It was early in the morning when Mio arrived for her first class on finance. She sat in the lecture bored out of her mind having done this course before. So she opened up her phone and began to browse through some news and eventually settled on reading a comic in class.
When the lecturer noticing that she was not paying attention decided to call her out. He was a short stubby man with a pot belly and glasses.
" Since we are having a lecture some people feel the need to not pay attention. You! In the green blouse" he pointed straight at her.
" Tell me, Why is the choice of a risk measure for internal and external risk of great practical importance?"
Mio looked up from her phone to see all eyes on her.
"Uhh..."
The professor smirked " Stand up and speak I can't hear you".
Mio saw the look on his face and smiled apologetically it was her fault for not paying attention, so as he requested she stood up.
She was quiet, thinking for a while.
" Since the lady cannot answer, she should sit down and pay attention. Perhaps you'll learn something" the professor said sarcastically.
Some of the students snickered and then Mio spoke " It is important because it determines the minimum reserve requirements in financial trading.
Different measures can result in a lower or higher minimum reserve requirement which results in a lower or higher profit for the financial institution.
Although it does not designate the audience that will receive the resulting financial reports, some financial measures should be used for internal purposes while other measures are more appropriate for external audiences. The number of clients to serve and the types of risks to be encountered are not aspects of selecting a risk measure. "....
The professor looked up at Mio, her pretty face beamed under the light and her bangs made her look young and cute. He cleared his throat, " C-correct miss umm..."
" Saito, Miss Saito".
After that Mio sat down and Dana nudged her.
" You answered that beautifully, I even understood what you said, more than what the professor said".
Mio smiled, " Of course, I am a genius after all" .
Dana scoffed and went back to listening to the lecture.
After class Mio and Dana walked out of the class and to the cafeteria where they got some food and sat down. Eventually more students poured in and one particular group of female students walked in.
They were a group of four very pretty young women dressed from head to toe in designer brands. Their ring leader walked in the front with a slight sway in her hips, her hair was a shiny black and she worse sunglasses, inside.
Mio thought this was a bit over the top, but who was she to judge when here mode of dress was similar.
The girls walked with determination and straight towards Mio's desk. Mio made eye contact with their leader and saw the arrogant look in her eyes.
She sighed and Dana looked behind her and then curled up into a ball.
" Why are they coming here?" she whispered and Mio just shrugged.
They stopped in front of Mio and the people in the cafeteria all focused on them. A sour expression formed on Mio's face, she was becoming the center of attention, again.
" Are you Mio?" The ring leader asked.
" Yes, can I help you with anything?"
The girl walked up closer to Mio bent down and leveled her gaze with Mio's.
" Yes, I would like you to stay away from Jacob. He's mine".
" What?"
" Don't what me. I know you've been hanging around him for some time."
Mio pulled her face away from the girl's gaze, this girl was coming off very strong and possessive. Shaking her head Mio smiled calmly, " I'm sorry but what I do and you I hang with should not concern you".
Dana's eyes widened hearing what Mio said and she shook her head almost as if to warn Mio not to start some trouble.
The girl stood upright and placed her hands on her hips " Is that so? Seems like I need to teach you your place here."
She turned around and then said over her shoulder.
" I suggest you be careful".
The girl then walked away with her posse following behind her. Mio smiled and felt like laughing, this was the first time she had ever been confronted by girls in such a manner.
In her younger days she was categorized as tomboy or to be more accurate a delinquent. When she was not being mistaken for an underdeveloped boy, she was beating up other delinquents.
She had seen how some girls would gang up on other girls as a show of power. But never thought that someday she would be on the receiving end.
Dana reached across the table and grabbed Mio's arm.
" Mio are you okay?" she had a worried face and Mio couldn't help but feel her heart melt. Her friend was truly a caring angel.
" I'm fine" she chuckled " that was quite entertaining".
Dana looked at her friend " Mio do you know who that is?"
Mio shook her head. Dana sighed and very seriously held her hand.
" Mio, that was Eiko Nori. She's the daughter of the president of Menk company. You know the guys that develop make-up."
Mio shook her head " No I don't know them."
" All you need to know is that her parents have a partnership with the school. So if she wanted to she could get you kicked".
" Isn't that like an abuse of power?"
Dana had a tight smile on her face.
" Yeah, but they don't care about people like us. We might have some money but we're not nearly as powerful and rich as them."
From Dana's tone Mio frowned, " Seems like you have experience in this."
Dana smiled and brushed off Mio's words. She then said that they should get to their next class early on, she led Mio by the hand. Mio looked down at her small soft arm and had a strange feeling in her heart.
Dana acted normal but Mio felt that she was hiding something.
As her only friend in the city Mio felt it was her duty to protect Dana and remembered how Dana shivered when Eiko walked in.
It was not a shiver from the cold but a fear response and Mio wanted to find out why she responded that way.