(Serena point of view) (at the same time as alexandra (Alexis) Delfinaki defended Stathis )
After the incident at the university gate, I run toward a building and end up colliding with a woman.
"My name is Christina Karagianni, and I'm one of your mother's closest friends, as well as the new vice rector of this university."
That woman turns out to be the one my mother mentioned this morning.
I turn to her and ask, curiosity lacing my tone
"V-vice rector!?"
"Yes, I was appointed last week, along with another friend of mine. But enough about me, tell me about you. How does your first day as a university student feel?"
When she asks, I begin recalling everything that happened during the incident. My expression darkens for a moment before I speak
"It's… hm… unforgettable."
When I answer, Miss Karagianni asks me, her voice tinged with doubt
"Are you certain you're telling the truth? You appear to be in a rather bad mood."
"I'm fine. I'm just a little exhausted and anxious because it's my first day as a university student, and I have a lot to do."
When I say this, Miss Karagianni stares into my eyes for a few moments, clearly not fully believing me.
Then she says to me, with a happy expression.
"Is that all!? Don't worry about a thing. I'll help you settle into the university and with anything else you might need."
Hearing Miss Karagianni say this, I feel both grateful and guilty for having lied to her.
But I can't completely trust her. I just met her today, and even if she's my mother's best friend, I can't trust her right away.
And I think she realizes that too.
While thinking that, I say to her in a grateful tone.
"Thank you, miss Karagianni."
Hearing this, Miss Karagianni smiles at me and says, with a teasing tone.
"It's nothing. But Serena, calling me Miss Karagianni is too formal, you can call me Aunt Cristina if you like."
When she says that, I feel my face heat up with embarrassment, and I reply
"I… I can't do that. We just met today, and you're the vice rector. I can't call you Aunt Cristina in front of everyone else."
When I say that, she asks me in a wondering tone.
"So… if you get to know me better and feel comfortable, you'll call me Aunt Cristina then, in private?"
When she asks me that, I reply in a puzzled tone.
"Yes… I guess."
"Great, then let me show you around the university."
When she says this, I reply in a worried tone.
"But you're the vice rector. I can't let you show me around. What if someone says you're giving me special treatment?"
When she hears my question, she replies in a teasing tone.
"It's fine. After all, I promised your mother I'd take care of you while you're here. Besides, it's your first time here, right?"
When she asks this, I reply in a puzzled tone.
"Yes, that's correct."
"Good. Then it's a perfect chance to get familiar with the campus… so you don't get lost and bump into someone else."
When she says this, I have nothing to say. She's right… I only ended up meeting her because of this situation.
As I'm thinking about that, she says.
"Come on, come on, let's begin our tour of Alexandre the Great University."
And so my tour around the university begins. The university is named Alexander the Great University, after the ancient Greek Macedonian king and legendary general who conquered much of Asia and spread Greek language and culture to the Far East.
____________________________________
After we started the tour, it took us an hour to visit all the facilities, schools, and departments of the university. Each was unique in its own way.
The campus spans 2,000 acres, but the hill it sits on covers 4,000 acres, so the university takes up only half of it.
The university has ten schools and thirty-nine departments, enough to accommodate 35,000 students who can study in any department they choose.
The layout of the campus is simple, making it easy to find your way around.
My tour starts at the central library and the administrative building, located in the center of the campus. It's the first building you see when you pass through the gate and walk straight ahead. The library, located there, has books for every department, and the building also serves as the administrative center of the university, housing the office of the rector and the rest of the administrative staff.
North of the central library and administrative building stands the Polytechnic School, which houses the departments of Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, and Architecture.
To the northeast of the Polytechnic School lies the Social and Political Sciences building, home to the departments of Sociology, Political Science, International Relations, and Public Administration.
Northwest of the central library and administrative building lie the sports facilities, which house many fields for various sports, like football, basketball, tennis, martial arts, etc.
Next to it stands the Physical Education and Sports Science Building, which houses the departments of Physical Education, Sports Science, Sports Coaching and Training, and Sports Management.
To the east of the central library and administrative building is the Economics and Business Building, home to the departments of Economics, Business Administration, Accounting and Finance, and Marketing and Commerce.
To the west of the central library and administrative building is the Humanities Building, home to the departments of Philology, History and Archaeology, Philosophy, and Foreign Languages and Cultures.
Next to it stands the Sciences Building, which houses the departments of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
To the south of the central library and administrative building, near the main entrance, is the Informatics and Technology Building, home to the departments of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering.
Next to it stands the Education Building, which houses the departments of Primary Education, Early Childhood Education, and Educational Psychology.
To the southwest of the central library and administrative building is the Fine Arts Building, home to the departments of Visual Arts, Theater, Music Studies, and Film and Audiovisual Media.
Next to it stands the Student Center, which houses the cafeterias, clubs, an event hall, student dormitories, and various other facilities.
To the southeast of the central library and administrative building is the Health Sciences Building, home to the departments of Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Biomedical Sciences.
Next to it stands the university hospital, or as most people call it, "the infirmary," which is exactly where I'm heading right now.
"And this is the University Hospital, equipped with some of the most advanced medical facilities currently available."
As I think about all this, Miss Karagianni continues explaining the university hospital to me.
Then she says again.
"And with that, our university tour comes to an end. Any questions?"
When she asks, I pause for a moment, then ask the question in my mind.
"Miss… I mean Auntie Christina, are there any clubs at this university?"
By the end of the tour, I feel a little more trust in her and decide that from now on, I'll call her Aunt Christina.
Hearing this, Aunt Christina smiles broadly, her happiness impossible to hide, and then she answers me.
"Of course! We have all kinds of clubs, from the most common to the more unusual. Are you interested in joining one?"
As soon as I hear they have clubs, I want to join one immediately. Clubs have always been a core part of my Japanese culture, something that won't change no matter what.
Thinking that, I answer Aunt Christina's question with enthusiasm.
"Yes! I really want to join one. Are there any clubs for acting?"
When I ask her that, she is about to answer, but then a voice interrupts.
"Christina! Is that you!?"
The voice comes from the entrance of the University Hospital.
Aunt Cristina, who recognizes the voice, turns toward it and speaks to the woman.
"Yeah, it's me, Alexis. What are you doing here?"
The woman addressing Aunt Christina is around 45, with long red hair and green eyes. Of medium height and a curvy figure, she wears a white shirt and pencil skirt that accentuate her curves.
While I look at her, she turns to Aunt Cristina and says something.
"I was about to ask you the same thing. Anyway, I'm here because I brought Sultana's son to the hospital."
When Aunt Christina hears this, she asks the woman with great enthusiasm, though in a worried tone.
"Little Stathis is here!?"
When the woman hears this, she asks Aunt Christina with a puzzled tone.
"Yes, he started today. I thought you knew that?"
When the woman asks this, Aunt Christina replies in a worried tone.
"I knew Little Stathis was starting today. But what I don't understand is, what's he doing here at the hospital!?"
When Aunt Christina asks this, the woman glances at me for a moment before answering her.
"A lot of things happened, one of them involved the girl next to you."
As the woman speaks, I frown in puzzlement. Aunt Christina looks at me briefly, and then addresses the woman.
"How is Serena involved in what happened to Little Stathis?"
When Aunt Christina poses the question, the woman gives her answer calmly.
"You see, earlier, the son of that corrupt mayor, Vangelis Zikos, and his group started bullying Little Stathis. In the chaos of punches and kicks, Little Stathis stumbled toward the girl beside you…"
"Aunt Alexis! I've finished with the doctor."
As the woman explains my connection to the incident, a voice cuts her off, a voice I heard just for a moment earlier today. The sound drags a horrible memory from my mind, and suddenly, I grasp what the woman has been trying to say.
Then I saw him coming out of the hospital, bruises marking his face and hands. He wasn't much different from this earlier, short brown hair, expressive brown eyes, and a chubby build.
When I see him, I remember everything that happened earlier, and I instantly glare at him with hatred.
"Honestly, thank you for bringing me to the university hospital. If it weren't for you, I…"
In the middle of the crowd, he finally notices me, and his normally healthy complexion turns pale.
Then I shout at him, my voice filled with anger, as I rush forward to punch him.
"You.."