Wow. I guessed it. When I got to school, I could tell that something has happened. The whole place is buzzing with little groups of students and teachers chattering about something. It has to be about the secondary auditions. Was the list posted? Did I miss the announcements?
Once I reach my classroom, one of my only friends, Jack, calls for me from behind. "Miki! Oh my God! Have you heard the news?!"
"No, should I?"
"Oh, yeah. You want to hear who made callbacks? I'm dying to tell you," He assured me. I believe it ,too. I bet he is dying, literally dying to tell me. Okay, maybe not literally.
"Yeah." Yeah, play it off like you don't really care.
"Macee Aikimin, Kamiko D-" I interrupt him with an 'ugh' sound. "Yeah, I know. Kamiko, Charlie Landon, Jessica Hicks, and one more person. It is incredible how many people got call backs this ye-"
"Who's the last person?" I interrupt once more. Jack never gets to the point, so I'm always having to cut him off. What can I say? He is the most flamboyant gay man I know. He loves to talk.
"You can't guess it? Seriously? Mizuki, I know you are a little slow, dear, but, can't you catch on?"
"Are you trying to say that I got a callback?"
"Yes! Of course! I am so proud of you! So happy for you! But, I am also quite mad at you." He huffs and crosses his arm for dramatic effect. Did I mention that Jack acts outside of school professionally. Most of the students that attend my school do something extravagant elsewhere since they are all rich. Well, all excluding me.
"Why are you mad at me this time?"
"You will be leaving me." Jack gets all teary-eyed and comes in for a slow hug.
"Hey, I didn't get the spot yet!" I exclaim, trying to remove him from my body. In the background of me yelling, the school bell sounded. "Come on, man. Go to class. You can't be tardy twice in one month. You'll get expelled."
"Yes, I know. Thanks, Mom." He teases as he walks off to his class. I roll my eyes and continue on my way.
Inside, everyone was still gossiping. Not exactly unusual, but a little peculiar. Mrs. Hara rushes into class with a frantic look upon her face. Since, I am not yet seated, I figure I better check on her and see if she is okay. "Mrs. Hara, I was wonder-"
"No time. Sit down," She barks at me. I was a little appalled, but I just sat in my seat. I know she is under a lot of pressure. "Class, be on your very best behavior. To all of our treat, Headmistress Natsuki Kruger herself is going to escort the ladies who made callbacks to Garderobe Academy for their second test. She should be here any sec-"
With no time to waste, Headmistress Natsuki is escourted in the room by an otome who appears to be a current student at Garderobe Academy. I only assume that by the distinct attire they have to wear. Natsuki burst forth by saying, "Hello, students of Lainsburry Private Academy. You most likely know my name. I am Natsuki Kruger from , you guessed it, Garderobe. May I see Miss Aikimin, Miss -" She snickers to herself," Miss Chiba, Miss Dokaiku, Miss Hicks, and Miss Landon. Thanks to all of you. " She turns and makes a grand exit. Why does she always demand such power and demand that she be the center of attention? I don't know, but I love it.
The ones that she called grab their belongings and go with her, including I. Just because I can, I walk up beside Natsuki. I glance to see if Kamiko noticed. She definitely did. Kamiko looks at me with such a rude, little frown. She thought she whispered low enough to me, "Walking beside her doesn't make you better than me."
Natsuki turns her head just the slightest to still keep her composure of 'badass.' "No, that doesn't make her better. What does is her personality. It's better than yours." After that, she turns forward and keeps walking proudly. The perks of being buddy-buddy with a principle. She can slay you, but you can't say a thing back to her.
I chuckle and Natsuki low-key gives me the side eye, but then she smiles back. Wow, I love this woman.
For the rest of the day, Kamiko seems grumpy, but I would be too if I got told my personality is shit by someone who doesn't even know me. Me,on the other hand, I am great. I soared through all of the written test, flew through the etiquette exam, but now was the unenviable part : the compatibility test. This is a blood test. The nurse for the school injects nanomachines, which are the extremely minuscule machines that let an otome use her robe, into your blood and does something that proves how well your body would react to the machines. Most people are not compatible with the nanomachines. Some people's blood can tolerate them and the machines can be usable. This test is the most important of them all. This will prove if I can really become an otome or not.
It is my turn. Oh, Gosh.
I walk into the room where the test was being performed. Yokho, the nurse and the major scientist at Garderobe, was standing next to Natsuki, who was standing next to a chair in the center of the room. "Have a seat, please," Yokho says automatically. She then looks up to make eye contact with me. "Hmm, you look familiar to me. Do I know you?"
"You might. You have probably seen me low-key roaming campus after hours."
"Low-key?" Yokho questions. I just couldn't let this opportunity go.
"Is really high- key. I've been peaked that you like me." The amount of awkward and hilariousness int his room was off the charts. Natsuki and I both had said the same song lyrics at the same time. We are too much alike. Everyone in the room busted out laughing.
As we recover, I reply to Yokho," I'm sorry, but I just meant you have probably seen me here even though I wasn't supposed to be here. You know, since I am not a student...yet."
"Well, how is that? The campus is locked securely. You would either have to know an administrator or be locked in somehow before we locked the front gate, yet after nightly checks. Not that you need to know that..."
"Yeah. Actually it is more like both."
She looks at me with pure confusion. "You can't be serious. Where do I actually know you from?"
Natsuki buts in and adds, "Actually, Mizuki is right."
Yokho seems truly confused now, more-so than a few seconds ago. "Headmistress, you know this girl?"
Natsuki retorted, "It would be strange if I didn't know her. After all, she is my daughter's girlfriend."
"That's it! You date Mizuru. Hmm. Mizuru, Mizuki. You both sounds more like twins than girlfriends," Yokho giggles.
"I agree," I say as I sit down in the seat. "Well, now that that's solved, can I get this done? Not to be rude, but the quicker it is over, the less time I have think about it."
"Of course. Let's get started."