Walking down the long open halls of the Golden Rose academy, I casually patted my skirt, enjoying the bit of attention that I'm getting.
I could feel the envious gazes and stares of adulation coming from the surrounding students, and I habitually puffed up my chest, allowing the golden rose insignia that was sewn onto my uniform to glow.
Yes, yes, I'm too cool, the one with the straight As, top of my class, the most beautiful student on campus, daughter of the most prestigious family in the continent...
Those are my titles.
I silently counted them off, smiling brightly in my mind.
Of course, I looked very calm and collected on the outside; I made sure of that.
Hmm...
What's my next class again? Language? History?
History is second period... and language is third, right?
Oh, but they switch on some days.
Which day again?
...
Gosh! I have to take out my schedule again!
As I ran my fingers through my lustrous golden hair, I used my free hand to flip open the blue folder that I was carrying on my person.
Damn it! It's not history nor language.
It's science. Animal behavior, to be exact.
My most hated, despised class.
It was the one class that I could not stand, and to achieve the perfect scores that I did for it, I had to study late into the night, pinching my underarm with my razor-sharp fingernails in order to stay awake.
As for why the underarm? It's the most unnoticeable place. I can't imagine the horror of going to school with bright red pinch marks on my cheeks...
I could feel my enthusiasm for school slowly fading.
No, no! Asura Claremont! You must cheer up! You mustn't let your hatred for the subject affect your studies nor your attitude!
I took a deep breath and gathered up my energy. I had walked in the wrong direction previously, going into the humanities wing.
What a pain.
Just as I was about to turn around and head towards our school's science wing, I suddenly spotted a familiar pair of violet eyes.
They immediately looked away the second I made eye contact, but I had recognized them instantly.
I felt my already lousy mood sinking even deeper into the void.
Yes. I silently praised the heavens.
Yes, please turn away, don't look at me, don't come near me, don't come, please I beg you! Please, no!
My inner chanting grew frantic as I saw the owner of that pair of violet eyes turn back around and began to skip towards me.
NO!
I-I-I can't just stand here like an idiot and let her get to me; I have to go! I have to!
After much effort, I was finally able to get the strength to walk away. My steps were heavy, and I could feel my legs shaking slightly under my skirt.
Go! Go faster, stupid Asura!
But before I could escape into the crowd, I felt a hand on my shoulder.
Oh no.
That was my first thought.
Oh no.
That was my second thought.
I didn't have any time for my third thought, because --
"Asura~ I was looking all over for you!"
Hic.
I'm doomed.