Arietta Hakushiro's Story

NOTICE: This has been removed by the GM: Tales of the Wraith FOR: Unauthorized Posting. I WILL however use this as space, instead of killing our word count.

Akira rubbed her eyes with a long extended yawn. She got mistook for a boy her Freshman year and has been playing the role since. Now a Sophomore, she had another year of carefully keeping her secret, or suffering severe consequences.
She began tugging at her jacket unhappily, though the silver lining was that it kept her warm. Today was still pretty cold, not exactly sweater weather, but definitely not summer. She hated the beginning of Spring. It was still too cold to go outside. Though on the downside, she really didn't enjoy the fit of her uniform. It was baggy in all the right places to make her look even more like a male! She didn't care so much, but this made it progressively harder to get a boyfriend. She was a tomboy, but even she wanted a prom date.. Bright side! Yes, think on the bright side Akira.. at least you can join the boy's teams now. The girl teams in Britain were too easy. She enjoyed playing on the boy teams last year, even though it was tricky business. Keeping her gender a secret was NOT a cakewalk. How did I even get mistaken for a boy!? ..Well.. Her angry thoughts wavered, understanding that her short hair and anti-feminine clothes might have made her look like a teen boy who had yet to be graced by puberty. Her choice of clothing the day she took her Student ID picture didn't help in the slightest, but she decided it may make for an interesting saga of her life, especially since her chances of high school romance were next to none. It would at least stir up some controversy if anyone found out.

She let her mind wander to sports, seeing as her true gender was a bridge she'd cross when she got to it. Until anyone found out, she didn't have to worry about it. Sports.. Speaking of that...what sport am I going to try out for this year? Track maybe, or perhaps basketball. Then reality set in, she didn't actually know the rules to Soccer... she'd have to learn the game if she wanted to play that sport. She didn't really like learning new games, it was pretty boring at first, not to mention she might not make the team. Basketball it is then...

She looked up to see she was at the main gate, running for the school building excitedly. This was the first day of a new year, it was okay to be excited right? New grade, New teachers, new people, new everything. This year had to be perfect.. She was pretty awkward the year before. Most people just knew her as "The new guy from Europe." Akira walked into the building, shutting the main door behind her. Then she began to ponder on the Sophomore and Freshman pairings. She wondered if she would get a cool kid to show around, or one of those geeky-book worms? Either way, they'd best be able to keep up, cause she wasn't one to walk slow... Though the bonus points definitely had her perked up. She needed all the points she could get in math. 200 starting points definitely would smooth things over...for a while. Maybe by then she could get a tutor.

Where was I supposed to help out again..? Then she remembered, instantly running off to the hall, skidding to a stop to open the door, opening it slowly, "Is there anything left for me to help with?! I had to make sure that my grandmother was okay before I left."

She ran a hand through her hair, trying to fix it, slightly beat from running from her house to school. She felt pretty pathetic, because this was only the beginning of her exercise! She still had a junior to show around.. Hopefully she got one that wasn't too disagreeable. More importantly, she'd have to do a lot better if she wanted to join the sports teams as a boy. Taking care of grandma must have thrown off her training routine and whatnot. Gotta work harder

"You can clean the floors. Grab a broom. Most Sophomores haven't shown up yet. Relax~" said Mr. Fujima, winking at Akira, even though she was clearly male...at least to the uninformed eye. Though she doubted anyone had spies tracking her previous life in Britain. She trudged over and grabbed a broom, frowning a bit, "Really...this is how the year starts? How laaaame..."

Himeko woke up early, but why wouldn't she? Most of the night she stared at the ceiling. If looks could kill, she would have bore a large hole into the bedroom ceiling, deep enough to see the night sky from her bed. She was nervous, but she had a right to be. Ever since the 6th grade Himeko was allowed to have her retainer and best friend, Kazuhiko, present during her classes. However, the Principal to her new school has deemed his presence inappropriate and unnecessary. If she wanted to quote the woman directly, her exact words were; "I realize that being separated from your...servant?... It inconveniences you, and makes you feel uncomfortable, but that's more reason to separate you now. He is a crutch that is to be quite frank, becoming a hindrance as far as your social growth is concerned. I forbid his presence on our campus during educational hours. If I catch him on the grounds between eight and three, he will be arrested. If I catch him on school property after eight in the afternoon he will be arrested."

Himeko closed her violet eyes, the only indication that she was part of the Kitogawa family at all. She looked nothing like either one of her parents, aside from those eyes. She had her mother's eyes, and there was no denying it. When her alarm rang, she let out an annoyed huff, because if she had a choice she'd simply stay in bed ALL day. As far as Himeko was concerned, she didn't want to grace Azuline Academy with her presence if Kazuhiko wasn't welcome. Though none the less she heard the knock on the other side of the door. Rolling her eyes, she rose from the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles in her silk night gown. It was mid-thigh in length, enough to cover anything 'indecent'. Satisfied that she was proper enough to be seen, "Kazuhiko!" she shouted in a flat tone, not angry, but not excited either. There was no real emotion behind it at all. The blonde man bowed after opening the door, stepping through afterward. She instinctively spread out her arms, waiting for Kazuhiko to dress her in the Azuline Academy summer uniform. He picked up the top off the rack, unaffected by her spoiled behavior. In fact, he was quite numb to it. He saw nothing wrong with her attitude about life, because he grew up around her. He knew more about her than possibly even she did herself. He dressed her, only receiving aid when it came to the skirt. She lifted her legs to slip inside of it, but he even had to zip it up. The only clothes she applied to herself was undergarments and her gown. Though who was he to complain? The pay was good, and he actually enjoyed her company. She was never actually cruel to him or anything. He was the only person aside from her little sister that Himeko felt truly...comfortable around, for lack of a better word. There was still a lot she didn't trust even him with. She was quite...defensive. Though he had a gut feeling that something bad was going to happen. As tough as she appeared to be, she was still quite naive and fragile underneath all the layers of defense mechanisms.

He bowed once he got her fully dressed, "I will return shortly with your breakfast, Ms. Kitogawa." He smiled, rising only after he finished his sentence. It earned him a frown from Himeko, but he only chuckled. He knew she hated the title, but he couldn't risk calling her by name with the possibility of her mother listening in. He brought in a cart that had a rather extensive assortment of breakfast items on top. She eyed each choice before picking up an apple, glass of milk, and toast. She didn't eat much, so he didn't understand why they bothered. Most days she picked the same three items. Kazuhiko never would understand rich people.

Himeko ate silently, and stood when she was done. Kazuhiko took the cart out, letting the cook take over as he escorted her outside of the Kitogawa estate. There waited a car, and he opened the back door for her. She got in and he drove her to school without another word between the two of them. Once outside of Airdalen, he looked through the rear view mirror, "Nervous, Himeko-chan?" He asked with a slightly teasing voice. The blonde glared at him with malice before smiling a bit, "Not as nervous as you'll be." she retorted in a somewhat cold tone. She wasn't puppy dogs and daisies with Kazuhiko, but she was considerably nicer to him than anyone else, her little sister excluded.

She let herself out of the car, before he could open it, "You can't come, remember? I might as well get used to doing some things on my own.." She smiled at him, though it was fake. Honestly she was anxious. Who would dress her? Brush her hair? She'd never done any of that on her own before. She grabbed her bag, slamming the door shut before departing. Not offering a goodbye as she approached the building, looking it over. She followed signs until she made it inside and found the gym immediately due to it's ideal location. She hesitated outside, noticing a list of clubs... MANDATORY?! Her eyes instantly widened, and she frowned as she began looking them over. Two!? ...Not a lot to choose from... Band...and Theater. I hate this school... She thought, now in a sour mood. She entered the Gymnasium, eyes landing on a few other students. Two males making conversation in the middle of the floor, one small girl reading a book, which caused her to smile. Somewhat like what I'd do... Then she noticed a dark haired male student, who appeared that he could be model status. He and the girl both had dark hair, she felt like an outsider here. The two on the floor had lighter hair, but still. She doubted anyone came from Russia. Deciding to not focus on how she was the odd man out, she noticed something else. The very tall guy, who appeared to be well over six feet tall,(Ryou) had the same packet that her father had given her about Azuline Academy in his hands. Judging by his appearance he wasn't a Freshman, so she deduced that he was a transfer, much like herself. He's new too..?

Feeling relieved that she wasn't the only one, she decided to sit in his vicinity, but not too close. It was comforting, without the anxiety that making conversation would bring her. She wasn't able to hold conversation with average students, let alone with some guy who appeared to be straight off an Hollister advertisement. Not to mention she didn't know where else to put herself honestly.. Being uprooted from her home country, the principal denying Kazuhiko's presence... She felt like she was trying to catch air in a jar.. She started looking through the packet as well, seeing as there was nothing else she could occupy her mind with at the moment, groaning when she saw the Freshman and Sophomore pairing on the list of welcoming activities. 200 bonus points? Am I supposed to have a 4.1 GPA? She thought with a laugh, considering her's typically was a 4.0 in Russia. Though she wasn't sure if she'd have as much luck in Japan. Standards were...pretty high. She'd have to do some major studying to keep her top grades, "Seriously..? A Freshman? I barely found the Gym.." she signed hed aloud, allowing herself to gaze around the room once more. This was the school? She'd be living here five days a week?, "This seriously blows.." Her accent was foreign, but her Japanese was perfect. Probably due to her Japanese father.

A blonde was sleeping in the back seat of her Grandmother's car when it came to a complete stop just outside of Azuline Academy. The elderly, but uncharacteristically energetic woman reach back and shook her granddaughter, "Arietta, Dear, you've got to wake up. We're at the Academy. It's time to go to school. You can't expect to sleep all day, Ari-chan." Mrs. Hakushiro teased, running her fragile fingers through the blonde hair of the young Freshman. It was so different compared to her own. Her grey hair was once jet black, similar to Mr. Hakushiro's. The blonde came from that side of the family. A frown formed on her face, but her thoughts were interrupted when the blonde finally came to. Arietta's blue eyes fluttered open and she sat up slowly. After a moment of adjusting to consciousness, she rubbed her eyes with a cheerful laugh as well. She didn't even realize that she had fallen asleep. A new start huh..? She thought to herself enthusiastically as she could, given the circumstances of her abrupt move.. Well.. bright side no one here knows about my.. habit.. She ran a hand through her hair, eyes lowering as she felt the absence of her pendant, "Arigatou, Baachan..." She added before sliding out of the car, closing the door quietly behind her, "I can walk home this weekend. I've got my cellphone." She reassured her, wishing to get fresh air. It hadn't been too long since the incident, and moving to a new school didn't change the fact it happened. Her grandmother seemed a bit skeptical, but hesitantly nodded in approval. She waved to the blonde girl before driving off. Once she was out of view, Arietta sighed, closing her eyes and gripping her school bag nervously. I wonder if I will be able to become popular before graduation.. Sure my grandfather owns a multi-million dollar company, but the money...we never see it. He only brings in a little over a million US dollars a year. It was strange, but she decided to not worry on it too much. She wasn't an expert when it came to distributing pay checks to an entire company. Maybe 1.3 Million was the remainder once he paid off his employees? Though it didn't seem logical. The company earned well over 200 million annually. Every major business bought into her grandfather's company, including Azuline Academy. Every cellphone and computer...it all was monitored by her Grandfather's program.

She kept her pace slow as she approached Azuline Academy, eyes wandering loosely over it, until she realized just how grand the building truly was. Sugoi.. it's beautiful.. She thought in amazement. As she approached the building she that the school grounds were full of students. She passed a dark haired student (Aeon), much taller than her, but didn't stop to catch his name or face due to her nerves. She did her best to shake them off before opening the front doors, strutting through the halls confidently, although she was faking the entire show she put on. She felt uneasy about starting at this new school. It was risky switching schools in high school, what if she fell to the bottom of the social pool? She dismissed her uncertainty for now, heading to the Gym. Several people were inside. One boy was sweeping (Akira) while two others socialized with him (John and Kaoru). Two students were being antisocial, studying up on the school and it's programs she assumed, judging by the pamphlets in their hands (Himeko and Ryou). She noticed two girls were conversing on the bleachers as well, though one seemed to have been reading a book (Hikari and Rin). Not feeling prepared to socialize, Arietta found a broom and began sweeping as well, albeit rather pitifully. I suck at chores... I hate this place already.. I've got no friends.. Why did this have to happen? She thought in a whiny tone, but it was better than standing there awkwardly.

"I have already informed Master Aeon of our arrival. Now, Elle I would ask of you to behave yourself." This was the stern reminder of Hotaru who was both the female caretaker and protector of the eldest daughter of the Argyris Family, Cassiopeia who was excited while looking out the car’s window. "Look! Look! Look at that building Hotaru! That's a temple, right?!"

It can't be helped as this would be the first time that Cassiopeia had ever been out of the Argyris Castle in Greece and her entering a school. She was strictly home-schooled for many reasons. Hotaru coughed a bit to reel Cassiopeia's excitement a bit back and for the younger girl to listen. "I wouldn't be around you all the time and you would be under Master Aeon’s care while you stay there at the academy. Don't cause him problems." Cassiopeia immediately looked at Hotaru with a pout. She knew there are times she could be a handful but, it's not like she's a trouble magnet or something. "Why does it sound you don't trust me on my own?"

Hotaru looked at Cassiopeia with those serious green eyes as her blonde hair had been pulled back into a ponytail as she wore a black suit which gave an illusion that she is a man. The purpose of this is not to deceive but of convenience and comfort. She also looked more like of an American than that of Japanese given her name. It couldn't be helped as she is of mixed parentage. "I know you well enough. Do remember that Master Aeon is attending Azuline not as a Shirokami, so please mind how you address and talk to him in front of others." Cassiopeia was still pouting as she then released a huge sigh. "I understand..." She knows that Aeon has his reasons for doing that, so she won't meddle with his affairs. It would be a bit difficult, but she would manage it. She was after all granted permission to study abroad in the pretense to know and to spend time with her fiancé. She was really glad to get out and to enjoy the atmosphere of a new land. She was a bit sad and guilty of leaving behind her family for her own selfishness especially her twin brothers who cried a flood when they heard she was going to leave them to study in Japan for a while. But, she really needed this. She would write, call, and do that Skype thing every day to ease the loneliness she had caused to them.

"Hotaru, thank you for helping me to come here." Cassiopeia said with a bright smile. Hotaru is really strict with her safety but, it's understandable. Even then, Hotaru helped to persuade her parents in allowing her to study at Azuline, so, she was really thankful to have Hotaru's support. "Show me gratitude by not being too reckless Elle." Hotaru countered with a small smile as she handed a paper to Cassiopeia who looked at it curiously before taking it. "That would be your class schedules as a sophomore and it seems you have been added to a program where you will be having a freshman partner. It is to promote camaraderie and so on. Master Aeon is also a part of it." Cassiopeia's eyes brighten that it would compete with the sun itself. "A freshman partner!? That's exciting! I can't wait! I want to be friends!" She said happily while reading the paper given to her with enthusiasm. "Aeon will have one too, right? This is so cool!" She then looked at Hotaru with such thrill and happiness. "I can't wait to arrive there! It would be the best!"

Hotaru shook her head at this but then warmly smiled at her charge. "Just don't overexert yourself, okay?" Cassiopeia nodded happily at this. "I won't!" They soon arrived at Azuline Academy where Cassiopeia looked at it in amazement not because of its structure. She was pretty used to extravagant architectures. It was because she was going to be a proper high school student now. Hotaru went out of the car and opened Cassiopeia's side of the door. Cassiopeia said her thanks cheerfully as she stepped out of the car with her school bag in hand. Her things should already been sent to her assigned room. "Master Aeon should be waiting for you at the gymnasium. I will be coming back after school to check if everything is fine along with your accommodations. Elle, have a good day and take care of yourself." Cassiopeia smiled happily at this. "All right! See you later!" She then started walking towards the gates with an extra skip to it as Hotaru watched over her until Cassiopeia was out of her sight. "Be safe. I will leave everything to you Master Aeon."

Cassiopeia had a wonderful smile on her face as she walked through the hallways. She didn't notice the stares and looks going towards her way. It was not that easy to ignore her presence as she has a rather striking appearance both odd, yet incredibly beautiful on her. She has long white hair and brilliant red eyes which both contrasted greatly to the uniform she is wearing right now. She was peculiar yet very nice to the eyes. It also adds that she is a new face where many who are well-acquainted with the who is who in the world of the upper echelons might have deduce her background just by her looks which is a signature trait for a very prominent family who is both rich and powerful.

She soon found the area where the opening ceremony would be held. She took a deep breath and gave herself a mental pep talk. She then opened the doors. There seemed to be other students, teachers, and parents sitting already, but she didn't get a good look at them all as her eyes immediately landed on a very familiar face whose owner was apparently waiting for her. Her face lit up with joy as she forgotten the reminders that Hotaru had told her earlier at the car. "Aeon!" She ran towards him as she gave the man an embrace, unaware that she is making quite a scene as she literally jumped towards Aeon. "I'm finally here! I missed you!" She said without reservation as she has a happy yet gentle smile on her face. That was one way to make an impression as the onlookers looked at her with surprise and curiosity.

---

---

"Daniel"
The boy didn't stir, but he had heard the voice.
"Daniel!"
He fidgeted a bit, but fell still soon after.
"DANIEL! If you want to eat out then you'll have to get up now!"
"Alright, alright."

Daniel sluggishly made his way out of the covers to his bed. Not far away, Cato impatiently twirled the keys to the car waiting in the garage. He was already dressed in a black suite, the expensive watch on his wrist catching the glint of the morning sun through the windows. Daniel's bodyguard/butler/mentor/a lot of other things took a seat outside the boy's rather spacious room. After sitting on the edge of his bed and staring out the window a few seconds, Daniel made his way to the restroom and went through the morning routine. The boy promptly exited the room dressed and washed, following Caleb at a brisk pace to the waiting car.

The Lexus was a rather striking figure, even laying at rest in the enclosed space. Daniel hopped into the back seat as his bodyguard went ahead with opening the garage door and pulling out of the drive way. It was rather early, and the sun had risen not too long ago, giving off more of a glow through the cloud cover rather than the bright shine brought by noon.

"Nice day, isn't it Caleb? I always liked the warm glow the sun gives off through the clouds." The relationship between the boy and his bodyguard was rather good, almost like a friendship.
"Yeah, it sure is." Caleb replied while turning into the breakfast restaurant. Daniel had wanted to go to one of those pancake houses. Considering this was Japan, they weren't as numerous as they were back in the U.S. but Caleb had done his research.
"Wow, it's been some time since I've had pancakes. Do you like pancakes too?" The two got out of the car and Caleb locked it up with the push of a button.
"Eh, they're fine. I never really had a 'favorite' breakfast dish."

They were seated at a window booth and given their menus.
"I'm going to have the 'House Breakfast.'" Daniel said to the waiter not long after.
"I'll have the farmer's omelet." The waiter thanked them and stated that he'd return shortly.

"How are you feeling about school starting up again?"
"It's a lot earlier than I'm used to." School normally didn't start until September in America. "Honestly, I feel a bit cheated out of my vacation." The duo shared a light laugh.

Their waiter returned with the food, and after the two had finished, Daniel instructed Cato to leave a generous tip.
"Daniel, the waiter could spill a bottle of grape juice on you and you'd still leave a tip of 40%." Caleb said after they had gotten back in the car and were well on their way to the school.
"I don't know if I'd go that far, but maybe if it was clear soda." The young aristocrat replied with a smile.

Soon, they had arrived at the school parking lot and Caleb put the car into park.
"Be careful out there Daniel, I'm not gonna be their to tell you who's alright and who's not. You'll have to maek that decision for yourself."
"Oh come on Caleb, you think everyone's out to get me."
"That's my job...you sure you don't want to at least try-"
"No" Daniel cut him off. "You read it, you're not allowed in their. I'll see you soon anyway."

Daniel exited the car alone and made his way through the front door and down the halls of the school. Nobody really seemed to mind him, despite the fact that his blonde hair made him stand out a bit. Nobody really knew him here, but Daniel didn't really have a problem with that, he was fine with making new friends. Outside what seemed to be the room where the 'opening ceremony' of sorts was meant to take place, Daniel spotted a couple embracing (Aeon and Cassiopeia). They seemed to be Sophomores, but he wasn't too sure of himself. Leaving the two alone, the boy entered the welcoming room.

Unfamiliar faces and figures scattered the area. Boy here, girl there. A Sophomore to his right, Freshman to his left. A couple heads of blond hair caught his eyes (John and Arietta), Daniel hadn't thought the population would be this diverse. The aristocrat made his way towards the female, partly because she didn't already seemed occupied, and partly because of the rather sad look on her face as she sweeped the floors.

"Hi there," A curious look took over his face. "Should I be helping with the cleaning too?" More than actually wondering, Daniel had just used the question as a conversation primer. He didn't really want to ask how she was doing, 'not so good' was obvious.

---

---

"Um... I was here last year. I was on the basketball team." That was strange, John should have recognized the guy right away."My parents died the summer before school started last year so I had a bad season." To John, this was not a good enough reason to hinder one's performance. Maybe for a day or two, but a whole year? Probably just an excuse for how bad Akira really was.
"Oh, I'm so sorry. That's rather unfortunate." He tried his best to fill the words with emotion, honestly, he himself couldn't care less. How would some random kid's parents have any affect on him? John liked how the statement sounded to his ears though, he saw someone truly caring about others filled with empathy and genuine sorrow, as if it had been his own parents that had died. Disgusting. John's own parents were gone as well, but that was a while ago, and he didn't let it get in the way of his performance.

"I'm working to do better this year. Oh, I'm Akira Miyuu by the way. I'm a Sophomore this year." the peer extended his hand. John hesitated a moment, handshakes weren't very common in Japan, but he shook firmly nonetheless. Try to be better, working to be better, they were all the same. The statements held no value, it's either that you do it, or you don't.
"Prescott, you might have heard of my father's company. I'm a Sophomore as well. Prescorp had been all over the news a time ago, same with his father. Not in a positive way. Maybe it would be better not to bring up the company.

Akira must have noticed John's hesitation of the handshake. "Sorry. Habit, I'm from Britain..It's nice to meet you, John-san."
"The pleasure is all mine 'Mister Miyuu'. Moved here myself from the States." He spoke in English for a moment.

"Hey, sorry to interrupt, but do you guys have any idea where Freshman supposed to be?" A voice interrupted the moment. The owner of the voice was a rather short male with brown hair. Akira told the kid she didn't know before bidding farewell.
"Not so sure myself, I'd try one of the staff." He nodded at the new boy and made his way to a seat, listening to the announcement. As he thought back to the conversation with Akira, something struck him as a bit offsetting. He wasn't sure what...maybe it was because he was a Brit? All John knew was that his sixth sense was surprisingly accurate, and a bit of a notification light turned on with this Akira.

"Second year; John Prescott is paired with First year; Arietta Hakushiro." He stood at the sound of the names, and made his way to the main floor. Mrs. Ryoma directed him by the shoulders as to where to stand, smiling warmly.
"You are to escort your Freshman partner around campus and help them settle in to their dorm room. Those who are ranked above an 80% by their Freshman partner will receive a reward. Anyone caught being difficult or rude to their partner will have Two hundred points deducted from their grade. This includes the Freshman class. Have fun, and please remember that I am always here to help students in need~"

That wouldn't be much of a problem for John, he could get along with anyone. Even if he didn't necessarily like the person. The Sophomore glanced up at the presentation screen and caught the picture of his partner. She was blonde, rather short, didn't seem like a trouble maker or anything. John pulled his tie up to the collar and put on a smile. It was always important to make a good first impression, but what most people don't know is that much more weight is put on your looks and style, than what one actually says.

Arietta nearly jumped out of her skin, "Hello." She smiled as bright as she could muster, a little shaken. She didn't expect a conversation this early in the game, so she was a bit taken back. Her sapphire eyes met amethyst and she blinked in a moment of stupor. Is that a normal eye color? She thought, trying to think about the typical colors she'd seen. Then he continued to speak, and she laughed a bit, seeing as she didn't wait for instruction on where to be. Now she felt a bit rebellious, "I don't know. Honestly I think Freshman are supposed to sit... I think Sophomores are supposed to be cleaning this morning.." she tapped her chin, letting her eyes scan Daniel for a moment. He held himself confidently. Was he popular or simply arrogant? She couldn't decide based on their tidbit of interaction, "I'm Arietta Hakushiro, First year. Nice to meet you....?" She held out her free hand, leaning against the broom with her other arm. She didn't think he spoke his own name, so she left that part to be filled in by him.

"Attention all students. Please put your cleaning supplies in the gym's broom cupboard and take a seat on the bleachers in a neatly fashion while I make a few back to school announcements before the real fun starts~"

She waved to Daniel, a small smile on her face as she returned the supplies to the broom closet, taking a seat next Rin, the opposite side of Hikari. She didn't really make conversation, she simply saw it as the first available spot. She brushed her blonde hair behind her ear, listening to the teacher talk.

"A-anyways~ First off I would like to inform everyone that the lovely lady standing behind me is your new Principal, Ms. Riyumiya. Secondly, Ms. Riyumiya is responsible for the numerous scholarships that have been distributed to several less fortunate, but highly qualified students. There will be an end of year exam for all students, but it is especially important for all students attending on a scholarship to score a seventy percent or higher if they wish to attend Azuline Academy next year. Lastly, I shall announce the Freshman and Sophomore pairings. All Juniors and Seniors are free to head on to class, we have a few social exercises planned for our first and second year partners. If you have ANY questions, I am always here to listen to my students~"

This teacher.. He's really charming, but he overdoes it a little.. She smiled, feeling that she might actually like this school. Then her eyes landed on the Principal. She seemed rather cold and unapproachable... Arietta doubted she would spend a lot of time building a relationship with the woman if she could avoid it. End of year exams? Why should anyone worry? Tests are a piece of cake. Well.. I guess most kids my age find homework antagonistic.. I'm weird. That's why I have this habit... that's why I had to move schools..

"You are to escort your Freshman partner around campus and help them settle in to their dorm room. Those who are ranked above an 80% by their Freshman partner will receive a reward. Anyone caught being difficult or rude to their partner will have Two hundred points deducted from their grade. This includes the Freshman class. Have fun, and please remember that I am always here to help students in need~"

Two hundred point deduction? Good thing I'm good with people...most of the time. She thought a little relieved. She hoped she didn't get a nerd or something. She wasn't sure she could be courteous to someone unpopular. She didn't want to commit social suicide before class officially started... but she'd do just about anything to protect her grade.

"Second year; John Prescott is paired with First year; Arietta Hakushiro."

When the picture of the guy crossed the screen, she quirked an eyebrow. Doesn't look too nerdy... She thought, standing up calmly as possible. She dusted herself off and straightened out her skirt before approaching him on the gym floor. She didn't wait for Mrs. Ryoma or Ms. Aizaka, she found him all on her own. It wasn't like she was blind or anything, "Nice to meet you, John-san. I'm Arietta Hakushiro, I hope you look forward to the event as much as I do." She lied, seeing as she really felt she could find her own way around. She found the Gym easily enough.. Though she kept reminding herself of the two hundred point deduction and the possibility that being around John would boost her popularity.

---

---

"Nice to meet you, John-san. I'm Arietta Hakushiro, I hope you look forward to the event as much as I do."
"A pleasure," he said, giving a slight bow. "I'm sure we'll enjoy this event together, it was well planned out by the school's administration, and I respect their capabilities." Something...something felt familiar about this girl, not as a person...but something else. He couldn't quite put his finger on it for the moment, but he'd register the image soon. A few things he realized right off the bat. Arietta didn't really look the bubbly type...was not the bubbly type as far as his first moments showed. She seemed rather mature, intelligent, and a bit calculative. But then again, she could just be different in her own way... It would take some time before he could really figure her out...possibly a long time, she seemed a bit of a puzzle.

"Does Arrietta-san suit you? Rather strange sounding isn't it? Putting European names into this context...Could I ask of your ethnicity? I'm American, if you'd rather I answered first. My father moved here a while back, I hope my accent isn't too bad." Just a bit of a filler to lighten the mood, John's Japanese was very good, the rival of a natives. It felt like such a long time ago, when he and his family had moved to Japan, but then again, it was quite some time ago, when he was still a young child. It felt like stepping into a new world, but "he came, he conquered." His father anyways, it was all about some sort of business opportunity. That was his father, business was always a huge priority to him. John didn't mind though, he didn't mind having top of the line threads, or the newest gadgets. Some people hate their fathers because "they don't spend enough time with them and just care about work," but John knew time was money, and any time spent on him could have been used instead to make money, a lot of it.

He took a real look at his Freshman partner. Her blonde hair fell slightly past her shoulders, matching her blue eyes rather well. She seemed even shorter now, since they were standing face to face. Probably about 5 foot, 5 foot something by comparison to his own height. Pleasant facial features and a body to match. She was attractive...at least physically, but he'd been with better, and who knew what horrors getting to know her mentality would bring to light? "If there's anything you'd like to discuss, just let me know." he gave a genuine tone. "Anything you need...that's the point of this program isn't it?"

"E-Etto..." When John bowed to her, Arietta stood there rather awkwardly, unsure of how to respond. It was far more formal than the chit-chat and handshakes she witnessed, but Arietta instantly averted her gaze from him. After the incident at her previous school, she really wasn't feeling too keen about allowing a guy to effect her too much. She didn't want to consort with male students any time soon at all, preferably. The fact she was stuck with a male partner all year was probably Karma coming to bite her in the ass.

"I'm sure we'll enjoy this event together, it was well planned out by the school's administration, and I respect their capabilities."

Arietta's gaze narrowed at him as she studied his behavior and mannerisms. Something about him was off, but she couldn't quite place it. He just seemed like a...pacifist? No... that isn't the word for it...virtuous? Close enough. She shook her head and smiled at him kindly, deciding she wouldn't judge a book by it's cover.. she came across as a totally different person, no one understood anything about Arietta that wasn't skin deep. She preferred it that way though, because she couldn't get hurt if no one knew the real her. "I see you're fond of the school staff. That's admirable. Though I'm more interested in the clubs more than my education... I am terrible at school. What type of clubs are you joining?" She wanted to know, because she needed to find out if he was an asset or necessary dead weight. She didn't plan to put effort in any relationship that wasn't going to benefit her popularity at Azuline. She had a reputation to build and she wanted to be popular by the time she was a Sophomore at least, "I am sooo glad they've come up with a social event. So many shy people will be forced out of their shells because of this, they might make some friends for once. It's so exciting, I just can't wait to start making friends! "

"Does Arietta-san suit you? Rather strange sounding isn't it? Putting European names into this context...Could I ask of your ethnicity? I'm American, if you'd rather I answered first. My father moved here a while back, I hope my accent isn't too bad."

Arietta's eyes widened as he asked about her lineage. She opened her mouth to answer, but no words came out. He couldn't have possibly known, but it was a VERY touchy subject for her. She hesitated for what felt like an eternity before her voice finally returned to her after the shock began to wear off, "...I... I just know about my Japanese roots..." She admited, biting her cheek when she almost started the day off with her first big lie. She wanted to tell at least a few truths today.. The moment this school learnt about her habit of being a bit of a compulsive liar.. her reputation would plummet. She had to tread lightly to keep her secret from ever getting out, "My parents abandoned me when I was a toddler.. I don't remember them, so it's not a huge deal. Well, since my parents didn't want me, my Japanese grandparents legally adopted me.." She informed him, fingers fiddling with the sleeves of her uniform uncomfortably. She was starting to feel pretty insecure and the conversation was making her stomach upset. She felt like almost throwing up. They never spoke of her parents at home, not since she was around eight.. Talking about it now just brought up a lot of emotions she didn't want to express in front of a stranger, "I've never asked about my parents. I don't need anyone who doesn't need me. I'm not that pathetic. Your accent is great, by the way. No more gloomy stuff! This is supposed to be fun, remember?" She laughed it off as best as she could manage in this situation, before waving her hands, giving him a playful look of disappointment for a moment.

"If there's anything you'd like to discuss, just let me know. Anything you need...that's the point of this program isn't it?"

Arietta mentally noted that, then nodded at John with an optimistic view on this pairing, "I would tell you to swap numbers, but they're confiscating our phones until the weekends and giving us those school phones that monitor all of our texts and online activity.. That creepy web program thingy sucks.." Little did she mention, her grandfather INVENTED Quickle, the exact program that monitored their activity and blocked certain websites from being visited.

---

"I apologize, Akira-San.. but yes Rin-San is fine. Lets not go with formalities."

Akira shook her head, and waved casually in Rin's direction, silently assuring her that it was alright. Akira wondered why she was so nervous, but just brushed it off as Freshman nerves, "That's good." She replied in relief, honestly she wasn't sure if she could go an entire year calling someone by their last name. She knew it was common here, but it was still so weird to her even after living in this country for going on two years now. Everything in Japan was practically the opposite of Britain. It was a culture shock and a half when she came here. Luckily her Japanese Stepfather taught her English AND Japanese from childhood. She was as fluent in Japanese as she was her native tongue, "You don't have to apologize. I make a lot of mistakes, so we might as well just keep driving. A bump in the road won't keep us from our destination. It just makes it interesting."

"Yes I was thinking of Choir and basketball.."

"That's cool. We're going to be in a club together. I am joining Basketball for my second year in a row." She grinned at the quiet girl, a little impressed at a girl like her was going to join a sport. She didn't expect it and it made her partner a lot more appealing now. She felt guilty now for assuming that Rin would be a typical nerd, but at least she hadn't said anything out loud. She didn't ruin her chances at a possible friendship before it even started, for once. At least we'll have something to talk about from now on. Akira thought to eagerly. Was she any good? What were her favorite teams? She had a lot of questions spiraling in her head.

"But.."

Eh? Akira tilted her head at Rin, hands still jammed into her pockets. Everything about Akira's body language screamed masculinity, but her facial features were rather androgynous. It did her, nor those around her any favors. She blinked curiously, chocolate brown eyes staring intently at Rin, wondering what seemed to be bothering her.

"I'm not good at sports at all.."

....Oh. That explains it. This is going to be....bad. She thought, but kept a straight face for the girl's sake. She knew what it was like to get made fun of.. regardless of the reason, no one had a right to make fun of another's sporting ability.. at least in Akira's opinion. She rubbed the back of her neck and laughed a bit, "Don't worry. I had a bad season last year because of a death in the family. You should see a little time on the court, no matter how bad you might or might not be." She assured Rin. Akira wasn't sure why, but something about this girl's vibe made Akira feel a bit protective in an older sibling kind of way. It was weird, but she assumed it was due to the potential grade reduction. She was probably just taking her role a little too seriously in her anxiety. Akira put a warm smile on her face as she continued, "Besides, I'm doing a lot better than last year, we can practice after school. A lot of people come to the games so you'll wanna get the best you can at it. Azuline has a lot of school spirit."

"I'm guessing you're very athletic, it must be nice.. Must be in many sport clubs right, Akira-San?"

She noticed Rin's gaze and blushed a bit, laughing nervously, "I work out a lot and do gymnastics in my free time.. The school only offers; Kendo, Judo, Basketball, and Tennis... so not really. I only join Basketball. Cheerleading is the closest thing this school has to gymnastics, but be honest, do I LOOK like a cheerleader?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow at Rin. With the wig, and the fact Akira wore no makeup, she did pass pretty well for a boy. She looked about 60% masculine and 40% feminine, give or take depending on angle and if her throat was visible to others or not.

---

---

The blonde girl seemed a bit startled by his greeting, but gave a bright smile nonetheless. The girl giggled a bit at what he had said. She was cute.
"I don't know. Honestly I think Freshman are supposed to sit... I think Sophomores are supposed to be cleaning this morning...I'm Arietta Hakushiro, First year. Nice to meet you....?" Arietta extended a hand, which Daniel shook.
"Daniel Trist, first year. The pleasure is all mine." But a few moments after he finished, the voice of a teacher interrupted their exchange.

"Attention all students. Please put your cleaning supplies in the gym's broom cupboard and take a seat on the bleachers in a neatly fashion while I make a few back to school announcements before the real fun starts~" Hearing the instructions, Arietta waved as she went her way to put away the cleaning supplies. The almost disappointed look on her face was gone, replaced by a smile. Daniel loved being able to cheer people up, some might say it was a gift. He waved back before taking a seat next to some random students he had never even seen before. It wouldn't matter, teachers tended to get angry if you talked while they were talking anyways. He could hold off a while.

The man making the announcements continued with introducing the principle and Daniel spaced out for a second, but the calling of his name caught the boys attention. "Second year; Cassiopeia Elegy Argyris is paired with First year; Daniel Trist." Cassiopeia was a girls name...he realized luck was on his side when the picture of his partner was shown on the presentation screen. Daniel didn't pay much attention to the part about the point deductions and such, the Freshman got along with most of everyone he met. The teachers directed him to the girl's whereabouts, and when face to face with her, she looked even more beautiful than on that presentation screen.

"Hello, my name is Cassiopeia Elegy Argyris. It is nice to meet you. You can call me anything you want." Cassiopeia extended a hand. Shaking gently, Daniel replied.
"Daniel Trist, a pleasure." The accent in the words was unavoidable, it hadn't been very long since the boy had moved. Nevertheless, the upperclassman's aura was so kind and friendly, it reminded him of his own. "I'm afraid my Japanese isn't the best, but please call me what you'd prefer as well." He loved it when things got off on the right foot.
"I hope we can be friends and get along well." From the way things looked, they would get along well. The girl reminded Daniel of himself in a sense, and he'd get along with himself better than just about anyone.

"I'm sure we'll get along just fine" He meant it, they were probably one of the best group pairings out of all the others.

"That's right, I'm kinda new too but, welcome to Azuline Academy! I hope we have a great year." Daniel's partner said with sparkle in her eyes.
"Thank you," the young aristocrat replied. "I wish you a good year as well." Maybe his stay at Japan wouldn't be bad at all, if things kept rolling in this direction

---

---

The girl's composure was rather...strange to be honest. She was a bit awkward in a way, but maybe he was just a bit intimidating in her view. John swore he saw her eyes narrow at him for a moment...she really was strange. Arietta took his statement on the staff a bit differently than he had intended. The Sophomore didn't necessarily like all the teachers or any of that. However anything said against the teachers here wouldn't do him any good, so he let it slide. One statement from the girl caught his attention though. "Though I'm more interested in the clubs more than my education... I am terrible at school. What type of clubs are you joining?"

"Wait a minute... Arietta definitely didn't look the sporty type, so she couldn't be talking about sports clubs. She looked plenty smart...maybe one of those kids that really enjoyed school. His partner was not "terrible at school." "Whatever, I'll see soon enough what's happening. I always do." She was probably talking about theater or band anyways. "I'm currently in basketball, just like last year, but that's about it. I like to allow myself time for..." John hesitated for a moment. "...other things" he finished.

"I am sooo glad they've come up with a social event. So many shy people will be forced out of their shells because of this, they might make some friends for once. It's so exciting, I just can't wait to start making friends! " Again, her statements caught onto his sixth sense. Maybe it was just the girls style, but the words she used..."So many shy people will be forced out of their shells because of this, they might make some friends for once." He didn't like how it sounded. Not that John felt empathy for these "shy people" or any of that. Hell he could care less. It was just that Arietta had straight up blurted it out. "make friends for once" meant she obviously thought of herself possibly as higher than these "shy people" with no friends. This also pointed out that his partner was big on social popularity, she wanted a lot of friends. "So much can be found out if one just pays close attention. It's the slips that count, when the real personality finds a weak spot."

John's question on ethnicity seemed to have hit a vein in his partner. The boy could feel himself smiling on the inside, but none of it made it to the surface. "Sometimes you hit the gold mine when you're out looking for silver." She stayed silent for a long moment before shakily replying. "...I... I just know about my Japanese roots...My parents abandoned me when I was a toddler.. I don't remember them, so it's not a huge deal. Well, since my parents didn't want me, my Japanese grandparents legally adopted me.." He loved it. A mirror image of himself deep inside his mind burst out laughing. "Oh the change in the atmosphere is just...mystic. Break down crying why don't you?"

A weak spot had been located and noted for future use. Despite all that was going on inside, the outside showed nothing but a sympathetic face nodding with each sentence. "I'm sure that must have been very difficult for you." The sentence was stuffed with caring and held the tone of someone who really did know what it must have been like. The pain, the suffering, the...ugh.

"I've never asked about my parents. I don't need anyone who doesn't need me. I'm not that pathetic. Your accent is great, by the way. No more gloomy stuff! This is supposed to be fun, remember?" She tried to laugh a bit, regaining her composure. The sentence echoed again and again inside of John's skull. Arietta was so arrogant, just another thing that could be used against her.

""I would tell you to swap numbers, but they're confiscating our phones until the weekends and giving us those school phones that monitor all of our texts and online activity.. That creepy web program thingy sucks.." It did, but lots of things said and sent over the phone could be monitored by the government if need be. John didn't really like the school phones either, however he never said anything important over the phone in the first place, so it wasn't a big deal on his part.

"Yes, I'm not to fond of that myself. Never was on the fact of someone looking over my shoulder."

The male teacher from before announced they could begin their tours and went into specifics about returning before lunch. That was not all however, and the female known as the principle. "All cellphones are to be turned in. We have a router that will tell us who has failed to do so and you will automatically lose one letter grade from your GPA if you're caught with your personal phone. Each student will be given a school friendly cellular device. It has every single Azuline student's number programmed into the easy to use database. All conversations are recorded, as are pictures sent. Keep it clean and we won't have issues. You are allowed to call family and outside sources with this phone, but cussing or any other indecent behavior is strictly prohibited from being spread via your new smart device. Thank you, you may begin your day."

He didn't like her very much. He didn't like her at all. What could the boy do? She ran the place. John retrieved his own iPhone from the pocket of his pants, checked a couple components, and turned it off. The phone was modified, hardware and software wise. Even when turned off it could be located by only a few people. His people. How advanced the school's router was the main issue, but who would spend that much for some high school? The phone could probably avoid detection due to it's modifications if need be.

Arietta couldn't figure this guy out. He came across as really polite, but his presence just oozed inner bad boy. Did he smoke or flirt with lots of girls? Something about him held a pressure that most genuinely sweet boy's did not have.. Or perhaps she was over-analyzing John due to her past experience with the boy from her past school... Either way, Arietta took a calming breath. She was letting her nerves get the best of her. She'd get caught up in a lie at this rate. Her blue eyes gazed to her partner, giving him the driver's seat. She'd been the loud mouth far too long in this conversation, it was his turn to do some talking.

"I'm currently in basketball, just like last year, but that's about it. I like to allow myself time for......other things"

"Basketball?" She asked, looking him over for a second and nodded, "It suits you." She added with a kind smile. She did have to admit, he was aesthetically pleasing, regardless of if she was sworn to NOT get involved with a boy or not. Then she tapped her cheek, trying to decide on clubs as well. She would join choir, but she'd never sang in front of anyone before.. She knew she was good at Cheerleading though..

A smile formed on her face as she thought about her options, "I'm going to join two clubs I suppose... I am definitely going to join the Cheerleading squad." she confessed, but decided to keep her other choice hidden. She wasn't sure if she would be any good at Tennis.. She had never played before, but it sounded easier than Basketball, Judo, and Kendo.

"I'm sure that must have been very difficult for you."

Arietta smiled and shook her head, "It's alright, but I appreciate your concern. I just didn't expect the question." She was a bit surprised herself, but part of her meant it. As the years went by, she began to come to terms with it. She wasn't quite healed, but she was getting better, little by little. Though, she did take a step back when she moved schools.

She lost all of her friends because of that one boy stealing from her. The entire school was exposed to her lies, thanks to the thief and her reputation was ruined. People wrote on her lockers, egged her house.. it was getting pretty bad. She lost ten pounds that week, so her family uprooted and moved. It was a lot more calming at this school than her last one anyway. She then tilted her head at him, "So what is your family like?" She asked blinking at him, deciding to move the topic back to him.

"Now that pretty much all groups have gotten together, feel free to begin your tours. You can start anywhere around the campus, but be sure to introduce your freshman partner to the ENTIRE building by lunch period."

Arietta dropped her head for a second. How was she supposed to follow him around the entire building and the school grounds in just 4 hours? They would have to walk non-stop. She was glad she had tennis shoes on, that much was for sure. Though the announcement about phones soon followed like clockwork. Knew it.. Gramps told me his program would require us to turn them in...

"All cellphones are to be turned in. We have a router that will tell us who has failed to do so and you will automatically lose one letter grade from your GPA if you're caught with your personal phone. Each student will be given a school friendly cellular device. It has every single Azuline student's number programmed into the easy to use database. All conversations are recorded, as are pictures sent. Keep it clean and we won't have issues. You are allowed to call family and outside sources with this phone, but cussing or any other indecent behavior is strictly prohibited from being spread via your new smart device. Thank you, you may begin your day."

"Yes, I'm not to fond of that myself. Never was on the fact of someone looking over my shoulder."


"Yeah. Though the school is the first time I've had someone do that. My grandparents are really trusting, and since they're my grandparent's and not actual parents there is a lot of freedom there." She laughed, it was a lie, but she was far more comfortable and confident when telling lies. Actually, when she told the truth it seemed to come out a lot more like a lie. The truth meant nervous, and avoiding eye contact.. She really found herself to be quite...backwards...sometimes.

She let out a sigh, seeing as they had to get a move on. She quickly pulled out her cellphone emailing a few important contacts to herself. It was pink, with music notes and even a bow on the case. She apparently was very...girly if one could be judged by things such as their phone. She waved to John once the email sent to her account, running off to turn it in. She put it in the basket and returned to John in good time, "Shall we go?"

---

---

"Basketball? It suits you."
"Why thank you," A kind smile crossed his face. "I've liked the the sport since I was a boy." Giving out background information made the other person feel more comfortable around you. It's how the brain works, the more you know about something or someone, the more they feel at ease, unless they know you're dangerous. Obviously.
"I'm going to join two clubs I suppose... I am definitely going to join the cheer-leading squad." Quite interesting, the girl didn't seem very athletic at all. John pondered on how his partner would manage to make the team, but shrugged it off. It would be Arietta who would experience the humiliation of rejection, not him. It was her problem. Nevertheless, the Sophomore nodded as if in approval.
"Nice"

His partner tilted her head, gazing at him. "So what is your family like?" Family? In truth, he actually had quite a bit left over, even though both his parents were deceased. They were mostly extended family though, but no one needed to know about that.
"Well...considering that my brother is the only member left, I'd say it's not bad." John's mother had died quite some time ago, and his father had passed in a rather unfortunate turn of events. James, John's brother wasn't much like their father, they weren't really like each other. James didn't like business, that's why he had refused to resume running Prescorp after their father had died. He was almost like a different breed. The two got along alright, until some decisions had to be made.

John watched as Arietta pulled out her cell phone and began tapping away. It was decorated in a rather girlish way, pink with a ribbon and all. He made a mental note of her preference. His partner ran off to turn in her phone and returned just as quickly. "Shall we go?"
"Yes, of course. Just follow me." En route to the exit of the gymnasium, John reluctantly handed his phone over to one of the teachers. "We'll be looking at the classrooms first, may I ask of your favorite subject?"

"Yes, of course. Just follow me."

"Okay!" The energetic blonde nodded, following at As John previously admitted, she noticed his hesitation when it came to turning in his phone.. She didn't think too much on the matter, seeing as she was hesitant as well, but it wasn't like she would suffer for it. At least it would be a break from her grandfather. It became relatively quiet for a bit, until John brought another question forward.

"We'll be looking at the classrooms first, may I ask of your favorite subject?"

"Favorite subject?" Arietta asked, contemplating her answer. It wasn't easy to do, because if she said Math or Science she would be seen as nerdy, but if she chose English she'd be seen as fairly studious as well. She didn't want to come across as too well at any subject... So she chose the remaining subject. She liked them all to be honest, well, she wasn't too fond of Math, but she got good grades in it. She just found the subject to be, well, dull. "History. It's nice to write down past mistakes so that those after you can learn from them and not make the same ones you did. Or is that too weird of a reason?" She asked curiously, trying to keep her level of intelligence at a careful balance. Most boys never asked about her favorite subjects or her family. She didn't have to deal with a lot of questions normally, but this guy was exceptionally curious, or at least pretending to be for the sake of his grade point average.. She looked around the main hall, trying to memorize as much as possible. She didn't want assistance after today, not that she wouldn't ask for it to make a few friends.

She noticed a few vending machines in the main hall and ushered towards it, hoping John would stop there for a second, "I'd like to get something to drink, do you want anything?" She asked curiously. She had plenty enough money in her pocket to buy herself and her partner something, it was no big deal if he was thirsty, also, it proved rather courteous of her to do so. She looked down the list and settled for orange juice. She put some money in the machine, grabbing the bottle of juice from the dispensary, along with her change from it's corresponding dispensary.

Arietta turned her head to look at John, waiting for him to make a selection. She'd feel bad getting herself something to drink and not him. It wasn't polite to drink something in front of him without offering to get him something as well, if her grandmother ever learnt of an instance where Arietta was forgetful or stingy, she'd never hear the end of it. She looked to the options, "Lets see.. They have; Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Fruit Punch, or Water?" She asked with a kind, genuine smile. They would be walking quite a bit, so she figured drinks would make the walk more pleasant. Though it probably did look a little strange for a Freshman girl to buy a Sophomore boy a drink, but oh well. No one could deny how polite the action was. Maybe he doesn't like healthy drinks..? I didn't think about that at first... She then looked to the other machine, then to John before she spoke again. She didn't know what to say, but she was getting nervous so she just kept talking, "If you don't like those, we can look at what the soda machine has to offer instead?" She wasn't really sure how to handle one on one interactions with a guy, not since her past experience at her other school.

---

---

"History. It's nice to write down past mistakes so that those after you can learn from them and not make the same ones you did. Or is that too weird of a reason?" John raised an eyebrow in the secluded imaginary world of his mind.
"Actually it is a pretty strange reason." What did she plan? The next conquest rivaling that of Napoleon? He himself found interest in analyzing the mistakes of great leaders of the like, but when would he ever even have the chance to make a mistake at such a scale?
"No, not weird at all." years of experience helped quite a bit with masking thoughts and personal opinions. "I've had similar thoughts myself." Truth and lies melt together when the proper ingredients are added. It's important to believe what you say, that's the first step.

The duo came across a vending machine in the halls. "I'd like to get something to drink, do you want anything? Lets see.. They have; Orange Juice, Apple Juice, Fruit Punch, or Water?" Arietta pulled some money from her pocket, getting herself a bottle of orange juice. John hesitated for a moment, he usually didn't except offers of the sort. The Sophomore would much rather buy his own drink, but...this was an exception. The water wasn't very expensive anyways. "If you don't like those, we can look at what the soda machine has to offer instead?" His partner must have sensed the hesitation of his reply.
"Water would be fine actually. Thank you." his words slid past his lips like mercury. Smooth, dazzling, and at times, poisonous. John didn't like juices or sodas, which were even worse for your health. He'd have to find a way to return the favor somehow, and he was sure the idea would appear in his mind soon.

"Are you free this afternoon? After class." Very soon. "Thought you might want to know that there's a decent coffee house not far off campus." Just give a hint, keep them thinking. Arietta was more than smart enough to decipher his words. John wasn't necessarily interested in the girl or anything, just being friendly. Or was it "acting" friendly? The Sophomore didn't drink coffee all that often either, he hated the idea of it becoming a crutch of his. Caffeine was a drug, and John did his best to avoid all of them. But then again, there were exceptions. He had also been instructed to be more careful of his spending. The business hadn't been doing so well not long ago, and John had suffered the consequences directly. Prescorp was on the track to recovering now, but wouldn't be back to full strength without something being done.

"No, not weird at all."

She wasn't sure if he was being genuine or not, but decided to accept his words as they were. Regardless of how he truly accepted her, there was little she could do. He was asking questions that were invasive, and hard to avoid. How was she supposed to be charming when a majority of his questions pertained to education and her family? She would have to change the tides of this situation fast if she wished to be able to keep her mask in place. It was almost as if this guy was trying to use her façade as target practice.

"I've had similar thoughts myself."

"Really? Glad to hear I'm not the only one." She replied in a relieved tone, shooting him a kind smile, although she didn't put too much effort into it. She seemed very aware of her physical appearance, to the point that she was aware of how much she could smile before laugh lines or creases near her eyes would form. Though she was quite proud of this. She had it down to a science. She spent so much time in front of the mirror practicing her smile that she never took a mug shot, unless the photo was spontaneously taken of course.. Though she didn't have a lot of spontaneous pictures floating around in the first place. She wasn't very well known, seeing as her grandfather never brought up his family to the public. He kept his private life.....very private, despite the invasiveness of the internet program he'd designed. No one was aware that she was a descendant of the man who invented the monitoring program 'Quickle'. So thankfully, she didn't have many stalkers.

"Water would be fine actually. Thank you."

She was glad that he chose something and didn't resist her offer, turning to purchase a water for him. Something about his tone was unnerving, but she chose to not linger on it. He was just being nice, or at least she'd leave it at that. She had no intention of being too close to anyone. She was on a mission to gain popularity, which meant she wouldn't be able to socialize with just one person for quite a while. She had a reputation to build. She'd have to associate with a number of people to force her way to the top of the social ladder.

"Are you free this afternoon? After class."

She was taken aback, but bent down to retrieve John's water. She wasn't exactly sure where this was going, but it held promise, perhaps. She turned to make eye contact when she stood and handed him the bottle of water that she'd purchased for him. She quirked an inquisitive brow at him, smiling a bit, "Perhaps, what do you have in mind?" she asked in a curious tone, with slightly flirtatious undertones delicately threaded inside of her words.

"Thought you might want to know that there's a decent coffee house not far off campus."

Coffee? She didn't oppose the idea, but she wasn't thrilled either. Immediately her eyes scanned him, looking for his motive. She doubted this was because he was beginning to fancy her, but more of a way to repay her for the current gesture. Either way, being seen with him would surely boost her social standing, "Sure. I suppose we could stop by there... I'll stop by your dorm later when I'm ready. I don't want to go in my uniform." She replied with grace, mostly because she wanted to advertise herself socially. She'd be able to meet the guys he shared a dorm with, and she'd been seen with John by their classmates that happened to be in the halls or at the coffee house as well.

What is your angle, John Prescott? She took another sip of her own drink, then gave him a small grin, "I think we should get going, we won't see all of the school, but I'm looking forward to seeing building B before class starts.." she chimed to him, ushering for him to follow her out the front door. She shot him a playful wink right before making her way outside, keeping her airheaded façade up. It looked stormy outside, but she had to make it to the second building. It was the only one that confused her...plus it held most of the club rooms..

"No.."

Akira was relieved when the dark haired girl shook her head, glad that she was getting information across clearly to the girl. Akira never was skilled in public speaking so she was surprised that she wasn't making a fool of herself by now. Though she would take this as a small win.

"You are explaining things very clearly.."

Although the girl had a serious air about her, this stroked Akira's ego and she was suddenly more excited for this tour than she should have been. Akira didn't have a lot of close friends, so it was nice having someone to talk to at the moment. If classes had went on as usual Akira definitely wouldn't have been having as much fun... She'd have no one to talk to while the boring teachers blabbed on about lessons she didn't really care about. It was sad... but school simply bored the hell of her. She struggled with self-studying because she would frequently fall asleep while attempting to work through problems at her desk.

"Yes, that would be nice.. I need extra help about that part of the school.."

Akira nodded her head and led Rin out of the classroom wing, and led her outside, removing her coat when she realized the weather was getting bad. She handed it to Rin, smiling to the long haired girl, "Just in case it rains.. I wouldn't want you to get wet or catch a cold on me." she smiled charismatically. It honestly wasn't as flirtatious as it came across, she honestly was just worried about getting her partner sick... That wouldn't do well as far as developing their relationship as partners went. It was caring, but it was also a social call as well.

-Timeskip-
(ALL students make your way to Lunch. It's time to get a move on. ALL tours should be concluded in your next post.)

Akira had shown Rin all around buidling B. They saw the library, the pool, the gym where the basketball and cheerleading squad practiced, the drama classroom and both music rooms. She even got to show her where the tennis court was located, they walked through the park, cut over to the other side of the buildings and walked by the soccer field and track course and she even showed her the blank space of land where students would put up their tents and kiosks whenever festivals or carnivals were held at the school. She gave her a decent tour of the school, but they never got to touch Building C. Though the girl mentioned nothing about Judo or Kendo, so Akira assumed it was alright to not visit them. It shouldn't hurt my score too much, right?

"Sorry that I couldn't show you building C....Only the Kendo and Judo practice rooms are located there though... Also the dorms are on the upper floors of building A, the building where we started and are currently going back to.." Akira laughed, tugging Rin along a little seeing as it was beginning to pour the rain. Akira could feel the drops of water hitting her hair, glad that she'd given Rin her jacket because otherwise the poor girl would have been soaked by the time they reach building A. With a sigh and a shake of her short wet hair, Akira held the door open for Rin, tugging at her wet tie. It was irritating because it was starting to rub her neck raw so she loosened it a bit.

Once Rin walked in, she followed behind her, shoving her hands in her pocket. She held out her hand to accept her probably soaked jacket, but she was okay with it... She was a 'guy' after all...if she would have allowed Rin to get wet instead it would been seen as socially unacceptable... besides, she did feel a certain obligation to watch out for the girl. Something told her she was more fragile than she let on, or perhaps she just assumed it to be true because she was also a girl and understood how lonely the 'tough' act could be at times. Either way... She planned to look out for Rin regardless of if she was still getting graded.

"Feel free to come by my dorm if you need anything. I won't let the other guys say anything out of the way to you, I promise." she shot Rin a thumbs up, a confident smirk on Akira's face... though she still wasn't sure who her dorm mates were considering she never got the chance to stop by the dorm rooms.. but it was lunch time now and she was SO grateful. Her stomach instantly growled at the smell of food, "The lunch line food is free to all students, so come on Rin-chan. Let's get in line and eat~" She chimed, obviously very excited to eat. Akira absolutely loved food, almost every kind of food, except for chocolate considering her deadly allergy to the crap. She gave a warm smile before ushering for the girl to follow her and join her in line. She was allowing the girl her own personal space now, no longer clinging to her hand, but Akira made a habit of looking back every once in a while to make sure that nobody was bothering her. To onlookers, Akira was coming across as a protective makeshift older brother... or perhaps a love interest, depending on perspective... Though Akira wasn't interested in girls... none of her classmates knew that, because she appeared to be a guy...so they'd automatically assume she liked girls.. I guess it's okay having a girl partner...at least she isn't falling for me. Maybe we could become friends?