The next morning, she woke up feeling a little less anxious.
Normally, she didn't really have much to look forward to, much less be excited about, but today was different.
[ "You'll talk to me again?" ]
[ "Yeah, of course, why not?" ]
Why not?
Those words had been spoken so casually, she had almost forgotten what it felt like to be seen.
"I'm heading out," she said.
"Did you get your student ID?"
She sighed. "Yes..."
She tapped her pants, then groaned as she walked back inside.
"No..."
He handed it to her as he stood by the door.
"And make sure you actually buy something this time. You look like a zombie."
She smiled crookedly.
"Yeah... sometimes it feels that way."
Akashi's brows knit slightly. "Hey, it's okay. You've got a friend now, remember that, yeah?"
She nodded. "Okay."
"Now go! You'll be late for your lecture!" he shooed. "Go on, move! Bro needs his time alone in the man cave!"
She giggled as she opened the door. "Fine, okay, okay, I'm going."
"Later, smallie."
"Later, bro..."
And so she was off.
The cold wasn't kind. She could feel it in her toes and fingertips.
"Dammit, why does it have to be so goddamn cold all the time?" she murmured through chattering teeth.
She glanced around.
No civilians.
She stopped for a moment, her breathing steady.
Then, slowly, her hands illuminated with a faint violet glow. Particles of soft purple hues drifted from her gloves and boots, a sigh of contentment leaving her lips.
"Much better..." she whispered, picking up the pace.
The walk to campus was roughly twenty minutes. And yet, for some, that stretch of time was far too harsh to endure in this weather.
The breeze carried a sharp undertone of ice.
Her hairs stood on end despite her warmth.
"It's gonna rain soon..." she said, gazing up at the sky by the coffee store she was a regular at. "Geez... and I didn't bring an umbrella—"
"Hey, Akira!"
Her eyes shifted over her shoulder. "Oh, hello there, Teio. How are you doing?" she said, bowing again out of instinct.
"Geez, you're always so formal, Akira," the short girl said. "Say, uh, I haven't seen you at the coffee shop lately. Just wanted to check on you, y'know? See how you're keeping up."
Akira smiled, her gaze dropping slightly.
Teio was three years younger than her, and for some reason, always seemed more mature.
Sometimes she wondered if Teio was only nice to her because she was a customer, or if the seventeen-year-old was actually treating her... normally.
"It's nothing. I've just been busy trying to balance my new school schedule. It's kinda hard adjusting on such short notice," Akira replied.
"Oh." Teio tilted her head. "You're not at Junji University anymore?"
Akira's eyes dimmed slightly. "Yeah... I had a bit of a slip-up there, and they... transferred me here. Bummer, right?"
Teio's expression softened. "Oh, I'm sorry—"
"Teio! We need more hands on deck, come here!
"Coming!" She turned back. "Okay, well... see ya."
"Yeah, later."
Akira resumed her walk.
Her thoughts tangled into a quiet web as she stepped out of the station. She kept thinking about Teio, how someone younger than her seemed so much more at ease with herself.
It made a quiet jealousy ache in her chest.
Before long, she found herself seated in the lecture hall again.
"I wonder if... maybe one day I can be like her. More open—"
"Hey."
A student sat beside her.
Akira looked up.
They weren't random.
"O-Oh, morning, Yui," Akira blurted, sitting up straight as she shifted slightly to give her more space.
Yui chuckled as she set her books down. "Morning, Akira. How are you doing?"
For some reason... that question caught her off guard.
"I'm fine," she said, though her voice came out a little awkward. "I was just... waiting for the professor," she murmured.
Yui glanced at her. "Yeah, well, Professor Watkins isn't in today. It's gonna be Mrs Juri. They switch halfway through the week."
"Oh. I didn't know that. I was kinda hoping to learn more from him," Akira said.
That surprised Yui. She scoffed. "Well, I don't really like that old geezer. He's so old school. Though..." she paused, glancing at her, "I thought you'd start hating him, considering how he treated you yesterday."
Akira's lips twitched faintly. "Oh, that?" She tried to laugh it off, but it came out wrong. "I'm...used to that."
Yui studied her for a moment, about to say something—
"Alright, settle down everyone. Let's begin with our lesson."
Akira's eyes shifted to the front of the class, a faint hint of awe flickering within them.
"I understand we have a newcomer here," the woman at the front said, gray hair tied into a ponytail. "Is she present with us in the hall?"
Yui glanced at Akira.
Akira stood, her eyes still slightly wide, almost dazed.
"...Amazing—"
"Akira," Yui said, tapping her hand.
Akira blinked, snapping out of it. "O-Oh, right-yes, ma'am, I'm here."
Mrs Juri crossed her arms, raising a brow. "So you're our newcomer. Akira Hashinada, correct?"
Akira nodded, bowing slightly, habit taking over, "Yes, my name's Akira Hashinada. I'm the new transfer student from Junji University."
The older woman sighed.
"Alright then. I'm one of your two professors in this department. You'll refer to me as Mrs Juri."
The air in the room shifted slightly.
Akira's ears twitched.
Mrs Juri noticed.
Her eyes narrowed behind her glasses. "I, Akira, will be your practical instructor. I hope you and I will get along nicely."
The violet-haired girl felt her fingers tingle as she sat back down. "Yes, ma'am."
"Good. Now let us begin with our lesson."