It’s been a week when the school term started. It’s Sunday and Hazel decided to call her parents before going to the city library. She went to the apartment lobby and headed to the telephone booth. While dialing their home phone number, Hazel remembers how the students at the university have their own telephones. If she recalled correctly, the term is a flip phone. She even saw some students put accessories on it.

Hazel was finally able to talk to her parents. She apologized for not calling sooner. Her parents understood and they’re actually glad because it meant that she’s enjoying her stay at the university. Hazel nodded as if she’s being seen. She only talked about the positive things that happened to her- how she met new friends and joined a club. Her parents were very much delighted. Mr. Yin decided to end the call before Hazel would hear her mother cry. It’s for the best.

She reached the library and spent her time there well. Books about Plato, Winston Churchill, and other considered Political Scientists were placed on her table. Being an efficient reader, Hazel was able to study all the necessary and additional details for their lessons next week. After taking down notes for her major subjects, she then prepared books for the other subjects. She left her table to search for the other books and when she returned, she saw Masaki at the other table. He does really stand out in the crowd with his size. Hazel greeted her and went back to her table. She was amazed as to how his personality is way different inside the library. When he is seriously studying, Hazel can sense that Masaki would be a competition for class standing. She smiled to herself. She needed a bit of it since, in their department, Hazel only observed a handful of students who are really interested in learning. Others were just sleeping or barely attend lessons. I guess that’s an advantage of being rich, Hazel thought, they can simply buy a diploma.

It’s already 5 o’clock in the afternoon when they both returned all the books from their shelves. Masaki and Hazel were walking home when they heard someone yelling,

“Call the cops! There’s a pervert!”

They both turned around and saw Aoi pointing at Masaki. Masaki shrieked and profusely shook his head.

“Stop that! People might believe what you’re saying!”

Hazel was busy bowing at people passing by them, “Sorry, she’s just messing around. She’s our friend. This guy is just 19,” she kept on repeating.

Aoi was wheezing with her little prank and she cannot seem to recover from it when Hazel and Masaki went to her. They were saying how awful she was and how serious would be the consequence if a police officer heard her. After laughing hysterically, she composed herself and apologized. Masaki seemed to forgive her since she asked what she was carrying.

“These are decorating supplies for tomorrow.”

She’s talking about the Annual Preston College Fair. It is a week-long event that aims to strengthen the bond between the students of Preston. This is also for the new students to learn about different clubs and to hopefully have them join one.

Aoi mentioned that they needed to decorate the library well to attract students since it’s difficult to be overshadowed by the biggest and most popular club in the university.

“Aoi forgot to mention that they are also the loudest,” Masaki said to Hazel when they’re walking past the West Wing the next day. Indeed, Pi Sigma Lambda is well-prepared. Masaki and Hazel were at the school grounds when they saw purple and gold satin strips draped all over the building. It’s like the whole building is dedicated wholly to the fraternity. There are also fraternity flags placed on the rooftop and in between the poles are members beating drums and shouting the frat’s name rhythmically. Masaki shrugged his shoulders and told Hazel that they should keep going since the library is behind the building. Hazel thought the frat’s preparation was too much and unnecessary since Aoi mentioned to them last time that the fraternity does not even recruit a lot of students.

**

“Is it too much?” Akira asked Ash while they were looking at their building from Akira’s car. Ash sighed then laughed. He cannot fully understand why his friend is being respected given his crazy antics.

“I guess that’s fine as long as the school doesn’t protest.”

“Yeah, I want to see the limit,” Akira chuckled. The driver parked the car in front of the East Wing and immediately neophytes placed a red carpet and they assembled on the side each holding a flag with the fraternity’s insignia. The driver opened the door and Akira went out with his hands clasped behind his back. The driver was still holding the door when Ash motioned him to just close the door already and to drive. The old man obliged and closed the door gently and hurriedly drove further from the crazy building.

“You didn’t want to walk on a red carpet Sir Ash?” the old man asked while maneuvering the limousine at the school ground.

“Not really. I cannot in the first place. I’m just a neophyte. It would be bad if I join Akira and he’s the Grand Knight.”

“Wakai masuta [young master] is already tired of pretending I’m afraid.”

“I think I will be too,” Ash sighed and the old driver just smiled at the young boy and dropped him off near the gate.

Ash started walking toward the East Wing when he spotted Eiji along with someone that he didn’t know. It seems that they’re headed to the East Wing. He remembered what Akira asked him to do so he shouted and waved and Eiji.

“Oi! Eiji-san!” Eiji stopped walking and looked behind his back. There he saw Ash waving at him. “Holy sh*t!” he blurted when Aoi also looked at the person who’s calling him.

“Who’s that?” Aoi asked.

“The next Grand Knight,” Eiji whispered.

Ash went up to them and asked what Eiji is doing. Eiji shushed him and told him that he is helping his sister with her club.

“You’re not going to help at the office?” Ash asked.

“I will. I asked permission from my sempai Yuri. He told me I can just help later. I just need to be there after lunchtime. How about you?” Eiji asked even though he knew that he doesn’t really need to do anything. Well, try to engage in the conversation for him to not sound rude.

“I see. Well, I will join you first if that’s okay then we will go to the office afterward,” Ash suggested. To be fair, he really wanted to get away from the fraternity for a while. It’s too noisy and flashy there.

“Well, another pair of hands would be much more helpful!” Aoi beamed. She then introduced herself to Ash right away. Aoi gladly explained their club to Ash while walking. When they reached the library, Ash was surprised because it's the first time he explored other places in the school. Inside, he saw two other students that seemed to be part of the club.

Aoi called the other students and they approached them.

“So, these are the other members. This tall tree is Masaki and the little mushroom is Hazel, they’re both studying at the West Wing, so future lawyers I suppose.”

Masaki and Hazel bowed to Ash and Ash also bowed in return, “Nice to meet you, guys. I’m Ash Yang and I am a first-year Architecture student.”

"Nice to meet you," Hazel was smiling then suddenly realized something with shock on her face, “You’re my sponsor!”