almost a semester."

"What happened to him?" Ethan asked, momentarily distracted.

"He's fine now," Jasper replied with a dismissive wave. "Got control eventually, transferred to the Advanced Materials program. The point is, this isn't forever."

Jordan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, finally spoke up. "Has anyone heard anything about Rex's condition? After what happened in the cafeteria?"

"Physically fine, but his ego took a serious hit," Jasper said with a slight smirk. "Being found wandering the tunnels half-dressed didn't exactly enhance his reputation."

"That's not funny," Ethan said, though she couldn't entirely suppress a small smile. "He doesn't deserve that, even if he was being a jerk."

"Speaking of jerks," Jasper continued, "Kane hasn't bothered you again, has he?"

Ethan shook her head. "Not directly, but he was at the window during my control class. That's part of what triggered the incident."

"You need to report him," Emiko said firmly. "Intimidation isn't tolerated here, especially when it interferes with power control."

"I did mention it in the meeting," Ethan said. "Chief Delarose made a note of it."

Jordan adjusted his glasses, his expression shifting to one of intense concentration. "Maybe we're approaching this all wrong," he said. "We've been focusing on helping you control these powers, but perhaps we should be putting more energy into finding a way to reverse the transformation completely."

"That's been the goal all along," Ethan reminded him, a familiar frustration creeping into her voice.

"Yes, but I mean making it our primary focus now," Jordan clarified. "Instead of just managing symptoms, we address the root cause. The quantum personality overlay theory suggests your warping abilities are directly connected to your transformed state. If we could find a way to revert you to your original form, the teleportation issues might resolve automatically."

"That makes a certain logical sense," Emiko said thoughtfully, her serene demeanor a counterpoint to Jordan's intensity. "Though I would suggest that learning control remains valuable regardless of the ultimate outcome. Skills developed now might be crucial during any reversal process."

The conversation lulled for a moment as they considered the possibilities.

"So, beyond the drama," Jasper said, breaking the contemplative silence, "how's the martial arts training going? I noticed you're moving differently in combat class."

Ethan hesitated, uncertain how much to share about her sessions with Kira. "It's... coming along. I'm starting to understand the movements better, not just executing them automatically."

"That's progress," Emiko noted with an encouraging smile. "Integration is often the first step toward true mastery."

"And what about your other classes?" Jordan asked. "The ones that will continue with your reduced schedule?"

"Powers Theory and Warper Control will definitely continue," Ethan replied. "I'm not sure about the others yet. I'll get my new schedule this afternoon."

Their conversation drifted to more normal school topics—challenging assignments, eccentric teachers, campus gossip—and for a brief time, Ethan felt almost like a regular student. These moments of normalcy had become precious, little islands of calm in the stormy sea her life had become.

"Oh, before I forget," Jordan said, reaching into his backpack. "I made you these." He handed Ethan a small cloth pouch.

Inside, she found three small metal devices, each about the size of a quarter.

"Emergency beacons," he explained. "If your teleportation energy starts building and you can't control it, press one. It emits a subsonic pulse that might help disrupt the energy pattern. Completely experimental, but worth a try."

"When did you have time to make these?" Ethan asked, examining one of the devices.

Jordan shrugged, looking slightly embarrassed. "I've been spending some time in the Devisor labs. It helps to have a project to focus on."

"Thank you," Ethan said, genuinely touched by the gesture.

"Speaking of time," Jasper said, checking his watch, "I've got combat class in ten minutes." He stood, giving Ethan's shoulder a supportive squeeze. "Hang in there. This is just temporary."

As the group dispersed, Ethan realized she had the rest of the day to herself—a strange luxury born of unfortunate circumstances. With her friends in class and no immediate obligations, she decided to take advantage of the crisp autumn weather and spend some time outdoors.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The campus was quieter than usual as Ethan made her way to one of the garden areas. The morning classes were still in session, and most students were indoors. She found a secluded bench beneath a large oak tree, enjoying the sensation of dappled sunlight through the leaves.

In the distance, she noticed a staff member moving between flagpoles, raising bright red flags. The sight triggered her memory of the orientation briefing—Red Flag Days were when non-mutant visitors came to campus, requiring students to maintain a higher level of discretion with their powers and appearances.

Ethan watched with interest as the campus subtly transformed over the next hour. Students emerging from classes moved differently, more consciously. Powers that would normally be used casually—telekinesis to carry books, elemental abilities to adjust personal comfort—were conspicuously absent. Those with more obvious physical mutations either stayed indoors or made efforts to conceal their differences.

She caught glimpses of staff members conducting final checks—ensuring signage was appropriate, directing certain students to alternative routes, and generally preparing for outside scrutiny. It was a fascinatingly coordinated effort that spoke to the complexity of maintaining Whateley's precarious position between the mutant and normal worlds.

By early afternoon, the first tour groups began to appear—academic advisors leading prospective students and their families through the manicured grounds. Most groups kept to predetermined routes, viewing only certain buildings and spaces clearly deemed "visitor-appropriate."

Ethan found it unexpectedly educational to observe the careful choreography. Everything was designed to present Whateley as prestigious but ultimately conventional—just another elite private school with some specialized programs. The reality of experimental labs, power testing facilities, and combat training arenas remained carefully hidden from view.

One particular tour group caught her attention—a family with a teenage girl who kept breaking formation to stare at campus features with barely contained excitement. Unlike the other prospective students who maintained polite interest, this girl seemed to vibrate with enthusiasm, her stylized outfit suggesting a serious interest in Japanese fashion and culture.

The family that had caught her attention earlier was approaching her section of the garden now, following a Whateley staff member who gestured enthusiastically toward various campus features. The teenage girl, dressed in a stylized outfit that suggested a serious interest in Japanese fashion, kept stealing glances at Ethan while pretending to listen to the tour guide.

Eventually, when the guide paused to answer a question from the parents, the girl seized her opportunity. She broke away from the group and hurried toward Ethan's bench, her eyes wide with excitement.

"Oh my god, you look exactly like female-form Ranma!" she exclaimed without preamble, her voice carrying a slight accent. "The vermillion hair, those sapphire blue eyes—it's uncanny! Are those your natural features or are you wearing contacts and a wig?"

Ethan blinked in confusion. "I'm sorry?"

"You look just like Ranma Saotome's female form," the girl clarified, gesturing enthusiastically to Ethan's appearance. "It's incredible! I know you're wearing the school uniform—obviously, everyone here is—but your face, your build, even your posture! It's like the character stepped right out of the anime and enrolled at Whateley!"

Understanding dawned on Ethan. This girl thought her natural appearance was somehow deliberately crafted to resemble the anime character she now resembled—the same character Jordan's machine had used as a template for her transformation. The irony was almost painful.

"Oh, um, thank you," Ethan managed, unsure how to respond. "The eyes and hair are... natural."

"Amazing!" The girl clasped her hands together in delight. "I'm Miyuki Tanaka, by the way. My family is touring Whateley because I might transfer here next term. I've been studying everything about the academy for months!"

"I'm Ethan," she replied, then immediately wondered if she should have used a different name.

If Miyuki found "Ethan" unusual for a girl, she didn't show it. "Have you been here long? What's your power classification? I'm hoping mine stabilizes soon—the tests show early indicators of exemplar traits with possible esper overlay."

"I'm... still figuring out my exact classification," Ethan said carefully. "I've only been here a few weeks."

"Do you practice martial arts too?" Miyuki asked eagerly. "Like in the series? I've studied kempo for six years trying to capture some of that fighting spirit."

The question hit unexpectedly close to home. "I've been working on some techniques," Ethan admitted. "It helps with... understanding certain aspects of myself."

"That's exactly what a true Ranma fan would say!" Miyuki beamed. "The martial arts in the series aren't just about fighting—they're about identity and self-mastery. That's what makes it such a groundbreaking work."

Miyuki continued with increasing enthusiasm, "The gender-fluidity themes were revolutionary for their time, too. Exploring identity through transformation—it was ahead of its curve! Have you read the original manga? The anime adaptation changed so many nuances."

Before Ethan realized it, she was engaged in an increasingly elaborate conversation about character development, identity themes, and martial philosophy—topics she knew just enough about from her friendship with Jordan and her own recent experiences to maintain the façade. With each question, her responses grew more thoughtful, drawing unexpected parallels between the fictional character's journey and her own struggles.

"The way Ranma navigates between forms, never quite belonging fully to either world but finding strength in the duality—that's what resonates with so many fans," Miyuki said, her expression turning serious. "It's about finding yourself when everything physical about you is in flux."

"I never thought about it that way," Ethan replied honestly, struck by the unexpected insight. "There's something powerful about embracing the change instead of just fighting against it."

"Exactly!" Miyuki's eyes lit up at finding such an apparently like-minded enthusiast. "What kind of powers do you have? Do they complement the whole Ranma aesthetic? Please tell me you can do some kind of ki manipulation or something equally cool."

"It's complicated," Ethan hedged. "Still developing. What about you? You mentioned exemplar traits?"

"Early indicators only," Miyuki sighed. "Nothing definitive yet. My parents are baseline normal, but my maternal grandmother had minor telekinetic abilities. The genetic markers suggest I might manifest soon, which is why we're touring Whateley now instead of waiting."

"It can be a lot to adjust to," Ethan said, feeling an unexpected surge of protective concern for this enthusiastic girl. "When powers first manifest, I mean."

Miyuki leaned closer, lowering her voice. "Is it true there are actual combat classes here? And people with, like, really extreme mutations? The promotional materials are so sanitized."

"There's more to Whateley than what they show on Red Flag Days," Ethan confirmed carefully.

"I knew it!" Miyuki said triumphantly. "Mom keeps saying it's just an 'academically rigorous private school with specialized programs for gifted students,' but I could tell there was more. Is it true that—"

"Miyuki! We're continuing the tour!" her father called from where the rest of the group had gathered near a faculty building.

The girl looked disappointed but nodded. "I have to go. But maybe I'll see you when I enroll! I'm still waiting for my application results." She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "And maybe by then my abilities will be active enough to actually do something cool."

"Good luck," Ethan replied, feeling an unexpected pang of sympathy for the eager girl. How would she react if her own transformation was as sudden and unwanted as Ethan's had been?

"Thanks! And seriously, your Ranma-look is incredible—you must have won every cosplay contest you've ever entered!" Miyuki called as she hurried back to her family. "It's like you were born to be that character!"

The unintentional irony of her parting words wasn't lost on Ethan. She sat watching as the tour group continued on their way, contemplating the strange reversal of perspective the encounter had provided. For the first time since her transformation, someone had viewed her appearance as an achievement rather than a problem.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The sun was lowering toward the horizon when Ethan finally decided to return to her dorm. The campus had quieted, most tour groups having departed and students beginning to filter toward Crystal Hall for dinner. As she crossed the main quad, a familiar figure approached from the direction of the library—Kira, carrying a stack of books and looking unusually thoughtful.

Their eyes met, and for a moment both hesitated, the memory of their forced intimacy in the forest hanging between them.

"Hey," Kira said finally, shifting her books to one arm.

"Hey," Ethan replied, equally awkward. "Those look heavy."

Kira glanced down at her stack of books as if just remembering she was carrying them. "Research project for Powers Theory."

An uncomfortable silence fell between them, stretching until Kira broke it with unexpected directness.

"I heard they gave you some kind of restrictions," she said, nodding toward the administration building. "What did they finally decide?"

"Modified schedule and an assigned attendant," Ethan explained. "Half-days of classes with someone watching over me to make sure I don't accidentally teleport anyone else. Better than being confined to my room, at least."

Kira nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Could have been worse," she observed. "They sent Alec Thornhill to Hawthorne for less."

"That's what Jasper said."

Kira's eyes narrowed slightly. "Who do you think they'll assign as your attendant? Probably a senior with some kind of defensive ability."

"They didn't say," Ethan replied. "I'll find out tomorrow morning."

Another silence fell, less tense but still weighted with unspoken thoughts. Kira shifted her weight from one foot to the other, seemingly uncertain whether to continue the conversation or move on.

"I saw you talking to one of the prospective students earlier," Kira said suddenly. "The girl in the elaborate outfit with all the anime accessories."

"You saw that?" Ethan asked, surprised.

"I was heading to the library. You two were hard to miss—she was practically bouncing with excitement."

Ethan smiled slightly at the description. "She thought I looked like an anime character. The same one my form is based on, actually."

Kira's lips quirked in a small, genuine smile. "So she thought you were naturally gifted with perfect anime features? That's actually kind of funny."

"I guess it is," Ethan agreed, finding herself returning the smile. "In a cosmic joke sort of way. She went on about how my 'cosplay' must win all the competitions."

The moment of shared amusement created a bridge between them, fragile but real. Kira shifted her books again, seemingly uncertain how to proceed.

"She's in for a shock if she does enroll here," Kira commented. "Whateley's not exactly the magical anime school experience she seems to be expecting."

"I don't know," Ethan replied thoughtfully. "Magical transformations, superpowers, mysterious underground facilities, intense training sequences... it's not that far off from some anime plots."

Kira gave a short laugh—a sound Ethan realized she'd never heard before. "When you put it that way, maybe we are living in some weird supernatural school story."

"Complete with the mysterious loner character who gradually reveals a hidden heart of gold," Ethan said without thinking, then immediately regretted the teasing words.

To her surprise, Kira didn't bristle. Instead, her cheeks colored slightly, and her ears twitched once—a telltale sign of her shapeshifting abilities responding to emotional stimuli.

"Very funny," she muttered, but without her usual venom. "If this is an anime, you're definitely the clueless protagonist who keeps getting into trouble through no fault of their own."

"Sounds about right," Ethan acknowledged with a rueful smile.

"Are we still on for combat practice?" she asked, surprised by her own initiative. "I mean, with everything that's happened..."

"If you still want to," Kira replied, a hint of her usual defensiveness returning, though not as sharp as before. "Maybe tomorrow after your half-day is done?"

"That works."

As they prepared to part ways, Kira hesitated. "For what it's worth," she said, not quite meeting Ethan's eyes, "it wasn't your fault. The teleporting thing. Kane shouldn't have been threatening you, and I shouldn't have barged in during a control exercise."

The admission—so close to an apology—caught Ethan off guard. "Thanks," she said. "It means a lot to hear you say that."

Kira nodded once, already turning away. "See you tomorrow. Try not to teleport anyone else before then."

Though the words were characteristic of her usual sarcasm, the tone lacked its former bite. As Ethan watched her walk away, she reflected on how quickly and unexpectedly their relationship had evolved—from open antagonism to something far more complex. She couldn't name what was developing between them, but she no longer dreaded their interactions.

As the sun set over Whateley's distinctive skyline, Ethan headed back to her room to review the modified schedule that had been sent to her email. Her classes had been strategically reduced and rearranged, with control-focused sessions taking priority over more academic subjects. At the bottom was a note indicating she would meet her assigned attendant, a senior named Vanessa Lin, at breakfast tomorrow morning.

Ethan closed her laptop and sat on the edge of her bed, reflecting on the day's events. The meeting with administration had been stressful but ultimately manageable. Her friends remained supportive despite the complications her powers presented. Even Kira seemed to be evolving from antagonist to something more complex—not quite a friend, but no longer an enemy.

The encounter with Miyuki had been particularly thought-provoking. There was something oddly encouraging about being admired for the very features that had caused her so much distress. It didn't change her desire to return to her original form, but it did suggest there might be ways to navigate her current existence with less friction in the meantime.

Tomorrow would bring new challenges: reduced classes, constant supervision, ongoing power control issues. But for now, Ethan had survived another day at Whateley, each one bringing small insights and incremental progress. It wasn't the life she'd wanted, but it was the one she was learning to navigate.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End of Chapter 07

Hey All, just a note. If you see a problem in my story? Like continuity issue or otherwise? Feel free to message/notify me. I'm just a one person show after all. I miss stuffs. And I thank EVERYONE who has been helping me catch things!!!

Hey All!

SO, this is 2 big things for me.

My First attempt at the wonderful Whateley Academy Universe!
AND
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