Remi gave Riku a tour of the entire building. Throughout the building, there was the gym was, the cafeteria and kitchen, several clubs, a pool, an entire floor dedicated to games, a bar for some of the older members, several lounge areas, even a whole library, a small movie theater and a theater for plays, and a bar for the older members of Artemis. "This place is like a mall, school, hotel, and more all packed in one..." Riku thought to himself.
"Some members even work while living here, like in the stores, bar, kitchen, and there are resident assistants as well. There are some boys here, but they're either workers, or for some girls, butlers." Remi sighed blissfully. "What I would give to have a butler of my own..." She started fantasizing.
Riku imagined himself as a butler and quickly shook his head. "Wouldn't suit me at all..." He muttered under his breath. Remi glanced at Riku as she heard his voice, imagining him as her butler, and snickered at the thought. He glanced at her, giving her a confused look. "What?"
"Oh nothing~" She sang happily as she continued leading him.
He paused and stared down the hall. "Why don't you seem as anxious and spiteful as the other girls looking at me?" He asked, several girls down the hall whispering to each other and wearing anxious looks as they saw Riku.
"Well, some girls either think guys are the most awful things on Earth, think this should remain an all girl institute, and...there are a few girls who have had horrible things done to them by men. Abandoned by fathers, raped, beaten by lovers, almost killed..." The cheery tone in her voice had faded and Riku's gaze darkened slightly, not saying a word. "But I think everyone deserves a chance. You haven't done anything wrong, so there's no reason to-"
Riku cut the girl off. "Has anyone ever done something to you?"
Remi looked at him, eyes a bit widened and she tilted her head a bit. He kept his head forward, his eyes glued to the floor. "I-It's not very nice to interrupt people..." She giggled.
"I'm sorry, I just..."
"No, it's fine. You see, just because you asked that, I can already tell you're a good person." She smiled at him. "I'm a stranger and yet you're worried about me. How sweet."
He turned his head. "I-I was just...curious..."
"I haven't had anything too bad happen to me no..." He slowly fixed his gaze on her as she spoke, listening to her every word. "You see, I'm 18. After I graduated high school, I was gonna move in with my boyfriend since we were going to the same college. My parents didn't agree at all, saying it was a stupid idea, and they were right... When we were heading to his apartment, he led me the way we usually went, through a couple alleys to get there faster. Suddenly though, when we were almost there, he shoved me against the wall. I got really confused as to what was going on, before he just started beating me senseless."
Riku kept his expression blank, but his fists were clenched tightly in his pockets. "Before I could even scream I was out like a light. I'm not a very strong girl, so it isn't hard to knock me out. When I woke up, I was covered in bruises, and the only thing I had on me was my underwear..." She crossed her arms over her chest, remembering what it felt like. "I tried to go back to my parents, but all they said was, 'No! You're on your own now! We told you something like this would happen and you didn't listen!' ...and just like that, I was on my own... I wandered around for ages. My parents at least gave me clothes and a meal before I left, but I had absolutely nothing."
"What horrible parents could do something like that to their child..? Especially after something like that happened..! Could...mine have been like that..? Is that why..?" Riku thought to himself, biting his lip.
"I remember finally just sitting down by an alley and crying, letting it all out. I never thought something like that would ever happen to me..." Her eyes suddenly filled with tears and Riku frowned a bit, but neither said nor did anything. The two only just met, and didn't think his words nor the touch of a man would comfort her with the thoughts running through her mind right now. "But then, a girl found me, a little older than me. She's 21 now." She smiled, wiping her eyes as she waved to her friend.
Riku looked up and saw a girl with long red hair, green eyes, and an athletic and curvy body. Her uniform was a bright orange and red, like a fire. She had her hair up in a ponytail, and the tie of her uniform was a deep green. The girl waved back at Remi, then paused for a second as she saw Riku. He expected her to scowl at him or something, but she too gave him a smile. Her smile made him freeze up and made his heart skip a beat.
"That's Jira, my best friend and the one who brought me to Artemis, as well as the one who taught me not to hate all men based on one bad encounter." Remi explained. The girl named Jira skipped over to them, smiling still.
"She says she's 21... but she looks younger than me..." Riku thought as he looked at the young woman.
Jira immediately hugged and swung Remi around. "Remiiiii! Good morning!" She grinned.
Remi laughed. "Jira! Put me down!" They giggled and Jira set her down. Riku stayed silent and stayed a couple feet away. He was already nervous enough, but being close to such a beautiful girl, he'd be a mess. However, Jira suddenly grabbed his hand, having moved to him in such a flash that Riku hadn't even noticed.
Riku quickly looked at her, surprised, and Jira gave him a bright smile. "My name's Jira. It's nice to meet you, first boy joining the organization."
"I-I'm R-Riku..." He shook her hand before quickly pulling his away in a flustered manner, his face beet red.
"Hmm, funny, I'm like fire and you're meant to be a tree, symbolizing you have plenty of room to grow into something great. Hopefully my fire doesn't burn it to the ground!" She winked at him playfully.
He began to sweat and chuckled nervously, thinking to himself. "She probably will..." He paused. "How did you know what my colors meant if I didn't even know..?"
"Because I know the type of person President Nishida is silly!" She slapped his back rather hard and laughed.
"She's definitely not my type of person... Way too hyper." Riku internally groaned.
"It's too bad, I wanted to be the first member to welcome you here, but Remi got picked as your helper! I'm so unlucky!" Jira pouted playfully.
"Maybe there's a god after all..." Riku thought.
Remi giggled softly. "Do you wanna walk around with us? I'm sure President Nishida wouldn't mind."
Jira smiled brightly. "I can take over completely if ya want! I know you're a busy girl Remi, so you've probably got places to be. Meanwhile, I'm over here lazing around and playing video games all day." She laughed.
"That would be great!" Remi clapped her hands together.
"I take it back, I take it back!" Riku internally screamed. "A girl with a personality like yours is lazy..? I figured you were the type to play sports, go on morning runs, and exercise everyday." Riku muttered as the thought crossed his mind.
Jira looked at him, her smiled never leaving her face. "Well I do exercise daily, but I mostly just play video games and such. Not to mention I'm not the brightest. Unlike Remi here, I'm pretty lazy when it comes to school work." She giggled again, Remi giggling as well.
"Now I see where Remi gets her personality from...but in a way, they're complete opposites. Interesting when you think about it..." Riku thought to himself.
Remi suddenly leaned up and whispered in Riku's ear. "Jira draws the attention of a lot of the males here. Her fire also goes hand in hand with the way she warms people's hearts. You'll see as you spend your day with her. I wonder how she'll affect you?" She giggled and backed off. Riku shivered slightly, his face a faint red from how close she was.
"First day the guy joins and you're already whispering sweet nothings Remi?!" Jira gasped, obviously teasing her.
Even though even Riku could tell, Remi actually blushed and looked away shyly, or at least it seemed that way before she started talking. "Well I did ask him to let me watch him change earlier~"
"Why is she acting shy?! This girl's flirty as hell!" Riku thought to himself once again.
Jira laughed. "Same old Remi, always having cute boys on the brain."
"You know it~" She winked before skipping off to do her duties.
Riku's head slumped and he sighed, though a thought crossed his mind. "They think I'm cute?"
"Well come on, there's a lot of stuff we still gotta do other than a tour!" Jira turned and started walking, Riku following her.
"For a lazy person, you sure walk fast..! Slow down will you..?!"
Jira snickered. "Never!"
Riku sighed, mumbling to himself. "I really don't like her type..."