Saturday morning and Akane was well-rested and looking forward to spending the day with Miu and Kimiko, as well as getting to know their wider circle of friends. She was still quite reserved with people in general, but after she and Aido made up (so to speak), she couldn't help the good mood she'd been in all week, which allowed her to talk more freely with others.
Kenshin and Nori had been two that she'd let involve themselves with her more but quickly backtracked after she noticed their interest in her was more of a romantic nature. She may feel she can talk and enjoy others company more, but her circumstances still couldn't allow her to indulge in her more emotional or hormonal urges.
Akane was stood at the gates to The Sun Dorms at 9:30 a.m. with Miu, Kimiko, Naomi, Yuki, her roommate, Sayori Wakaba, and Nori, waiting for the other six of their company to catch up. She wore Miu's thin, grey, long-sleeved, cotton top that clung to her torso, thanks to Miu's more petite form. She had on a pair of her own, light denim, three-quarter jeans with a pair of black and white sneakers. She also sported a dark grey, zipped hoodie that she'd left undone, as the weather was warmer today.
Kohaku and Yasu came walking out a few minutes later carrying gift bags with presents for the birthday girl, like all so far, except Akane and Sayori. Sayori didn't know Miu that well, so said she'd get Miu a gift in town, and Akane didn't have much money, so said she'd treat Miu to something on their trip, like a game or food. Miu of course, insisted this wasn't necessary but both girls wouldn't hear of it.
Miu called, and waved the two over, greeting and thanking them for coming. Kenshin and his roommate, Hiroki Matsushita was next out. Hiroki was pale with expertly styled, dark brown hair and coal-black eyes. He had a slim build and stood a 5'8 and was perceived as lazy with his schoolwork but could be comical if the mood took him. He was knowledgeable of the gossip trending at the academy, so, he was a firm favourite with the those wanting to gather intel.
They were followed closely by the only couple in the group, Shun Moto, and Kaede Kimura. Shun was 5'7 and had a slightly darker tone to his skin that Nori and Kenshin. He had a slightly thicker build than the more athletic members of their group, with broad shoulders and the remnants of the overfeeding his mother did while he was at home. He had a mop of thick, blond curls and piercing blue eyes, with a beauty spot under his left eye.
His girlfriend, Kaede, was a mousy girl. She was shy and stood at 5'2 with a full, hourglass figure. She wore stylish, black-framed glasses, short black hair and warm, hazel eyes with a button nose and olive skin. They were a year above everyone else, but they'd known Miu, Kenshin, Nori, Yasu and Kimiko since they were in middle school, as well as through their families all being, either associates or clients of one another.
"That's everyone," Yuki announced with a cheery smile to Miu. Kaien had given her, a list of the students that would be with Akane, on Thursday evening. She had spent all of Friday familiarising herself with the people on the list. There were a couple she needed to keep an eye on, but thankfully, most were in Akane's class, so, she had been able to remember who was in who's company most often and could predict things like, what girls would go to the toilets together.
"Ready to go?" Yuki asked the group at large.
"Yeah!" Miu exclaimed excitedly, pumping her fist in the air before grabbing onto Akane's arm and speed-walking to the main gates, with their friends laughing and chatting behind. Yuki peered into the forested garden that ran along the outer wall and up to the main gates. She couldn't see the two Vampires stood, hidden in the shadow of the treeline, but she knew they were watching and following.
Kaien had reassured Yuki that everyone would be fine and that the Night Class students had more than enough blood tablets to sustain them and quench their thirst. She would have been reassured too, had it not been for the fact Aido Hanabusa, was one of the volunteers. Ichijo was with him, so, she felt better with that knowledge, but she was still, understandably, apprehensive about the whole thing as they walked out the gates.