The plane hadn't landed yet when I woke up. The trip from New York to Japan was supposed to take like 13 or 14 hours, but it seemed like a lot longer than that. Rubbing my temples, I yawned. Back then I got sick a lot. Probably from not having a lot of food or shelter during the harsh winters. That had been the first time someone else had taken care of me. My mother used to avoid me, saying that she can't work if she's sick, and usually mumbling about how it would be better for her if I would just die from the sickness.

Minami had his laptop out, intently working on something, a frown on his face. "Where are we?" I asked, stretching my limbs over my head. With no response, I sighed. He must be really busy for him to be completely zoned out. Sometimes I wished I could help him, but my knowledge of business and management was basically nothing.

"Bexley."

I nearly jumped out of my seat at his sudden outburst. "Yeah?"

His green eyes rose from the computer screen to meet my amber ones, disapproval in them. "Why is your tutor emailing me to tell me that you skipped—"

Turning my head away to stare out the window, I cut him off, "I told you that I don't like it." Him, the tutor. He was always frustrated with me and rushed through a lot of the material. I had a hard time keeping up.

"Bex, you promised you would try," Minami said, dropping the angry dad act.

Sighing, I still refused to look at him, because if I did, then I would probably give in. "I did try." I tried for a solid three days with that mean tutor. It must have been because he knew about my past as a street kid. A lot of people disliked me because they thought I'd somehow forced Minami to take me in. It was the exact opposite. Minami was the one who kept pestering me. I chewed on my lip. "I… I want to go to a normal school."

The plane was silent for a moment.

"Why the sudden interest?" Minami asked.

I shrugged my shoulders. "I've just been thinking about it." It's kind of lonely when Minami is busy with work. I could have friends if I went to a school, and maybe I'd learn more that way.

Minami pushed the lid of the laptop down halfway to be able to look at me better. "Okay, tell me." He patted the empty seat beside him. He's always surprised me in how he handled absurd requests. I thought parents would force their decisions on their kids, but he's not like that. Minami listened to me and let me figure out the best course for myself through discussion and research.

Sitting Indian style in the chair beside him, I brushed my bangs out of my face. "Don't normal kids go to school? Didn't you?"

Minami laughed at me. "There's a good percentage of kids who are homeschooled and considered normal, so you'll have to do better than that."

I chewed on my lip. "I haven't given it that much thought."

He nodded his head and smiled. "Okay, I hear you. Then how about the rest of the trip, we can look into it together. There's a lot of things I know you'd dislike about a normal school, but if you're really sure it's what you want, then I see no reason not to allow it."

And, he was right. There were things I hated. Having to go every week day and getting up early. The day was longer than when I worked with the tutor. Apparently, there are a lot of rules that I would have to follow. None of that appealed to me, but the other things did. I could make real friends at the school. There's clubs that I'd never heard of, and some of them sounded fun. I didn't even mind wearing a uniform if it wasn't too hideous.

Once a decision was made, Minami laid down the rules for me. "No skipping classes, and if you choose to do this, then you'll stick with it till the end of the year, okay? There won't be any more dropping out just because you don't want to do it anymore." I figured he'd say something like that. After going through at least twelve tutors, eventually Minami would have to make that a rule.

"I can do that," I said with as much confidence as I could muster. Running away was an instinct for me… a habit that Minami had spent years breaking me out of.

"Then I'll get you enrolled. Since I'm planning on being in Japan for a while, I don't want to put off keeping you in school," Minami said, already in business mode. The school we'd decided on was close to the Royal Shining, but it was a bit pricey on tuition. Though, none of that bothered him. He'd already pulled out his phone and began making the calls.

I shook my head and laughed. Nothing is impossible when you're a Kira, I suppose. Enrolling meant that I'd have to stay in Japan for a whole year. While Minami had become comfortable with working overseas, there would be times that he'd have to return to New York… without me. But that's the sacrifice I'd have to live with in making this decision. My mouth dropped open when Minami set his phone down after only a mere ten minutes. "You can't be done already."

Minami grinned brightly. "They're eager to have a Kira enrolling in their school. Our family does donate a good portion of money to them each year, too. They are sending a uniform to the hotel as we speak, and your first day will be Monday." He faked being sad. "You've grown up so fast."

"Oh, stop it!" I laughed, pushing away his hands as he reached to pinch my cheeks. He really is the best. I rocked forward to sit up on my knees and give him a hug. "Thanks, Minami. I really want to try this."

He twisted us side to side dramatically. "I'd do anything for my Bexley! I'm glad you're trying something new. It'll be good for you."

The captain dinged over the intercom. "Mr. Minami, we're beginning our decent into the airport. Please fasten your seatbelts."

We're in Japan already? That thought made my stomach turn. Starting high school was one thing but dealing with the whirlwind that was his family would come first this weekend. There was a big event happening Saturday night, and Minami told me that I had to come. He hated to go, too, so to make himself feel better, he said he wanted to torture me as well with the boring night. The only thing he offered me was that Mei was going to be performing, and I did enjoy hearing him play. He's like a prodigy!

By the time we reached the hotel, I had psyched myself out of going. Minami had his hand firmly in mine, pulling me toward the building. "I'll just live in the cab for the next year. That would be fine, wouldn't it?" I dread being here. There's so many people in this huge lobby. All of them were staring at us, whispering. "Minami, you can let go of my hand."

"I can't let my little Bex get lost in the crowd. Besides, I'm not entirely sure you won't run away if I do let go," Minami replied with a joking tone. Like he owned the place, he took me directly to the private elevator in the back. The doors slid closed with thud, and finally, he released my hand.

The blood began to return to my palm. Shaking my tingling hand, I sighed loudly. "So, why did we have to come here again?"

Minami shrugged. "A vacation?" He sounded unsure himself. Giving me his signature grin, he patted my head. "Don't look so worried! You'll be just fine! It'll be good news that you're starting at a high school. Plus, you get to spend all of tomorrow night with me in a room full of stuck up old men and women. Doesn't that sound like a great time?"

"Sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Can't I just stay in the room? I'm more of a Netflix and pizza on a Saturday night kind of girl," I said. Comfy clothes. No one to judge how many episodes of a reality tv show that I've watched.

"Nope, not an option. If I have to suffer, so do you," Minami said as the elevator doors opened. Whisking me out into the hallway, there were voices coming from the lounge room. It was the other two who were the same age as Minami. "Hey Mac, Charles. Miss us?" His hands were on my shoulders, holding me tight enough that I couldn't slip away.

Awkward. It's always so awkward when I'm around. It wasn't that they disliked me, more like they disapproved of me. My nervousness took over. The only thing I could do was take a step back, my back hitting Minami's torso. They're so intimidating… Chiaki hadn't even cast a glance at me, but Toma was staring, with those cold blue eyes. I gulped in slight fear. Minami squeezed my shoulders, a silent reassuring gesture. Staying in Japan for a whole year was going to much harder than I thought.