I woke up feeling completely drained… as if I hadn't slept at all.
My head throbbed with a dull, unbearable pain.
Ah well. It's not like it matters.
A couple of painkillers and—boom—the pain will be gone.
Ah… I just remembered something.
I had a dream last night.
But just like always… I can't remember it.
Aaah! What a pain. It always happens.
Oh right—I forgot to introduce myself.
My name is Alicia Curte, and I'm a high school student.
I recently moved to Japan with my mom. Life in Chicago became a little… troublesome, so we decided to start over here.
My parents divorced for reasons I still don't understand, so now it's just the two of us.
And today…
is my first day at Sora Academy.
And I'm freaking nervous.
When I arrived at school, I was stunned by how big the place was.
Students walked everywhere—laughing, chatting, running to classes.
By the way, I'm a second-year student.
While searching for my classroom, I ran into the principal, who told me my class was 1-B.
Finding it, however, turned out to be harder than I expected. The school layout was confusing compared to my old school.
Finally.
Found it.
Standing in front of the classroom door, my nervousness returned.
I hate the feeling of being the new student.
It just sucks.
"Come in."
The voice came from inside the classroom.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
What could go wrong? It's just school.
Inside, a whole class of students turned their heads toward me.
But I tried to act like it didn't bother me.
"Class," the teacher said, "this is the transfer student I mentioned earlier."
Every single person in the room stared at me.
My nervousness doubled instantly.
"Introduce yourself," the teacher said. "Everyone is waiting."
"I–I'm Alicia Curte… n-nice to meet you all."
I fumbled my words slightly.
Whispers immediately spread across the classroom.
"Wow, she's cute."
"She's definitely a foreigner."
"Is she some rich oujo-sama?"
"I wonder if she dyed her hair just to look cool."
My cheeks burned.
"Everyone quiet down," the teacher said firmly. "Curte, you may take the empty seat over there."
He pointed toward a desk near the window.
"Oh, and by the way," he continued, "I'm Midorima Hakuya. You may call me—"
"It's Hakuya-sensei, teacher."
A girl suddenly interrupted him.
She pouted slightly.
"Sensei, don't make it sound like she can call you by your first name."
I never even said I would, I thought.
Every anime I watch calls teachers sensei anyway.
I simply nodded and walked to my seat.
Classes continued for what felt like forever.
Finally, the bell rang.
Lunch time.
As the new student, I ended up going to the cafeteria alone.
Just as I sat down with my food, a group of girls approached me.
They looked… unfriendly.
"I wonder if she dyed her hair just to be popular," one girl sneered.
"Yeah," another laughed. "She probably wants attention. But honestly, that's ugly, bitch."
She reached out and tried to pull my hair.
I stayed silent.
"That's enough."
A calm voice interrupted them.
"Unless you want to visit the student council president."
A girl stood nearby, staring coldly at them.
"Tch. Annoying bitch," the bullies muttered before leaving.
I recognized her immediately.
She's the girl who corrected the teacher earlier…
She turned toward me.
"Curte-san, don't mind those girls. They're just jealous."
I smiled slightly and nodded.
"Can I sit here?" she asked.
I nodded again.
We started eating together while she told me about the school.
I soon learned her name was Yukimaru Kouja.
She was also the class representative.
No wonder she acted so bossy earlier.
But talking with her was actually pretty nice.
It made me see her in a different light.
School finally ended.
I was walking home alone.
Today had been exhausting.
Being the new student in a different country was harder than I expected.
Especially since I barely understood the language.
I could understand a few things… but not everything.
Passing the upcoming exams was going to be difficult.
I sighed.
What should I do…
"Oujo-sama…"
A rough voice suddenly called out.
"Would you like me to escort you home?"
A shabby-looking man stood in the alley nearby.
I gave him a cold stare and kept walking.
"Don't ignore me," he said, stepping closer.
"I'll take very good care of you. I promise I'll be gen…tle."
His eyes looked like a predator watching its prey.
Crap.
This guy is bad news.
I quickened my pace.
But suddenly—
He grabbed my arm.
"You've got nice skin," he whispered, leaning closer.
"I wonder if foreigners taste different from the natives here…"
Panic filled my chest.
I wanted to scream for help.
But who would come to help in a deserted alley?
"I told you I'd be gentle," he said, grabbing my shirt.
"You're going to like it… maybe even love it."
Despair flooded my mind.
Someone… Please help me.
Just as he started tearing my clothes—
A voice spoke.
"I've had enough of watching this."
"I think I should join in too."
My face turned pale.
Another man stepped out from the shadows.
Great.
Another jerk.
"You motherfuckers touch me and you'll regret it!" I snapped.
"Don't worry, oujo-sama," the shabby man laughed.
"I won't let anyone touch my woman."
The stranger smirked.
"What if I want her too?"
He walked closer.
Before I could react—
He suddenly wrapped an arm around me and lifted me into his arms.
"What the—?!"
It took me a second to react.
"Let go of me, you scum!" I shouted.
He just smiled.
"Do all American girls curse this much?"
"Hey! Get your hands off her!" the shabby man shouted.
The stranger walked toward him calmly.
Then—
BAM.
He kicked the man hard in the stomach.
"You should speak to me with respect, peasant."
Another kick followed.
The shabby man panicked and ran away.
Just like that.
Now it was just the two of us.
And he was still carrying me.
I struggled and shouted.
"This is officially the worst day of my life!"