"That'll be $12.50," the taxi driver told Misaki and Usui once he pulled up to a curb in Town Square. Usui handed him the amount through the tray and then pushed open his door. Misaki followed lugging her bags out while Usui held his at his side. She would never understand how he could fit everything he needed in such a small suit case. It was basically the size of her carry on. He had no trouble carrying it around the rest of the time, while Misaki had to carry her carry on over her shoulder and drag her suit case around.
She stepped out into the street and Usui slammed the door shut behind her, giving the driver the okay to drive away. They got out of the street onto the curb and both searched around for a place to eat. "How about at that cafe?" She nudged his side and pointed down the side walk to a little coffee shop.
He raised an eyebrow at the suggestion, "Would that be okay for you? It seems like that's more of a place for a snack rather than a meal."
"It'll be fine, I'm sure it will be enough," she shrugged it off and started making her way downtown, walking fast.
Usui followed behind her as she entered into the cafe, making a bell chime. She looked around and saw a waitress, "Miss?"
The waitress turned around and smiled, "Oh, do you need a table?"
She smiled and nodded. The waitress lead them to a table for two and asked what they wanted, "Do you know what you want yet, or should I bring a menu?"
"Two menus, please," Usui spoke up, raising his hand slightly.
"Sure, just wait here a moment," she bowed before leaving to get the menus from the back. Misaki sighed in contempt, she loved little cafes like this one. The atmosphere was pleasing to the senses and the waitresses and waiters were almost always friendly. She pulled the sleeves of her sweater over her hands as a draft blew in from outside when someone entered. Usui watched her and noticed how much she seemed to enjoy it here. He smiled just as the waitress arrived with the menus.
"Here you go," she handed one to Misaki and Usui. "I'll be back soon to take your order," she smiled as she left to cater to other customers.
She came back as she said she would and wrote down in her notepad what they ordered. "Okay, so the miss wants a strawberry crepe, and you just want some coffee?"
They nodded and she nodded too in ackowledgement, taking her leave to prepare what they wanted. The rest of their meal, well, more of a snack, didn't take long. Misaki ate fairly quick and Usui waited for her to finish, taking sips of his coffee as he did. Once she finished she called over the waitress so they could pay for their meal. Misaki paid fully, seeing as Usui had paid for the two taxi rides. The waitress took the money and bowed before leaving and bidding them good-bye as they got up to leave.
The two left through the door, making the bell chime once again. Misaki walked out and looked up and down the street. "The school should be nearby, right?"
"Yeah," he teased, "just up that hill." He pointed forward to a hill with a road winding up.
"Oh," Misaki sighed. "Taxi again?"
"Seems like it," he whistled and got a taxi's attention. It pulled over and they got on, heaving there luggage into it for what seemed like the hundreth time. They plopped into their seats. The driver looked behind him, "So, where you two going?"
"Cross Academy," Misaki told him.
The driver's eyes widened in surprise, "You students?"
"Soon to be," Usui explained.
"Oh, okay," he didn't ask anymore questions and started driving down the road, and up the hill that lead to the huge academy.
Misaki could already see glimpses of it while they road upward. It was fashioned to look really old she assumed. It didn't seem to be breaking apart, so it must've been built that way. "Why would they build a modern school to look so old?" she pondered as the taxi parked in front of the school gates.
She practically leapt out the car door, which left Usui to pay the driver. He thanked him and got out to follow Misaki. The gates were locked, so they couldn't get in.
Misaki tilted her head to the side and crossed her arms, "Didn't he say in the letter that he would greet us?"
"He's probably just running a bit late." He flipped open his phone to check the time "We're early anyways."
"Seriously?" Misaki raised an eyebrow. Usui nodded and she sighed, sitting on some bricks. "We rushed for nothing then."
"Oh, there he is," Usui looked through the gate to see a man with a blonde ponytail rushing toward the gate to unlock it.
"Goodness gracious, I'm so sorry! Were you kept waiting for long?" he rambled as he fumbled with the key.
Misaki shot up and dusted off her pants, walking to stand beside Usui. She looked at the man. Was this really the headmaster?
"No, don't worry, we just arrived," Usui reassured the man.
"Good, good," he finally unlocked it and swung the gate open, "Oh! Watch out!"
Usui nudged Misaki to the side before he opened the gates. Preventing them both from being hit by steel iron. Misaki stumbled, but regained her composure just as quick as she had lost it. She glanced up at Usui, before moving back to stand in front of the now open gate, "Thanks."
He smiled and stood beside her. The headmaster looked at the both of them smiling. He looked them up and down, head to toe. Seemingly pleased with what he saw, he held out his hand for the both of them to shake, "Ms. Ayuzawa, Mr. Takumi. It's a pleasure to meet you two. I'm the headmaster, Kaien Cross."
They shook hands and introduced themselves as well, Misaki going first, "I'm Misaki Ayuzawa, Misaki's just fine. It's nice to finally meet you, Headmaster Cross."
"Usui Takumi. Pleasure's mine," he nodded as he shook Cross's hand.
The headmaster clapped his hands together once the introductions were done and beamed with joy. Misaki smiled and noticed some other people coming up behind him. Usui noticed it too, but just a bit quicker, "Who are they?"
Cross looked confused, but then the people, two to be exact, one female and one male, stood at Cross's side. He looked to them then to Misaki and Usui again, "Oh! These are the two disciplinary committee members, they were supposed to greet you with me, but seeing as I was late, they were running a little late too. This is my daughter, Yuuki Cross, and Zero Kiryuu." He gestured to the two as he introduced them.
The one named 'Yuuki' was bubbly and cheerful. Misaki instantly took a liking to her, she reminded her of her manager, Satsuki Hyoudou. Yuuki waved from where she was standing, instead of shaking their hands, "Hi, I'm Yuuki Cross. It's nice to meet Cross Academy's two new students!"
Misaki smiled as she spoke, feeling a pang of homesickness. She shook it away mentally and looked toward the second member, Zero, with an expectant look. He did nothing but nod to let them know he acknowledged them and kept his hands shoved in his pockets. Misaki subconsciously pursed her lips, "Are all boys at Cross Academy like this?" She thought to herself bitterly.
Cross clapped his hands together again, getting everyone's attention. "Okay then! Yuuki, Zero, I'll need you to show these two to their dorms first. I'm sure they'll need to rest and unpack after their trip. Also, Zero, you will get a uniform for Mr. Takumi. Yuuki, you will get a uniform for Misaki." He smiled and turned around to walk off, "Well, I'll leave you two to it! Oh," he turned around to address Misaki and Usui, "and good luck! We humbly and officially welcome you to Cross Academy!"
Misaki and Usui smiled and waved as he left and then turned to their tour guides. Yuuki smiled, "Okay, well, as you heard. We'll show you two the dorms, but then Zero and I will split up to show you two your separate rooms. We will provide a uniform and then we'll leave you to do whatever you need to do! Feel free to ask us anything you're curious about, and don't mind Zero here." Yuuki noticed Misaki's reaction to his introduction earlier and felt the need to clear him up, "He may seem unapproachable, but he'll help you too if you ever need it." She nudges him in the side a bit harder than necessary, "Right, Zero?"
"Ow, that hurt," he complained and sighed. "Yeah, whatever."
Usui and Misaki looked at the two oddly, but nodded. Yuuki twirled around to walked down the cobblestone walkway, followed by Zero. She raised her arm up, pointing forward, "This way!"
Misaki followed along with Usui behind them and they headed to where they were going to be sleeping for the majority of there highschool years here. Along the way, they passed the path the night students took to get to and from school. Misaki's gaze lingered on it for a bit, "Dorms?" She brushed it off like other things and decided it wasn't important. She'd just ask Yuuki after she was settled. "But still . . . ," Misaki looked back to see the path one more time, "Why another whole set of dorms? Is there a reason, or is it just to separate the students? But, why would they need to separate them?"
Thoughts raced through Misaki's head. She didn't know it, but thoughts along the same lines were running through Usui's head too. He caught Misaki glancing back at the path and was wondering as well. "I'll just ask Kiryuu after we separate from Cross and Misaki," he thought as he kept on walking. The same questions went through their heads, coming up with different answers every time a different reason for the dorms popped up in their minds. They sighed mentally and shook it off. They shouldn't have been this suspicious about just another set of dorms. Or, maybe they should? They glanced behind themselves one last time, looking at the path before it left their sight. They walked on, and followed the two disciplinary committee members to their dorms. Once they made it, they were about to part ways.
Yuuki turned around along with Zero, "Okay, Ayuzawa, you'll be following me now. Takumi, you'll follow Zero."
Misaki and Usui nodded, and just like that, they went down opposite paths. Thoughts still ran through the two former Seika High students.
"Cross Academy . . . ," Misaki thought.
"Cross Academy . . . ," Usui thought as well.
They were synchronized in thought, but neither were aware of it, "What are you hiding?"