AN: Just wishing a happy reading!

*Not beta read, Mistakes likely to be present.

The girl with the two-tone hair briskly walked over to him, her arms stretching to the sides wider and wider the nearer to him she got, before she was finally close enough to wrap her arms around his body in a joyful embrace.

"Kyocchi, I can't believe it's really you! I haven't seen you in forever!" She looked up at him and beamed, "How are you? How've things been? Is your Auntie Ena doing alright?"

Kyouya was taken aback by the sudden embrace and the rush of questions, but it didn't take long for the surprise on his face to melt into a warm smile. As she hugged him, a flood of memories came rushing back to him, each one a precious part of the bright, colorful past he shared with Galaco. He gently returned the hug, feeling a mixture of nostalgia and happiness.

"Gala-tan, wow… it's really you," he said, still somewhat in disbelief. "I'm doing alright, and yeah, Auntie Ena's good too. She'll be thrilled to hear I ran into you! How've you been, though? Your parents all good?"

Galaco's excitement was almost palpable, "I've been great! Life's been a bit of a rollercoaster, but not like in a bad way, you know? Mom and Dad are doing well, too. Their jobs kept the three of us moving around the country a lot, so I've been to a bunch of different places. It was tough sometimes, but I got to see and learn a lot, so it wasn't all bad."

Kyouya nodded, feeling both sympathetic of the girl's situation and curious of the things she's experienced. "That sounds intense, but also pretty amazing. I can't imagine how much you've seen and done."

"Yeah, it was a lot, but I think it really helped me grow. Plus, now we're finally settled back here in Shizuoka, so it's like everything's coming full circle."

"Well, it's great seeing you again, it's been so long," Kyouya agreed, still trying to process how much she had changed— and yet, how much she hadn't. "You know, you look… different. In a good way, I mean! The hair, the vibe… it's like you're still the same Gala-tan, but all grown up."

She giggled, playfully flipping her hair. "Thanks! I guess we've both changed a lot. But deep down, I'm still the same girl who used to drag you around the neighborhood looking for adventures."

Kyouya chuckled, the memory of their childhood escapades bringing a smile to his face. "Yeah, I remember those days. You always did have a knack for finding the most random things to do."

Galaco's gaze shifted to the guitar slung over his shoulder and her eyes widened with curiosity. "Hey, is that a guitar you've got there? I don't remember you ever being into music when we were younger."

Kyouya's face brightened, "Oh, yeah, it is. I've actually developed a real passion for music, especially playing the guitar. It's become a huge part of my life, so much so that it's the reason I'm even here right now."

Galaco's eyes lit up even more. "Wow, that's awesome! I've actually gotten into music myself recently as well. I've been learning DJing and working with electronic music. It's been such a blast, and that's what got me into Yamaha too!"

"DJing?" Kyouya's interest was piqued. "That sounds really cool! I'd love to hear more about it sometime."

"Definitely!" she said, her enthusiasm unwavering. "I'm really excited to talk more about it. And it's so wild that we both ended up getting into music. Maybe we can collaborate on something sometime."

Kyouya grinned, his smile widening. "That would be amazing. I'd really enjoy that."

Galaco chuckled, giving him a playful nudge. "Well, I hope you're ready for more of that this year. We've got a lot of lost time to make up for, Kyocchi!"

Kyouya couldn't help but smile wider at her enthusiasm. "I wouldn't expect anything less from you, Gala-tan."

She sighed, "Gotta say though, I've really missed you and all the fun we used to have. But whaddya know, we end up reuniting after all these years to go to the same school! Crazy, huh?"

Kyouya nodded, "Yeah, it's wild. I never thought we would've crossed paths here of all places."

She chuckled, giving him a playful nudge. "Guess it was fate, huh?"

"Ha, yeah, fate..."

Fate...

'Wait!'

It had just then occurred to Kyouya that, at that point in time, he'd been tuning out pretty much everyone and everything that wasn't Galaco. A sudden rush of awareness hit him as he realized that they were still in the middle of being assigned to their respective classes, and the other students were likely watching their reunion unfold. His eyes darted all over the room, from Yuuki's sparkling, curious eyes, to Yuuma's barely hidden smirk, to William's silent gaze, before finally settling on Yukari, who had been observing the scene with an unreadable expression.

"Yuzuki Yukari, 1-1."

Kyouya tuned in just in time to hear her name be called and learn that she too would be in Class 1-1, along with him and Galaco.

His heart leaped, and he smiled encouragingly at her. Or, rather, he would have, if her head wasn't held straight away from his direction as she made her way over to join the others of Class 1-1.

That alone made him feel conscious of how close he'd been standing to Galaco, even after they broke their hug. He took a half-step back, enough to create a more acceptable amount of distance between them but not too much that Galaco would notice it and question.

"Hm? Kyo, you okay? Looks like you got a bit distracted there."

"Huh?" And now, in focusing on Yukari, he'd tuned out Galaco instead. Great. "Oh yeah, I'm all good. Don't worry about it."

She seemed a bit skeptical of his words, but didn't press him further. Instead, she continued on.

"We've got so much to catch up on, Kyocchi. I wanna hear everything— what you've been up to, how life's been… everything!"

Kyouya nodded, but his mind still raced as he tried to fully regain his composure. The excitement of reuniting with Galaco had made him forget about everything else around him, and now that reality had set back in, he couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious. Yukari's reaction bothered him, and while he sort of understood why it did, he didn't really understand why it did either.

Galaco, on the other hand, seemed completely unaware of the subtle tension, her focus still on Kyouya as she beamed with happiness. "It's gonna be so great to talk properly later," she said, her voice full of enthusiasm.

"Yeah, definitely," Kyouya replied, though his thoughts were still partly on Yukari.

Very soon, the crowd of students were all organized themselves into their respective groups. Kyouya took another quick glance at Yukari, her expression calm and composed, unlike the more playful girl he'd spoke to the day prior. It was hard to tell what she was thinking at that point, but he couldn't shake the feeling that he might've done something wrong, even if unintentionally.

' 'Done something wrong'? What could you have possibly done wrong, Kyouya? You were just greeting an old friend you haven't seen in years, nothing wrong with that. Besides, it's not like Yuzuki-san is your—'

Pushing that thought aside, he reminded himself to stay focused on the orientation. There would be plenty of time to sort out his thoughts and feelings later. For now, he needed to navigate through this school procedure.

. . . . . .

After the students of each class had been established, they left the auditorium to begin their official tour of the facilities on the school campus. Their first stop was the dome with the sign 'Physical Education'. The Phys Ed Dome was a hub of activity, offering everything from traditional sports courts to advanced VR training rooms where students could experience simulated environments, such as virtual mountain trails or futuristic sports arenas. The dome was essentially the school gymnasium, and it modular design allowed for a seamless transition between different sports and fitness activities, which was sure to make it a favorite among those with a passion for athletics.

Next to the Physical Education Dome, they found the Aquatics Dome, a facility dedicated to aquatic sports. It featured an Olympic-sized pool for competitive swimming and water polo, a diving pool with various platforms, and a recreational pool with adjustable depths for casual swimming and water aerobics. Beyond sports, the dome included a wave pool for surfing, an indoor waterfall and stream for relaxation, and hydrotherapy pools for therapeutic exercises. A glass-walled observation deck allowed spectators to watch, and the aquatic research labs also present offered hands-on studies in marine biology.

Next, they visited the Science and Innovation Dome, and the students marveled at the high-tech laboratories dedicated to robotics, biochemistry, and environmental research. The dome featured cutting-edge equipment like advanced robotics arms and DNA sequencers, as well as interactive displays and workstations for hands-on experimentation.

Inside the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Dome was a sensory delight, filled with professional-grade kitchens, a mock restaurant for practice service, and a bakery where students could experiment with molecular gastronomy and perfect their craft. The dome also included a café area where students could showcase their culinary creations to their peers. Everyone seemed to figure that it would make a good spot for socializing and sampling new dishes.

The Literature and Humanities Dome was a quieter, more contemplative space, featuring expansive reading rooms, digital archives, and creative writing labs. The walls were lined with bookshelves filled with classic and contemporary works, and the digital interfaces allowed students to access rare manuscripts or explore virtual literary worlds. This dome also included a space for interdisciplinary studies, where literature intersected with other forms of art, such as graphic novels or screenplay writing, and a more general library area where students could immerse themselves in the world of literature. The library was a blend of traditional and modern, with towering shelves filled with physical books, alongside sleek, digital kiosks where students could browse vast online collections. There was soft, ambient lighting creating a cozy atmosphere, perfect for quiet study sessions or deep dives into complex texts.

Finally came time to explore the dome Kyouya had been anticipating most— The Visual and Performing Arts Dome. This dome combined the best of both worlds. In the visual arts section, the group found traditional painting and drawing studios bathed in natural light, as well as digital labs equipped with graphic tablets, 3D printers, and animation software. This dome also included spaces for fashion design, with textile labs, sewing rooms, and even 3D body scanners for custom garment creation, but what Kyouya was most interested in was the performing arts section. His eyes lit up as they entered this section, especially the area dedicated to music. Walking through the hall revealed signed portraits of artistes who'd graduated Yamaha, Kyouya admiring each and every one but particularly glowing when he saw the portrait of Shion Kaito. Continuing on, the sight of the soundproof music studios instantly drew him in, each one equipped with an impressive array of instruments and recording gear. The grand theater with its adjustable acoustics was a marvel in itself. Kyouya imagined himself performing there, the sound perfectly tailored to every note he played. But it was the motion capture space that really caught his attention. He could almost see the possibilities for blending live performances with digital elements, sparking his imagination. He wandered over to the section where various guitars were displayed, ranging from electric to acoustic, each one more beautiful than the last. The sight of so many guitars in one place made his heart race with excitement. He couldn't resist the urge to reach out and strum one, feeling the familiar comfort of the instrument in his hands.

He continued to explore the music studios, each room offering its own unique setup— from classic recording booths to high-tech mixing stations. The thought of experimenting with sound, recording new tracks, and maybe even collaborating with other talented musicians had him buzzing with possibilities.

Kyouya was far from the only one who'd taken to the music section, as Galaco was busying herself with examining the mobile DJ cart that sat nearby, built for the organization and transportation of equipment used by people of her talent sphere. What surprised Kyouya, though, was the sight of William, his grey eyes quietly looking all around, seeming to be fascinated and even rather impressed by the paraphernalia housed within the music area. Kyouya narrowed his eyes at him a bit, thinking back to when he asked about his 'super-special talent' and how the boy hadn't given him a real answer.

'Is his talent something music-related...?'

In the corner of his narrowed eyes, Kyouya could spot lilac hair so he turned his attention to it and saw Yukari observing In the corner of his narrowed eyes, Kyouya spotted Yukari, her lilac hair unmistakable as she observed the various instruments on display. She seemed particularly interested in a sleek, black grand piano that stood in the center of the room, its polished surface reflecting the soft lighting. Yukari's expression was thoughtful, her fingers lightly trailing over the keys as if she were considering playing it.

Kyouya watched her for a moment, admiring the way she moved with quiet confidence. He wondered if she played piano, or if she was just appreciating the instrument's beauty. There was something almost serene about the way she interacted with it, as though she had a deep connection to music that he hadn't fully seen before. He thought about going over and trying to converse with her for a bit, but ultimately decided to leave her be.

Eventually, it was time to move on from the domes and head over to the classrooms. While the group left, Kyouya couldn't help but glance back at the music section, already envisioning the countless hours he'd spend there. It was clear that the Visual and Performing Arts Dome had quickly become his favorite part of the campus.

. . . . . .

Now on the top floor of the main building, which was where the classrooms were located, the students of Class 1-1 and Class 1-2 split off to their separate homerooms. Yuuki, along with Yuuma, Rin and Len, had ended up in Class 1-2, so Kyouya, with Mizuki, Moke and Iroha tagging along, had to say goodbye to them for the time being.

"Hmph! Kyouya-kun, Mizuki-chan, Moke-kun, Iroha-chan! This isn't fair! We should've all been in the same class together," Yuuki pouted, his lower lip sticking out as he glared playfully at Kyouya.

Kyouya chuckled, giving the shorter boy a friendly pat on the shoulder. "Hey, don't worry, Takahashi-kun. We're still in the same school, plus you and I are dorm neighbours, so we'll see each other all the time.

Iroha giggled, "Besides, it'll be fun to hear about all the crazy shenanigans you all get up to, given you've got two of the biggest nutjobs I've ever met."

"Hey, you better not be referring to me as one of those 'nutjobs', you hear, kitty cat?" Rin threatened with her hands on her hips.

Iroha simply looked off to the side with her arms folded, "Not calling any names~"

Yuuki's head cocked to the side, "Hm? Hey, who's the other nutjob, though?"

The group sweatdropped and Yuuma ruffled Yuuki's blond hair. "We'll tell ya later, nutjob."

Mizuki looked up at Yuuma with a soft smile. "I was really hoping we'd be in the same class, Roro-kun. But it's okay. We'll make the most of the time we do have together."

Yuuma smiled back, giving her a reassuring nod. "Yeah, we'll still have plenty of chances to hang out, Mio-chan. And hey, now we have more to talk about when we do see each other."

Mizuki's smile widened slightly. "Right. It'll make the moments we do get to spend together even more special."

Moke glanced at the classroom door for 1-1, noticing the other students of Class 1-1 all filing into the room. "W-We should get going before we're late..."

Len nodded, "Yeah. Well then, we'll see you all later, okay?"

Yuuki waved goodbye. "Yeah, see you later, you guys! Don't have too much fun without us, okay?"

Kyouya was about to bid them goodbye, then remembered something, gently grabbing Yuuki by the shoulder and leaning towards him. "Hey, Takahashi-kun, maybe you should give them the heads up on a certain 'duo-dorm neighbour', yeah?"

Yuuki instantly knew who Kyouya was alluding to, and gasped, glancing towards a William who seemed more preoccupied in brushing off his blazer with a mild look of annoyance on his face than talking to anyone else there. "Oh yeah, good idea! I need to warn the others about Wil-kun's grumpy attitude! Ahh, now I wish I was in your class, Kyouya-kun! Why did I have to end up with him?"

Kyouya chuckled softly, giving Yuuki a reassuring pat on the back. "Just don't let him bother you too much. I'm sure you'll manage fine."

With a final wave, Yuuki and the others headed off towards their classroom, while Kyouya, Mizuki, Moke, and Iroha made their way into Class 1-1.

The quartet quickly found their seats, which were labelled with their surnames on the desks, and settled down. Funnily enough, the row he sat in consisted of Iroha, Mizuki and Galaco, but he was separated from them by a small girl with long blonde hair ('There's a lot of blonds at Yamaha,' he inwardly noted) and a large plush bunny. While Kyouya slung his guitar case over the back of his chair, he noticed that a couple of the 5 people in the row behind him were Moke and, a little more notably, Yukari. Moke was the one who sat directly behind him, but Yukari, who sat right next to Moke, was where his attention lied. His cobalt eyes met her violet ones as he was turned facing the back of the room, and for a moment, there was a subtle tension in the air, a brief uncertainty that lingered between them. Kyouya wondered whether it was due mainly to the newness of their surroundings, or the odd, somewhat distant feeling that arose from earlier that day when he and Galaco reunited.

But then, Yukari's lips curled into a gentle smile, and she gave him a small wave. The tension he felt instantly melted away, replaced by a warmth that spread through his chest. Kyouya found himself smiling back, his initial unease dissipating as quickly as it had appeared.

That awkward feeling from earlier that morning, it seemed to no longer matter to either of the two. The day was just beginning, and as they settled into their seats, Kyouya felt a renewed sense of anticipation for what lay ahead.

A few seconds later, a mature woman with long, pink hair strode into the classroom, and all the students rose to greet her.

She gave a small laugh, "Good morning, everyone. You may all sit."

The students did as they were told, and the rosette smiled warmly at the class, her gaze sweeping over each student with a gentle, welcoming energy. "Welcome to your first day at Yamaha Academy. I'm Megurine Luka-sensei, and I'm delighted to be your homeroom teacher. This year will be filled with creativity, discovery, and growth, and I'm excited to see all the amazing things you will achieve. Let's work together to make this a year to remember. Now," with a clap of her hands, she declared, "let's get started on this journey together."

Hehe, looks like Yukarin wasn't too pleased at the whole Kyo/Galaco (GalaKyo :D) scene in this chapter, huh? Oh well, it's not like it means anything more than a reunion between friends... right?

Lol, well, that aside, now for the double-upload explanation. You might be thinking, 'Leilani, why do you feel the need to explain yourself for a double-upload, it's not like it's a bad thing and lots of authors do it too!'

Yeah, but it's not really something I ever planned to do and, well, remember how I said I'd only ever upload one chapter if the very next chapter was already written?

I actually haven't written anything for Chapter 8 yet (I have ideas on what I wanna do for it though, so nor worries there), but the thing is that my summer holiday is almost over and I'm going to be starting school again very soon so I'm not certain of the next time I'll be able to post a new chapter. I'll definitely try to work on it when school starts again, but obviously I won't be able to put as much attention on it as before as I'll need to be focusing on my academics and other school-related matters as well.

I also didn't want to just post Chapter 6, and then wait until Chapter 8 was done to post Chapter 7 because I consider Ch. 6 and 7 to be kind of like two-parter chapters due to the whole orientation arc (would you call this an arc? i honestly have no idea,,,) with Ch6 being pt. 1 and 7 pt. 2, ofc, so it'd feel incomplete to post one and have such a long period of time pass before the other is posted. It's not like the orientation is done either, I plan to finish it all up in Ch. 8, but these were the 2 chapters I at least wanted to get out together before the mini-hiatus.

As for when I want to post Ch8, as I said I'm really not sure when I'll actually be able to do it, but I want to say maybe sometime in October is likely/when I'll try to upload (pls don't hold me to that tho, i'm not great at promises as a certain pair of my other stories can attest to).

Just telling you all this because I do not want anyone to think I abandoned this story or just dropped it with no explanation. I really really enjoy working on this story, and I really want to get my ideas for it out there, so I don't see myself quitting it, at least at this point in time or any time in the near future. If I did for any reason though, I wouldn't hesitate to let you all know.

But yeah. That's basically it, I think. In the meantime, I'm hoping you guys stay well and safe!

Well, until next time (whenever that may be)~! Love you guys!

~*:･ﾟ✧