Starlight

Prologue 6 - Gummy Worm (Elysia POV)

"Alright this should be your classroom. I'll see you during lunch or after school, okay?" Eve hands me the slip of paper with my schedule on it then takes her leave down the hallway. Even the way Evelynn walks is cautious, that girl needs a massage... Or a lobotomy.

I wander into the classroom aimlessly, examining my surroundings before a tall woman in glasses briskly approaches me. "You're the new student?" She asks warmly.

"Yes... Ma'am. I answer in my best polite voice. Her smile widens and she leads me to the corner of the room by a window. "You can sit here, normally you'd get to choose your seat but it's a bit late in the year." She says apologetically.

"Thank you Miss..."

She slaps her thigh and tilts her head back ashamedly. "I'm so sorry, My name is Miss Hiraguchi. If you need anything at all, please raise your hand." She raises her hand in the air for reference and bows gently before walking to the front of the class room.

I peer outside at the cherry blossom trees in the court yard, such a nice view from the second story, I stare for a while before noticing the sound of giggling from behind. I turn to face the direction of the laughing and see a couple girls with a boy, leaning into one another whilst looking at me.

I tilt my head confusedly before opting to just smile and wave at them. Mei said I should make friends and to be extra friendly to everyone, even if it makes me uncomfortable. But it doesn't really, I like talking to people!

"Guys she's looking over here oh my god stop!" One of the girls scolds. "Is she waving at us?" The other replies, her lips are curled into a devious smirk.

I furrow my eyebrows in frustration before turning back to face the front of the classroom. I'm not sure why people seem so unwilling to talk to me, but it seems that everyone is talking about me. The only person who's said hi to me... My mind wanders back to the blonde haired girl I met at the front of the school, she really is dreamier in person than in my memories.

"Everyone take your seats!" Miss Hiraguchi yells over the incessant chatter of the students. Everyone promptly sits down at their desks as the murmuring of lingering conversations drift off.

"Good morning class."

"Good morning Miss Hiraguchi!" The class says in unison, I attempt to follow along, slightly delaying my words behind the others.

"We have a new student in class." She extends her arm out to me, each and every kid in the class turns to face me, even the people directly in front of me. "Please, come to the front of the class and introduce yourself." She says, her voice is so kind and motherly... It reminds me of Mei a little.

I stand from my chair and trudge to the white board in front of everyone, their glaring eyes are suffocatingly harsh. "Write your name on the white board and tell us a bit about yourself."

"Write my name?..." I ask, I can feel the sweat beading up on my forehead.

"Yes dear, just use one of the markers there." Miss Hiraguchi replies, pointing towards a few markers on the edge of the white board. I peer down and grasp the pink one firmly before twisting the cap off. My name....

I messily scribble what I hope is the name "Elysia" across the center of the white board before stepping to the side to allow the class to admire my penmanship... Which judging by their faces wasn't very impressive.

"What does that say?.." A few students call out from the back.

"My name is... Elysia Hanada, I moved here from the rice fields in Fukui... There's lots of-"