They stared at each other.
Neither moved an inch.
The girl was still in uniform, likely just returning from class.
Her hair was styled into two neat buns, bangs almost covering her eyebrows. Bright clips decorated her hair.
With her short stature and bright accessories, she looked more like a child than a teenager.
She studied Yesu, as if wondering if it was safe to approach or not.
Then Yesu left the bedside table and took a step forward.
"Hi." She said with a smile.
The girl brightened instantly.
"Hello roomie…"
She closed the distance in the blink of an eye.
The wind from her speed made a few sheets of paper on the study desk flutter in the air.
She grabbed Yesu's right hand and shook it vigorously.
"I'm Ava."
Yesu's gaze was on their hands, which were moving rapidly up and down.
"Yesu." She said,
"I know."
Ava's voice was high-pitched.
"Everyone's been talking about you. From the cleaners to the school board…"
Her eager eyes blinked endlessly. Everything about her moved too fast.
Even her words seed to outrun each other.
Yesu could barely get a word in.
".... I'm so excited. I finally have a roomie…"
Ava let go of Yesu's hand.
"Wait a second."
She zood to her side of the room and back.
A few hats flew from her rack. The sheets of paper already on the floor flew into the air again.
"Ta-da…" She dangled a bracelet in Yesu's face. "I made it the mont I found out you were coming…"
She went on talking as she took Yesu's hand and slid the bracelet on.
"... It has your na on it, see?"
Ava kept talking as Yesu examined the bracelet. Colourful beads that spelt out her na had been woven into the fine thread.
"Thanks," Yesu said
"... You like it?" Ava asked, and before Yesu could reply, "... Of course you do. It's imported silk thread."
"Nice." Yesu managed to say.
Ava paused for the first ti since she started speaking.
"Uh-ho. I know that look." She shrank back a little. "Am I being… too overwhelming?" She asked carefully.
Yesu laughed, genuinely. Then shook her head.
"Not really. I think I needed that. Haven't gotten a good welco since I got here."
Ava sighed in relief.
"Phew. I was starting to think I might have just made a bad first impression on my new roomie…" She said with a nervous laugh.
Her voice was a bit strained, like talking at a normal pace required a lot of effort.
Then she was back to speed talking. Excited.
"But since you said it's fine, it ans we're a match!"
She sped over to Yesu's bed.
"I shall help you unpack."
Yesu could barely follow Ava as she zood between the bed and the wardrobe, arranging clothes while talking nonstop.
She felt like she was watching a fast-forwarded movie scene.
"... I know it's rude to ask, but what rank are you?"
Ava's voice was distorted, Yesu struggled to hear what she was saying.
"Initiate," Yesu said.
"What?" Ava sounded surprised. "You seed more advanced than what I heard. What Class?"
Yesu said nothing. Her suitcase was already empty.
Ava sat on the bed.
"I'm an Adept." She sighed. "But mum says it's rock bottom. If I could get to Rank three by the end of the sester, I'll get a puppy."
Yesu sat beside her.
There was a mini makeup kit on the side of Yesu's suitcase. Ava picked it up.
"You wear makeup?" She asked.
"Definitely not."
"Why not?"
Yesu stalled.
Her previous life, which was only a few weeks ago, had been too unstable to think of anything else other than simply getting through the day.
"I don't need it." She said finally.
Ava seed pleased.
"I admire your confidence, roomie." She remarked. "But you're in Echelon, add so glitter."
She stood and pulled Yesu up, dragging her along to the dresser.
"Sit." She set Yesu onto the chair. "Let's have a makeover." Then clapped her hands excitedly.
"Makeover on the first day…" She squealed and began selecting makeup.
There was a sealed envelope at the edge of the dresser.
KAELITHA
Yesu picked it up and ripped it open.
The docunt inside contained a list of classes and activities, arranged in order and ti for each day of the week.
"Oh…" Ca Ava. "That's your schedule. It ca in last night."
Yesu scanned through the docunt.
"Track and field…"
"That's compulsory." Ava chipped in.
"Combat simulation…"
"Also compulsory."
"Ability Training…"
"Necessary."
"Intelligence Analysis…"
Ava rolled her eyes. "ntal classes are the worst."
There were many more.
Martial arts. Swimming team. Archery. Gymnastics. Fencing. Journalism & School Newspaper. Underground Racing. Psychological Endurance Trials.
"Looks like soone's going to be really busy." Ava was peeking over her shoulder.
"Why did you have to pick so many physical exercises anyway? Are you physical?" She asked.
Yesu didn't know what to say.
Whoever had picked out her activities wasn't being subtle about the need for physical training.
There was an activity on Wednesdays, for the first three periods.
Yesu squinted at it.
APG PREP CLASS
"What's this? She asked aloud.
Ava leaned closer.
And gasped.
"Oh my my." She said under her breath.
Yesu turned to her. "What?"
Ava looked at Yesu, eyes wide, like she was just seeing her for the first ti.
"You got selected as a potential APG candidate?" She asked in disbelief.
"APG? What's that?" Yesu was confused.
"Aegis program. They recruit the best graduating students each year to fight in the war. And 'Prep' is the class selected for the top students to prepare for the entrance exams."
She stared unbelievably at Yesu.
"I can't believe the school picked you."
Silence.
Yesu studied herself in the mirror for a while, as if searching for any trace of worthiness.
Then frowned a bit.
"Ava," she said suddenly. "Can I get a hair restyle instead of a makeover?"
Ava blinked.
The discomfort and confusion disappeared from her face as if nothing had happened.
She laughed.
"Why not?" She asked cheerfully.
Then added.
"Don't know exactly where you're from, but anything is possible here at Echelon."
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