𝗴𝗮𝗺𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴? | 𝗺𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶 𝘅 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

o n e

Most days were like this, taking all the energy out of everyone. The condensation from the rain melted over my window, making my view unclear.

I took in a deep breath, spreading the remains of my butter over my toast. "They're ready!" Lisa yelled, pulling me into a huge hug. "Okay - Okay! Let go." I laughed, setting my knife down carefully on the surface. She slowly let go, making her way around the kitchen table.

"There they are.. happy birthday!" My father called, spreading his arms out, his face was drained from mourning and grief; his eyes were heavy, and he looked paler than he used to.

"Here I am.." I smiled, flickering my eyes uninterestedly towards my un finished breakfast. "You will have to be quick, you don't want to be late on your first day." Lisa grinned, stomping around the room hastily.

"Present time?" My dad called, bellowing both me and my younger sister into the living room. I stepped away from the pile of pink & purple boxes - "I'm too old for this. I'll open them later." I sighed, reluctantly gripping both sides of my backpack.

.../////...

My father checked his watch, eagerly raising an eyebrow at me and nodding towards the door. "Around time you should be heading off as well, see you soon." He smiled awkwardly, showing me out the door, I quickly opened my umbrella.

"Happy birthday!" Lisa called after me, but I was already gone. I had walked halfway past our neighbourhood before they could say another word.

{Things were bad at home, worse than I had imagined. My mother had left us, quite soon after finding out my father had lost his job. After she left - it was better, no more yelling and screaming - or hiding my little sister in my room when my mum got angry.}

After around a year, we were happy. Everything was going smoothly until we found out she had been killed - not only had she been having an affair whilst at my house - but he was some creepy guy.

He followed her around everywhere, it got so bad I was ready to report it to the police.

———————
{Around 20 minutes after arrival.}
———————

I stalked towards the huge crowd, making my way through green and blue umbrella's. "Excuse me- Pardon me- Coming through-" I shuffled toward the front, resting my arm against a small wooden beam.

After what seemed like hours, everyone finally started talking. The heaps of students ushered in between me, running or screaming over to their friends.

My eyes closed once or twice, but I had fixed my gaze steadily on the ground. I felt people try and make eye contact - which was totally unsuccessful; I finally looked up once or twice - to see the same girl stare at me.

I squinted, trying to figure out why she was so eager to look at me, my eyes moved cautiously over her - which was NOT an invitation to talk.

"Hello!" She called after me, laying her hand on my shoulder, I grimaced as I peered down at it, I absolutely hated human touch whatsoever.

"I'm Yumeko." She grinned, pulling her umbrella down from her head, she slowly shook the raindrops off - placing it down by her side.

Silence.

"And? You are? Do you speak?" Her voice raised, prodding my chest with her umbrella to get my attention.

"Y/N." I mumbled under my breath, lowering her umbrella handle from my chest, her eyes lit up -

"A new student! How exciting!" She squealed, pulling me into a huge hug - I stumbled back cautiously into someone else.

"Oh- Ryota!" She called, the figure behind me emerged from the rest of the crowd. "Meet Y/N." She screeched, pushing me into him.

"Hi there." He muttered, giving a glare over to Yumeko. "They're going to be our new friend!" Yumeko screeched again, her hair flying over her shoulders as she waved her hands in the air.

"I'm not quite sure." I stuttered, furrowing my brows at the thought. Her expression faded, her eyes catching ablaze as she moved closer towards me.

"Such nonsense! You're too funny!" She yelled, throwing her hands into my hair.
"I'd rather you didn't touch me." I mumbled, placing her wrists down by her sides.

"So daring as well! We will work well together." She smiled, wrapping an arm around me.

——————
{First Lesson}
——————

"How are you enjoying school?" Yumeko grinned, patting the seat beside her, I moved in and out of students to sit down next to her.

"It's okay- I do have a question though." I asked, placing my hands on my lap.
Her eyes wandered between mine, ready to answer anything.

"What's this talk about gam-" I stopped, her hands quickly fidgeting around her waist, "Gambling! I thought you would ask sometime soon." She smiled, her gaze wandering off around the room.

"Gambling is big at our school, you will find that more and more throughout your education." She carried on, running her fingers through her hair -

"As for me, I am but a beginner." She grimaced, looking back over at me.
"Nonsense." Ryota argued, slouching down next to me.

"She's the best here." He smiled, gazing over to her, "She will teach you all the good tips and tricks -" He laughed. I spectated their awkward silence.

"Finish your sentence." I groaned, waving my hands in between them.
"Oh- my apologies, I was trying to think of what to say." She blushed, covering her hand over her mouth.

"Anyway, you will want to know how to gamble, if anyone challenges you - you have to be ready." Ryota smiled back at me. " - And, you will want to accept every gamble that is offered to you." Yumeko added, smiling proudly into her lap.

"No-" Ryota huffed, "Thats not how it works." He rolled his eyes, gazing back at me. "Anymore questions?" Yumeko smiled, "No.. not anymore." I sniffed, grabbing my bag from my seat.

———————-
{Around two hours later.}
———————-

A small girl ran up to me, her braids running over half her face - her bleached fringe covering her entire forehead, she stopped just in front of me, trying to catch her breath.

"The - President - wants - to - see - you." She huffed, fanning her hand over her face, "In - her - office, around - now." The girl sighed, placing a hand on her head.

"What?" I asked, rapidly trying to make eye contact with the small girl - she looked younger than me - around about 2 years younger.

"I said -" She finally caught her breath, flicking her hair out of her eyes. "I said - The President wants to see YOU in HER office. Now." She groaned, tucking her braids behind her ears.

"- And where would that be?" I rolled my eyes, grabbing my backpack from beside me. Her eyes widened, her jaw opened wide as she stood gawping at me.

"You don't - I - How - Just down - the hall." She sneered, her braids falling to the front of her face. She scrunched up her shirt into her skirt - making it appear shorter - her arms folded behind her back as she watched me walk off.

"Good luck." She laughed, swishing her hair at me before running past me again, her dismembered hair trailing behind her.