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Tatsuya leads the way to biology class, but something feels off. As we venture further from the main hallway, he suddenly stops and narrows his eyes at me.
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"Why would you try to hit the principal's daughter, hmm?"
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Confusion clouds my face as I stare back at him. "Daughter? Are you talking about Sakura? Come on, Tatsuya, are you messing with me?" I laugh a little, then realize he’s not joining in on the joke. Is this guy for real?
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"Oh really? So you know her?" he says with a sigh, frustration evident in his voice.
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"Sakura Wise? You know, the principal's last name is Wise, you idiot," he adds, giving me a light punch on the shoulder. Well, great. Let's hope the next time I cross paths with Sakura, it’s in a place where she can’t prove a thing against me. My brother mentions that she used to hang around last year during her "sick" days to observe how school operated.
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"I get it. Don’t worry; I won’t try to confront her. At least not here."
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"What was that?"
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"Nothing!" I quickly say my goodbyes to Tatsuya and head to class.
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Walking into biology, I see everyone settled at their desks. Of course, I’m stuck sitting at the front. Ms. Reikio looks up as I enter, raising an eyebrow at my late arrival.
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"Where were you, Ms. Akai?"
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I glance around, scrambling for an excuse. "I was lost. Sorry, Ms. Reikio. I forgot where the classroom was."
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She smiles, seemingly satisfied, and turns to address the class.
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"Alright, everyone, my name is Ms. Reikio, but you can call me Ms. R or Ms. Rio. I don’t mind if you call me 'Teacher' either. I know it might take some time to remember my name, so let’s focus now. I’m going to lay out the policies and rules for this school. Ignoring them could lead to expulsion."
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The moment those words leave her mouth, panic erupts through the classroom.
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"Can everyone just quiet down and listen, please? Seriously, why is everyone so scared of getting expelled? It’s the first week! No one is getting kicked out, right, Ms. R?" A boy with short spiky hair and bright green eyes shouts from the back.
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"That’s correct; no one will be expelled in the first two weeks. The policy states that no teacher can expel a student until the principal addresses the situation and decides what to do. Now, please settle down so we can get through this," she replies, but I find my mind wandering into deep thought as she continues.
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After outlining the policies, Ms. Reikio transitions to dorm life, pulling me back to focus.
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"Everyone will receive a dorm and a roommate. Your roommate could be male or female. The school has decided that, based on middle school votes, students can share rooms regardless of gender. It can be male-male, female-female, or male-female. If you feel uncomfortable with your assigned roommate, you can switch with someone willing to trade; just inform a counselor to facilitate the change. The dorms come equipped with essentials, a kitchen, a living room, a television, seating, two bedrooms with separate bathrooms, and closets. Please note, no one can leave their rooms after 9:00 PM; it's a school rule."
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She pauses, preparing to dismiss us when a girl in the back raises her hand.
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"Ms. R, what about uniforms?"
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"Oh, right, uniforms. There will be three types: one for formal wear, one for physical education, and one for casual wear. Alright, class dismissed! You have a ten-minute break before returning for your next class."
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As the rest of the class spills out, taking their break, I choose to remain in the classroom. I shift my bag to a free seat at the back, rest my head on my desk, and succumb to a light nap. A quick snooze won’t hurt, right?
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