Wow, what a fancy gate! I guess most gates are fancy, but this one's extra fancy. Complicated patterns and a coat of arms in the brick sides put together to make a gate that's...well...intimidating, to be honest. Is this normal? The brochure pictures weren't like this. I'm not the kind of girl who goes to some rich kids' school. Even if everyone is as nice as they say I'm going to stick out twice over. Was this a good idea? I can't keep thinking about it, so I went in as fast as I could. That felt good. Moving feels good.
 
The big building must be the main one, where the classes are. I guess I head there? I'm supposed to meet someone, and that seems like where you'd go to meet someone. So I go there. Mom and dad said they'd take care of unpacking my things in the meantime.
 
The campus is really big, and the buildings only take up a small part of it. Most of it is grassy spaces and trees, with pathways between the buildings cut through them. My old schools didn't have anything like this, but that was the city. It's peaceful, but it also makes me feel worried that I don't belong here. Stop it, Misha. I have to at least try and see what this place is like before giving up. That's what I tell myself.
 
There are some other buildings behind the trees. Every time I try pushing it out of my head something else makes me think about how different this place is. It doesn't even feel like a school. Maybe everyone feels this way. It's just nervousness from starting in a new school. Yeah.
 
Speaking of everyone, where are they? I wish there was someone else here, then I'd feel less out of place.
 
I look around at the grounds again. This should be a peaceful place, but it's not enough for me right now.
 
...
 
Made it to the main building, finally. I think back to when I started walking, and realize something about that gate. Everything else in the world, all the students at my old school, are on the other side now. And I'm on this side, whatever comes of that. A little less nervous, I open the front door.
 
A tall, scruffy man notices me. Someone else, at last.
 
"You must be... Ma...Me...Mekado?"
 
"Hi! It's Mikado. Shiina Mikado."
 
He frowns a little. Did I say something wrong? Am I already making a bad impression?
 
"So you are. Good. I'm your homeroom and science teacher. My name is Mutou. Welcome."
 
He extends his hand. A handshake? I give him one. His frown deepens. This isn't good. Really not good.
 
He checks his watch and pauses.
 
"I suppose you don't need to have an check-in with the nurse. Let's get going and introduce you to the class. They're waiting already."
 
Waiting for me? Oh no, I already messed this introduction up. How do you even introduce yourself to a class? What are they even like? Aww, this is bad. I can't think of anything and the teacher said something and I couldn't think of what he was saying.
 
"Do you want to introduce yourself to the class?"
 
Yes, definitely! ☐
No thanks. ☐