Asia
Asia stood at the front of the classroom, her hands clasped nervously in front of her as she looked out at the sea of curious faces staring back at her. Her heart pounded in her chest, but she reminded herself of Alastor's words from earlier that morning.
"Just be yourself," he had said with a small smile. "You're starting a new chapter now. Don't overthink it."
She took a deep breath, forcing herself to focus on the moment.
"Hallo, my name is Asia Argento," she said, her soft voice carrying a slight tremble. "I... I'm very happy to meet all of you."
The classroom erupted into whispers, the students clearly intrigued by the new girl. Her foreign accent and delicate appearance stood out, and it was obvious she wasn't from around here. Asia felt her cheeks flush under their attention, but she kept her composure, smiling politely.
The homeroom teacher, a middle-aged man with a kind demeanor, clapped his hands to get the students' attention. "Alright, settle down. Asia is a new transfer student, so I expect everyone to make her feel welcome. Asia, you can take the empty seat next to Hyoudou."
Asia nodded politely and made her way to the desk, feeling every pair of eyes on her. As she sat down, the boy next to her, a messy-haired student with a goofy grin, turned to her.
"Hi, I'm Issei Hyoudou," he said, his voice friendly. "Nice to meet you!"
Asia returned his smile, though it was a little shy. "Nice to meet you too, Hyoudou-san."
"Just call me Issei," he said with a chuckle. "No need to be so formal."
"Okay, Issei," Asia replied, her smile becoming a bit more relaxed.
As the teacher began the lesson, Asia found herself sneaking glances around the room. The classroom was lively, filled with chatter and laughter during breaks, and it was clear everyone was curious about her. A few girls came over to introduce themselves, their warm smiles helping to ease her nerves. They asked her questions about where she was from and how she liked Japan so far.
"I'm from Europe," Asia explained, answering their questions as best she could. "And... I like it here very much. Everyone is very kind."
The girls giggled at her soft-spoken manner, clearly charmed by her gentle demeanor. "You're so cute, Asia-chan!" one of them said, making her blush.
Despite the warm welcome, Asia couldn't shake a lingering sense of unease. It wasn't the students or the environment—it was her own self-doubt. She wasn't just an ordinary girl anymore. She was a devil, part of Alastor's peerage, and her life was far from normal.
***
At lunch, Asia stepped outside with her bento in hand, looking for a quiet spot to eat. She found a bench under a tree and sat down, letting the peaceful surroundings calm her nerves. The sun was warm on her face, and for a moment, she allowed herself to relax.
"Mind if I join you?" a familiar voice asked.
Asia looked up to see Issei standing there, holding his own lunch. She nodded with a smile. "Of course."
Issei plopped down beside her, opening his bento with enthusiasm. "So, how's your first day going?" he asked, taking a bite of his rice.
"It's... different," Asia admitted. "But everyone has been very kind. I'm still getting used to everything, though."
"Yeah, I bet it's a big change," Issei said, nodding. "But don't worry, you'll get the hang of it. And if you need help with anything, just let me know."
Asia's smile grew a little brighter. "Thank you, Issei."
They ate in companionable silence for a while before Issei glanced at her curiously. "So, Asia, why did you transfer here? I mean, it's not every day we get someone from Europe joining our class."
The question caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to answer. She couldn't exactly tell him the truth—that she had been turned into a devil after being betrayed by her church and nearly killed. Instead, she settled on a partial truth.
"I wanted to start over," she said quietly. "I had... a difficult time where I was before, and I thought coming here might be a fresh start."
Issei nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That makes sense. Starting over can be tough, though. But hey, you're not alone here. We're all in this together, right?"
Asia felt a lump form in her throat at his kindness. "Right," she said softly, grateful for his words.
***
After school, Asia made her way back to the Occult Research Club's building, her steps lighter than they had been that morning. The day hadn't been as overwhelming as she had feared, and she was beginning to feel like she might actually belong here.
As she entered the building, she was greeted by the sight of Alastor sitting in one of the armchairs, a book in hand. He looked up as she walked in, his piercing gaze softening slightly.
"How was your first day?" he asked, setting the book aside.
"It was... nice," Asia replied, a small smile on her lips. "The other students were very kind, and Issei was very helpful."
Alastor raised an eyebrow. "Issei?"
"He sits next to me in class," Asia explained. "He's very friendly."
"Hmm," Alastor hummed, his expression unreadable. "That's good. I'm glad you're settling in."
Asia hesitated, then walked over to stand in front of him. "Thank you, Alastor-san. For giving me this chance. I know it wasn't easy... but I'm grateful."
Alastor looked at her for a long moment, his gaze steady. "You don't need to thank me, Asia. You've earned this chance. Now it's up to you to make the most of it."
"I will," she said firmly, her green eyes shining with determination.
Alastor nodded, a faint smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Good. Now go get some rest. You've had a long day."
Asia bowed her head slightly before heading to her room, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. For the first time in what felt like forever, she felt like she was exactly where she was meant to be.
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