'Huh!' 'WHAAT!'
That was the reaction of both Izumi and Rin, after seeing the person who entered the room.
The new student was very familiar to them.
A beautiful fair-skinned girl with thigh-length navy blue hair that is tied in two messy low pigtails with a square fringe hanging just above her blue eyes— the features that both Izumi and Rin know too well!
It was their new friend, Aki Adagaki!
Aki, looking a bit surprised herself, scanned the faces of the students in the classroom. Her gaze met with Izumi and Rin's, and a smile spread across her face.
"Introduce yourself" Kazami-Sensei said to Aki
"My name is Adagaki Aki. Before my family came here to Sendai, I was studying at St. Louis Institute in Tokyo. I hope we get along, and I can't wait to study with you guys," Aki said with a bow.
To this, the class greeted her with warm smiles. "All right, Adagaki-Chan, you will sit in the seat in front of Izumi," Kazami-Sensei instructed.
Izumi, who had managed to regain his composure after the initial surprise, stood up from his seat and guided Aki to her designated spot.
"Now that it's over, it's time to study,"
*After the first period*
As soon as Kazami-Sensei left the class after the homeroom class (1st period), Izumi and Rin hurried over to Aki. Izumi simply had to look forward as Aki's seat was right in front of him.
"So, Aki, what are you doing here?" Rin asked eagerly.
"Oh, Rin, good to see you, and the same goes for you, Izumi!" Aki replied with a warm smile.
"We're also glad to see you here, Aki!" Izumi chimed in with a smile.
'what a bright smile..so cool'
At this moment, the trio heard sound of squealing from their background , but they chose to ignore it.
"Enough with the pleasantries. Tell us how you ended up here!" Rin's impatience was evident.
"Right, right, girl, calm down a little!" Aki teased. "She's right, you know. You look exactly like an rabbit filled with overwhelming amount of energy when bombarding her with questions," Izumi added with a grin.
This observation caused Rin to turn a deep shade of red, her embarrassment clear on her flushed cheeks.
"Baka," Rin muttered in embarrassment.
Aki couldn't help but giggle softly at the exchange, which only deepened Rin's blush.
"Alright, that's enough. Aki, spill the beans. Why are you here?" Rin asked after getting her composure back.
"Yeah, my folks decided to move to Sendai to take a breather from their crazy work," Aki explained.
"So, is this transfer a temporary gig?" Izumi inquired.
"Nah, it's a permanent deal. We're planting our roots here," Aki replied.
"Oh, that's awesome news! Can't wait to hang out more with you, we had so much fun on the opening party~right, Izumi?" Rin said with excitement. "Totally, we're stoked to have you here, Aki," Izumi said with a grin.
Once again, the unmistakable sound of squealing happened in the background, which the trio just shrugged it off.
"How about we kick things off by showing you around the school? It's a cool way to start," Rin suggested, the next class being a free class "Sounds great," Aki agreed with a smile.
Soon, the trio found themselves outside the classroom.
"It's seriously amazing that Aki's here! We can do so many things together, like going to cool places or just hanging out at each other's houses," Rin gushed.
"That sounds like a ton of fun and really interesting," Aki replied with a smile.
"Hey, Rin, didn't our moms mention planning a camping trip together?" Izumi chimed in. "I think so, why do you ask?" Rin questioned.
"I was thinking, maybe we could invite Aki to join us on the trip," Izumi suggested.
"That sounds like an awesome idea! I'll talk to my mom about it as soon as I get home," Rin enthusiastically agreed.
"I'll check with my mom too," Izumi added.
"Well, let's chat more about it later. We're almost at the playground!" Rin said as they continued their journey.
They reached a large rectangular school playground.
The school playground was a vast expanse of well-maintained green grass. The area was meticulously bordered by lush green plants, giving it a natural, picturesque look.
The field was inviting and ideal for various outdoor activities, with neatly marked lines for sports like football and track events. The whole setup was bathed in sunlight, providing a lively and vibrant atmosphere.
To the left of the entrance, right at the field's border, stood a substantial gymnasium.
The gymnasium, was an imposing structure. Its large doors and windows allowed ample natural light to flood in. Inside, it was well-equipped with sports gear for different activities, from basketballs to volleyballs, and it also had indoor courts for these sports.
Returning to the field, the trio found themselves in the center.
"This place is massive," Aki remarked.
"It sure is. During sports class, there's space all over for different games," Rin added.
"That sounds awesome!" Aki exclaimed.
"Aki, look over there. That's the school's swimming pool," Izumi pointed to the right of the playground.
As Izumi pointed to the right of the playground, a gleaming blue body of water came into view. The school's swimming pool was a rectangular oasis. It was encased by a white deck and had a diving board at one end, while lane markers stretched across its length.
The clear water looked inviting, and the gentle ripples on the surface hinted at the refreshing experience it offered. For a sunny day, it seemed like the perfect place to cool off and have some fun.
The trio approached the school's swimming pool, standing right at its edge, gazing at the sparkling blue water.
"The water looks so invitingly blue! It seems like it would be a blast to swim here!" Aki exclaimed.
"Well, you'll have to wait for your first swimming class for that," Izumi pointed out.
"Yeah, I can't wait for that!" Aki replied with enthusiasm.
"Alright, how about we head to the library next?" Rin suggested.
"Sounds like a plan, let's go!" Aki agreed, and the three of them continued their adventure, heading towards the library.
The school library was a sanctuary of knowledge and tranquility. As they entered, they were greeted by the comforting hush that libraries often possessed.
The shelves were lined with books of various sizes and colors, creating a mesmerizing mosaic of literary treasures.
Sunlight filtered through large windows, casting warm, inviting pools of light on some reading books, while others remained in soft shadows.
Rows of wooden tables and chairs were neatly arranged, providing students with quiet spaces to study, read, or work on assignments.
The library had an air of organization and serenity, making it an ideal place for students to dive into the world of books and learning.
The trio walked deeper into the library, the soft echoes of their footsteps reverberating in the quiet space.
It was evident that this was not only a repository of books but a hub of curiosity and exploration, where students could get lost in the magic of words and ideas.
"It looks like a great place for studying," Aki observed.
"It definitely is. Rin and I have been working on our project-related stuff here all the time," Izumi confirmed.
"Yeah, it's quiet, which makes it easier to focus," Rin added with a nod, highlighting the library's ideal environment for productive studying.
Aki's eyes scanned the library, taking in the serene atmosphere and the rows of books that surrounded them. "I can see why. It's so peaceful in here. I bet you could get lost in a book for hours."
Izumi nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Absolutely. Sometimes, when I find a particularly interesting book, I lose track of time. It's like entering a whole new world, right here in the library."
Rin chimed in, her face lighting up. "And there's a book for everyone. You can explore far-off lands, solve mysteries, or even learn about topics you've never imagined. It's like a treasure trove of knowledge and adventures."
Aki couldn't help but feel drawn to the library's aura. "I've always loved reading, and this place is like a dream come true. I can't wait to dive into some of these books."
Izumi smiled and pointed to a corner where the librarian was quietly helping another student. "That's Hanaumi-San. She's been the librarian here for years, and she's incredibly knowledgeable. If you ever need a book recommendation or assistance with anything, she's the go-to person."
As they strolled through the library, they continued their discussion about their favorite books and genres, sharing their excitement about exploring the library's vast collection.
The library wasn't just a place for studying; it was a world of stories waiting to be discovered, and they were eager to get lost in it.
Their school exploration continued, visiting different areas within the school until the bell rang, signaling that it was time to head back to class.
As classes came and went, it was eventually time for the trio to return home. Izumi couldn't help but grumble about the amount of homework they had received. "Why did Mr. Lino give us so much of this stuff?"
Rin responded, defending her perspective, "Come on, it's not that bad!"
"For you, maybe, Mrs. Topper," said Izumi— starting a verbal spar between both of them.
Aki, always the peacemaker, intervened, "Calm down, both of you!"
The banter between them eventually came to an end because of priestess Aki.
"Goodbye, you two," Izumi said as he headed to the bicycle stand.
"Goodbye!" Aki waved.
"See you later, Izumi," Rin called out.
With that, Izumi left, and the two girls continued on their own paths.
"Mom, I'm back!" Izumi called out as he entered their home.
"Welcome back, dear. How was school today?" Iori, Izumi's mother, inquired.
"It was fun! You know what, Mom? Aki joined our school!" Izumi shared with excitement.
"Adagaki-San's daughter! I already knew about that," Iori said with a smile.
"And you didn't tell me about it?" Izumi pouted.
Iori chuckled, "Well, what can I say when Aki-Chan asked me to keep it a secret?"
Izumi sighed, shaking his head, "That's not fair."
The phone in the Miyamura family home started to ring, breaking their lively conversation.
Iori went to the other room and answered the call. After a brief chat, she returned to the living room and called out, "Izumi, the call's for you."
Izumi, curious, asked, "Who is it?"
"It's Rin-Chan," Iori replied.
"Alright, I'm coming," Izumi said, and he hurried to where the phone was. Iori handed him the phone.
"Hello, Rin, why did you call?" Izumi inquired.
Rin's voice came through the phone, "Nothing much, I just wanted your opinion on something."
"What is it? Tell me," Izumi urged.
"It's about hanging out with Aki. I wanted to plan a welcoming party or some kind of outing," Rin explained.
Izumi smiled, "That sounds like a plan."
"Right, but I still can't decide what to do or where to go. Do you have any suggestions?" Rin asked.
Izumi thought for a moment and then replied, "How about...?"
Their conversation continued for around 15 minutes until they had a plan in place.
"That sounds amazing," Izumi said with enthusiasm. "And fun! I can't wait for it."
"Same for me as well! Aki will be so surprised," Rin agreed. "You bet! I can't wait to see her surprised expression!" Izumi responded, and their excitement for the upcoming surprise event filled the air.
[A/N— Truth to be told this chapter cake out of nowhere, I wasn't sure what to write for this chapter but then I just sat down and started writing what even I thought— hopefully it turns out good! I fell like I'm dragging this arc long and long, so I'm thinking of wrapping up this arc quickly (like within 5 to 6 chapter), hopefully I can capture Izumi, Rin and Aki getting more close within that! Thanks for reading!]