Quietly, all the students leave the conference room and head for the exit. The morning was a bit hectic, which made our dear Rina’s stomach growl.

General dispersal of students, some go to the campus cafeteria, the most economical choice, others go off campus to the city center or to the Indigo Beach¹.

¹Indigo Beach is a commercial area with high-end restaurants, stores and hotels.

It is important to take advantage of the two-hour break on the first day of school to fill your stomach with good things.

“Do you have any idea what you want to eat Rina-chan?”

“Um… I don’t really want to go to the cafeteria since we’re likely to go there a lot once classes really start.”

“You Sophie, what do you feel like eating?”

“Now that I think about it, this morning’s skewers are making me crave them now that it’s time for lunch.”

“It’s true they were scrumptious, and on top of that I got them free with my Ai Coins.”

“It wasn’t worth my mom’s cookies, but I’ll admit they were good.”

“I guess so, that’s why I thought I’d go to the Indigo Beach plaza, there must be plenty of food stands.”

“Very good idea, we have plenty of time to get there and it will be an opportunity for you to maybe use your first Coins.”

*Rina gurgling*

“Let’s GO !”

Well decided to treat themselves, the girls leave towards the beach. The plaza of Indigo Beach is known for the huge quantity of street food stalls of all kinds, everyone can find what they want for very interesting prices.

It makes me think that maybe I should eat something too…

In any case I spare you the meal of these young ladies on the beach, the main event of the day has not yet taken place so it would be time to hurry up maybe.

“Hey, what’s wrong with you? We’re not in such a hurry that we’re going to ‘spare’ them part of our day. Especially since I see Mummy in the distance heading our way, you want to gloss over my mom’s appearance?”

What did we say about speaking out against the narrator? Of course I was going to introduce Miss Elsa… Did I have a choice in the first place?

“What do you mean by that?”

You, it’s your mother, so it’s okay, she’s nice to you. But with me…

Anyway, let’s get back to it.

“OK…”

While the girls are happily eating their bento on a bench at the edge of the beach, a woman with long silver hair, dressed in a white blouse and a navy blue skirt approaches Rina.

“Ara, I didn’t expect to find you Rina.”

“Ah, Mummy!”

“Hello Aya-chan, Sophie-chan, how are you both?”

A little surprised by the sudden appearance of Rina’s mother, Aya quickly wipes her mouth before answering.

“Ah, hello Shimizu-san…”

“Hello Shimizu-san, we are very well Aya and I.”

A small smile appears on the face of Mrs. Elsa, she answers them gently.

“Haha, don’t be so stressed and formal. I already told you that you can call me Elsa. You are my daughter’s friends after all.”

“Alright, thank you Elsa-san.”

“I went to see your parents Aya-chan this morning between appointments, they seem fine, they told me you just got back from a trip to Hawaii.”

“Ah, yes, thank you for coming to see them. Yes indeed, I went to see my older brother in Hawaii but he wasn’t there.”

“Ara what a shame. You’ll see him again soon I’m sure.”

“I hope so too.”

“How about you Sophie-chan, I know you came home with your parents yesterday from Finland. Are they both okay?”

“Yes, thank you for checking in, they are doing very well. They are staying in Japan for two more weeks and then they will leave for France.”

“They’re always so busy those two, always traveling all over the world for your dad’s work.”

“Haha, yes Daddy needs to travel a lot to market his perfumes and cosmetics to new customers.”

“Let’s take advantage of the fact that they’re still staying in Japan for a while then, can you tell your parents that they’re invited for a delicious private meal at our ryôkan this Saturday night?”

“Yes… eh… Yes, sorry, I’ll tell them tonight, thank you Elsa-san.”

“Of course you two are also invited. I’ve already stopped by to tell your parents at the Aquamarine Aya-chan don’t worry.”

“Thank you for the invitation.”

“HAHA! I managed to keep it a secret, the surprise is complete.”

“I had my doubts Rina, it’s not your forte to know how to keep this kind of good news to yourself.”

“It shows once again that I am progressing.”

If you point your nose at the sky too much you’ll end up falling backwards Rina, don’t get too confident…

“By the way, will you be able to join me at the onsen tonight when you get out of class Rina? Sana will join us too and your father will be there too.”

“Okay I’ll come, I normally get off at five.”

“Perfect, I need to get back to the ryôkan, I still have appointments scheduled for this afternoon. Don’t be late for school girls.”

As Miss Elsa moves away from the ladies, Aya and Sophie release the pressure.

*Sighs of relief*

“Well? Why are you both sighing?”

“You may be used to it because she’s your mom, but Elsa-san is very impressive. Even more so when she’s in work mode.”

“Yes it’s true Rina-chan, your mum is so beautiful and charismatic that it makes you nervous to talk with her. I even stammered while answering her, I’m ashamed…”

“You’re telling me!”

“Oh oh, you can see why Mummy is the ideal woman for me. One day I too will take your breath away like this.”

“Haha, good luck.”

After a good meal and a good laugh, it is now time to go back to the campus, there is still half an hour to go before the announcement of the class composition.

The girls put their things away, take their bags and throw their garbage in a trash can before leaving

On the way, Rina starts to wonder about her future…

I mean her future, more like which club she’s going to go to in order to have access to all the services of the student card.

“I’ll have to look into an interesting club. Last year I wasn’t enrolled anywhere.”

“How about a sports club? You can come surf with me if you want.”

“I like sports but having to do them every day and especially the stress of performance…not for me!”

“You can come to the literature club or the tea ceremony club with me Rina-chan.”

“I don’t think this is a good idea for Rina. In front of a book, she’s likely to go straight to sleep, and let’s not talk about the poor members of the tea ceremony club. They’re going to have a real glutton on their hands, their cookie supply is going to go.”

“Hey, that’s not nice! It is true, but it’s not nice.”

“Don’t worry Rina-chan, you have one month from today to find a club or a student job. I’m sure you’ll find one by then.”

“You’re right Sophie, I still have time.”

It is almost time for the posting of the class compositions, all the students are gathered in front of the bulletin board of the high school section. They all wait impatiently in front of the countdown screen.

… 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 …

“I hope we’re in the same cla…”