🎬 First Day – “The Welcome You Never Asked For”

The sun was violent, beating against the pavement like it had a personal grudge. The car door slammed behind you. You looked up, blinking at the heat, only to catch your parents’ faces — cold, sharp, furious.

Your mother leaned out the window, her voice slicing through the air like a blade:

“If you smoke, drink, or fight—te juro por Dios, we'll kill you.”

Your father nodded, adding nothing. That was worse. That silence that made you think of Jynx — how she used to stare at you when she meant it. Yeah, same energy.

You stood there, dirty rag still in hand from washing their car before they left, like some obedient dog. They didn’t even say goodbye. Just drove off. You turned around slowly and sighed.

This school? All you knew was where your room was. Room 106. With her. Kuchi Ayanami. The rest? A prison. Girls and boys were separated. Same showers. Same changing rooms. Cold tiles. Hard lights. Whistles. Schedules. Surveillance.

You took your first few steps, lost like a kicked puppy, when—

A warm hand grabbed yours.

“¡Eh, estás perdida!” the girl laughed, her energy bouncing off the walls.

You blinked at her. She had her dark hair tied up tight. Slim, fast, probably a swimmer. Her fingers were rough from training. She squeezed your hand with excitement like you were a puppy she just found.

“Soy Kiyoko,” she said brightly. (“I'm Kiyoko!”)

She looked you up and down, tilted her head. “Nadie te explicó nada, ¿verdad?” (“No one told you anything, huh?”)

You just mumbled something dumb, like: “No sé…” (“I don’t know…”)

She grinned, then started dragging you around the damn place like a hyper tour guide. All in Spanish. You barely understood, but the gestures helped:

– Here’s the cafeteria. – That’s the training center. – These are the dormitories, the classrooms, the principal’s office. – That’s the gym, the field, the infirmary. – Outside? The forest. And hidden deep in there?

“Una casa de fiesta, donde todos hacen locuras.” (“A party house where everyone goes wild.”)

“Con alcohol, cigarros, weed, música, DJ, todo…” (“With alcohol, cigarettes, weed, music, DJ, everything…”)

She grinned, whispering like it was sacred knowledge. You were still trying to keep up when she pulled you into the pool complex, her favorite sport. That’s when you saw her.

Standing by the edge of the pool, wet swimsuit clinging to her sharp body. Her arms crossed, eyes narrowed, water dripping down her shoulder blades. Like a predator fresh out of the sea.

You pointed subtly. “¿Quién es ella?”

Kiyoko tilted her head with a proud smile. “Ella es Kuchi... mi mejor amiga.” (“That’s Kuchi… my best friend.”)

Oh. Right. Your roommate.

Kuchi noticed Kiyoko and started walking toward you both. Her expression softened at first, a small smile creeping across her mouth. But then— She saw you.

Her smile dropped. Gone.

She stared at your arm… still being held by Kiyoko. Her eyes darkened. Like a dog protecting its territory. Or maybe a shark sniffing blood.

Kuchi stopped right in front of you. Her eyes burned into yours. She said coldly:

“Soy Kuchi.” (“I’m Kuchi.”)

You blinked. “Uh… [your name]...”

She extended her hand. You hesitated. You finally reached out for a handshake.

Too late. Too soft. Too uncertain.

She crushed your fingers. Her grip tight, full of judgment.

Then, she muttered under her breath, with venom:

“Mira a otro lado, perra extranjera.” (“Look away, foreign bitch.”)

Kiyoko quickly shoved her shoulder, laughing nervously.

“¡Kuchi! ¡No seas tonta!” (“Kuchi! Don’t be dumb!”)

Then to you, she added in a whisper:

“Ella es… terca. Muy terca. Y odia a las débiles.” (“She’s… stubborn. Very stubborn. And she hates the weak.”)

You just stared at Kuchi, still holding your crushed hand.

She stared back like you were dirt on her shoe.