Chapter Text
Stelles alarm clock rang, she clicked it away as usual before deciding to snooze a bit longer. Of course a bit became 10 more minutes and ten more minutes became 30, she hit the snooze button one more final time but a voice came from down stairs.
"Stelle breakfast is ready! You better be dressed by bow or you'll be late."
Stelle finally stirred "breakfast she mumbles before checking the time on her phone... "i-its.... Already this late!?" She exclaimed. She quickly rushed to get ready. She spinted down the stairs, faceplanting on the last step.
"S-Stelle!?" Himeko exclaimed taken by surprise, Stelle only raised a thumbs up in response "I'm o-okay..." she murmured raising herself off the floor. "You've only got 2 more years left til graduation and somehow your mornings still start like this." Himeko said with a chuckle.
Stelle awkwardly rubbed the back of her neck "I know I'm really trying to change my ways but...-"
"But hitting the snooze button is much more enticing huh?" Himeko asked teasing "Now come on, take some toast and be on your way. Your backpacks by the door."
Stelle nodded before taking a slice of toast and her backpack and leaving the house. She quickly rushed through the busy morning streets, lucky her commute was 10 minutes by foot, on a normal day this would be fine but 10 is starting in 10 minutes.
"Shoot shoot shoot-" Stelle repeated as she ran "Late on the first day! The teacher will kill me." She whined. Suddenly a voice perked up "excuse me? I'm looking for Graphia Academy." A guys soft voice spoke. Stelle looked over to see a guy, with raven hair and teal eyes.
"Seriously im kinda late as is, I cant also be your navigat-" NOW WAIT JUST A SECOND! Her brain stopped her from finishing that sentence. Stelle was raised to have a noble heart by Himeko, she couldn't ignore a person in need.
"Dont you worry damsel. I'll show you the way! In return... would you mind giving me a ride?" Her proud declation quickly turning sheepish. The guy let out a small chuckle.
"I dont see why not, hop on." He said, Stelle quite literally hops on the bike and they ride down to the academy.
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They stop at the bike parking lot. "Thank you for your guidance, even if it got somewhat crazy at times." The guy said. Stelle shook her head "No thanks to you I was able to shave off a whole 5 minutes." Stelle said with a greatful smile.
"One last question before you leave, would you be so kind to point my in the direction of the deans office?" The kind guy asked.
"Oh sure, follow me." Stelle said leading him inside. "Down this hallway and to the right. You cant miss it, well i gotta go in another direction so see you around!" Stelle said before speeding off at increadibly high speed.
Stelle bearly managed to make it in time, with just a minute to spare. The teacher gave a disaproving look but let it slide for that day. Stelle went to her seat, her best friend March 7th turning around.
"You goof seriously managed to sleep in of the first day of the new semester?" She asked deadpan. Stelle grinned "well thanks to the help of a kind stranger I wasnt late." Stelle said triumphantly. March raised an eyebrow "a kind stranger?" She asked.
Stelle nodded "he was asking for directions so I showed him the way, in return I sat on the back of his bike." She explained. March facepalmed "you do know that doubling on a bike is illegal right? The poor guy must've not known, Stelle doing things like that has.... implications, you shouldnt be seen doing things like that in public unless youre-" Marchs explination got cut off by the teacher beginning his class and calling for silence. Stelle didn't really dwell on her words, her focus shifting to the lesson, or at least trying to make heads or tails of the lesson. Her mind quickly drifted off to the games she played in the break, cartoons she watched and the dinner she will have later... one other thought popped into her mind.
*I wonder if that guy made it without issue*
In hinesight she should've just walked with him but she prioritized not being late for once. She never asked the guy his name, she just called him a damsel, Stelle chuckled to herself for that one... suddenly there was a knock at the door. The dean then entered with a man... wait no- Its the damsel from this morning!? Stelle was surprised for a moment but quickly returned to daydreaming.
The teacher introduced the new student "kids, this is Dan Heng, he'll be joining us from this term on." They said writing his name on the board "This is Dan Heng, he originates fron the Xianzhou. Mr Dan Heng, just take a seat next to the miss with the ashen hair." The teacher said and Dan Heng walked to his seat. As he passed through the room every person began analizing, all girls realized his stricking appearance, tall, handsome and his glasses gave him an air of inteligence. Dan Heng sat down and the teacher continued their lesson "please open your books on page 48."
Dan Heng turned to Stelle, meanwhile Stelle was thinking about the baseball court and a certain someone she'd beat up, amidst her daydream she didnt notice a voice.
"Um... excuse me? Miss... grey hair?" A familiar soft voice called over.
"Huh oh youre talking to me?" Stelle asked.
Dan Heng nodded, I wont be given my books until later today so I was wondering if I-" Stelle didn't let him finish "Oh I get what youre saying man. Dont you worry your damsel head." Stelle said taking out the book and handing it to him.
"Damsel?" He asked confused before realizing she was the girl from before "thank you but wont you need this aswell?" He asked confused. The girl only shook her head "Nah." Stelle simply said before putting her head down on the table to sleep. Dan Heng looked shocked and this girl.
"Um dont bother trying to understand, that girl is chaos incarnate and dont worry about the book, it would be wasted on her." A girl with pink her turned around to speak with him.
"I...see." Dan Heng said. The pink haired girl smiled "Im March 7th by the way, that sleepy head over there is Stelle, oh and sorry for her forcing you to be her ride. That girl doesnt get social cues and norms at all." She explained.
"Social norms?" Dan Heng asked. Was there something wrong with the bike ride? March picked up on his confusion "right, youre from the Xianzhou so you dont know. Doubling on a bike is illegal here, so dont get caught by law enforcment doing that. Then theres.... also the meaning of doubling." She continued
"The meaning? So socially theres a different outlook towards this?" Dan Heng asked. March nodded "y-yeah... its seen as a thing couples do, I dont know why its so romanticised, maybe the thrill of doing something youre not supposed to with your lover?" March shrugged.
Dan Heng didn't like that.
"drawing attention to myself and a misconduct on my first day here... this must be a bad omen."
Dan Heng looked over at the sleeping Stelle "so she...."
before he could finish the thought March shook her head
"she didn't know either, shes lived here all her life but I promise you this girl is an idiot when it comes to some things." March said quickly "She genuienly wants to help people so dont take it the wrong way please."
Dan Heng let out a sigh "I see, thank you for clarrifying Miss March." He said.
"Miss is too much, just March is fine." She said with a smile before turning back around. Dan Heng turned his focus to the book.
This was gonna be a long day.