Zodiac Signs: Thirteen

1. Thirteen

It's a bit confusing for me that everyone keeps asking me questions about my identity when I know about myself as much as everyone knows about themselves. Like what if I told you my dexterity? But everyone knows that, right? Or maybe it's like where you come from or where you were born. The point I'm getting across is that you could only know so much about someone, that includes yourself. You are the main character and the only one who knows everything about you is the one that created you. Information is limited in that regard.

Well, in my case it may be a little special because I am known as the observer of this story. There is no other way to put it, I'm just a side character. This is not even a joke or anything, this is about learning of the other people here.

Maybe that was a little self loathing...

I thought all of this as I watched the Headmaster scanning through my compatibility tests with a surprised look on his face. He was a large, burly man that looked around his early forties. His hair was starting to grey and he was wearing a formal navy blue suit. His eyes usually carried a stern look filled to the brim with professionalism but now they were flooding with disbelief.

I sat patiently in the chair across from him and continued to think of all the blandness in the office. I'm not saying that it's bad, it's just really formal. I would have liked to make it a bit different like adding weird ornaments to make it stand out. It reminded me too much of my bedroom.

"How is this possible...?" He asked in a soft voice but I have no clue why he's so surprised. I don't know the results of my compatibility tests yet.

Zodiac High School was a school founded by the government. Instead of having the normal curriculum where they do academics or sports only, this one specialises in personality as their primary goal. They assign you to one of the classes and hone you to become your best self, that way we end up as happier people. That way we also live longer.

Isn't that what life should be about?

My mother had heard of this and immediately signed me up as soon as I finished middle school. Yesterday I was called about the entrance exam I took and had to show up today because of it. That test was suppose to tell me which class I'm suppose to take. I don't know why I'm here right now when school only opens in a week.

"Excuse me, Sir." Eventually running weary with patience, I speak up. "Can you explain to me why I'm here?"

"Right, forgive me." He said before adjusting himself. "These tests, as you know, tell the school to which Star Sign you are compatible with. Yours is a bit special in that regard," He said as he slid the sheet of paper towards me.

"What does that mean?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

"You aren't compatible to one of them. You are compatible to all of them." He said it in a way that made me feel like it's a bad thing.

Taking a few seconds to relay the information to my brain I realized what he meant.

I have no personality!

And because of that, I'm compatible with any one of those classes.

I knew the reason my mother sent me here was to build character but I didn't know that it was that bad. I knew I was average but come on! I'm not that average. Although it made me realize something.

"I'm a divergent," I say with satisfaction after coming to that conclusion.

"No, you're just bland," The Headmaster said with such finality that I felt like he had purposely insulted me. I take it "nice" isn't part of his personality at all.

Accepting my fate I looked at the Headmaster again, a confused look on my face. "So what am I suppose to do now?"

"Although this has never happened before we have made preparations, just in case people... Like you show up." He said using his hand to gesture at all of me. What an insult.

In response I rolled my eyes and let out a sigh.

The Headmaster noticed this but continued anyway. "For the next four days, you will meet up with the twelve best children in their respective classes. They will each teach you of the different personality traits and you will then choose on Friday which class you will be taking part in."

"What if I'm indecisive on it?" People become indecisive about the smallest things. This morning I spent ten minutes deciding on whether I should wear plain white socks or white socks with stripes. Both felt like really good choices but I decided to go with plain white socks. Thinking about it now, I'm starting realize why people think I'm bland.

"Then your application won't be accepted. Isn't that obvious?" He wasn't being sarcastic, he was full-on serious and it seemed like he was nudging me on to be more decisive. Let's hope for the best in that regard.

"You don't sympathize with me at all, do you?"

The Headmaster then smirked at me. "Not at all, Thirteen" He said and then handed me another document.

As I took it I skimmed over the list of people who were on it. Twelve names and the times I will be meeting them. I didn't think it was necessary to go over them because what the Headmaster just said hit me.

"Thirteen?" I asked.

"You don't fit with any of the Zodiacs yet so you will be treated as a variable. The Thirteenth Zodiac."

"... I think that's a little extensive." I say with another sigh.

"Accept it, Thirteen. Until your deadline everyone is referring to you as Thirteen. Got that?"

"You're not leaving me any room for choice here..."

"Were you going to disagree then?"

"Not really, I feel indifferent about it," I said and then began observing the room again. It really did remind me of my room. Move the table and add my bed then I could practically live here. What a home-like feeling...

The Headmaster eyed me again before saying, "You really are accepting of anything aren't you? Why is that?"

"Dunno." I shrugged my shoulders. "It's just who I am, really."

The Headmaster stayed silent for a while like he was processing the answer that I gave him. He did look displeased at my answer but he didn't say it out loud. He just took it as is and then cleared his throat.

"Anyways. Is there anything else you would like to know before you start?" He asked and then stood up, gesturing me to do the same.

I stood up and then looked over the sheet I had gotten. Something felt off about the names as I looked over them but I decided against asking.

"There's nothing, Sir." I said and then excused myself out of his office. When I left he closed the door behind me and I left the building to go towards the school buildings.

"Hi!" Someone said while waving at me as I approached the exit. She was dressed in casual white T-shirt and black shorts. The print on the T-shirt was one of Zodiac Signs:

Aries.

Then the name came to me. It was the head in the first years of the Aries Classes, Akari Manabu.