☾☾☾
ST. DELIA’S Academy, the school I would be starting at, was built to support the education of the sons and daughters of wealthy families from preschool through university. Because of that, it cost a lot to attend the academy, but as a scholarship student, I was able to go for free.
Free.
It certainly did make me feel special, as if this were the reward for all my efforts.
I arrived at the school gates, my heart welling up with excitement at all the fun I was sure to have this year...but something was amiss.
No, it wasn’t just something. It was the odd girl standing off to the side who was clearly out of place. The girl trying yet failing to hide in the shadows of the main gate, whose soft brown hair was pulled into loose pigtails. Her brown eyes darted frantically about.
I believe the phrase my mother would have used to describe the look on her face would’ve been “glaring daggers.”
She would scrutinize each passerby with an air of superiority, determine they weren’t her target with a “Hmph,” and shift her eyes to the next potential target.
An overwhelming number of families were attending the entrance ceremony, and they all kept their distance, none of them seeming to want to go near her.
It was clear to me, too, that she was best avoided, and so I attempted to slip carefully by.
Carefully...
“Hey! You there!”
“Eek!”
Someone grabbed me by the shoulder.
Wh-What?
She narrowed her eyes and brought her face near mine. Close up, she was a pretty girl, save for that sour look.
Please get away from me. I’m sorry. I’ve done nothing wrong, but nevertheless, I’ll apologize.
“Where are you from?”
“Huh?”
“I asked you where you come from.”
“O-Oh. I’m from Ikemen-cho. It’s about thirty minutes from here by bus...”
“I didn’t ask where you lived. I asked what house you are from. Your family name, what is it?”
Whoa, she really is scary... More and more wrinkles appeared in her brow.
“...I’m Urara Tendou.”
“Tendou? ...I’ve never heard that name before. Perhaps it has its roots in a more reputable family... These days, you can’t be too careful. All sorts of riffraff wander in here.”
She had begun muttering to herself, so I took the opportunity to make my escape.
“So, who is your father?”
She grabbed my shoulder once more.
“Excuse me. I’m just a commoner. I’m terribly sorry.”
I’ve apologized enough already; please let me be.
I bowed my head, but when I looked back at her, she was staring me down. What was I to do?
“You couldn’t possibly be a commoner and go here!”
“Oh, but I...I am. The most common girl you could ever imagine.”
“What? Not with that hoity-toity walk you’re not!”
Thanks to my upbringing in my past life, I had excellent posture, but I was also reverting to my training in this time of crisis.
“And your eyes and hair are naturally brown!”
On closer inspection, her hair was dyed. Her roots were black. And...was she wearing contacts? Surely that was against school rules.
“What are you trying to pull?”
Pull?
Her anger showed no signs of abating, so I attempted to reason with her.
“Please calm down. I really am just a nameless commoner. My status is nothing compared with a rich girl like yourself. I won’t bother you any further. I promise.”
She grumbled but did finally seem to be calming down.
“You really will stay away from me?”
“I will.”
I didn’t want to go near her, not after all this.
“You won’t get in my way?”
“I absolutely will not.”
I really didn’t want to.
“Good.”
Ahh...at last. It seemed she finally understood. As I tried to take my leave of her, she called out after me, as if to deliver one final blow.
“But what would a commoner be doing at a school like ours?”
“Oh, I’m here on a scholarship.”
“Ah, so you’re a bookworm, then! Good for you!”
She was so rude... It seemed evident I had become involved with a particularly obnoxious rich girl.
How was I going to get away from her without any more trouble? Despite my social graces honed in my days as a count’s daughter, I was struggling to think of an unobtrusive exit. She was still standing there, making a sound that was not all that dissimilar from a growl.
Just then, we heard a great commotion from beyond the school gate.
I turned back to see a resplendent group of people walking in.
At the head of the group was a boy with intense eyes, a shapely high nose, and lips pursed with intent. The swagger in his walk would make anyone take notice. And yet the way he walked as if this level of attention were nothing out of the ordinary made me realize he was a particular sort of person.
Next to him walked a boy wearing thin, silver-rimmed glasses that suited the erudite air he gave off. His appearance was impeccable, clearly planned to give him the air of the perfect gentleman. His black eyes resting just behind the glasses had a deep, peaceful look about them, reminiscent of a hidden forest pond.
In stark contrast to him was a brunette with his uniform slightly askew, his nimble body moving like a cheetah ready to pounce. Despite his appearance, he greeted the shrieks from the girls around him with a single gentle smile, hinting at a warmth just beneath the surface.
Walking a step behind was a boy whose navy necktie suggested he was a third-year. From his slicked-back bangs and hair falling down his back to his pale, discerning eyes, he maintained a mature, collected demeanor in spite of all the attention.
The boy chatting away next to him looked like an idol with his baby face and fluffy hair. His eyes and lips were rounded, giving him a cherubic appearance, and his bordeaux-red necktie indicated he was a first-year, just as I was.
The features of the boys were clearly refined, but so, too, was the way they walked. They were clearly the cream of the crop, even among this school filled with the children of affluent families.
Watching them reminded me of my past life. That magnanimity is much like that of the royal family and the high-ranked nobles who flocked around them. Commoners moved aside for them. No one dare look at them, as if doing so would cause their eyes to burn.
Just as I was about to take a quick step back, I realized that oddball girl still had me by the shoulders.
“Kyaa!”
“Wah! Ah!”
Why is she suddenly diving straight into that radiant group?! Whatever the reason, she is being too obvious. Also, please don’t drag me along with you!
Why did this have to happen, today of all days? I toppled forward with her. Closing my eyes, I braced for the impact, but despite the harsh crushing sound, I was met instead by something soft.
I didn’t fall. My shoulders were being held up by beautiful, slender fingers. My eyes landed on the face of a gorgeous female student at my side.
“Are you all right?”
“Oh, yes...thank you very much.”
The girl standing at the center of these boys, as if being protected, had rushed forward to catch me and save me from falling. Gazing at her, I saw her jet-black eyes were framed with lovely long lashes. Her smooth, almost porcelain face was perfectly framed by long black hair. The way the light reflected off her shimmering hair made her look like she had a halo. She was stunning, without question. Even the air around her seemed to sparkle.
Did smoke normally accompany the appearance of such beautiful people? No, that was just clouds of dirt. Just as I began to understand my situation, someone grabbed my ankle.