I was sitting in my development class. Athena was working next to me typing away on her laptop. I was tapping my fingers slightly on the side of my laptop. My eyes shifted to the empty seat where Yuji was supposed to sit.

  Again he didn’t attend his lessons.

  “How much do you know of Yuji?” I asked a question to Athena. Taking her attention off her work.

  “Not much…he is similar to you. Started his studies here at the same time you did. I don’t know him from before.” She answered me herself in thought.

  “He is not from here?” I asked.

  Athena shook her head.

  “Interesting…” I said my eyes were fixed back on my laptop.

  Today I had swapped my work computer for my personal one. The one with my secret research device. It's time to armour up.

  “I thought he was from here.” I said as my fingers typed his name.

  Nothing came up. I did the same with Athena. Other students and even teachers. Nothing. I even typed my own name to check if it’s working. I found documents on myself but not most recent ones.

  “No. To be honest, he isn’t the type who interacts with others. One of my friends actually asked him out but he was so rude to her!” Athena told me something interesting.

  “Oh?”

  “Yeah! I did end up approaching him to defend her but he interacted with us so obnoxiously rude! Looking down on us!” Athena looked annoyed as she remembered the interaction. “I was actually surprised seeing you two talk so much. I thought you were friends.” Athena turned to me quietly speaking. She also glanced towards the empty seat.

  “No. We are not friends.” I shook my head.

  “By the way!” Athena looked at me with big eyes. “I want you to come to Shanks on Friday!” Athena eagerly invited me out.

  I raised an eyebrow.

  “You want to hang out?” I asked.

  She nodded.

  I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t surprised by this sudden invite.

  “Shanks belongs to my friend's family and they are having a farewell party. They are closing it down!” She looked at me brightly. “I want you to come!” She invited me.

  “You want to hang out? With me?” I wasn’t sure why she was proposing this.

  “I’ve been around you quite a lot since this project and I like you and want to be friends.” Athena said. Her eyes were honest, looking at me and smiling.

  “Do you?” I questioned her. Surprised by her straightforward expression.

  Athena nodded full of smiles.

  “Yes! So let’s hang out!”

  “Okay.” I gave her a small smile back.

  I was surprised by this sudden development but decided to take it. Athena has grown up here. She could possibly give me some answers. At this moment I am grasping straws with every small amount of detail and when putting them in a full picture I can’t actually understand. If Akasia happens to be a city under the government, I’d like to know. I want to know what it is about. Why are the people so outstanding? What project is it? Is the goal to develop the most advanced technologies and research? That would be my first guess but it wouldn’t make sense to hide this place for that unless the research is something that can’t be disclosed. Do people know this city is a secret?

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  I wasn’t sure if it was Itsuki’s eerie presence but since he reached out to me I feel this unease. I feel this need to protect and defend myself but I am missing out and don’t know what it is. Why do I have these feelings? Like my intuition suddenly turned on alert mode and prepared for something coming my way. A wave of change was coming around. Something that I feel would shift my whole world here. I am missing out on something huge and is going to crawl out from the slumber. Like a big bear in the wilderness. Soon to wake up in my face. Perhaps…I really need to study the history of Akasia. Not out of interest but necessity.

  Sano would tell me to adapt and prepare, read and research. Look around and see their faces. What their senses are telling to you. Use the tools in the toolbox. Invent them in new uses. Any opportunity to take it. And trust the time. It will lead you where you’re supposed to be.

  “Hey…Athena!” I looked over to my new friend.

  “Yes, Rory?” Athena’s green eyes brightly looked into mine.

  “Do you have any lessons after this?” I asked.

  “No.” She replied.

  “Do you want to hang out after this?” I invited Athena out with me.

  Athena gasped a bit too loud.

  Mr. Karin looked our way and she silently apologised for her loud expression. He went back to his computer. Other students didn’t seem to notice. Continuing their hard work.

  I nodded.

  “I need to pick some materials but after that we can do some sightseeing. Do you want to come?” I asked her.

  Athena eagerly nodded her head a lot of times. Her eyes sprinkled with excitement.

  “I’d love that!”

  “Let’s do as much work as we can get then!” I nodded and was satisfied that she accepted my invitation.

  I am in a foreign playground where I can’t freely move. Each of my moves are restricted by a certain set of rules and norms this city has. That includes the information gathering that I currently don’t have. The time how I spend my days here and people around me. By befriending Athena I am slowly moving in sight of information. Her insight will definitely provide me with some interesting clues. I was sure of that.

  Shin, my boyfriend is someone even higher that could give me information… Given that he is the youngest brother of the third ranked family in the city. His influence is something to look for. That meeting with his brother might actually come in handy now.

  Then there is Yuji. Who I suspect is the one behind the trickery. Athena gave me a clue that he only appeared the same time I enrolled. Though the way he has information about Akasia made me think for sure he is from here.

  And the new existence of Itsuki. Who seems to say that we have met sometime in the past. He was the one who warned me for the threat I possess but it still could be that he is just messing.

  None of these people can’t be written off as suspects yet.

  In Akasia the ones excelling have the most value. That aligns with my set goal. I got to work my hardest for my goals and excel and actually match and surpass the expectation Yuji has for me. Whoever is trying to be in my way to tell them one and single clear message. I won’t be the one to be messed with!

  The rest of the development class me and Athena completed even more work. I can now move to the next stage in my project which will be the heavy lifting of programming the right instructions and testing them out.

  I pulled my hand up.

  “Mr. Karin?” I smiled excitedly for this opportunity. Mr. Karin looked up from his front seat.

  “I’d like to request materials.” I announced.

  “What do you require, Miss Aisaka?” The professor asked me.

  “I need to build a new type camera to continue my project.” I answered.

  Mr. Karin looked at me slightly, thinking.

  I decided to get up and show him. With my laptop in hands I moved over towards the front of the classroom where he sat.

  I showed him my work today. He looked at it very carefully and thoughtfully.

  “I think the program you're doing is a very fine product. I don’t think it is necessary.” Mr. Karin wasn’t convinced I needed this.

  “The program cannot function without the camera. You yourself gave me inspiration to use it.” I smiled towards my professor. He seemed interested in what I had in mind. I showed him my detailed plan that I had devised. It was a detailed instruction of this camera and how to build it. With a description of its function.

  “You want to build a new type of security system?” He looked impressed by my way of thinking and smiled.

  I nodded.

  “Yes… Would you approve of me getting these materials?” I asked him again.

  “Half of these you can find here already but I will email you the approval to get the rest!” Mr. Karin nodded. Finally approving my idea.

  By approval he means I can go to the official technology department building in central Akasia where they sell and build technology devices and request the materials I need. I’ve been there a couple of times to scout them out but never needed to use them. Most of the materials we have in the university are provided by them so anything that we miss we can request it but this request needs to be approved by a professor from the University. Now that I’ve gained it! I can happily move on.

  here)! Sorry for the rambling here and see you next time!!