What it's like to be a Cherry Blossom

Chapter 2: Getting to know Maiko

Maiko helped me move in. Our room was in the Deep Blue Sea hall. Even our room was inspired with the deep blue sea theme. Maiko had organized the room when she arrived yesterday. She really knows how to do indoor decor.

"So, Grace... I really want to know more about you. I know you have two older siblings, but that's it," Maiko said. "I guess you dance too, right?"

"Yes, I dance. Ballet, actually. What do you do?" I asked.

"Well, I dance too! I started out with Nihon Buyō, but I also learned to dance ballet. Here, at Honor Cultural, I dance ballet because they haven't started a Nihon Buyō program yet. Don't get me wrong, I love ballet. Especially when we do shows!" She replied.

"Shows?"

"Yeah! We do them at mid year, and at the end of the year. Occasionally, we do a fundraiser show." She said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

I smiled. Just thinking I would have Maiko as roommate made me feel happy. But then I started wondering about Nihon Buyō. Why didn't they have the program yet? The school's name is Honor Cultural Significance Academy.
Then it hit me. This used to be a riding academy.

"Maiko, can I call you Mai? Anyway, what else can you tell me about yourself?" I asked.

"Yes, you can call me Mai. Well, I like baking. And I really like history. It's my favorite subject! I have an older sister, she's a senior here at HCSA." She replied.

I continued to unpack, and I took out a wooden box with a ballerina dancing and flowers around her. I stood up, took it to my desk. Mai must of seen it because she gasped.

"No way! You collect Little Secrets too?!" She shrilled with excitement, showing me her box. Her box was a Japanese dragon fighting a village girl. We squealed and jumped on top of my bed to show each other's charms. We had a few in common, but most of them were different.

"OMG! I can't believe that there are people my age who still collect these!" Mai said.

"Me neither. Hey, what's your favorite movie or show?" I asked her.
"Movie: Casablanca, obviously. And shows... I think... Pretty Little Liars!" She replied.

"Care to join me and watch Pretty Little Liars?" I asked, grinning.

"You bet! What season are you on? Episode?"

"Season three, episode 16." I said.

"I'm also on season three, but episode 14." She said, disappointed.

"No worries! Will start watching on episode 14. Right after the meeting."
After the meeting, we ran back to our dorm, made some popcorn, and watched Pretty Little Liars. A few hours later, we stopped.

"Mai, I'm going to go and walk around the school so I can know where to go on our first day." I told her.

"Can I join you?" She asked.

"Sure!" I replied. I took her arm and we left our dorm, ready to go explore HCSA.