Nikami POV
When we were in the middle of our bickering, we heard a bell ringing throughout the hallways of the school.
"Ah… Finally, the bell. The prologue and the introductions are going to end, after the entrance ceremony... Chapter one of the game will finally start." I thought, glancing up and looking over at a purple-colored tower from afar. In the middle of it was the enormous bell, seemingly the origin of that noise.
"Right, all of you can go over to the gym. Ah! You probably don't know where it is right? I'll guide you." Keshi let out a grin.
"Ah! Thanks, Sensei." Raijin let out a grin as well, chuckling.
"I wonder why there aren't any maps here…" Yasachu mumbled.
"I'm sure there are, as a high-class establishment such as this Academy… I'm certain there are maps." Shukona nodded down at Yasachu.
"May you lead the way now?" I asked Keshi, my arms still folded.
"Alright! Follow my lead." Keshi nodded, starting to walk over to the entrance of the hallways. Looking back as she was gesturing to us to go with her.
The four of us went behind the teacher, following her as she guided us.
But before we left the courtyard… Another CG flashed in my face.
It was of a girl sitting on a branch on top of a tree, their hair was wavy, it's color was obsidian purple. They had a mask covering almost half of their face with three red slashes.
Her eyes were black on the side where her mask didn't cover her face, however on the other eye, it was dark red. She had an ominous grin on her face as she swung her feet in the air.
She was wearing a white sleeveless shirt with a collar and on top of it was a sleeveless black vest, showing her shoulders.
Her shorts were just black and white, she had black long gloves on each of her hands.
Upon seeing another character have a CG that I do not know about, I flinched and hurriedly glanced at Yasachu.
"Ah…?" The short white-haired female was staring at a tree as she let out a gasp and stopped in her tracks.
"Hm? What's wrong?" Raijin looked over at Yasachu, stopping as she adjusted her gloves.
"Nothing… I just thought I saw someone with a mask on top of that tree…" Yasachu mumbled, pointing on top of the tree she was staring at. But there was nothing but darkness under the shade of the tree.
"You must be hallucinating! Make haste already, we do not want to be late." Shukona flinched, starting to speed up as she clenched her fists.
"Shu…?" I was confused at her sudden aggressiveness, she seemed quite distressed. I wonder why…?
[Does she know that woman? Does she have relations with that masked girl? Or is simply mad by them getting distracted…?] I guessed in my head, still continuing to walk.
"Alright! Geez! No need to be so mad." Raijin grumbled, pouting as they continued on.
"So-sorry! I'm so sorry!" Yasachu apologized, starting to walk again.
"...." I kept silent as I followed the group, and we finally got to the gymnasium.
It was a typical gym, we had bleachers on the sides we could sit on. The students are laughing and smiling, excited for the school year. When we came in, letters with the purple insignia of the academy flew into our hands.
I blinked at it as I held it in my hand.
"Ah! We should hurry, more students are going to come in later. Please take a seat over there. Open the letter after the ceremony! I'll go now, see you tomorrow in class." Keshi smiled, pointing at an area with the first years.
The four of us nodded, though we were confused at the letters, we went and sat down.
"I'm so excited! I wonder how many fights I'll win!" Raijin sat at my right, grinning.
"Don't always think about fights." Shukona sighed, sitting at my left side.
"What are you excited about Shi-shiromoru-sama?" Yasachu asked me in a nervous tone, sitting at the left of Shukona.
[Rather than being excited, I'm troubled. The game is going to start, and I hope I and Raijin won't get picked. Shukona needs to be the one she ends up with.] I thought, going silent as she asked that.
"Learning." I gave a response looking around at the noisy students.
"Aha! Of course, an elegant girl like Nika would look forward to her academics!" Shukona flashed a bright smile, nodding in approval.
The headmaster went to the stage, making everyone go silent in his presence.
Despite him being an old man, he looked quite muscular and wise looking. He stood there as he started to congratulate everyone for getting into the Academy and started his speech.
As he did so, I looked down at the letter and lightly rubbed my fingers against the insignia.
[The Insecure Elementalist, The Prideful Shrine Maiden, The Masochistic Princess Student Council President, The Quick Emotional Knight, and The Hot-headed CrossDressing Princess. Five of these girls are the main capture targets.] I looked up, thinking of this as I glanced over at the headmaster.
[The Silent Reading Ice Queen, The Tsundere Gardening Villainess, The Clumsy Inventor Teacher, and The Mysterious Masked Girl... The 9 of them will fall in love with the main character…] I thought once more, glancing at the short white-haired girl beside Shukona.
[And yes… That includes me and Raijin, we have no choice…] I closed my eyes and thought about that.
"Let the games begin," I mumbled so silently that not even the air could hear me.
After his speech, we were allowed to go out and explore the school. They also explained that the dorms are on the right side of the Academy, and our maids would be waiting there. For those who have maids anyway.
"I'm going to my dorm." I stood up, walking towards the door without hesitation.
"Hey! Can't you wait Nika? Shouldn't we explore the school first?" Raijin stopped me, putting her hands on my shoulders.
"That is true, however, I am tired due to my travels. Aren't you also tired?" I answered, turning back to face her.
"That is true, I suggest we should go back to our dorms and rest." Shukona nodded in agreement to me.
"Yea… Ahaha… My shoulders hurt from carrying my bag all the way to another country…" Yasachu nervously laughed.
[Honestly who wouldn't be?] I thought, slightly snickering.
"Yes, now I shall go." I pushed off Raijin's hand, starting to walk away.
"I'll g-go too!" Yasachu exclaimed, walking with me.
"Me too!-" Raijin was about to follow me as well but instead got cut off by Shukona.
"No, you are a man. You are not supposed to be in the women's dorms, you are not coming with us." Shukona glanced at Raijin, flipping her hair and following me.
"Wha… But I'm…. Ugh! Fine! Whatever! Do it your way!" Raijin grumbled, groaning.
"But we will meet tomorrow alright? Go ahead or whatever…" Raijin pouted, gritting her teeth.
"Yes. So cheer up alright? You don't have to be sooooooooo irritated. And don't be embarrassed about how you can't see us in your dorms." I mocked Raijin, using her own words earlier against her. I let out a small wave as I went towards the door.
"Oh you gotta be fucking kidding me-" Raijin looked dumbstruck as she turned red due to anger, but before she could finish her sentence I was already out the door.
We walked towards the dorm area for the girls, it was a big building with many windows, chairs, and seats outside it. It was painted white but there was a single green horizontal stripe on the building. Indicating it was the dormitory for the first years.
Girls were talking and having tea in the front garden, as we walked past them I noticed all of them were wearing green ties.
The three of us still held the envelope in our hands, and as we opened the door to the entrance to the dorms I suggested something.
"Shouldn't we open this letter?" I asked the two of them, Yasachu head quickly perked in my direction. Startled that I was the one who talked first.
"Ah? Correct Nika, we must open it." Shukona nodded in agreement, stepping into the building, and went towards the side to not block anyone's way. And we followed suit.
I slowly opened the envelope and took out a card, a paper with some words on it, and a map.
"Ah! These must be the key card to our dorms!" Yasachu exclaimed, smiling brightly.
"And we finally have a map, how wonderful." Shukona let out a light chuckle, nodding.
I took a look at the paper which seemed to be a letter, and started to read it.
================================
Dear, Nikami Shiromoru.
Hello, young one! Tomorrow is the day where you will attend the academy! Now, this letter can only be opened after the entrance ceremony, so you must have already met me! Your maids/butlers are waiting in your dorm (717-A) with your items, if you wish you may go there and settle in, or explore the area of the school! It is your choice. Happy learning!
-Best of luck, from the headmaster
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[What a cheerful old man…] I thought, reading the letter that was in front of me. I looked up and the two girls were doing the same.
"Ah… Maids huh… I don't really have one…" Yasachu let out a small chuckle, holding the keys.
"Which number are you in Nika? Perhaps we are right next to each other." Shukona glanced over at me, letting out a small smile on my way.
"Oh, I have dorm room 717-A." I glanced back at Shukona, telling her my number.
Yasachu flinched, confused as to why that was my number.
"Huh…?" She blinked, looking back at her letter to clarify something. And rubbed her eyes.
"Ah, that's wonderful Nika! I'm in 721-A! We aren't that far!" Shukona exclaimed, still having that smile on her face.
Yasachu now kept silent, not knowing what to say.
I glanced at the main character who was staring intensely at her paper, holding it and just… Gazing upon it like a person finding the holy grail. Her eyes were shot wide open but a small mischievous yet happy smirk emerged from her face.
"Hm? What is the problem commoner?" Shukona glanced over at the short girl, tilting her head.
"A-aahn… It's nothing! Just still very happy that I got into a wonderful Academy like this one…" She nervously chuckled, nodding intensely.
We heard a ruckus outside and the door quickly opened.
The student council president was here, with her red band on her arm as she adjusted it and walked inside.
"A-aah-" Yasachu quickly turned towards her, and since she was the one most close to the door, she quickly backed away.
"Greetings there ladies, please make yourself comfortable. if you have any questions about the dorm don't hesitate to ask me." Shoubu announced, smiling at all the girls here.
They quickly gathered up around here, respectfully asking some questions.
"Rabadena-sama, why is it that our maids couldn't come with us when we first got here?" A noble girl asked.
"Well, it is because the headmaster wanted to give the students a sense of adventure when they first come here. The feeling of exploring alone and meeting new people is different when you are with a servant." She explained, still having a gentle smile on her face.
"Can we carry on?" I asked them. I felt like I wanted to write everything down already, so many things happened today. The fact that I can see CG's and that me and Raijin had an agreement. And more…
I started to walk in the hallways of the dorm, looking at the numbers to see where mine was.
"Ri-right!" Yasachu nodded at me, she was sweating bullets. Extremely nervous, she followed me.
"Shall we go to your dorm first Nika? Since it is closer." Shukona suggested, walking with me by my side.
"..." I nodded in response, keeping an eye on the numbers and the many doors.
Shukona noticed that Yasachu was being unusually nervous, and let out a tired sigh.
"Just tell us, commoner. I don't think your excuse earlier was right, it is indeed true a commoner like yourself would be nervous to be in this academy. However, I do not get why now you choose to be nervous. When you weren't like this earlier." Shukona spoke some proper arguments, looking over at the main character behind us.
"..." I kept silent, listening to their conversation, and was still walking as I continued to keep an eye on the door. 700… it's close now.
"A-ahm… W-well you see- I-I uhm…" Yasachu tried to get it out, but couldn't as she stuttered immensely.
"We are here." I interrupted their conversation, quickly opening the door and stepping inside.
I entered a room with two couches in the living room, a big window with slidable glass doors. And right in front of it was a table for two, with two chairs in front of it.
In the table was a teapot, a creamer for the milk, a sugar bowl, a plate for lemon slices arranged on a wooden tray. And of course, tea cups as well.
My maid, Emica, was in front of it. Having a professional smile on her face that rarely wavers.
There were two doors, and looking from the outside the two doors on the opposite side of each other seemed to be bedrooms.
Bed… two bed rooms?
"Greetings Nikami-sama, I have prepared tea for you and your roommate." She continued smiling, giving a bow to us.
"And ah, Shukona-sama, greetings to you as well. I shall prepare a cup of tea for you, please take a seat here, Shu." Emica smiled at Shukona, though her smile was slightly more different than the last time. It felt more genuine.
"Excuse me?" I let out a small gasp.
"A… roommate?" Shukona blinked, confused as well.
"U-uhm… So-sorry to hide this, but uh… I-I couldn't really get it out… M-my number is… 717-A a-as well… I was confused like you two! Why would we have the same number… It wouldn't be possible… Unless we were roommates…"