Tradition. Values. Discipline.
These are the traits that make up the very foundations of Ryoutei Gakuen. Being the most prestigious school in all of Japan, Ryoutei strives to provide the best top-level curriculum for its students, in hopes that one day they will produce the future leaders of the new generation.
Those who wish to join and enroll among their noble peers may contact the current Headmaster for information. Once you have applied, it is important to carefully read through the rules, since the facility is under the influence of maintaining its aristocratic status. Our school continues to flourish with many resources that cater to our students individual needs…
*click*
"Ai, have you finished packing? If we don't leave soon, we won't get there in time. You wouldn't want to be late now, would you?"
Ai rolled her eyes at her mother's words, knowing she always tried to guilt trip by blaming any small issue on her. She had no choice but to turn off the television set because that commercial came on again; the dreaded Academy that she was being shipped off to because her parents couldn't be bothered to deal with her anymore.
"Not like things will be different even if I change schools." She muttered to no one in particular.
Ai collected the rest of her belongings and brought her suitcases to the door, turning around at the empty space she used to call her bedroom. Ai Kimura never had many personal items to begin with, yet the nostalgia was enough to bring tears to her eyes. She furiously rubbed them away, knowing that her mother would create an even bigger fuss if she knew she had been crying.
If I'm lucky, everyone will just ignore me. It's easier that way. At least then I won't become a target.
Her mother came into the house again, her face beet red with suppressed anger. Ai's mother didn't deliberately think much of anyone, but she certainly cared more about appearances than actually caring for her only child. The Kimuras were a well known family after all, and she would never let anyone involved tarnish that name. Including Ai.
Ms. Kimura breathed out slowly through her nose, her nostrils flaring. "I told you to stop wasting time. If we're late, it'll be because of you. Can't you listen to me just this once? You do realize this will be the last time we see each other for at least a year?"
Yes, because you've mentioned it several times already that you won't let me forget. Ai thought to herself.
"I was just looking around my room—"
"That's your problem, Ai. All you do is waste time. It's all you ever do."
Ms. Kimura placed her hands on the sides of her head and began to rub her temples. Ai simply rolled her eyes, wanting to get this argument over with.
"Just...go to the car. I can't believe you've got me this upset. It's terrible that we have to do this before you start school. When are you going to grow up and stop acting like an immature child?"
There it was, the knife. Always blaming the daughter because her mother can't stand that she isn't this "perfect angel". Ai had been used to it all her life, but she hated when her mother resorted to these cheap tactics. Even now, when her mother intentionally dug the knife of her painful words deep into her chest, it was hard to build a resistance to it. She knew just where to cut.
"Fine." Was all she replied. The sooner she could get away from her mother, the better.
Ai walked out with her suitcase and headed for the car where her father had been waiting in the driver's seat.
"Took you long enough. I had to send your mother inside to see what the delay was."
Mr. Kimura tried to smile, but Ai knew better than to believe his false cheerfulness. He wasn't as direct as her mother when it came to insulting her, but that didn't mean that he wasn't equally as disappointed in his daughter. Ai roughly threw her suitcase in the trunk and sat in the backseat, not wanting to bother to respond to him. She needed to be away from these two as soon as possible.
"Seems like you two argued again?" Mr. Kimura said as he turned around to face the front.
Ai just looked straight ahead, her face showing no sign of anger or resentment. It was a skill she perfected growing up over the years as a defense mechanism. She was aware that expressing her feelings was a dangerous gamble, especially around verbally abusive parents. Ai simply shrugged, refusing to play into this roundabout game of who started arguing first.
Mr. Kimura sighed, knowing he wasn't going to get anything out of his daughter and started the car. His wife was walking out of the house and ran towards the car, shuffling quickly into the passenger's seat, and began complaining to her husband about his daughter's behavior.
Ai tried not to snort at hearing her words. She always liked to place the blame on her husband whenever it came to his daughter acting up. She wondered how these two were able to tolerate each other for so long. Not like it mattered. Their problem child was going to be sent off to a boarding school, so they wouldn't have to deal with her for very much longer.
The Kimuras drove for quite some time, not hitting traffic, like Ai's mother so graciously reminded them ever since they left. Ai knew she wouldn't admit to being wrong about her prediction, so Ms. Kimura decided to turn on the radio to feign as if she hadn't agitated everyone with her whining.
"Turn it up, please." Ai murmured from the back.
Her mother gave her a threatening look in the rear-view mirror.
"It's fine where it's at. The louder the volume is, the more my ears will hurt."
Ai took this time to lay down and stretched her legs out to the other end of the car. She could always rely on pretending to sleep and listening to the radio to escape the reality she's currently in. At least she was spared of having to deal with her parents on long road trips. She was feeling slightly better when one of her favorite songs came on the radio. She could hear the guitar strumming slowly, and closed her eyes to embrace the music.
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair.
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air.
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light.
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim,
I had to stop for the night.
Sleep quickly took over Ai as the song continued playing its melody inside her head.
