✿ a new beginning; 2.0 { open! } ✿
Academia Mare. Foreign words, yet a tinge of warmth and hospitality poked and prodded her heart when they were uttered. Arriving at a hospitable, yet foreign abode was not a new sensation for the girl. It had happened only once before, ripping the seams open on her closed heart and stitching it back up with everything she’d ever dreamed of. Was this time to be the same? A fleeting thought, woven with hope and cheer, just as all of Mary’s thoughts were. … Most of the time, anyways.
Arriving at a school with little-to-no information and accepted under suspicious circumstances should arouse some form of worry, should it not? It did, indeed, crack open the shell of warmth and allow dread to seep into the unprotected spaces. Mary had never once had a form of public education, at least any above elementary levels. All of her knowledge derived from books - a good source, but they lacked the school atmosphere and human interaction she’d long been deprived of.
With that, the fear of long-lost interaction draped her slight frame in tremors. Yes, she had her group of companions; the Mekakushi Dan were her family, her friends, people she’d die for! Leaving them was abrupt, but with the tone of induction into the academy, there was hope she’d meet them there implanted in her faithful noggin. Besides the group who had tapped onto her cocoon, the butterfly was still metamorphosing, waiting to truly become social.
Underdeveloped with people as a whole, what was she to do? Education was awaited; the medusa valued knowledge to a high degree. Talking to others to accomplish said task? No, no, no way! It would have to be dealt with, even if it wasn’t requested. A deep intake of a breath, timid steps were taken as she stood in front of the brazen doors of the academy. One pull, that was it. That was all she had to do! Exhale, don’t make eye contact, tug.
Bright light stung crimson optics; Mary was forced to blink rapidly to release the sensation of being temporarily blinded. Before her, an unfamiliar figure greeted her to the academy. A welcoming committee? No matter whom, she had to strive to meeting others! To not freeze up! Or… do it as minimally as possible. That worked too! Strangers had a fifty fifty chance of being welcoming in her experience, but this was a school; a haven for students to learn and interact! It was natural that the people there were… decent… at least, that was what was hoped.
"Ah! H-hello there… my name is Mary… Mary Kozakura." A formal introduction; punctual first impressions was something her mother valued to inform her of. "I’m a new a-arrival… is there somewhere I may check into to get s-settled in…?" Stutter had been tamed marginally, but shaking had not. Ripples of anxiety coursed through her, and her sense of inertia had got up and walked away - leaving her! Breathes came in short pants as the small girl calmed herself, patiently awaiting a reply.
When you put into perspective just how busy and active this school had become, the quiet and peace it brought before seemed like a far off dream at this point. That's not to say the newcomers weren't welcomed; actually, it was the entire opposite, if anything.
You see them come and go, some hide themselves away in their dorms for days at a time... Quite interesting, really. Humans were interesting in general; at least from what Henry perceived every now and then. Never focused too much on 'em.
Hesitant footsteps had reached his ears, as well as a rather quiet and shaky voice. It seemed to have belonged to a girl, a bit shorter than he; with long, wavy hair that matched his own colour. Pretty shade of eyes, as well. Huh. The name passed through his ears and stuck into his head. Mary Kozakura. Right, gotta remember that! Ha ha. Actually, come to think of it, most of these people have secondary names. Weirdoes.
is there somewhere I may check into to get s-settled in…?
Well, right. Time to get this show on the road, yeah? Gotta show her the ropes. Hope she's got a firm grip.
"Hey-o! Henry, at'cha service. A place like that does exist! At least, I hope it does, otherwise it would've been something I imagined up! Nya ha, that'd be interesting, wouldn't it?" Ah, yes. His way of breaking the ice. Whether it's effective or not would be entirely up to this girl.
"Did'ja want someone to show you the way? I got lots'a time to kill."
