What it's like to be a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 1: First Day

I stood proudly, admiring the boarding school I would be staying for the next few years. The Honor Cultural Significance Academy was a pretty sight. I, Grace De Rege, was accepted to this prestigious school just a month ago. I was confident that I would do wonderful here, no problems or dramas.

I saw students and faculty members entering the campus. Some students ran to each other with their arms wide open, ready to hug one another. I saw a few saying goodbye to their parents, scanning their surroundings. I bet it was their first year here.

My older brother, Alex, put one of my bags next to me. I looked up at him, and he looked down at me. I could see he was proud. His twin sister, Elizabeth, hugged me tightly, and some of her tears fell on me. I hugged my sister back, trying to not get too squished.

"I can't believe my little Grace is going to attend HCSA! You remember when we were arriving here the first time, right Alex?" My sister asked.

"Of course I do, Eli. We entered in tenth grade. Now we're going to college. Time flies, doesn't it?" He replied.

"I can't believe the three of us attended the same boarding school!" I exclaimed.

"You haven't attended, Grace. You are just about to start ninth grade." Alex said, messing up my hair.

"Shut up," I told him, punching him on the arm, and I was able to see his watch. It was 8:17 am. "Oh no. It's almost for the meeting to start! Help me take my bags to the entrance."

"Let's go!" Eli said, grabbing one of my suitcases, and my arm.

"You do know you have an hour, right?" Alex asked.

"We don't care!" My sister and I yelled.
The three of us ran with my bags in hand to the entrance of The Honor Cultural Significance Academy. They insisted to help me move in to my dorm, but I declined. They had to get back to the car to go to their university and get their dorms ready.

"Relax Grace, we have to be there at ten. It's a twenty minute drive from here. We'll help you move in." Alex told me, walking to the dorm monitor's office.

"Hi there! I'm Maddie, the dorm monitor for this building! What can I help you with?" The woman, Maddie, said.

"My sister is a new student here, and we don't know which is her dorm." Eli said.

"What's your name, hon?" Maddie said, looking at me.

"Grace De Rege." I replied.

"Okay, let's see," she said before turning on her computer. She put her hand under her chin, focusing on trying to find me. "Aha! You are in room 106. That is in... this floor. When you go out this office, turn right. When you get to the end of the corridor, you'll see two other corridors. Go to the on on the right and your room is the first one."

"Thanks!" I said, leaving the office.

"You're welcome! Oh! And I'll be there to deliver some things for you!" She replied.

Alex, Eli and I walked to my room. I saw girls everywhere. Some where under the door frame, hugging other girls who I assume we're their room mates. I then remembered about my room mate, Maiko Yukimura. A girl born in Tokyo, Japan, but grew up in the US. I talked to her two weeks ago, but on the phone. I didn't know how she looked like, and I was eager to find out.

When we arrived to my room I noticed something on the door. It was a tiny white board! And it had something written on it. I leaned closer and I figured at what it said.

Maiko and Grace's Room

Excited, I opened the door, and I saw a girl. She had long red hair. She turned around and saw me, with a puzzled face.

"Grace?" She asked.

I nodded. "Maiko?"

She nodded back and we started screaming like crazy! My older siblings looked at us, confused. They then continued to bring in the last bags of luggage inside.

"It is so great to finally meet you in person, Grace! And these must be your older siblings." She said hugging me tightly.

"Yeah! That's Alex, and over there is Eli! Oh Maiko, you have no idea how much I have been waiting to meet you in person." I replied, hugging her back.
Eli waved her hand and Alex nodded his head in greeting. We said our goodbyes and then they left. Now, I was alone with my dorm-mate, Maiko.