Chapter 1
Salut! I am French- like Bébé! ... No relation.
(Disclaimer; We own nothing)
"Hello friends! I am called Charla Boudreau and I am French! Just like Bébé, as I've said, but there is no biologic relation I will promise you. I am in Japan now for four years because my father he is a military man and we travel the world with him." I try to look cheerful for them and enthusiastic but I can see their bored faces staring up at me. Oh well. "I am new to Port Island last year though, because my parents they don't like me so they send me to live here with you! Hahaha!" Oh dear. They're not laughing.
"The people here are very nice and they are all stars! But we have celebrities here too. There's Mitsuru who…" Their attention is flagging. Why aren't they interested? I guess it's time for another tactic "HUGE BREASTS! Her chest is enormous!" That did it.
The boys, there are two, are both staring at me with interest now. I can predict that they will be having questions later. The girl is staring at me too but I think she must be stupid or something because her eyes are vacant.
"Yes, Mitsuru is our student president. She is very intelligent." The orientation drones on. Even I am bored now. I finish the tour by bringing them to the front courtyard to chat for a little while but they all seem eager to depart both from me and each other. Suits me fine, now I get to do what I want with my afternoon. Well, almost. I should probably check in with the boss first.
I phone her as I walk to the dorm.
"Charla? Don't tell me you've finished with them already?"
"Mitsuru!" I try to sound excited, like I did for the incoming students, but knowing Mitsuru I shouldn't even bother. "They were very excited and interested! They promise to be very good members of our wonderful school community!"
There is silence on the other end of the line. I suppose she must have seen through that. "Honesty might make you prettier."
There's a thought! "Oh Mitsuru, do you think so?" She's mocking me, I know. Best play along.
I hear her muffled scoffing. "Are you coming along?"
I look at my watch, fiddle with my skirt. "In this horrible school uniform? Ugh, it is so ugly. Is Akihiko there? I will not let him see me in this."
"No. Be prompt." Mitsuru has lost patience with me I fear. She has hung up on me without so much as Adieu!
I soon discover that she has lied to me. I find myself at the dorm and it is Akihiko himself who opens the door. I half swoon at the sight of him, he is too easy to tease! "Oh no! It's you! Don't look at me in this horrible blouse- wait, I'll take it off!" I reach for the top button dramatically.
"Honestly Charla…" Akihiko doesn't look impressed with me either. "Are you ever serious?"
What an accusation! Que de la misère pour notre beau Akihiko (Only misery for our handsome Akihiko). I let my hand fall anyways and follow him into the house. "Has something happened?"
"Not really, new dorm mate."
"Il est beau comme toi?" (He is handsome like you?)
"What?"
"Oh, ah… Do you all get along very well?"
"Yeah, we do but I won't lose to an underclassman."
"Who said anything about winning or losing?" I laugh at him "You need to relax a little. All that training all the time… I get tired just watching you."
"You watch me?"
"You don't?"
"Wait… What? That doesn't make any sense Charla. I can't watch myself workout."
"On l'appele une vidéo mon chou." (It's called a video, my dear)
"You've said something creepy just now haven't you?"
"Not at all! I was only just commenting on how clean this building is."
"… I don't believe you."
"I don't believe that you don't believe me. The Akihiko I know would never say such a thing to a lady!"
"You're not a lady."
"MITSURUUUUUUU!"
"She'll just agree with me."
He is very abusive towards me, this Akihiko. At least he is beautiful. Just look at him! Ah, here is Mitsuru now. I sit down at the table as she comes down the steps. My backpack is heavy after all, I am glad to put it down.
"What's all this commotion about?" Mitsuru asks as she comes to sit at the table with me.
"Nothing!" I say cheerfully, smiling as wide as possible. Akihiko throws his hands up in a gesture of defeat but he sits down with us anyways.
"I have a request for you Charla." Mitsuru says, folding her hands in front of her on the table. She looks all business, as always. "We have another incoming student here at the dorm. He came in late last night and we did not wish to wake him without due reason. I would like for you to take him to the school now and give a second tour."
I cannot help but slouch onto the table, my lower lip protruding in a pout. Akihiko laughs at me. Mitsuru smiles a little, at least. "I am familiar with situations like this. It is where I have the choice to say no but the unspoken moral obligation to say yes, no? Ah… well, fine. I will take him."
"I apologize for requesting more of your time with so little advance warning. The student council appreciates your invaluable efforts."
"Oh Mitsuru, you are such a cold person." I lean back in my chair, blowing my hair out my face. Being petulant is a lot of work you know. "Well and where is he; this lazy roommate of yours?"
"I'll get him." Akihiko offers to Mitsuru, going up the stairs at a jog.
I am alone with the boss. Really, I do not want to be. She will ask me about my home and she will talk to me in my native language. She is trying to be nice, I am sure, but I am not always desiring to be nostalgic. "You are excited for school Mitsuru?" I ask, sticking stubbornly to Japanese. I am sure she will take the hint.
"It promises to be an auspicious year, yes." Mitsuru replies in Japanese. Good. She looks tired, even though she's trying to hide it. I suppose anyone who works as hard as she does must be tired.
Akihiko is back and there's a dark haired boy with horrible posture following him. I stand up dramatically, my chair scraping backwards. "Oh mon DIEU! Mitsuru! This is him?"
The new roommate is staring at me now with very wide eyes. I am surprised he heard me through those enormous headphones; I can hear his music from here. "Just look at him! He has the eyes of a child who has seen his parents naked together in bed and will be forever haunted by it."
He looks hurt but he doesn't say anything. He casts a sidelong glance at Mitsuru who looks genuinely sympathetic. Akihiko is angry with me; he grabs at my arm and hisses into my ear "His parents are dead."
Crap.
