The dark clouds loomed over Alice Academy. Regardless of how horrendous the weather was, Imai Hotaru was sure to arrive on time in school at 6 every morning. The black sedan drove away, leaving Hotaru to slowly make her way towards a block building slightly adjacent to the secondary school building. While these buildings look exactly like sisters, the one Hotaru was heading too was specifically designed for clubs, or if one was able to attain the rare 3 stars status, these rooms can be created for the student's needs.

As her pedestrian vehicle slowly came to a halt inside the building, the girl hopped off, still studying a book called Environmental Engineering and made her way to a couple of lifts, whilst her vehicle drove off parking itself and retracted the massive umbrella.

Upon reaching her room, she closed the finished book with a sigh, and opened the door. Inside was warm, as strange metal machinery continued to churn. The girl muttered a couple of words, and windows slowly opened. Several contraptions turned off and a robotic voice greeted her.

'Orange, what's the schedule for today?' Hotaru asked.

'You only have 2 classes today. You're free for lunch. Would you like to take your lunch in the laboratory today?' Hotaru began tapping at a screen that showed her today's school classes. She made a swipe and began an anaylsis upon yesterday's creation. Until something at the back of her head nigged on.

'Is there a girl named Mikan Sakura in the school system?'

'Yes, she was admitted yesterday.' The AI replied.

'Details.'

'Mikan Sakura, 16 years-'

'Not the basic details, who was her sponsor?'

'My apologies, she was sponsored by Hyuuga Ltd.'

'What?' Hotaru muttered, 'how did her not very intellectual best friend manage to ensnare the help of the Hyuuga family.' She flicked her black hair behind her. Before she could continue to come up with possible theories, her robot replied.

'She was sponsored by H-'

'It was rhetorical.' Hotaru cut in, rolling her eyes.

'My apologies.'

'I will be taking my lunch here, ensure there are two seats, I'll be having a guest with me. Have Quack find the Campus Chef to get my lunch here by 12:40. Now, how much did I make on yesterday's photos?'

'Youichi want me to take you to the elementary building?' Mikan enquired, staring at the skies.

'No. Shiki can do that.' The driver eased the car into the parking lot before stopping. The two other teens made a mad dash out of the car to find their friends, before it started to rain, whilst Mikan uneasily stepped out the car.

'Mikan we're going to meet at the club house back entrance, near the indoor basketball courts.' Youchi said. But before Mikan could question where that was, Youchi shooed Mikan out the car, and she knew she would have to find out herself. Fortunately, for our brunette protagonist, she managed to make her way into the safety of the secondary school building before the downpour of .

After the first hour of lectures. Mikan decided to take a brisk walk around, happy to be invisible . Whispers of yesterday's happening continued to echo throughout the halls.

'Wait, did you hear that our latest teacher got scolded by Imai-san?'

'What again are you serious?' A pair muttered walking away.

'She's heartless.' A boy stated arrogantly to a small group of people. 'That child honestly can't think that she has the potential to be an Alice student. She's absolutely bonkers! Did you hear that she's on a scholarship, her parents are middle class.' The boy continued while sniggering like a pig. The others around him, nodded uneasy of losing their place. 'There is no place for her in a prestigious school such as ours.' The boy finished and spun around to leave for his classes, not noticing a fuming brunette standing behind him and smashing into her and falling onto the floor like a sack of potatoes.

The girl stood firm, whilst watching the man child wail and shaking his fist. 'How dare you push me down. Apologise child!'

'You walked into me, you should be apologising.' The girl growled back.

'No, you walked into me! These are the witnesses!' The boy flicked his seaweed like hair and gestured at the group of people behind him. They stared down on the floor, nodding quietly. 'Didn't she push me onto the floor?' The boy asked, they replied quietly, all agreeing.

A girl with similar hair, shorter frame push passed the crowd. She slyly assessed Mikan with her cat like eyes. 'What is such a pathetic little girl doing hurting my brother. Do you even know who he is?' The girl took a step towards Mikan, towering over her. 'Oh, aren't you the new student in my class. Then here's a word of advice, know your place in the world.' Mikan's classmate flicked her hair, made her way out to leave.

'No.' Mikan said, her eyes were lit with the fires of defiance.