ACT I - Double Storm I

Despite my parent's initial reactions, they were supportive of my new spectacles, so I managed to find the courage to wear them to school. Plus, I had no issues left with them; my sight got perfectly adjusted without any reflections or dizziness remaining, as I wore them back home throughout the weekend.

All that's left was the fact that, well, they were old. I'd consider myself to be a guy with solid self confidence, but after all, I was a teenager. I had my worries about looking cool…

Thankfully, my mom had sent me off to school with the perfect encouragement.

"While it's true that they might shock people at first glance, no worries! If you think they suit you, no one can change that. You've made the choice to get them, so stand behind it. They're difficult to pull off but you do it so, so well—no one can say a thing to hurt you unless you let them!"

So yeah, while my mom was right and I had zero issues ignoring the looks of people on my way to school (telling myself those looks were only because people were curious—absolutely), I had forgotten about a huge obstacle that happened to be my desk mate.

Rena Kogarashi.

"My, right when I was thinking you finally managed to get yourself a pair of glasses, those are what you pull up to school with? You're such a joke—one I can't laugh about, though."

She coolly flipped the pages of the notebook in front of her and started to fill in some answers for her homework, due just in a few minutes for the first class.

"Um, good morning to you too, Rena…"

I sat down, feeling defeated, but she wasn't done with me just yet.

"Rena?" She shot me a disgusted look. "Who told you that you can call me by my name? That's Kogarashi-san for you."

"O-oh, right… Sorry, Kogarashi-san. It's just a habit from Canada, I guess. Everyone in class called each other with their first name—"

"Well, this isn't Canada so act like it."

I suddenly missed my friends back there so, so much.

I lowered my gaze towards my desk and muttered an apology. She was right, actually, despite being a 'half' herself (half Russian, to be precise).

I just… hoped that we could be friends, instead of this huge distance between us despite being close in proximity.

A few moments later, two of her friends appeared and they started to chat cheerfully. Despite what you might be thinking by hearing me describe our conversations, she was actually such a bright and lovely person; with the warmest smile I had ever seen, completely contrasting with her cold sounding name. Only to me, she was like a cold and windy storm—and I most likely deserved it.

She had actually shown me her warm and inviting side to me during the first days of school, constantly chatting with me and talking lots about herself too, that… I just assumed that we would end up being good friends. But all of a sudden, she had turned cold and hostile like this. Considering she was as sweet as ever to everybody else…

Yeah, I had probably done something to deserve it. If only I could know what it was, though…

She didn't make it easy to ask just what I had done wrong, either. I glanced at her just for a bit and she just glared back at me. This made her two friends notice me, and they shot a look at my glasses, giggling without even trying to hide it from me.

I just wanted class to begin, so I could be left alone already…

—

No matter what everybody thought of them, the glasses did give me crystal clear sight, which made me feel much more comfortable in grasping lessons. Besides, as the day went on, a few people even approached to strike a conversation with me and hey, they were friendly enough that I started to feel hope that I'd be making some true friends real soon. Some had even complimented them!

However, when the last bell of the day rang, and I was calmly putting away my books, someone completely unexpected came into class.

Ria Azuma. The school council president.

Everyone stopped their chatter at once and went dead silent. I looked down at my books and pretended not to notice her—as she was known to be quite demonic by the entire school. However, her steps only came closer and closer, until they stopped right in front of me.

"Oi."

I flinched and looked up. Her piercingly red eyes were staring directly at me.

"Is this how you greet the school council president? Ignoring me? Where's your manners?!"

I heard Rena snort quietly next to me. It was the second time I was getting scolded about manners today…!

"U-uh, I'm sorry Azuma-senpai. I just didn't think you had any business with me…"

"Well, now you do know, so stand up and follow me Yuujin Seira. To the teacher's room."

I hastily put my remaining books under my table, grabbed my bag and followed her out of the class. Everyone was whispering quietly, discussing my sudden summoning into the teacher's room. As I left the class, I caught a glimpse of Rena smirking proudly.

Just what was I being called to the teacher's room for?!