Sora showed Ayane around campus. Ayane reacted as if she'd never seen anything like it before. In a way, she hadn't. She'd only ever seen places like this in movies or TV shows. Her focus, however, was entirely on Sora Ame, her new roommate in this huge new college.
"That over there is the science building."
Sora pointed.
"I have a question, Sora!"
"What is it, Ayane?"
"How many classrooms are in each building?"
"Fourteen classrooms in every building."
"Woah, that's a lot!"
They conversed back and forth as if they'd been friends for a while now. Sora continued to walk and show Ayane around campus when she suddenly stopped moving and stood completely still.
"Sora?"
Ayane said worriedly.
She walked in front of Sora.
Sora was, once again, asleep. This had been the third time she had fallen asleep while standing up today, all while showing Ayane around.
Ayane decided to tap Sora on the side of her arm, thinking it wouldn't do anything besides make her fall over onto the concrete they'd been standing under since Sora fell asleep.
To Ayane's surprise, Sora woke up with a subtle yell and slapped her own face twice before going back to looking drowsy. Ayane was confused; she had never seen anyone like Sora before.
"Hey, uhm, Sora, I have another question!"
"Y-Yeah, what is it…?"
"Do you know what classes I have?"
"I'm afraid I don't, kiddo… sorry…"
They conversed once more.
Ayane asked the question, and Sora responded. They continued walking until it was time for lunch, which started around 12:42 for everyone in the college.
A bell rang through the air.
"What was that?"
Ayane asked.
"It's the lunch bell,"
Sora exclaimed.
"I usually don't eat until later in the day, or at night when I decide to cook."
Sora also explained to Ayane that she slept on nice weathered lunch days such as these on the green grassy ground.
Ayane looked at Sora with her head tilted sideways in confusion, asking her why she slept on the ground outside. Sora told Ayane that it was because she liked to feel the benevolent sun rain down on her so she could feel the essence of its warmth against her face.
Ayane looked at Sora as she gazed at the big blue sky with one cloud covering half of the sun. People started coming out of the college buildings in pairs of two or three, asking each other where they wanted to go to eat. Then, Ayane's face lit up.
"Wait, you get to pick where you go to eat here!?"
She asked with a shocked tone of voice.
"Yeah, you get to drive or walk down to your favorite restaurants."
Sora explained with a smile etched across her face.
"Or there's a food court at the college if you don't have a license or feel like walking to a restaurant."
"That's awesome!! Can we go somewhere!?"
"I think we better stick to cafeteria food for now."
Sora replied.
"I don't think the Head Administrator wants you to go off property yet."
"Oh, alright!"
They finished chatting and walked to the food court, where they had many selections of delicious meals to choose from: pizza, nachos, guacamole, burgers, chips, sushi, and egg rolls, too.
"This looks absolutely amazing!"
Ayane took a plate and started putting sushi on it and then grabbed a drink. She watched Sora take her food gently and calculatedly—a small side of spaghetti and an orange juice.
As Ayane watched Sora put food onto her tray, she looked at her with awe and admiration. Sora walked up to Ayane.
"Do you have money for your food, Ayane?"
Sora asked with a sleepy yet curious look.
Ayane was confused, but then again, she should've known that food in a place like this wasn't going to be free.
"O-Oh no, I don't… I-I'm sorry, I'll put it all back."
She started putting her food back on the platters where she got it. Sora grabbed her wrist gently and looked Ayane in the eyes.
"I'll pay for it, don't worry."
Sora said, shooting Ayane a reassuring smile.
'She's so cute!'
Ayane thought. She shook her head, trying to clear her head of the fantasies she was having.
"A-Are you sure?"
"Positive."
With that assurance given, they both walked to the counter where they were paying for their food. A lunch lady who looked in her mid-forties stood at the register, taking everyone's money. Over the long line of people, Ayane could vaguely hear her.
"Thank you, have a nice day."
Finally, Ayane and Sora reached the front.
"Hello, Sora! How are you, my dear?"
"I'm great, thanks for asking."
"Wonderful! Who's this young lady?"
"Oh, this is Ayane, she's a freshman. She just got here. She's also my roommate."
As Sora and the Lunch Lady conversed, Ayane spoke up.
"Hello, I'm Ayane, nice to meet you!"
She said nervously.
After she introduced herself to the lunch lady, Sora paid for both of their lunches and walked to the cafeteria to sit down. As Ayane looked around the cafeteria, she found herself looking at small or huge cliques of people conversing among each other. Meanwhile, she and Sora sat alone at a table together.
To make things a little less awkward between them, Ayane glanced in Sora's direction and opened her mouth to start a conversation.
"S-So, uhm, Sora, why'd you choose to go to college? This one, specifically?"
As she asked the question, Sora took a bite of her food and covered her mouth with her hand until she swallowed.
"My sister used to go here."
Sora said with a sad smile.
"She told me college was fun, so I decided to go as well. She told me I could meet new people like you and make friends. But, until now, I don't really think I have any friends."
"I-I'll be your friend!"
"W-Wait, what? But I randomly fall asleep during the day. Doesn't that upset you?"
"No, it doesn't! Your sleepy mood doesn't change how I view you."
Sora and Ayane both smiled.
"Thank you, Ayane… Really, thank you."
"Don't mention it. Now let's eat!"
Ayane suddenly realized Sora had been eating this whole time and was already done with her food. She looked down at Sora's empty plate and was shocked, then she looked back at her own plate, disappointed. Sobbing dramatically, she started stuffing her own face with her food.
After they both finished eating, Sora led Ayane back outside and to their dorm room.
"So this is my new dorm, huh? Awesome!"
Ayane said with a smile.
Sora plopped onto the soft couch that was in the living area of the dorm room and fell fast asleep. Ayane looked around one last time before unpacking her suitcase and placing everything in the opposite room on the floor at the end of the hallway. She put her clothes and other items in their designated areas.
Then, Ayane looked out of her window, which had a view of almost the entire campus. Her eyes fell upon the golden gates she came through, the road, and the Math building right across from both her dorm building and the window she was looking through.
She saw people exiting the cafeteria, conversing with other students and teachers. Ayane placed a framed picture onto the desk that had a lamp on top of it, right next to her bed. She wiped the picture and stared at it for a moment before sitting down.
"Today's my big day, Mom."
She whispered.
"I wish you were here to support me. But I know you are from the other side. I love you."
Ayane picked up the picture once more and planted a kiss on the image of her mother. She set it back down on the desk and plopped onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. Behind the door, Sora peeked in with tear-filled eyes.