The early morning air was crisp, the soft hum of activity around the Alpha Academy dorms beginning to stir as the sun made its way into the sky. Yuki opened his eyes to the sound of a distant bell, his heart jumping at the realization that it was already 7:45 a.m. He had overslept.
"Shit!" Yuki cursed under his breath, scrambling out of bed. His clothes were haphazardly thrown across the room from yesterday, and his tie still lay crumpled on the floor. Without wasting another moment, he grabbed his uniform and threw it on, hurriedly buttoning up the shirt and adjusting his tie as best as he could. His shoes were half on when he realized he hadn't packed his books.
The panic began to build, but before he could think more about it, his eyes flicked to the other side of the room. Aoto's bed was already neatly made, his dark blazer pressed and ready for the day. Yuki's stomach twisted at the contrast. Of course, Aoto would have everything in order, his cool, collected nature extending to every part of his life.
Yuki tossed his books into his bag and zipped it up before rushing out of the room, barely checking if he had everything. He hoped he didn't forget anything important—he would figure that out later. His shoes didn't even match, but there was no time for that.
Just as he reached the door, he heard Aoto's voice from behind him.
"You're in a rush," Aoto said flatly, his tone indifferent, though Yuki could sense the faint amusement in his words.
Yuki glanced over his shoulder, frustration bubbling up inside him. "No thanks to you," he muttered, rushing out the door.
Aoto didn't even respond, though Yuki could hear the sound of Aoto's footsteps behind him, calm and collected. The hallway was already filled with students making their way to the dining hall or heading to class. The whole atmosphere of the morning felt like a test. Yuki felt like he was failing it already.
They descended the stairs to the main level, Yuki's heart still racing, his thoughts scattered.
"Maybe you should've gone to bed earlier," Aoto remarked dryly, his voice steady as he walked beside Yuki, the slight smirk on his face barely visible.
"Yeah, well, I didn't expect to be rooming with an insomniac," Yuki shot back, trying to mask his anxiety with sarcasm.
Aoto's response was a quiet hum, his attention elsewhere as they made their way down the crowded hallway. Students flowed around them, talking in groups or silently rushing to their next destination. Yuki couldn't help but feel like an outsider in all of it.
When they reached the bulletin board for class schedules, Yuki scanned it quickly, trying to find their first class.
"Advanced Literature," Yuki muttered to himself. "Looks like we're in the same class for that one."
Aoto stood beside him, his face unreadable as he glanced over the schedule. "First class is always a waste of time anyway," Aoto said with his usual nonchalance. "Don't expect much from it."
Yuki wasn't sure how to respond. He wasn't sure if he agreed, but he didn't want to start an argument. Not this early in the day.
"Do you always speak like that in class?" Yuki asked instead, hoping to steer the conversation into safer waters.
Aoto gave him a sidelong glance, his expression almost bored. "Why would I waste my time trying to impress anyone? I'm here to learn, not to entertain."
Yuki wasn't entirely sure what to make of that. Aoto's confidence, the way he seemed to exist in the space around him without needing to prove anything to anyone—it was a stark contrast to Yuki's own discomfort. But there was something about it that intrigued him, even if he couldn't quite place it yet.
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Aoto stepped ahead, and Yuki followed, trying to calm his racing heart. They entered the large classroom for Advanced Literature, where the students were already settling into their seats. The professor, an older woman with sharp eyes and silver streaked hair, stood at the front of the room.
Aoto chose a seat near the middle of the room, without hesitation, and Yuki, following his lead, sat a few rows behind him. The seats were filling up quickly, but it felt like Yuki was the only one who hadn't found his rhythm yet. He felt the weight of the other students' gazes, though no one seemed to be staring directly at him. It was the feeling of being a newcomer, the pressure of having to prove that he belonged here.
The professor began to speak, introducing the syllabus for the semester. Yuki tried to focus, but his attention kept wandering back to Aoto. He wasn't sure why, but it was hard to ignore how effortlessly Aoto carried himself. There was no stress, no sign of nervousness. Just an air of detached coolness that Yuki envied more than he cared to admit.
As the class progressed, Aoto remained quiet, not engaging much with the discussions. Yuki tried to follow along, but he found his mind drifting. Literature had never been his strongest subject, and the dry tone of the professor wasn't helping.
It wasn't until they were discussing a passage from War and Peace that Yuki felt his focus shift. The words seemed to blur together, until the professor turned her attention to Aoto, asking him to share his thoughts on the passage. Aoto responded without hesitation, his voice steady and clear as he dissected the text, explaining its deeper meanings with ease.
Yuki couldn't help but be impressed. He had no idea how Aoto could speak so confidently, so effortlessly, in front of the entire class. Aoto's analysis was sharp, precise, and clearly well thought out. It made Yuki feel small in comparison, like he had barely skimmed the surface of the material they were supposed to be learning.
When the class ended, Yuki quickly gathered his things, avoiding Aoto's gaze. He didn't want to appear too eager or desperate for validation. They were still roommates—just because they shared a class didn't mean they had to talk about it. Aoto didn't seem interested in small talk anyway.
Yuki walked out of the room first, trying to get some space. His head was full of questions, none of which he could answer on his own. Did he really belong here? Was he going to be able to keep up with students like Aoto, who seemed to understand everything effortlessly? Or was he going to end up falling behind and making a fool of himself?
As they walked down the hallway toward their next class, Yuki looked up at Aoto, who was walking ahead of him without a care in the world.
"Hey, what class do you have next?" Yuki asked, trying to sound casual. He didn't want to admit how much he was struggling with this whole new environment.
Aoto glanced back over his shoulder, his gaze cool and calculating. "Next? Philosophy."
Yuki's heart sank. He hadn't signed up for Philosophy. He didn't even know if he'd survive that class. "Oh... uh... I've got History next," Yuki said, trying to mask his unease.
Aoto's eyes flicked to him for a moment before turning back to the hallway ahead. "You'll survive, I'm sure."
The comment was delivered in his usual dry, distant tone, but for some reason, it made Yuki feel just a little less alone. Aoto didn't offer encouragement, but he didn't dismiss him either. It was an odd mix of indifference and subtle reassurance, and Yuki couldn't quite figure out how to process it.
They continued down the hall, each of them heading in opposite directions for their next classes. Yuki felt the weight of the day starting to settle on his shoulders again. The pressure was there, but now it was different. Maybe Aoto was colder than he had first assumed, but there was something more to him—something beyond the surface that Yuki couldn't quite understand yet. And for reasons he couldn't explain, that made him want to understand it more.
But for now, all Yuki could do was take it one class at a time, hoping that, by the end of the day, he wouldn't feel completely out of place.