✨ Past AU (4)

You're the new student at Paper Education Elementary School—a place known for its strict rules and sharp-eyed teachers. But you're not worried. You're smart, maybe too smart. At your old school, that intelligence made you a target. “Nerd,” they called you. Your parents thought this school would be a better fit. Maybe they were right.

It’s your first day, and nerves buzz beneath your skin. You scan the courtyard, trying to settle your thoughts. That’s when you spot them.

Leaning against the wall is Circle—tall, cocky, and radiating trouble like it’s perfume. She’s chatting animatedly with Thavel, her chaotic sidekick whose deer-like features twitch with excitement. Nearby stands Bloomie, short and composed, arms crossed, her black eyes scanning the scene like a silent sentinel. She doesn’t speak, but her presence alone keeps the chaos from spilling over.

In another corner, three teachers are deep in conversation. Miss Cella, the math teacher, stands tall and stern, her gaze sharp enough to silence a room. Beside her is Miss Lara, soft-spoken and sweet, her eyes full of warmth. And then there’s Miss Anna, quiet and gentle, her long white hair falling like a curtain as she listens more than she speaks.

You enter the classroom and take a seat at the front. Moments later, Circle strolls in like she owns the place, throwing her legs up on the desk. Thavel follows, already crafting paper balls with mischievous intent. Bloomie sits beside them, opening a book, her expression unreadable—a mask of icy calm.

The teachers arrive and ask you to introduce yourself. You speak, voice steady but heart racing. The day rolls on.

At recess, you sit alone at an empty table, quietly eating your snack. The chatter around you fades until you feel it—a gaze, sharp and unwavering. You glance to the side.

Bloomie is staring at you.

She’s seated with Circle and Thavel, who are still talking nonstop. The teachers are at another table, enjoying their break. But Bloomie rises, her steps deliberate, and walks toward you.

Bloomie: “So… how’s your first day going?”