Chapter Text
Emma swallowed nervously as she walked through the door into the school.
New school, her parents said, meant new friends and new experiences! Nothing to be scared of. She’s meet other kids, and… have fun. Yeah.
And with a lunch of spring rolls, freshly made by her parents, packed in her bag— this would go well. So, so well.
Right?
She glanced around at the hallways when she heard footsteps quickly coming her way.
“Hey!” A kid with messy black hair was waving at her, hurrying down the hall. Another kid with slightly tamer white hair was trailing along behind him, looking at Emma curiously. “Emma, right? We’re supposed to show you around!”
Emma clutched the strap of her bag tighter and swallowed, before she made herself smile at the two other students. “Yes! That’s me. Hello.”
She took a few steps forwards until she finally met the two boys.
The black-haired boy grinned, resting his hands on his hips. “Well, Emma, you’re getting us out of first period so we can show you around, so I already like you.”
Emma giggled. “Happy to hear it. Um, what’s your name?”
“I’m Cheng Xiaoshi!” The black-haired kid stuck out his hand to shake.
Emma took it, a little surprised at the adult-like action, but smiled shyly. “Hi. It’s good to meet you.”
She glanced at the white-haired boy behind him.
“I’m Lu Guang,” he said, and didn’t offer his hand to shake. Emma didn’t mind, really.
“Don’t mind him! He’s just shy. But he’s real nice.” Cheng Xiaoshi tugged on her hand instead of letting go. “I’ll show you around, ‘kay?”
Lu Guang looked a little dismayed for a second— before Cheng Xiaoshi took his hand too, and his frown smoothed out as the black-haired boy happily pulled them both down the hall.
“This is the library… I’m still waiting for them to get the latest volume of my favourite series, it’s this fantasy story with a dragon and a prince and a wizard and a group of adventurers…”
“It’s a good study space for the older students,” Lu Guang added quietly as he followed the two of them around, occasionally adding into Cheng Xiaoshi’s excited chatter.
Him and Cheng Xiaoshi seemed to be really close— Emma thought it was kind of cute. Maybe she’d find a friendship like this at this new school.
“This is the bathroom… uh… not much to stay here…”
“This is the lockers! You can put your stuff in there.” Cheng Xiaoshi pointed at an empty, open locker. “It’s beside Lu Guang’s, so if you need any help with it, you can totally ask him. Right, Guang-Guang?”
Lu Guang winced at the nickname but nodded solemnly. “You can count on me, Emma.”
“This is the cafeteria… we totally have to eat here, later, and you’ll get it meet my sister, she’s a year older than us… she’s soooo nice, you’ll like her!!”
“I’m sure I will!” Emma said, some of the morning’s nervousness already wearing off as she listened to the boy’s friendly chatter.
They eventually stopped in front of a classroom.
“This is our homeroom,” Lu Guang motioned to the door. “Class already started a while ago, but I think you’ll have to introduce yourself to everyone.”
“Our teacher’s nice!” Cheng Xiaoshi added cheerfully, finally letting go of Emma’s hand to reach up to the doorknob. “You ready to go in?”
“Yeah,” Emma said, and found she meant it. New school. New friends. “Let’s go!”