Amestris Academy アメストリスアカデミー

Author's Note: So from now on, I'm just going to refer to Envy as "they" since it seems to be troublesome referring to Envy with he/her. I know that Envy has no preferable gender, but I just like the character and want to acknowledge Envy as a real person than being called an object/thing. Envy is just one of my favorite characters in FMA.

Thanks for the suggestion, ALCHEMYxFREAK and pocketyato.

Also, apologies for writing this so freaking long. College is killing me. Without further ado...

I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. All rights belong to the great Hiromu Arakawa!

Warning(s): Modern School AU, language, and OOCness.

Chapter Three: Shifting Views

Class 1-D

Winry sat patiently inside physiology class as she waits for the teacher, or doctor, to come in. The girl was actually the first person in the classroom, leaving her to her thoughts to pass the time.

Ever since as a kid, Winry's only source of reading was medical books from her mother and father's shelves. The entire Rockbell family was prominent in the medical field. Her mother was a nurse, and her father was a surgeon, taking after his mother who was also Winry's grandmother. Her grandmother now worked as a prosthetic doctor and Winry tend to admire her works.

"Speaking of which, I should check up with Ed." Winry thought as she instinctive went into her school bag and held her wrench hidden at the very bottom.

"Oh? Are we the only ones here?" Asked a cheery woman's voice from the class door. Winry turned around to see a tall girl with long, dark brown wavy hair tied into a styled low ponytail. She had an optimistic and peppy attitude, especially when she wears some showy accessories, like pearl earrings and necklace. "You look beautiful. What's your name?"

Her blunt question caused Winry to blush and stutter. "U-Um…Winry Rockbell."

"Even your name sounds pretty. Name's Rebecca Catalina. Second year, currently single, and trying to find a hunk of a man in my life. Sadly, most of these boys are just a bunch of sissies."

"Second year? So I would have to address you as my senior."

"Is that so? Well, I don't care on formalities. It just makes me feel older than I truly am." Rebecca laughed it off. The older girl took the liberty to take a seat next to Winry. Rebecca leaned herself on the desk and made eye contact with a pair of blue eyes. "Man, I wish I was pretty as you! I told myself that I would find a man in high school if it's the last thing I do."

"Well, I wouldn't say that I'm that pretty. I mean, you look like that rich woman in an old movie I saw as a kid."

Rebecca straightforwardly hugged Winry and fake cried at the young girl's compliment. "You're so sweet, Winry! I wish I was young again to appeal to these high school boys easily." Then Rebecca faltered. "Unfortunately, there's competition."

"Not to be rude, Rebecca," Winry interrupted, "but isn't it too early to find a guy on the first day."

"Not in my book!" Rebecca shouted. "Man! Why must the girls in the upper levels have that many admirers since they came to this school?!"

Winry rubbed Rebecca's back, consoling her silently.

"Sorry for my shameful personality. I'm unforgiving of a senior to you."

"N-No…it's okay."

"Anyways, what are you studying in this academy? I plan to open a business one day." Rebecca's eyes sparkled, imagining herself in a fluffy coat, owning a bar with some male servants as her slaves.

Winry ignored the dark brunette haired girl with a sinister look and answered her question. "I'm studying to become a doctor. My family's all about being in the medical field."

"Really now?" Rebecca fascinated. "What kind of position would you like?"

"Maybe a prosthetic doctor, since I watch my granny work in her house and make prosthetic limbs. Or a maternity doctor, since I can help mothers give birth to their children."

"You're so sweet as candy! I want to eat you up!" Rebecca squealed, earning Winry another one of the older girl's hugs.

The doors of the classroom opened, seizing Rebecca to coddle Winry further. The older girl's face turned dark when she knows the smell of an ashtray anywhere. Revealing from the entrance was a male with blond messy hair, wearing a black ninja hoodie under his blazer. Winry could faintly smell the smoke of cigarettes, reminding it of her grandmother when the elderly woman smokes on her pipe.

"Why are you in this class?" Rebecca glowered.

"You saying I can't be in my second class?" The male student bit back.

"Are you purposefully trying to annoy me everywhere I go?"

"Don't be stupid, Catalina. It's not my everyday mission to gall at you."

"And somehow, you always do it by just coming at my sight."

The male student growled, until his blue eyes diverted to Winry who was apprehensively watching the two argue in between her. "Sorry, miss. The two of us have a complicated relationship since we met as kids."

"Don't mind him, Winry! He's a jerk who can make women's hearts break." Rebecca cooed at the young girl.

"Shut up. I keep moving from places because of my dad's work." The male approached Winry, offered his hand where veins were visible. "The name's Jean Havoc. Third year."

"Winry Rockbell. First year." She shook his hand.

Rebecca took a good whiff at Jean. "You've been smoking again."

"I needed a relief."

"You'll die early."

"I'm still breathing. I'm living a good life, not a long life."

Feeling awkward about the two conflicted with each other, Winry was tempted to move away and sit somewhere else if she wasn't literally squeezed in between them.

Jean huffed at Rebecca, before taking something out from the gray backpack he carried. It was something boxlike shaped inside a pink wrapped plaid cloth tied at the top. "My dad made extra lunch, so he told me to give it to you."

Rebecca grunted and snatched the lunch box from Jean's hand. "Well, your dad's more of a gentleman than you'll be." Rebecca grew quiet and averted her eyes from Jean before finishing her sentence. "Thanks."

"Yeah, whatever." He took off to take a seat away from Rebecca.

Winry looked back and forth of those two who did seem to have a rocky friendship, almost like her and Edward. It's actually kind of nice.

Class 3-F

"Get the hell away from me, you freak of nature!" Envy hollered angrily as they avoided the teacher of Theatrics class.

"Oh, come now, dear. I'm simply measuring each of my students' waistline." Mr. Garfiel explained.

Envy, for once, was actually terrified of a teacher in this academy. One moment, everyone and Envy was introducing themselves to the teacher, and later, Mr. Garfiel asked everyone to stand up so that he can measure everyone's height and width as this year would require students to put on costumes for upcoming plays.

But what kind of teacher uses his own arms and hands for measurement than just using the usual ruler!?

Envy tried to avoid the man from pressing really close to some place that should never be contacted.

"What kind of teacher are you?!"

"A theatrics teacher, honey." Mr. Garfiel said, though that question wasn't meant to be taken seriously.

"I can report you for being facetious to a student!"

"Now that's just rude! This is just me being efficient! I've been in this school for a few years now! I was recommended by a friend from Rush Valley to teach here, and Principal Bradley hired me instantly!"

Envy blanched. "Damn him! Why couldn't his eyes see further that this was a mistake?!"

"Now hold still, honey!"

"I'm going to kill Bradley! And later, I'm going to kill Lust!"

In the middle school section of Amestris Academy, Alphonse was sitting in his second class, which was forensic psychology. Even though he's related to his brother and father who were both brilliant in academics, Alphonse tend to stray away from lessons that over complicate his brain. He was leaning on his desk that was next to the open windows, and his golden eyes focused on the board that his teacher is pointing to, but he stared off into space in a different reality.

"I wonder how brother and Winry are doing over there." Alphonse pondered. "Wonder when they'll get together for real?"

Alphonse kept a chuckle to himself as to not disturb the lesson. His attention drew away when something dropped on the floor beside him. It was a white eraser with a cover that had some sort of wrestler on it. Alphonse looked over beside him and saw a girl with light blonde hair where the ends were really curled, especially the one extension in the middle of her long separated bangs where it just curls a bit too much.

He bent down, trying not to attract attention from the teacher as he made a grab at the eraser on the floor. The girl noticed him, and then the eraser in his hand. She didn't notice that she had dropped her eraser with her paying attentively.

"Here you go." Alphonse whispered, handing the eraser to the girl.

She took it from him, showing him gratitude. "Thank you. Sorry for the trouble."

"It's alright. My name is Alphonse Elric. I don't think I've seen you in this school before."

"I've convinced my family to let me go to public school this year. My name is Catherine Armstrong."

"Welcome."

"Hey, you two! No talking!" The teacher ordered, putting Alphonse and Catherine to stop and look upfront.

When the teacher's back was turned, Catherine tore off a corner of paper from her pink notebook on her desk and used her mechanical pencil to write something quickly. She folded the paper and swiftly threw the paper to Alphonse's desk. He took it and read it. We should talk more during lunch.

Alphonse nodded at her in agreement.

Class 2-B

"Metaphysics is supposedly an investigation of how existence came to be. How are we alive right now? How does it feel to be alive? And I ask of you: what truly makes a human?"

After the whole fiasco of the intimidating nature of the unnamed substitute teacher, the lesson started with the scarred teacher telling the students to pay attention and take notes on what he says from the folder he holds on the podium. Edward heeded to his words carefully and wrote every single syllable in his notebook, which had some sort of crazy fiery pattern as a cover.

Beside him, Maria was keeping up in her small notepad which she kept in her hands since entering the classroom. She was still shaken up from the teacher. Alex was making note of everything in his notebook which has some sort of stamp on the cover, like only displaying a mustache and a curled forelock. Edward remembered from meeting Maria that Alex was in a well-known family.

"Armstrong, huh? I remember that name somewhere in the bastard's old journals, but what did I read from that?"

"You, boy." The teacher called over to Edward who was in thought. His golden eyes blinked when the class peered to him. "Since you seem to be intrigued by something else, why don't you answer my question?"

"Uh…" Edward grew sheepish of being put on the spot. Good thing he had a good memory to listen. "Well…if you were to consider our existence, humans are made up of three things: body, mind, and soul. Without a body, you can't move. Without a mind, you can't know. Without a soul, you can't feel. These aspects coexist with each other in which humans are created. Without one or two, we aren't complete. Though I can't say all of us are perfect. It's just how we are."

Everyone gaped at Edward's answer putting into terms of what a university scholar should speak like. Edward thanked himself in his mind for reading a lot before school. The scarred teacher was slightly impressed, but still didn't smile.

"Well said, boy. I expect all of you to prepare speaking up whenever I ask a question. If none of you answer, I will choose someone randomly. My brother wrote down for me that every student should participate if they want to pass this class."

Inwardly of some of the students' minds, they groaned to publicly speak. Edward was content with that, and so was Maria and Alex.

"With that out of the way, let's continue."

"Hey, Ed," Maria gained Edward's attention by tapping in his right arm, "are you some kind of child prodigy or something?"

Edward refrained to yell in class. "I'm not a child…! My…dad happens to collect a lot of archival journals and studies on philosophy. My younger brother and I would read them when he's away from home."

Maria didn't dig further to ask about his father when she saw Edward putting on a very deep scowl than the usual peeved look whenever he receives a comment of his size. Meanwhile, she was just wondering from when she touched Edward's arm. It seemed…out of place. It was somewhat…hard. The skin, she means. When she tapped him, the texture seemed like hard plastic. She just now noticed that he wears a white glove over his right hand only.

"Young girl! Are you paying attention?" The teacher yelled at Maria.

She flinched and answered. "Y-Yes!"

"Then can you refresh what I said earlier?"

"Eh…" Maria gulped in a nervousness. "I-I'm sorry, sir. I don't recall because I wasn't listening."

The teacher growled. "Since it's the first day, I'll let you off with a warning. You get deducted three points off your grade if you are not paying attention. If it happens again to any either of you, you'll face the same consequence until your grade is an F. Am I clear?"

"Y-Yes, sir!" Every students replied immediately.

"Let's continue with the lesson. As said before, metaphysics focus on the matter of creation. Cosmology and ontology are the two main cores that revolves the structure of the world and the beings. Cosmology is a branch that not only deals with the formation of the world, but also space and time. Ontology is a branch that…"

In the upper level just above the third numbered classes, therein lies the area where only administrators may enter: the staff room. In there…is a nightmare of stacked papers and the wafting smell of store bought coffee. Those who were not teaching a class or had to excuse themselves during class for a bit were always welcomed to the atmosphere where it smelled like someone who hasn't bathed in days.

As of now, the guidance counselor, Ms. Riza Hawkeye, stepped out of her office to file some things to give to her superiors. She was lucky to have her own office, otherwise she'd spent most of her time in a dumpster of a staff room. Especially if she was going to sit next to the teacher she has to assist in class 1-A.

"Pardon the intrusion." Riza spoke as she entered the staff room. Her eyes perceived inside the room. "Yep, a total mess."

"Hey, Ms. Hawkeye." Everyone who was in the room greeted.

"Hello, Riza." Riza heard the delighted voice of a familiar voice.

Her brown eyes pointed to the woman with golden russet colored short hair and green eyes, wearing a pink turtleneck and maroon long skirt. Riza smiles as she approached to the woman. "Mrs. Hughes."

The other woman giggled. "My, what did I tell you? Just call me Gracia."

Riza breathed out a laugh. "Sorry…Gracia. Are you looking for something?"

Gracia held up her cell phone to Riza. "I just wanted to check up on Elicia. The babysitter said she was eating now."

"That's good to know." Riza opinionated. "It's better to hear from her mother than her father."

That made Gracia sigh. "I swear, I wish my husband could tone down his doting and overprotectiveness. It was hard for him to leave the house when Elicia said bye-bye to us."

Riza gave her sympathy. "You hang in there. Meanwhile, I have to do some files."

Garcia grew surprised. "Oh? I didn't know some students would come to the guidance counselor on the very first day. Actually, this is your first day on the job, isn't it?"

"Yes. It's not relating to me, though. This is actually for Mr. Mustang. He's the type of man who procrastinates whenever he sees paperwork."

"Oh, dear." Gracia gave a shook of disappointment. "I understand your circumstances between you two from my husband, but this seems ridiculous if Roy is relying on you like some lapdog. Talk about a way to treat women."

Riza nodded her head full-heartedly.

"Excuse me." A jarring voice obtruded in the staff room. The staff looked over at the door and some immediately stood up from their stations once they saw Principal Bradley in all glory. The room grew from the smelly atmosphere to a spine chilling prison. The principal smiled at the stiffness and raised his hand. "Now, settle down everyone. I only came to discuss some matters today."

The staff jumbled up their stuff to try and look organized in front of Principal Bradley. Riza dares to approach forward and ask. "Forgive me, Principal Bradley, but…matters?"

"Ah, yes. I forgot you are new here, Ms. Hawkeye. When I come down here personally from my office, I have some important information to announce, whether it is beneficial or demeaning to this academy."

"Is that so? Then, carry on." Riza said, backing up and standing next to Gracia.

The principal coughed first, then spoke. "I have been informed from our student exchange program that there will be three new foreign exchange students attending in this academy. All three came from the eastern country that is Xing. Two will be attending in first year of high school, and one in third year of middle school. They will arrive tomorrow, and I expect them to be welcomed in this academy as each and every great individual student here is treated."

"Of course." Said everyone.

"Good. With that out of the way, I have two more announcements. First is discussing the matter of sights of violence and negligence around this academy. We are aware of what happened last year, correct?"

Riza remembered reading from a newspaper article. Last year in Amestris Academy, there was a school lockdown that lasted for the whole day when there was a sighting of a student creating and placing bombs in students' shoe lockers. The student got caught by the enforcers of the staff, including the principal, and he was sent to juvenile expulsion. Few students were injured and sent to the hospital to check their eyes, and luckily no serious harm was done. The incident merely left Riza shivering at the thought of a student who was psychotic enough to almost kill someone for the purpose of fun.

"I know that it still affects us, but we must remain diligent for the newer freshmen. Right now, I have been noting that this academy has been a target of sudden appearances from other schools' troublemakers and ruffians for the last two years."

A random teacher raised his hand for permission to speak. Principal Bradley let him. "Records show that there are a few students who refuse to attend class and/or disrespect some of academy's policies. Most notably, only two students have been pointed out as the most recognizable delinquents of this school."

Principal Bradley hummed and rubbed his chin. "I am aware of this, yes. It still fascinates me that there are a handful of students who go against learning. That's not good for the founder's quota."

"Then again," Riza interrupted, "since Amestris Academy has been ranked as number one in all schools in the country for being most advanced and studious, it's likely that there will be some 'protests' coming and going around in this institution. It's not always right to blame students who choose to live their own way. They decided to come here knowing well of the problems they created and face."

"I appreciate your thought, Ms. Hawkeye." Principal Bradley remarked. "Even though you've only joined with us today, it's admirable that your eyes are sharp and your mind is quick-witted to point out every single bits of an argument from both sides."

"Thank you." Riza humbly accepted the principal's words.

"I just had to get that out of the way. I only want all of you to know of the situation since we can't let the owner think that this school is undeserving and let the rates go down. Now for the final announcement, I would like to introduce all of you to a new teacher."

"Eh?"

Ring! Ring! Ring!

"My, is it already the end of class?" Dr. Marcoh commented whimsically while he was teaching on how the human body functions on the chalkboard. "Well then, I suppose I should give each of you an assignment. Just give me a summary on what you know much of physiology. It doesn't have to be correct or precise. I only ask on your experiences and memories if you have at least heard of this subject. That will be all."

Winry smiled knowing she got through her second class very well. Her eyes were glued to the board and her ears perked up in memorizing what Dr. Marcoh instructed. Even though it's only the beginning stage, Winry felt like she learned a lot from just learning about homeostasis and the different types of systems in the human body.

Seeing Winry intrigued, Rebecca smiled and called out to her. "I take it that you enjoyed this lesson to full extent?"

Winry nodded. "It's no wonder my mom and dad always get hung up about their first day in medical school. It's pretty cool!"

"Glad you like it! Say, you mind if we hang out during lunch?" Rebecca offered with a wink.

"Eh? Well…I have a friend I promised to eat lunch with."

"Then the three of us will eat together! The more, the merrier!"

"O-Okay!"

"Don't be so pushy, Catalina." Jean reprimanded as he was about to leave. "You might scare her off."

Rebecca stuck her tongue out at him like a typical five year old kid would do in a small bicker. "Shut up. Winry loves me! And like you don't scare women off with your smoky cologne? Seriously, do you ever do laundry?"

Jean growled at her. "Hey! I told you I have reasons of ladies leaving me, and it doesn't involve smoking!"

"Oh, really? What about back in middle school with Marianne?"

Jean blushed in embarrassment. "I didn't know she had a high olfactory system! Not to mention a high gag reflex…"

"And you see my point~" Rebecca sung pridefully.

"Why did you have to mention that?!"

"Because it's fun to see you falter!"

Winry smiled nervously before leaving Jean and Rebecca to their usual chat. "Next is Anatomy with…Dr. Knox…in 3-E."

Envy was streaming tears as to what they suffered in Theatrics. Pretty sure everyone was feeling what Envy was feeling; violated. Everyone of them looked like stiff zombies slowly moving out of the classroom as if something was shoved inside of them.

"I, Envy, am humiliated…"

Envy looked back from last night when they were debating on wearing a skirt or pants on the first day. They regret choosing a skirt now that there were more goosebumps than ever on their legs.

"Should I just declare myself to one gender starting now…?"

Envy blew over their hair in aggravating exhaustion as they head for their next class on the other side of the third floor. 3-C, Foreign Studies.

"Ugh! Finally! We're free!" Edward groaned, getting out of class 2-B alongside with Maria and Alex.

"I don't think I can take another day with him again." Maria cried, still recovering from her misfortune of being called on so suddenly without giving a proper answer.

"I say, Scar is a rather rude substitute teacher." Alex opinionated, his expression not really showing much fear.

Edward and Maria gave the giant man a bewildered look. "Scar?" They both questioned incredulously.

"If he refuses to share his name to his students, then I will give him a nickname. It is fitting, no?"

Even though it's a bit obvious that it's too simple and corny, that nickname does suit the brown skinned man who has nothing better to do than scold a lot. Edward and Maria just shrugged it off.

"Well…word will spread." Edward grumbled. "After all…I'm called an 'ill-mannered runt'…"

"Hey, Maria!"

All three turned when they heard Maria's last name being called out next door. It was a boy, same height as Maria, and had flaxen colored hair. He almost resembles to Edward with the similar separated bangs, but this student had medium length hair. His eyes were a grayish green. He wore his uniform more appropriately as any other typical student.

Maria recognized him. "Denny!" The guy came over in front of Maria. "I haven't seen you in the opening ceremony. Where were you?"

Denny chuckled sheepishly. "Haha…well, I overslept."

Maria flicked her friend in the forehead. "What kind of person oversleeps on the first day of high school? For shame!"

Edward reverted his eyes away from them, with Alex catching a glimpse at the small boy who was anxiously whistling a tune while his small hair twitched in contemplation by Maria's question.

"I had to look after my younger siblings, okay? You know how rambunctious and energetic they are. It was hard getting them down to sleep!" Denny whined.

Maria sighed. "Set some boundaries with them. Never mind that, Denny, this is Alex Armstrong, the friend I've talked about before." Maria gestured Alex who greeted by taking off his shirt and pose, causing the three around him to back away. Maria then gestured to Edward. "This is Edward Elric. He's in the same grade as you."

"Nice to meet you two." Denny happily greeted. "I'm Denny Brosh. Hey, Maria, where are you headed?"

Maria took out her schedule paper. "Next…I'm heading to gym class with Rosé Thomas. Later on is government politics with Mr. Mustang, and the last class for me is home economics with Mrs. Hughes."

Denny pouted. "Aw…I thought we would have some classes together. I'm heading to religion in class 1-C with Mr. Cornello."

"Welp," Edward interrupted, "I'm headed to history with Hughes over in there."

"At least he's not that bad." Denny said. "He's really nice."

"Yeah, but he's a bit childish for an adult. You seen the way he cherishes his daughter and wife."

Everyone can agree on that.

"But even so, I owe him a lot." Edward grinned. "Now, I will make through this day without any further troubles or scares!"

He declared so loudly in the hallway that a teacher walking by heard him clearly.

"Oh, my! Is that so, my valuable student?"

Edward froze as he immediately recognized a woman's voice coming from behind him. "Don't let it be true…don't let it be her…"

"Hello, Ed." Greeted a woman with black cornrows tied up into a ponytail. Her smile appeared innocent, but her voice spoke maliciousness, especially towards Edward who was very afraid right now.

"T-Teacher?!"

"Please to meet you everyone. My name is Izumi Curtis. And I am the new teacher for class 2-G. Please treat me well, and I will treat you the same."

2-G. Moral Philosophy. That was one of Edward's classes.

"I can't wait to see you, Edward…" Izumi smiled, walking closer to the shaken up blonde so she can whisper something in his ear. "…so I can kill you later."

Edward shrunken down, the three students behind him not noticing his behavior nor his body frozen in place. They just thought that the new teacher for moral philosophy was really nice and pretty. Oh, they don't know…

"Help me, Al!" Edward cried telepathically to his brother.

"Achoo!"

"Oh, tissue Alphonse?" Catherine offered sweetly a packet of tissue to Alphonse who became her new friend.

Alphonse thankfully accepted the tissue. He blew into it. "Sorry, Catherine. I don't know why I get these sudden sneezes."

"Oh, I've heard about this scenario from my one of my older sisters! The reason you are sneezing is because someone is talking about you!" Catharine informed excitedly, emitting bright sparkles which confused Alphonse of this unnatural occurrence.

He merely laughed it off. "That seems far fetched, if you ask me."

"Yeah, That may be true. I tried to call my eldest sister's name on numerous occasions, and yet when I asked her how her day was, she just said it was normal! And she lives far up in the cold north!" Catherine bantered.

"I can't wait to meet your older siblings eventually."

"You'll love them. Especially my brother, Alex! He loves hugs!"

"Hugs?"

Catherine didn't say anything else, and left Alphonse a bit weirded out. But not anymore once he began sneezing again. "Why am I sneezing so suddenly?"