The Professor|| Sylus

General Assembly

Mei Lin woke to the soft hum of her alarm, the familiar chime blending with the distant sounds of Tokyo waking up around her. The early morning light filtered through the thin curtains of her small apartment, casting a gentle glow on the room. She lay there for a moment, letting the warmth of her bed hold her in its embrace for just a little longer. But today was important, so she sat up, stretching her arms above her head with a yawn.

Today marked the beginning of her last year in Hanazono University, a prestigious institution nestled in the heart of Tokyo. The university, known for its rigorous academic programs, she had worked hard to get here, and despite the challenges of passing, she was determined to graduate this year.

She swung her legs out of bed and slid into her slippers. In the bathroom, she splashed water on her face, the cold jolting her fully awake. As she brushed her teeth, she mentally ran through her schedule for the day as she got multiple texts from her close friend, Ayako spamming her texts of excitement. The general assembly was for everyone to attend at the first meet to know any updates from the University.

After replying to Ayako and having a quick shower, Mei Lin stood in front of her closet, grabbing her ironed uniform. The season is actually cold, so she took a sweater, pairing them with her favorite white sneakers. She pinned a small Sakura-shaped brooch to her blouse, of the university's iconic symbol.

In the kitchen, Mei Lin prepared a simple breakfast of rice, miso soup, and tamagoyaki. As she ate, she glanced at her phone, checking for messages from her family. Her mother had sent a photo of their family cat, Yumi, curled up in a patch of sunlight. Mei Lin smiled, replying with a quick text before finishing her meal.

With her bag packed and her shoes on, Mei Lin took one last look around her apartment. It was small, but it was hers, a space where she could be herself. As she locked the door behind her, she felt mixed up with excitement and nervousness in her chest as she walked to the train station.

The journey to Hanazono University was a short one, and soon Mei Lin found herself standing at the entrance to the campus. The sight of the university's grand gates, framed by lush greenery, never failed to fill her with awe. As she stepped through them, she took a deep breath. Walking through the campus, She was no longer the nervous student she had been as a freshman three years ago, struggling to keep up with the pace of university life. She had grown, both academically and personally, and she was ready to take on the challenges of a new year.

Mei Lin made her way toward the assembly area, where a sea of students gathered, filling the open space with the buzz of conversation and laughter. The sun had fully risen by now, casting a warm golden light over the campus. Mei scanned the crowd, her eyes searching for a familiar face amid the throng of students. The assembly was always a lively affair, with everyone excitedly catching up after the summer break, but today, Mei was focused on finding her close friend, Ayako since they texted that they would meet up first before anything.

She weaved through clusters of students, smiling and nodding at acquaintances she passed. The excitement in the air was contagious, but Mei's thoughts were on Ayako, who had been her anchor since their first day at Hanazono University. They had shared countless memories, from late-night study sessions to weekend adventures exploring the city.

As she looked around, Mei caught sight of a group of second-year students lining up near the large oak tree that marked the edge of the assembly area. Mei's heart lifted when she finally spotted Ayako's familiar figure, her short black hair and bright yellow scarf making her easy to find in the crowd.

"Ayako!" Mei called out, waving as she hurried over.

Ayako turned, her face breaking into a wide grin as she spotted Mei. "Mei! Over here!" she called back, waving her arms enthusiastically.