The bus ride really sucked. There were too many bumps and not enough scenery. A grim reaper like me loves dead trees and the red sea, but seeing that for miles is pretty boring. I still can't believe I have to go to this Yokai Academy. My grades were always the best, so I don't need to go to high school, but my parents thought I should stop being a loner and make friends. My parents just don't understand grim reapers don't make friends. The bus entered a tunnel and it became pitch black. I saw a bright white light in the front of the bus and then the boring scenery reappeared. I sighed and looked out the window again. There was a cliff with a tall castle-like building far away from where I was. "This is your stop," the bus driver said. He slowed down and opened the door. It's about time. I walked out the bus with my black backpack and smelled the strangely pure air. The bus driver walked out behind me, putting a cigarette in his mouth. "So you're going to Yokai?" he asks. I raise my left eyebrow since my hair covers my right. Is this guy an idiot? Why else would I be here if I wasn't? "Yes. Thank you for the ride," I simply reply and head up the path. "Good luck, reaper," he says, but I ignore him and continue walking.
The walk seemed longer than the bus ride. At least the scenery was better. There was a forest with a small cemetery and pumpkin patches. Vines covered all of the bark on trees and everything would seem creepy if I were human. I came to a fork in the road and to the right path. I saw the academy up on that side. While I walked, I heard something behind me. I turn around and then something hit me hard, sending me flying to the ground.
"Ow!" I screamed. I sat up and a girl who looked around my age was next to me. She had long brown hair that was a mess and a panda hat on her head. Her shirt was yellow and she wore very short blue shorts. There was a black and white bike next to me. That's most likely what hit me. If it was only her who hit me, I would have easily killed her before she could touch me. "I-I'm so sorry!" she said. The girl tried to get up, but fell again. I stood up and held out my hand to her. "Are you okay?" I asked. Her eyes closed for a while and she stood up no problem. "Do you pity me?" she asked coldly. I stepped back. "Why would I?" I said. Her eyes close again. "I'm sorry about that! I can't control it. My name is Penny. I'm a panda monster," she said bowing in front of me. "Um, I'm Mortelle. I'm a grim reaper," I say. There was silence as Penny took her bike off the ground and wiped dirt off of her clothes. "Um, are you going to Yokai?" I ask. Of course she is. She just said she was a monster. "Yes. Are you?" Penny asked sweetly. "Yes." Yes of course. This girl must be an idiot. "That's great! Let's go together!" she said as she started up the path.
I stayed still, staring at her with my left eye. Did I just make a friend? I shook my head and caught up with her. "Hey, after the entrance ceremony, come see me. Maybe we can hang out!" she said. "Uh, sure," I say. She smiled and we walked all the way to the academy without saying a word after that. I wandered around the school during the ceremony. I don't need to attend it like I do school.
The bell rang and kids poured out of the classrooms. I walked to class 1-3 and sat in the back of the room. A lady in a lab coat and glasses walked in the room. She had long brown hair tied in a ponytail and a green tank top and blue shorts like Penny's underneath the lab coat. "Welcome class, I am Miss Miamoto, your new homeroom teacher at Yokai Academy!" the lady said. "Hey, can you just shut up? I just got here and I don't wanna hear a thing," a girl next to me said. She wore a brown dress and had a blue flower clip in her brown tied up hair. "And you are…Maya Flora?" Miss Miamoto said, checking the roster. "Yeah, what's it to you?" Maya said. "Looks like we've got a punk in here. Oh well, we are monsters after all," Miss Miamoto said. I glared at Maya with my eye but then the door burst open.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. This school is so big and I got lost." I looked at the door and Penny was on her knees breathing heavily. "That's fine. Pick a seat and stay quiet while we do introductions," Miss Miamoto said. Penny nodded and stood up. She looked in my direction and her eyes were bright like stars. "Mortelle!" she screamed and jumped on me. I gently pushed her away, but she started flailing her arms. "We're in the same homeroom! This is the best day ever!" Penny said and she hugged me again. I pushed away with more force and she stopped. Her eyes closed and she got up and sat at a seat with a serious look on her face. I stared at her for a while before I did too. Miss Miamoto went through the names and went over the school guidelines and told us to have a great year. I stared out the window at the dull forest and sea until class was over. I sighed and then Penny clung to my arm and dragged me out of the room.
"Where are we going?" I asked, trying to stand my ground. "Campus exploring!" she said. "Hey you, reaper," I heard someone say. Penny stopped and turned around. It was Maya. "You probably think you're better than us, daydreaming the whole time. Do you think you can beat me?" she said. "What are you talking about?" I asked. "Don't play dumb. You think you're better than everyone else." Maya grabbed my hair and threw me against the wall. Penny came over to me and dragged me away from her. We ended up outside by the dorms and she was out of breath.
"Hey, can I ask you something?" I say to break the silence. "What is it?" she said. "Why are sweet one minute and then cold-hearted the next? I've never heard of a monster with multi-personalities," I said. She looked puzzled and then smiled. "This panda hat holds my powers. The hat is old and is starting to rip, so my powers are less controlled. But she is really a good person! She helps me when I'm in trouble and I guess she really likes you because she dragged you away from that girl with a second to spare!" Penny said. I stared blankly at her for a while and my heart was beating. Is this what it feels like to have a friend? "If you're okay, I'm gonna go see my room." Penny hugged me and ran towards the dorm entrance and I watched her go, not knowing what to do.
Something lifted me off the ground and I saw Maya's hands in my hair. "Now your little friend is gone. Let's finish what we started," Maya said and she kicked my stomach and sent me flying. I landed on my feet and created a barrier around me and ran away into the woods. I didn't hear her chasing me, so I released the barrier. "Ah!" I heard a female scream coming from the dorms and I ran as fast as I could. I fell from the intense pain in my stomach from Maya's kick, but someone's life could be on the line. I quickly got up and ran again. Trees fell down and I saw the dorms. There was a large green creature with a blue flower in its brown hair. Maya. She is an orc. In her hands was a screaming Penny. "Penny!" I shouted. Both Maya and Penny turned to me. Maya dropped Penny and she screamed when she hit the ground. Blood was rushing to my head and I ran toward Maya as fast as I could, but she hit me with her arm like a fly.
I hit a tree and my mind went blank. It was dark, but I could feel Penny's hands on my body and hear her calling my name. I slowly opened my eyes and patted her head. Her eyes turned red and she gently put me on the ground and walked toward Maya. "You want more of this?" Maya taunted. Penny jumped above Maya and kicked her in the face. She landed gracefully and Maya crushed a few trees upon impact. "Yes I do want more. Can you give me some or can I just kill you right now?" Penny said coldly. Maya tried to get up, but she fell unconscious and returned to her human form. Penny walked over to me and patted my head. After that, I passed out.
When I woke up, Penny was smiling above me. "Are you okay?" she asked. She was back to normal. I nodded and realized we were still outside. "You didn't have to wait until I woke up," I said. She looked confused. "Why not? Friends should always stick together," she said. "Friends?" I blushed at the word. Penny smiled and hugged me. "This will be a great year for sure!" she said as she giggled. I smiled and wrapped my arms around her. "Yes. Yes it will," I said.