Managing to get away from the group, I retreat back to my desk, finally having a moment of silence to myself.
My body wilts as I rest on the desk. That took too much out of me; I'm not the social type; I just want to go to bed now.
As soon as I get comfortable at my desk, I'm thirsty as I rarely talk that much. Forfeiting my temporary comfort I begrudgingly get up to get a drink of water.
As stand up, I bump into someone.
Wincing, I step back, I see a blue-haired girl with a low braid. She looks at me with a bright, cheery smile. It's almost as bright as the open yellow jacket she's wearing and that... oddly sexual black and purple racing suit.
How this follows the school's dress code is beyond me, but then again, I'm not much better with my long sleeved compression shirt that hides very little of my muscle.
"Hello, my handsy neighbor!" She beams. "My name is Roulette!"
She appears to be the energetic type; this could be trouble, I'm already on fumes. Attempting to muster up another smile. "I apologize; I didn't see you there. I had gotten up before looking around. I really can be clumsy sometimes."
Roulette puts on a grin as if life's just a game to her. "You can drop the fake smile, it's just us."
Sighing, my bored expression returns. So this girl was able to tell it wasn't genuine. Hmm... I thought she was just the annoying air-headed type, but there might be mor-
"Sooo... your name's Saint, that's a cute name. age 18-"
"Hey... is that my ID?" I reach out, attempting to get it back; yet she simply winks back at me.
"Hehe! You made it too easy, plus you got to feel me up for free. I would say it's an even trade."
If that counts as feeling up, I want a do-over. "Well, if you're done, could you give it back?"
"Whoever said I would give it back for free? I want something in return!"
"Do you really plan to make enemies with everybody in class on your first day?"
"I'm not making enemies? I'm just getting a bit of side cash. Plus, I know guys would be willing to do a lot more than pay a little cash to have my attention."
"Hmm? Is that so?" I question monotonly.
"That's right, so pay up Sainty!" Roulette looks very pleased with herself; she's undoubtedly a female egoist.
I reach into my back pocket. "Roulette, really is a pretty name, born in 2072." Reading HER ID as though it were a flashcard.
"Eh??! How did you-?"
"I try not to judge, but that's an odd place to put your ID."
Lurching back she blushes, covering herself and reaching out. "Whatever, just give it back! Trade for trade!" (expand - work on ID doesnt sound like a phone)
"Not so fast. I want extra for yours."
"Extra?! How does that work?!" She blurts.
"To think you can't lock these IDs. That means I have all of your information at my disposal. Oh? What's this? A dorm number? This school really is tricky, giving us yet another thing that we have to protect. You said that boys would pay a hefty sum for your attention? Well... I wonder what they would pay for your dorm number? Buuutttt, that would likely attract some unwanted visitors."
Roulette looks around with uncertainty. "Well... fine! I'll give away your dorm number!"
"Gender inequality strikes! I doubt any woman would be lining up at my door. Well, the privacy of this card seems important to you; I assume you feared this would happen; that's why you hid it so well."
She pauses, hesitating only for a moment. "...Fine! You win! You creeper... what do you want from me?"
I put on my smile and reach out my hand. "I want us to be friends."
She has a disgusted look on her face. "Ehh... the fake smiles back. Blackmailing for friendship, you're either weird or pathetic."
I return her ID, and she gives mine back. Despite the loss, she puts on a grin. "Well, at least this won't be a boring year."
I give up on getting my drink of water as we both sit down. She slams her desk right next to mine. "Soooo... any hobbies?" She pokes at my face.
I look at her with eye bags and an almost depressingly tired face. "I guess I enjoy sleeping."
"...Sleeping? Could have fooled me... anyway, I like sleeping too, but can that even be considered a hobby?"
"I would count it as an activity."
"I... guess. At least you have something in common with everyone. Okay, how about... a favorite food!"
It's common for people to want to talk about themself; she's using my tactic. Talking only to gain information.
My skepticism must have been showing as she looks at me accusingly. "Hey! What's with that look?! I'm not planning anything! I just want to know my seat buddy. Now, favorite food!"
"Chiken and rice."
She once again looks at me with a disgusted expression. "You're eating military rations at that point?! You need t-"
"My turn. Why did you decide to attend this school?"
She tilts her head. "Why do I want to be here?..." Suddenly, she arches her back as if she were some evil villain. "Hehehe! Hahahaha!" Lunging forward she suddenly gets back in my face. "I want to make lots and lots of money! I'm going to be so rich I can buy my way through any problem! I want to laugh at poor people and rule the world!"
Not the most noble answer, but it would appear as though she's being honest.
"Your turn turd face!"
Turd face?
I pause before saying my next words slowly and clearly. "I am going to be a... KING."
"Eh?... Eh?! You enrolled in this school, and you wanna be king? I hate to shatter your dreams, but we live in a democracy, bud." She sighs and gives me a concerned look. "You're not the brightest, are you?"
I don't respond as I stare at her.
"And, has anyone told you that you don't smile much? ...I mean, besides that poster boy smile. But that doesn't count. What's there to be so gloomy about?"
Roulette goes behind me and grabs my cheeks, forcing me to smile. "How about.... No more like..." She is holding back a laugh as I have a cheek-pulled smile, my tired eyes looking nowhere. "See! Look at how happy you look!"
At the far end of the classroom, a tall man with slicked-back black hair walks into the classroom. With every step he takes, shadows emerge from every pore of his body, the shadows like starved monsters, as they crawl through the air, trying to escape or eat one another. His whole body, a living ecosystem.
He wears a typical business suit, yet its apperance is slothful, his shirt untucked, and his sleeves rolled up, like an overworked business man who just clocked out. The large cloak he wears tightly embraces his fit build. Despite his dismal aura, he wears a bright blue tie that matches his piercing blue eyes.
Roulette is staring at me with a teasing smile. "Well! It looks like you're gonna be stuck next to me for the next few years, so I hope we can be friends!" Roulette puts her hand out for a shake.
I look down, not sure if this is another one of her tricks. Finally, I submit and shake. "I hope we get along as well."
"Hehe! I'm going to make it my goal to get you to laugh! So don't go dropping out on me!"
The tall man stands in front of the class. "Good afternoon everyone... at least that's what I'd like to say."
A pretty brown-haired girl from the front row stands and flaps the air to shush everyone. The class chatter overshadows her attempt.
The man taps his foot twice. Consumed in darkness the room goes jet black.
There is an abrupt pause, as eyes emerge from the walls. People gasp, as the dialted pupils track their movements.
Eventually, the eyes recede, and people sigh in relief.
It's premature, as the walls begin to grow polyps. Like a butterfly from a cocoon, entities pull themselves out of the shadows. Some have long snouts and human teeth, hanging intestines; others simply look human with just a few altered traits to add to their unsettling aura: dilated pupils, lack of a nose, shaved eyebrows, toothless smiles.
Students begin to cling to one another, others unsheathe their swords attempting to defend themselves from the imminent threat.
Barely lifting my attention, I notice the giant entity looming over my desk, as its wide eyes glare at me. "It would appear as though we all got our own sentinel."
Slumping as I rest my head on my hand, I turn to see Roulette petting her Kappa-looking entity on its bald head; smiling while she calls it various pet names.
She notices me staring. Covering her smirk she dleecatly places her fingers over her lips. "Ho? What's his? Perhaps this is not the reaction you were hoping for, Saint? Something more like...." Roulette jumps into my lap as she clings to me in a theatrical motion. "Yaaahh! A scary monster, Saint! Please, save me!" She teasingly looks up at me as I show no sign of comforting her.
What's with this girl?
The tall man taps his foot once more, and the shadows retract as light returns to the room. "No more talking! Or those guys are going to be under your bed tonight."