6:37 P.M.
Irises that encompassed the color of the transforming emerald leaves that graced the glorious trees of Astraea Hill watched as girls passed by, usually walking in numbers down the second-floor hallway of Miator's dormitory corridor. Though Oshiro Serin's spirits were still high in hope, the day's events had dulled her. Things hadn't gone as planned today, at all. She sighed ruefully, and watched as yet another trio of girls clad in traditional, conservative (though cute, Serin had to admit) catholic school uniforms trotted on by. She'd seen quite a few girls go down this hall, and figured the black dresses must be the uniform belonging to her school. Miator's uniforms were cute, but... She sighed. She'd look so well in the pristine, sophisticated dress of Spica. But wearing such a uniform would be but a dream for Serin now; she was a student of St. Miator.
She'd stepped away from the doorway to wait upon her roommate's appearance, and stood stiffly against the wall, by the door. Some gave her passing glances, sometimes accompanied by whispers. Serin pouted, furrowing her brow. Was she an object of gossip already? Was it because she was a transfer, or had she already done something embarrassing? "Oh, Serin, you've got it out for yourself now. People are already talking, by tomorrow you'll be a demonized slut and no one will want to touch you, and you won't be allowed within the church because of what people are saying." She dipped her head, and rubbed her temples with her fingers as her mind raced off with other anxious thoughts.
The sound of approaching footsteps cut her short, and, blinking, Serin looked up, and to her right. She made out two figures, but having her eyes closed shut as tightly as she did, she had to rub them for her vision to come back into focus. By the time she did so, the figures were closer, and she recognized only one of them as the one and only silver-haired beauty she had met earlier that day. It was almost 7 o' clock; had they only met two hours ago? Serin's mind whirred, and her breath caught in her throat as the girl turned to look at her. The girl smiled slightly, in acknowledgment, and Serin's mind scurried away from her, dragging the silver-haired girl's name along with it. Just as Serin's luck would have it, the girl and her companion stopped in front of Serin, looking upon her.
"Hello." The voice of silk wove it's way downwards and into Serin's ears, dancing among her being.
Serin looked upwards at the girl, for she was significantly taller. Her emerald eyes washed over the beauty, from the points of the girl's black heels to tips of her silver tresses, to the porcelain face that seemed without flaw, Serin's eyes coming to rest on the other girl's own. Serin inhaled sharply as she made eye contact with the forest green irises that seemed so deep, so obscuring. She found she couldn't move her gaze away, and felt uncomfortable in being in such a state. "Her eyes have so much depth, it's as though her soul has no end... Why can't I remember her name?" And, as her mind came trotting back to her with thoughts of Astraea's beautiful trees and landscape, it brought with it the girl's name.
"Hanazono..." Serin's voice found itself, and trickled out of her lips like water from a stream, "... Shizuma." She finished.
The girl accompanying Shizuma, a shorter (yet still considerably tall) lifelong friend, with short, dark blue hair (almost like her roommate's, yet darker, Serin noted later) and hardened topaz eyes, seemed to be startled at Serin's words, a look of slight incredulity passing upon her face. Serin could see this girl out of the corner of her eye, yet still seemed lost within Shizuma's. She noticed Shizuma step forward, but then the blue-haired girl spoke. "It's time for dinner, Shizuma."
At this, Shizuma stopped her approach on Serin, her hands on the fourth-year's shoulders, much to Serin's surprise. The silver-haired beauty nodded, and looked towards her friend. "We should be going, then." Shizuma turned and proceeded to leave, giving one last glance to Serin before continuing down the hall. Serin noticed that her friend also looked over at her one last time, as well. Feeling a bit self-conscious, Serin flushed and looked away, stiffening a bit against the wall.
"Her friend is a bit intimidating..." She mumbled, looking down at her shoes. She then realized how much she must have obviously stuck out since the time she arrived here, because of her clothing. She wasn't wearing normal uniform attire like the rest of the girls - in fact, she hadn't gotten her uniform yet at all, and reminded herself one needed to be ordered - but she was still donned in her light, cornflower blue sundress and white buckle shoes. "No wonder they've been whispering..." She thought dejectedly. She didn't like to attract too much attention to herself, but sticking out like a sore thumb wasn't going to do much in passing her by unnoticed. She needed a uniform, and soon.
Serin jumped as she heard the clicking of the mechanics within the doorhandle, and watched as the door opened. The blue-haired girl who'd attacked her earlier stepped out silently, clad in the black Miator dress uniform. Serin noted that she looked a bit solemn, and quickly felt unsure of herself, or what she should say. But, before Serin could say anything, the girl seemed to compose herself, and the look on her face looked as if it lifted to a mood that was considerably higher than the one she must have been in not minutes ago. Serin couldn't help but smile weakly in return.
"Hi, I'm sorry, I'm sure you weren't expecting that." The blue-haired girl flushed a bit, closing the door behind her and facing Serin. She frowned a bit as she took a better look at Serin: Serin, in response, winced a bit at the uncomfort she felt from being scrutinized by strangers. "Oh, I must have given you a fright." The girl's voice seemed lace with apology, to which Serin only nodded slightly. "I'm really very sorry," She apologized once more, "I.. I was just expecting someone else..." Her eyes dropped, and a look of guilt settled upon her face.
Serin raised her hands as if surrender, and laughed a bit uneasily. "Oh, no, it's okay." She offered, "Don't worry about it, no harm done." She smiled, twirling around a couple of times, and waving her arms a bit. "See? Perfectly fine." Though she didn't want to admit, her shoulder hurt just a bit more than "perfectly fine". But, she wasn't about to make this girl feel any worse than she already seemed to feel. "Listen," Serin's voice softened as she bent down and tried to look at the girl's face, "Let's just start over, okay?" Smiling, she clasped her hands together, and straightened her stature. "My name is Oshiro Serin, fourth year at St. Miator Girl's Academy." She announced, a bit loudly. "I'm really excited and nervous to begin my year here, but I'm looking forward to it." She added, a bit quieter.
The blue-haired girl had looked up at Serin, and now giggled lightly behind her hand that she raised to her lips. Nodding, she spoke, "It's nice to," She paused, "... Formally meet you, Oshiro-san." Smiling, she went on. "My name is Suzumi Tamao, and I'm a fourth-year as well, and, apparently, you are my new roommate." Her happy expression faltered a bit at the end, and a pang of guilt shot through Serin.
"Does she not like me already?" Serin wondered, but she saw Tamao's face brighten back up after a second. Smiling in return, Serin spoke. "Serin, is fine. It's nice to meet you, Tamao-san." She bowed slightly, formally.
"It's also a pleasure to meet you, too, Serin-chan." Tamao smiled, bowing in return. "I'd love to talk more, but it's already time for dinner, and if we're late we'll be scolded for interrupting." She shrugged, as if apologizing for the rules. She held out her hand, and spoke, "If you've only just got here, I'm sure you must be hungry. Let's go?" She offered, a generous smile upon her features.
Serin was a bit taken aback, to say the least. This girl was naked, on top of her, and broken down into tears, only minutes ago. But now, she was perfectly composed, and even offering a hand to her. Though she was still a bit perturbed by her roommate, and the happenings at Astraea so far in general, Serin took Tamao's hand, allowing herself to be led down the corridor only in favor of her grumbling stomach. As she was led behind the girl, Serin couldn't help but feel some sort of admiration, and uneasiness. She really hoped their meeting wouldn't put a dent in any potential friendship between them: one of Serin's greatest fears upon coming here was an unhealthy establishment between her and her future roommate. Serin bit her lip, and walked by Tamao, eying her from the corner of her vision.
"Hey, Tamao-san?" Serin moved her eyes forward as Tamao glanced at her.
"Yes?"
Serin bit her lower lip, and reconsidered her words. "Where do I get a uniform?" She looked down hopelessly at her dress.
Tamao smiled, chuckling lightly. "I can take you to order one tomorrow, if you'd like. It's too late to go order today."
Serin nodded, and remained quiet until they reached the dining hall.
Every nerve within Serin's body told her to turn tail and run away upon entering the dining hall. It took all of her willpower, and a bit of quiet reassurance from Tamao, to keep Serin from listening to her body and running away. As soon as Tamao opened the doors before her, everything seemed to fall completely quiet, and Serin could feel hundreds of pairs of eyes on her. After she'd braved the first few steps inside (behind Tamao, of course), the voices seemed to ebb and flow once again, but she still felt the heat of people staring, or looking. She held onto Tamao's arm, and Serin realized this must have been too forward, but she couldn't help it. "Quit being so informal, Serin." She cursed, "People are going to think you have no etiquette." But she couldn't bring herself to let go, and continued to grip her roommate's arm as if it were a lifeline.
"Hey, Hikari!" Sitting at one of the tables reserved for Spica, Yaya poked her best friend in the side. "Look! There's Serin-san." She pointed, and Hikari's blue eyes followed the direction of Yaya's slim finger. Serin noticed, and upon seeing them, smiled in recognition. Yaya and Hikari returned the smile, and waved cheerfully.
"Oh, Tamao-san, look, there's someone I know-" Serin let go of her grip on Tamao's arm, and reached out to move in the direction of the Spica tables, to go over to Yaya and Hikari. She blinked in surprise, though, when she felt a hand grab her and pull her back.
"No, Serin-chan! You can't go sit over there." Tamao spoke, "The schools have to sit with their own respective students," She wagged a finger at Serin, "And, besides. You must meet the Etoile before anything." She smiled.
"..Etoile..?" Serin knew the word meant 'star' in French, for she had a basic understanding of the language, but didn't have a clue as to what Tamao meant. "What's the Etoile?" She questioned, confusion on her features.
"You didn't do much research before coming here, did you?" Tamao chuckled. "The Etoile is the most famous girl on Astraea, loved and respected." Tamao nodded. "She's a student representative for all three schools."
"We follow that kind of system?" Serin couldn't help but ask, and bit back on her own tongue. "Really, Serin, quit being so rude!" Her cheeks flushed with embarrassment at her question. Tamao only laughed.
"It's not dictatorial, Serin-chan!" She laughed. "She's just a mediator, and someone for the girls to look up to, is all." She smiled. "Come on!" Locking arms with Serin, Tamao led the way forward, through the aisles between Miator tables. She finally reached her destination, and pulled Serin forward. "Excuse me, she's here to meet Etoile-sama." Tamao spoke to two girls who were standing at a table, one with short fuchsia-colored hair, and another with longer, darker hair. They smiled slightly, nodded, and moved aside to reveal-
"Shizuma-san!" Serin blurted out, and quickly covered her mouth with her free hand as quite a few heads turned to look at her, including the one that belonged to the girl of whose name she so impolitely shouted.
Shizuma was sitting down, and her blue-haired companion was standing beside her chair, the girl's topaz eyes now piercing through Serin's very being. "How scary..." Serin though, her face flushing a deep red in embarrassment. Collective whispering could be heard about the room, along with the fadings of audible gasps.
"How dare you-!" Shizuma's companion began, angrily, before being cut off.
"It's okay, Miyuki." Shizuma's voice, calm and unwounded, spoke out from her fair lips. She accompanied her words with a gesture, waving off her companion. The blue-haired girl clenched her jaw, and looked down at Shizuma in surprise, but backed off nonetheless. Shizuma rose from her seat, stepping closer to Serin. She said nothing, but looked down at the fourth-year, a calm smile resting upon her face.
"Uhm.." Serin didn't know quite what to say at all. She wasn't sure of what she was to be doing, so she averted her eyes, and gave Tamao a pleading look. The girl must have caught it, because Tamao grasped her arm reassuringly and helped Serin take a step forward towards Shizuma.
"Serin-chan, this is the Etoile." Tamao whispered, though she was still baffled as to how Serin knew Shizuma's name. "Etoile-sama." She whispered again, to give Serin emphasis on what Shizuma was to be called, with proper respect, so Serin wouldn't stumble over her words again and create an uproar.
Nodding, Serin swallowed a forming knot in her throat, and exhaled deeply. Though she was still very confused, she spoke. "I am fourth-year Oshiro Serin. It's a pleasure to meet you, Shi-" She paused, and looked over at Tamao, who was staring worriedly at her. Moving her eyes back to the silver-haired girl that stood before her, she corrected herself. "... Etoile-sama." She bowed, deeply and formally. It was all she could do to keep from collapsing: she was so nervous, she felt her legs were going to buckle and give out at any given moment. She stood back up straight, checking that her posture was refined.
"Welcome to Astraea Hill and St. Miator, Oshiro Serin." Shizuma nodded, and bowed slightly. She looked at Serin for a few seconds, a mocking smile on her face. This made Serin uneasy, and she made her scurried retreat with Tamao to whichever seats were available for dinner. As they sat, the students commenced into prayer, led by the Etoile, and were encouraged to eat afterwards.
Serin, though hungry, felt uneasy, and could only poke at her plate. "Jeez, what is up with this place?" She thought. Nothing had gone quite smoothly at all. She sighed, putting a forkful of greens delicately into her mouth, and chewing slowly. She could still feel eyes on her and hear the whispered gossip about the otherwise noisy room.
Author's Note:
Chapter 2, Part 2! And I'm already not sure where I'm going with this... I'm still fleshing out Serin, trying to make her her own character, though I don't exactly know all her attributes yet. She tends to put her foot in her mouth quite a lot, though... And, she also has some tendency to keep things irrevocably formal, at least upon first impression.
This was originally intended to be ShizumaxOC, and I'm still thinking it's going to be: so if that's not what you want, well, I'm sorry, haha. But I'm just sort of seeing how this plays out as I go. The next chapter should include Serin and Tamao, and possibly explain Nagisa's whereabouts. If you like it, I'm glad: If you don't, well, again, I'm sorry, haha. I'm trying not to make Serin resemble Nagisa, but it's weird writing fanfic while watching the series. Too many canon feels mixing with OC feels.
Again, thanks for reading, and R&R if you'd be so kind! xo