Chapter 3: Phobia
The rain had not let up since my arrival, I thought vaguely to myself as I pulled the note out of my pocket again. East halls. . .number 747. Yes, my room should be somewhere nearby. . . My eyes scanned each of the numbers again, and there was my room at the very end of the darkened corridor. The skylights above normally would have let in the sun's rays, but today the clouds blanketed its rays with thick, luxurious puffs of darkness. I reveled once again at the wonderful coziness of this damp, gray day. Honestly, sometimes it's laughable how sadistic I seem. . .
I dug my key out of my pocket and fitted it into the lock on my door. With a sharp click, the latch released and I let myself in. Words fail to express my reaction at that moment. The room. . .was the glorified ideal of chaos. Many floorboards were missing, for a start. The few that remained were rotting away and falling apart. There were huge cobwebs in every corner and I saw a pair of tiny, glinting yellow eyes stare at me from underneath a pile of rags. Rats. . . I blinked a few times to make sure that I wasn't just having another nightmare.
No, the room was still there. I blinked a few more times, then sighed and closed the door in defeat. Maybe they had assigned me the wrong room? Now that I thought about it, the whole building DID seem older than the other dorms. . . and it was odd that I hadn't seen anyone else there yet. Yes, it was probably a mistake, they must have accidentally assigned me to this-. . . My thoughts were interrupted by the muted sound of laughter coming from down the hall. I pricked my ears and followed the noise to another room, a few paces away from mine.
I rapped my knuckles gently on the door and heard footsteps approach rapidly. A familiar face peeked out and smiled in recognition. "Rankaku- san! What a surprise! Please, come in!" exclaimed the pink-haired girl cheerfully. I smiled and nodded silently in thanks as she led me into her room.
Sitting at the table in the center, I recognized Himemiya-san, as well as a tall, dark, and handsome gentleman with a hand on her shoulder. I puzzled over whether they looked more like fiancés or siblings. His presence was both intoxicating and very frightening. His eyes pierced into mine like daggers, probing me, reading me. . .I felt a cold chill run down my spine, a chill which prickled my skin and didn't cease the entire time that I stayed.
Fortunately, Tenjou-san began to introduce us all before I could even mutter a shy greeting.
"Rankaku-san, you've already met Himemiya, my good friend and roommate, and this is her brother, Ohtori Akio. " So, they were siblings after all! How odd. "Akio, this is Rankaku Robin."
"Pleased to meet you." I stammered. "I'm dreadfully sorry for the intrusion! I was just going back to the office to re-check the room they assigned me, and I heard your voices. . .I thought I was all alone in this dorm, you see. . ." In my head I berated myself for blathering like that. I try to be one of few words, if possible. Yet that man. . .! He honestly scared me. . . I was sure that they must all see how much I was trembling. . .
Himemiya-san got up to get me a pillow, and before I could protest I was ushered into my seat by Tenjou-san. I swallowed the knot in my stomach and smiled pleasantly. Sometimes I hate curtsey. I truly do. But if you want to survive, you have to pretend to be nice. . .
"Well, it's true that there aren't many students in this dorm. However, it's the last one available, now that our school has been greatly expanding of late. . .And you need any help around the school, I'm your man." said the smiling beau in a suave, low voice. I noticed his grip tighten on his sister's shoulder. "Onii-sama is the school administrator. . ." she echoed, with the same fake smile I was wearing. Administrator? I felt a wave of pity wash over me. She was scared of him too. His own sister. . . Underneath the table, I wrung my hands.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. I'm sure my Head of Year can sort it out." I replied. "It's just a little problem with my room. . ." I began. "It's. . .looking a bit dilapidated. I think there was a mistake."
Utena nodded in confession. "I was afraid that's why my room would be like when I first came here. . .luckily, Himemiya had fixed it all up first. She's a real lifesaver!" she added with a grateful smile in the other girl's direction. Then, Tenjou-san stood up suddenly. "How rude of me! Here I am talking and talking and I haven't even started making some tea for you!" Himemiya-san held out her hand to stop her, and said she would go fix it instead. Tenjou-san submitted and sat back down.
"I would have insisted that I make it, but to tell you the truth I don't really know how," she admitted sheepishly. "Besides, I'm sure Himemiya's tea is much better than anything I could fix. . ."
Ohtori-sama nodded. "My sister is a girl of many talents. But back to your problem, Rankaku-san. I think I know a place you could stay, at least until we find a proper room for you." I avoided his eyes. I couldn't stand how they bored into me. He was the kind of person who never takes his eyes off you when you talk.
"That's too kind of you, Ohtori-sama. But I-"
"No, it's my job to make sure that the students are happy and comfortable here at school. I'll take care of it as soon as possible." he interrupted, never dropping his gaze. "I hope you don't mind sharing a room with another student until the problem is cleared up. . ." The tone of his voice sent more chills through me, and I know I must have visibly shuddered that time.
"N-no, I don't mind. . ." I muttered, no longer really listening to what he said. I just wanted to get out, and fast. . .there was something sinister about him. I stood up shakily. "Are you feeling all right?" asked Tenjou- san with concern. "Here, the tea is ready. . ." called Himemiya, as she walked back carrying the tray back to the table. "Rankaku-san? Are you ill?"
My mind began to freeze up and I stuttered the first excuse that came to my mind. "It's nothing. . . I just need. . .I need my medicine. . . Thank you. . .for everything. I must be going now." I made my way unsteadily to the door, bowed, and left the room without another word.
The rain had not let up since my arrival, I thought vaguely to myself as I pulled the note out of my pocket again. East halls. . .number 747. Yes, my room should be somewhere nearby. . . My eyes scanned each of the numbers again, and there was my room at the very end of the darkened corridor. The skylights above normally would have let in the sun's rays, but today the clouds blanketed its rays with thick, luxurious puffs of darkness. I reveled once again at the wonderful coziness of this damp, gray day. Honestly, sometimes it's laughable how sadistic I seem. . .
I dug my key out of my pocket and fitted it into the lock on my door. With a sharp click, the latch released and I let myself in. Words fail to express my reaction at that moment. The room. . .was the glorified ideal of chaos. Many floorboards were missing, for a start. The few that remained were rotting away and falling apart. There were huge cobwebs in every corner and I saw a pair of tiny, glinting yellow eyes stare at me from underneath a pile of rags. Rats. . . I blinked a few times to make sure that I wasn't just having another nightmare.
No, the room was still there. I blinked a few more times, then sighed and closed the door in defeat. Maybe they had assigned me the wrong room? Now that I thought about it, the whole building DID seem older than the other dorms. . . and it was odd that I hadn't seen anyone else there yet. Yes, it was probably a mistake, they must have accidentally assigned me to this-. . . My thoughts were interrupted by the muted sound of laughter coming from down the hall. I pricked my ears and followed the noise to another room, a few paces away from mine.
I rapped my knuckles gently on the door and heard footsteps approach rapidly. A familiar face peeked out and smiled in recognition. "Rankaku- san! What a surprise! Please, come in!" exclaimed the pink-haired girl cheerfully. I smiled and nodded silently in thanks as she led me into her room.
Sitting at the table in the center, I recognized Himemiya-san, as well as a tall, dark, and handsome gentleman with a hand on her shoulder. I puzzled over whether they looked more like fiancés or siblings. His presence was both intoxicating and very frightening. His eyes pierced into mine like daggers, probing me, reading me. . .I felt a cold chill run down my spine, a chill which prickled my skin and didn't cease the entire time that I stayed.
Fortunately, Tenjou-san began to introduce us all before I could even mutter a shy greeting.
"Rankaku-san, you've already met Himemiya, my good friend and roommate, and this is her brother, Ohtori Akio. " So, they were siblings after all! How odd. "Akio, this is Rankaku Robin."
"Pleased to meet you." I stammered. "I'm dreadfully sorry for the intrusion! I was just going back to the office to re-check the room they assigned me, and I heard your voices. . .I thought I was all alone in this dorm, you see. . ." In my head I berated myself for blathering like that. I try to be one of few words, if possible. Yet that man. . .! He honestly scared me. . . I was sure that they must all see how much I was trembling. . .
Himemiya-san got up to get me a pillow, and before I could protest I was ushered into my seat by Tenjou-san. I swallowed the knot in my stomach and smiled pleasantly. Sometimes I hate curtsey. I truly do. But if you want to survive, you have to pretend to be nice. . .
"Well, it's true that there aren't many students in this dorm. However, it's the last one available, now that our school has been greatly expanding of late. . .And you need any help around the school, I'm your man." said the smiling beau in a suave, low voice. I noticed his grip tighten on his sister's shoulder. "Onii-sama is the school administrator. . ." she echoed, with the same fake smile I was wearing. Administrator? I felt a wave of pity wash over me. She was scared of him too. His own sister. . . Underneath the table, I wrung my hands.
"Oh, it's nothing, really. I'm sure my Head of Year can sort it out." I replied. "It's just a little problem with my room. . ." I began. "It's. . .looking a bit dilapidated. I think there was a mistake."
Utena nodded in confession. "I was afraid that's why my room would be like when I first came here. . .luckily, Himemiya had fixed it all up first. She's a real lifesaver!" she added with a grateful smile in the other girl's direction. Then, Tenjou-san stood up suddenly. "How rude of me! Here I am talking and talking and I haven't even started making some tea for you!" Himemiya-san held out her hand to stop her, and said she would go fix it instead. Tenjou-san submitted and sat back down.
"I would have insisted that I make it, but to tell you the truth I don't really know how," she admitted sheepishly. "Besides, I'm sure Himemiya's tea is much better than anything I could fix. . ."
Ohtori-sama nodded. "My sister is a girl of many talents. But back to your problem, Rankaku-san. I think I know a place you could stay, at least until we find a proper room for you." I avoided his eyes. I couldn't stand how they bored into me. He was the kind of person who never takes his eyes off you when you talk.
"That's too kind of you, Ohtori-sama. But I-"
"No, it's my job to make sure that the students are happy and comfortable here at school. I'll take care of it as soon as possible." he interrupted, never dropping his gaze. "I hope you don't mind sharing a room with another student until the problem is cleared up. . ." The tone of his voice sent more chills through me, and I know I must have visibly shuddered that time.
"N-no, I don't mind. . ." I muttered, no longer really listening to what he said. I just wanted to get out, and fast. . .there was something sinister about him. I stood up shakily. "Are you feeling all right?" asked Tenjou- san with concern. "Here, the tea is ready. . ." called Himemiya, as she walked back carrying the tray back to the table. "Rankaku-san? Are you ill?"
My mind began to freeze up and I stuttered the first excuse that came to my mind. "It's nothing. . . I just need. . .I need my medicine. . . Thank you. . .for everything. I must be going now." I made my way unsteadily to the door, bowed, and left the room without another word.