A/N: Sorry if I've been quite hiatus on updating this. I was actually quite busy with stuff (even if it was summer in my place). Anyways, enjoy!
Arthur had been disturbingly awoken by the incessant ring of his alarm clock. He shuffled himself to the far edge of the bed and covered his ears with his pillow. He had no motivation to even roll over to stop the alarm and he felt his body being pulled down to the mattress. He didn't want to get up. He groaned as the nuisance continued its annoying sound and finally Arthur gave up. He reeled himself towards the bedside and gave a harsh smack on the clock's button.
"Thank God," Arthur murmured as he brought the blanket close to himself.
He caught a glimpse of the clock and saw the date. It was a Monday. Arthur sighed as he felt relieved to see the date. After all, the school's opening ceremony would only be on Monday…
"Shit," Arthur cursed at his realization, "IT'S TODAY."
He threw himself off his covers, snatched his clean uniform and ran towards the bath. He took the quickest shower he had ever done and arrived at the dining room with Allan fixing Peter's attire. Arthur greeted them and sat directly on his seat. He wolfed down a small amount of his meal and stopped when he saw Allan stifle his laughter.
"What?"
"You're not late you know," Allan guffawed, "It's still thirty minutes early."
Arthur glanced up as Allan pointed towards the wall clock above. He was right. Arthur became speechless and turned into a huge shade of red when Allan and Peter laughed at his stupidity. Arthur avoided their laughter by chewing his food at a normal pace and giving cold glares to the duo. They stopped and Allan messily disarranged Arthur's already ruffled hair.
"You got a bit too excited, hm?" Allan suggested, "I guess you would be. Being one of the scholars and all."
Arthur chewed, swallowed his food and replied smugly, "You should be thankful I was given the scholarship. I made the financial burden decrease."
"I'm glad you did your best, Arthur," he smiled sincerely, "thanks."
Arthur smirked, "Don't mention it," he turned to Peter, "you're going to school now?"
"No," Peter replied, "I'm just taking my picture for my I.D. card. And you're classes are so early!" he turned to Allan, "Can I be in high school now? I can manage!"
Allan chuckled and Arthur rolled his eyes. Not this again, he thought. Peter had always wanted to become a high school student ever since Arthur achieved the scholarship in the entrance exam. It was tough luck that Arthur accomplished that achievement and somehow it attracted Peter to become more ambitious than he ever was.
Arthur finished his meal and checked all of his stuff. School materials, books, the scholarship slip to be submitted to the principal were all in his bag. He nodded and left the apartment with Allan driving his way to the academy.
Not too soon, Arthur left the safety of their car and Allan gave a farewell honk of his car as he left. Arthur didn't want to be cliché but he decided to get an overlook of the school's outdoor entrance. It was enormous, and filled with students crowding the concrete path. He had never been to a school this populated unlike in his old home where there were only a few. Despite being small in number, he never got the chance to socialize with them because he was isolated by his father.
His father's reason echoed into his mind, "They're only distractions, lad. They'll just come by, and they'll never stay with you."
Arthur trembled at remembering his father's harsh voice. He inhaled a great amount of air and composed himself as he walked towards the entrance.
He looked everywhere at the wide corridors for his locker and kept chanting his locker number. He successfully found it and frowned that it was a part of the locker area where he had to crouch down to reach it. He grunted in annoyance as he stooped to its level and placed his books in. He slung his bag to one side of his shoulder and stood up but with a hard cold surface that bumped unto his head.
"Ow!" Arthur cried out and massaged the back of his head.
"Aw, mon dieu!" a voice cried out.
Arthur's eyes met with a strange man before him. He had silky and wavy hair reaching until his shoulders and blue eyes that seemed to flaunt at Arthur. But most of all Arthur was greatly shaken by those prominent stubbles on the man's face. Does he ever shave?
"Je suis désolé, monsieur," the man cried out and randomly wrapped his hands around Arthur's face. Arthur gave an exposed disgust expression each time his eyes met with those annoying blue eyes. What language was he muttering… French?
"I-i-t's alright," Arthur understood the man's actions and forcefully removed the other's hand away from his, "just please don't touch me."
The man stepped back and placed a hand under his hairy chin, chuckled and Arthur still didn't believe he was talking to him. "I didn't mean to hit my locker on your joli face of yours. I'm still glad to see you're unfazed."
"Uh, alright-"
Arthur was pulled back by the collar of his uniform and his face was drawn closer to the other man's. He snorted in disgust and resisted from the man's hold. The man chuckled.
"Mon lapin, why leave so soon? I haven't formally introduced myself yet," he released Arthur from his grasp and courteously bowed to Arthur, "I'm Francis Bonnefoy, and you are."
"Arthur. Arthur Kirkland." Arthur replied monotonously.
"Magnifique! What a beautiful name! It suits your furry eyebrows," Arthur couldn't help but feel conscious and he felt his eyebrows.
"Is this how you normally greet people?" Arthur asked with disgust.
"Mon cheri, I would want a new student to feel welcome in this academy," Francis chuckled.
"Welcoming people by groping them on their first day is what I call grotesque." Arthur alluded.
Expecting Francis to get hurt by that statement, the Frenchman only chuckled. Arthur's eye twitched as he walked away from him with great speed. He prayed that Francis was the only weirdo he would encounter here.
The cramped up auditorium was filled with different voices chattering and some squealing in excitement from seeing each other after a long time. Arthur evaded each student's shoulder he passed by. Arthur sighed. At this case, it would take a long time for him to adjust to this and besides he didn't really need to focus on socializing right now. He had to build his grades higher in order to keep up his scholarship.
As Arthur grabbed a seat in the second row of plastic chairs, he was greeted by a timid voice, "Good morning." Arthur turned to the direction of that voice and he smirked as he knew the speaker. "It's good to see you again, Kiku."
He didn't even notice that he sat next to Kiku. That was a lucky pick. Arthur cleared his throat and waited for Kiku to kick up a topic. Sadly, he decided to secretly call the situation awkward. They were sitting next to each other, exchanging glances but not speaking to each other and Arthur decided to make the first move.
"Do you ever get bored waiting at opening ceremonies?" Arthur began, "I actually do, honestly."
Kiku didn't respond. "Err… no offense, if you do," Arthur murmured.
After that, he heard a chuckle from Kiku and the smaller genuinely smiled, "I honestly find it boring too."
Arthur nodded with his cheeks flushing a great dash of red. He could've asked how he was doing, not starting a topic about the opening ceremony. Arthur bit his lip. It was better before in his school because he didn't know anybody. He remembers faces and names but he never became acquainted with any of his old classmates. Especially with his father in the way…
"So, do you know what classes you're taking?" Kiku asked, interrupting the awkward tension.
"I don't actually," Arthur replied, "but where can you see it?"
Kiku pointed towards the bulletin board, which was empty. "During the ceremony, the staff would post some announcements and classes there," he faced Arthur, "we could look at it later."
Arthur nodded and they continued to discuss about many other things involving school before the student settled to their seats and listened to the principal's ringing voice. Somehow, the principal was so carefree, as if he got his speech at the top of his head. The principal cracked a joke and the student body laughed. Arthur couldn't help but laugh because the principal seemed to be an interesting man.
"I have to admit," Arthur whispered, "your principal is quite entertaining."
"That's Mr. Vargas for you. He's always so happy… just like his grandson."
Arthur became baffled. Grandson? Mr. Vargas doesn't even look like he'd been in his fifties. "You're joking." Arthur insisted and Kiku shook his head. Arthur decided to let that slide off and proceeded to listening to the principal.
After a few jokes cracked and a genuine farewell from the principal, the ceremony ended and the duo checked on the subject classes. There were classes that were mandatory and his eyes scanned through other subjects. Spanish, History, and… French? He was sure to never take that class…
"KIKU!"
Arthur about faced and saw a flash of yellow go before his eyes. He trailed it and it led to Kiku being embraced by some large guy with honey blonde hair with a prominent cowlick. Kiku pushed away the other man away from him and look as if he was being choked by a noose.
"Kiku! I went in late! AND THEN THERE WAS TRAFFIC!" He explained, "AND I'M SO SORRY!"
"Ack-!" was all Kiku ever said.
"Oh." The other man realized he was suffocating the smaller man and he released his embrace. Kiku exhaled and the man continued to apologize. Arthur got a closer look of him. He wore glasses that rested on the bridge of his nose and baby blue eyes that seem to match with clear ocean shores. He had a face that actually suited a heart-throbbing teen sensation… if it weren't for his annoying boisterous accent.
"It's alright," Kiku reassured the taller man, "I had company." Their heads turned to Arthur who was watching them.
Arthur stood frozen and decided to return their looks with a smile and a nod of his head. "Alfred, this is Arthur. Arthur, Alfred," Kiku introduced.
Alfred cheerfully grinned and raised his hand, "hey, the name's Alfred Jones."
Arthur gave the other's hand a shake, "Pleasure to meet you, Mr.-"
"Just Alfred," Alfred insisted with a smile, while shaking his hand.
"Err… Alfred. Arthur, Arthur Kirkland." Arthur awkwardly released his hand from the other man. This time Alfred's gaze wavered at him.
"What is it?"
"Say squirrel," Alfred ordered.
"Huh?" Arthur's head tilted to the left.
Alfred repeated and Arthur decided to say it. When Arthur finished, the corners of Alfred's mouth twitched and it formed into a laughing smile. Arthur exchanged glances with Kiku, who apparently seemed to be staring… with somehow pleased eyes.
"Is there something funny?" Arthur asked irritatingly.
Alfred stopped laughing. "You pronounce squirrel as 'squih-rul'."
Was there something funny? Didn't he pronounce it right? Even with his assurance, Arthur still frowned in embarrassment as he saw the American chuckling. Kiku just shrugged, "I'm sorry, Arthur-san, he isn't' usually like this."
Arthur waved his hand submissively, "No, it isn't your fault."
Alfred finally composed himself and scratched his neck as he saw Arthur frowning. "I'm sorry. It's just that," he winked at him, "nice accent there, buddy."
Alright, that was it for Arthur. "If there's something funny with being from England, I don't know how I should react to you either," Arthur turned his heel and walked away from them. He was stopped when a strong grip on his shoulder forced him to stay.
"Wait!" Oh, it was just Alfred.
"Sorry," Alfred laughingly apologized, "it was just a joke."
Not so soon, Arthur faced them. Kiku apologized and then spoke, "Alfred has this wild feti-"
His sentence was interrupted when Alfred clamped Kiku's mouth with a warning glare. Arthur surveyed the duo and snorted. Was this the friend Kiku talked about? Well, he was right about having an obnoxious friend that is.
Arthur sighed, "I forgive you. Well then," he shrugged off Alfred's hand, "see you later". He walked towards the exit, leaving the duo quietly staring at his back.
A/N: Alright, I suck at introductions, I know OTL
Anyways, I'm glad I finished this :D Stay tuned for the next chappie~