Underneath the Moonlight || Osorō Shidesu x OC

1 - Akademi Academy

Week 1

Well, I thought to myself, staring up at the pearly gates of Akademi Academy. My new life as a rich snob begins today.

I inhaled and took my first steps as an official Akademi Academy student onto the glittering school grounds.

Not even two weeks ago, I was a normal (yet undeniably rich) student at an academy in America, where, even though my Japanese father scolded me for grades below a B, and even though I'd experienced a traumatic event two months prior, I was mostly able to be laid-back and carefree about my school life. But now... with my father's already booming business taking off internationally, he decided to pack everything up in America and move to Japan, where the first thing he did was bring me to the most prestigious school he could find — Akademi Academy — and enroll me as soon as possible.

From now on, I knew my carefree days were officially over. There was no way my father would allow me to slack off at such a high-esteemed school like Akademi. The thought made me wish we'd never moved here.

Staring at a small slip of paper as I walked, I didn't need to look around to know the other students around me were staring. As a new student and an American, I stood out a lot; I'd have been more surprised if no one noticed me.

I eventually found my locker, and the tan blond boy shutting the locker next to mine immediately noticed my presence, turning and saying, in Japanese, "I haven't seen you here before. What's your name?"

"Akiyama, Athena. I just transferred here from America," I replied, changing my shoes. "You are?"

His eyebrows shot up. "America! I thought you looked a bit American, but... you must be partially Japanese, too." I nodded my confirmation, and his sky-blue eyes twinkled. "I'm Rito, Aso. What class are you in? I could show you the way."

I smiled, gently shutting my locker. "Thank you, that's so nice of you, Aso— I mean, Rito-kun." I quickly corrected myself upon remembering my father's advice: Always refer to your peers with proper formalities unless given permission otherwise.

"Oh, please, just call me Aso." He grinned, still waiting for me to tell him my class number.

"Thank you, Aso," I repeated, this time using his first name, then added, "In that case, please call me Athena." Glancing down at my paper again, I read out loud, "Class 2-2. I'm in class 2-2."

Aso's eyebrows shot up yet again. "Really? Me too, that's awesome! Want me to show you our classroom now?"

I shook my head, politely declining. "Not right now, thank you. I'd like to look around a bit more before class starts."

"Oh, of course. Well, if you can't find it, you can come find me," Aso said. "I like to go jogging outside with the sports club before classes start, to refresh and start my day right. When it's cold we jog in the gym, though." He offered a friendly wave and said, "It was nice meeting you, Athena! I'll see you around."

"See ya!"

I watched as he disappeared in a sea of students, and softly smiled to myself. I was glad to have met someone in my class already, and he was my next-door locker neighbor. I hoped we'd get along and become fast friends.