Emiko walked closer to the tree, but only on a safe distance. There was a boy sitting on top of a branch and he was staring down at her. The wind blew her hair across her face and neck. She couldn't help staring back at the boy.

The first thing she noticed about him was his piercing brown eyes. His eyes were deep and mysterious and held a look of pride and energy. His eyebrows were constantly furrowed and his mouth was in a scowl. He had thick dark violet locks draped over the beautiful brown eyes and he gave her the impression of a bad boy.

He was wearing a long-sleeves black shirt, and red shorts with black stripes that revealed the flawless skin girls loved from his knees to his ankles and wore a black flat boots. There were two piercing on his ears, each on one side. His face, she didn't feel the need to explain. It was plain gorgeous. His cheekbone was high, his smooth skin was tanned and flawless.

Emiko could feel his eyes bored deep into hers. She tried to look away but couldn't. Something about his eyes pulled her in. Something she couldn't point out.

"So here you are," a familiar voice said from behind her, snapped her out from her trance.

Emiko turned around and saw Natsumi standing not far from her. "Natsumi-sensei?"

"Come on. I still need to show you around the school."

Emiko nodded. When she turned back, the boy had already vanished. Where did he go? she thought. I wonder why I feel kind of disappointed.

All along the tour, Emiko found out there were five types of Alices; Latent Ability, Technical, Somatic type, Special Ability Types, and Dangerous Ability Types. Every Alice is categorized as one of four shapes, that specify how much of it can be used and how often; Childhood Alice, Diffuse, Intermittent and Limitless.

Natsumi seemed to lead her somewhere she didn't know. She began to think of the boy again. She wasn't sure if Natsumi-sensei had seen that boy from the tree but she didn't ask. She didn't want Natsumi to know she kept thinking of him.

Emiko paused when she saw Natsumi had stopped walking. She followed her gaze and noticed a door.

"Here we are," she announced with a cheerful tone.

Emiko looked up at the older woman in confusion. Natsumi opened the door and revealed to be some kind of a living room or guest room. There, on the sofa, a young man with dark brown hair and pale brown eyes. When he looked up at them, his eyes narrowed in irritation.

The man got up and walked straight towards them. Crossing his arms, he asked angrily, "Natsumi, where have you been?"

Natsumi seemed to remain calm and cheerful, although those glares were directed at her. She answered cheerfully, "Well, I was showing Emiko-chan around the school." Then she looked down at Emiko with a smile, "right?"

"Yes, Natsumi-sensei has been nice enough to show me around the school," Emiko said.

"So you are the new student, huh?" he said, although it's more to himself. Like a perfect gentleman, Fujishima stretched out his hand. "Please to meet you," he said. "I'm Fujishima Asano."

"Please to meet you, too, Fujishima-sensei. I'm Tenoh Emiko," she said, shaking his outstretch hand.

"I will take my leave. Can you help me explaining all the rules? Really, thank. Adieus," Natsumi said without giving Fujishima the chance to protest.

The way Fujishima acted was like as if the door had just slammed on his face. "That lazy bum!" Fujishima cursed under his breath. Dark aura could be seen surrounding him as he clenched a tight fist. "One day I'm going to teach her a lesson! Just you wait and see, Natsumi!"

Emiko felt a bit nervous, especially to the dark aura around the man. "I'm sorry, Fujishima-sensei. I didn't mean to bother you," she said, hint of fear visible in her tone.

The man stopped his cursing and laughed nervously, realizing that he had just scared the poor girl. "Don't worry about it." Then his face wore an expression of disgust. "You see, she's always like this. She is so similar to that Narumi, it makes me sick to my stomach just thinking about it," he claimed.

"Narumi?" A huge question mark appeared above Emiko's head as she titled her head to the side.

"Yes, he used to be the teacher of this school before he retires," he explained, the same expression was still presented. "He's also my previous teacher when I study here and not only that he has the same Alice as Natsumi had."

"I see," Emiko nodded in understanding.

I have no idea how...interesting the people here are, she added to herself.

"Now let me explain how everything goes around here," he said with a smile, much calmer this time.

--

By the end of the day, Emiko knew everything there was to know about the Alice Academy. The Academy had its own monetary system, the Rabbit (Rt). And she also found out there were four forests surrounding the school. Unique was the only word she could describe the academy. There was no other word.

Emiko found out that most of her belongings had already transferred to the Alice Academy and she was already a Three Star student, maybe it was thank to her wealthy father.

She'd be perched in her favorite spot – the window seat – gazing out at the starry night sky. Tonight would be the last day I sleep in my room, she thought, shoving her long bang behind her ear even though she knew it would slither back in about three seconds. For an instant, her mind flashed upon the mysterious boy again.

I wonder who he is, Emiko thought. She then shook her head sharply. What am I doing? The way I am acting right now is like...obsession. I am not obsessing over some boy I don't know, she admonished herself, although I am curious who he is.

Emiko lay on her bed, covering her body with the blanket. She couldn't help but thinking about her new school. I wonder will I make new friend again. She closed her, imagining what it would be like but soon after she dozed off.


Knock! Knock!

"Ojou-sama. It's time for you to wake up."

Long and dark eyelashes slowly fluttered open, revealing crystal blue orbs, as Emiko awoke from her slumber.

Pulling away the warm and cozy covers of her bed, she was met with the cold atmosphere of her bedroom. Shivering slightly, the girl rubbed her porcelain colored arms in an attempt to get warmth. Stepping on the cold tile floor, Emiko, still half asleep, sluggishly made her way to her bedroom door.

Finally reaching her destination, she opened the door slowly, only to find her nanny looking at her with an amused expression.

While stifling a yawn with one of her milky white hands she mumbled softly, "Good morning, Nanny Giselle."

"Ojou-sama, I think you should prepare to go to your new school now," Giselle said.

"I guess you're right," Emiko said, then gave another yawn. "I go change now."

Giving her nanny a smile, she closed the door and then walked into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom in her white robe and grabbed a towel that happened to be hanging off her chair.

Walking back to her bedroom, she eyed her brand new uniform. Emiko thought it looked kind of cute in a way but she liked her own uniform better. Emiko strode over to her full length mirror, clothes in hand. Getting rid of her robe, she placed it gently off to the side while putting on her undergarments.

After she dressed and made her bed, Emiko hurried out of her room, stopping to glance at her reflection in the mirror. Her long, light brown hair was slightly messy, and her half-lidded blue eyes seemed tired, or perhaps desperately nervous. Taking a brush, she combed her light brown hair quickly until every strand was perfectly straight.

Emiko tied a matching red ribbon at each side of her head, in such a way that lifted just enough so there was a clear view of her astounding blue eyes. She placed her brush on the drawer, looking straight into the eyes of the girl in the mirror.

Today would be the last day I spend with my family, even though father is always busy with work, Emiko thought bitterly.

She forced a reassuring smile at her reflection before hurrying out of her bedroom and rushing to the kitchen for breakfast.

Emiko joined her father at the grand dining room. Her father was reading the newspaper and it seemed like he hadn't touched his breakfast yet. She sighed. He's always the same. She sat next to her father, greeting him with a smile, "Good morning, father."

Her father just nodded as he continued reading his newspaper. Emiko just sat quietly, a bit disappointed and sad about her father's reaction. It would be the last day she spent in this house and he still acted indifference.

Soon after, she finished her breakfast and prepared to go to school. She stood up and bowed to her father but he didn't bother to look at her or say anything. Emiko could feel a pang of sadness stir in her heart, however, she just ignored it: she already got used to it. Just as she's about to open the door, she heard her father said to her, "Don't disappoint me."

Emiko was speechless for a second but quickly recovered. She then turned around and bowed for the last time. Emiko gave her father a smile, saying thank you and she closed the door silently.

--

"Class, today we'll be having a new student. I expect you all to welcome and treat her nicely and warmly. Welcome to our school, Emiko-chan," Natsumi announced.

Emiko stood in front of the class, with her hand clasped together in front of her. She greeted, giving them a polite bow, "Please to meet you all. My name is Tenoh Emiko. I hope we can be good friends." She watched the students studied her from head to toe. Some of the students seemed to whisper about something, probably about her.

"Does anyone want to become Emiko-chan's partner?" Natsumi asked the class.

"No one? This could be a problem," Natsumi said thoughtfully, placing a finger on her narrow chin, "Let's see then, your partner will be...ah, how about Keitaro-kun?"

Keitaro? Emiko thought.

In an instant, almost all the girls cried in dismay could be heard across the room, nearly making Emiko jumped out of her skin in the progress. Some stood up and slammed their palms on the poor table. The girls glared at the Emiko darkly with pure envy and hatred. Before anyone could say another word or protest, the door slide opened.

Emiko watched the person walked inside the room – and gaped.

Stepping inside the room was a gorgeous boy with dark violet hair and piercing brown eyes. His hands were in his pocket and had this cold, distant aura around him. All the girls were too busy swooning at the sight of the boy while some boys were too busy glaring at the same guy.

The boy's head turned towards her direction and noticed Emiko. At that moment, Emiko knew it was him as she continued staring at his eyes. He had the same brown eyes like the boy she saw yesterday.

It's that boy, Emiko thought. Her eyes widened and her pinkish lips parted slight.

Unknown to Emiko, it also seemed like the boy remembered her as well and was thinking the same thing.

It's that girl, he thought.