The Shoujo University.

[Katamari Roller]

Youko was... a serene girl.


Youko Aishima, 21 years old, studied Arts in the University of Tokyo. A sophomore, Youko was a lonely girl... and she was not particularly sad about it. She had always been like that.

Short, with a petite body, she was hardly attractive. Shorter than most girls, with small breasts and a small butt (tight, but not quite standing out), she looked younger than she should have. Her face was not quite touched by time and experience. Short, raven-black hair... deep green eyes... fair skin... and a serene smile. That smile of hers was probably the one charming thing she had.

After all, she was not a party animal. Quite the contrary. Youko introduced herself to others, she was confident on herself. That much could be said. But her main pastimes were anime, manga, her arts projects and writing. What stood out specially among these, were her projects. Drawings and sculptures, usually ethereal and stylized, tall and slender. When she presented them, with that smile of hers, she drew smirks. The comparison between her work and herself, physically, was bound to draw either admiration, or disbelief. How could such a short girl create such slender work?

But there was no doubt whose work it was, because her serene smile, the cold and still air around her, carried over to her sculptures. Some called her the "Ice Queen", for the role she played in a High School play, and the nick had carried on to University. Others called her the "Ice Princess" because, looking at her, she hardly looked like a Queen.

But, people do not stay the same forever, be it in mind or body, and one never knows what can happen from one day to another...


***

Youko sat in the cafeteria, alone, reading one of her favourite Shoujo mangas by the window. It was how she relaxed, and how she felt better with herself. The manga in front of her, a cup of coffee in her left hand... life could not get much better.

And then, she heard the chair opposite her be dragged across the floor. Glancing up, she saw...

 

[Katamari Roller]

*BUMP*

(Come on, nobody interested? Not even a little bit? )

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro

Hiro Watase had just transferred to Shoujo University after a poor year at the University of Hiroshima, which was too close to his home and old friends. So his parents sent him to Tokyo, and this small, private Shoujo University. He had just moved into his dorm room and had come to the cafeteria looking for dinner.

When he had his rice and prawns he wandered about the dining area for a few minutes before spying one of the only (kind-of) open tables: only a girl sitting there, a young girl from the looks of it, her head buried in a Manga. he walked towards her and was about to say something charming when he bumped into the chair and knocked it over, causing a dozen other students to turn and look at him. He pushed his thick glasses up his nose as he stammered out a "sorry" and picked the chair up, and then he saw the cute little girl staring right at him.

"Uh, hi, i'm Hiro, can I sit here?"

Hiro is not very tall, and skinny, not very athletic, with long wavy black hair, thick glasses, dark eyes.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Hiro..." Youko stared at the young man. There was something charming about him. Maybe it was his clumsiness? That kind of thing had always been endearing to her... maybe out of pity for those manga characters who were clumsy but good in their hearts.

Youko smiled, offering Hiro one of those serene smiles that were strikingly motherly. "Sure!" Youko watched Hiro. She was wearing a black turtle-neck sweater, and dark jeans. She liked those colors quite a bit. They matched Youko's hair wonderfully, and her green eyes stood out more.

He looks kinda interesting... like Shiki? Youko smiled wider, managing to suppress a laugh. Shiki, the character from the Tsukihime anime... Oh, God, again thinking about that?

"My name is Youko Aishima. And yours is...?" Youko extended her right hand over the table, leaving the coffee beside her Manga.

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro

Hiro sat down across the table from her, and extended his hand to shake hers. "I'm Hiro Watase," he said, gripping her hand.

"is that the new tsukihimi book? i've been dying to read the new series, but i just haven't been able to afford it with tuition and school books and everything..."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Wah, he's a bit stronger than I thought! Youko shook hands with Hiro.

"No, I wish it was! It's just a doujin, by a fan in the Internet. They published it in a kind of bundle pack..." Youko's voice was kind and low, almost like a whisper. She took another sip from her coffee as she stared at Hiro. He didn't seem like a sophomore, and his words just confirmed that this was his first year in this University.

"So, this is your first year here, isn't it? Where are you from?"

 

[fukensploogin]

Getting to know you...

She asked him where he was from, and he said: "Hiroshima. And you?"

He rummaged through his bag as he waited for an answer, before pulling out the third Cowboy Bebop manga. He looked up at her, waiting for her reply, as he flipped through the pages of the book.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Hmmm... Hiroshima... Youko had taken her history classes. A tiny black spot would have been a good metaphor for what she felt about that. She briefly wondered if Hiro's family had suffered from that...

"Ah, well, I am from Kyoto. My parents had me come here to study in this Faculty..." Youko recognised the Cowboy Bebop manga without much difficulty. "... and so, I'm living with my grandparents."

She took another sip from her coffee. It was still hot. Looking out the window, it was nearly evening. In her watch, it was 7 o'clock. "So, you are living here in the dorms? Or staying over with a relative?" Again, Youko grinned at him, as she re-opened her Manga and read a couple more vignettes.

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro

Hiro popped a prawn into his mouth, and looked at the cute girl. she had a really cute smile. it just about melted him it was so cute. "I'm staying in the dorm. I don't have any family here in Tokyo. This is my first time here, actually... do you know much about this place?"

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Aw... must be sad not knowing anyone or anything around. Well, I guess I can help you on both departments..." Youko smiled in a friendly way. "What Art are you studying exactly? Audio, Visuals, both? Although... something about you strikes me of..."

Youko made a big show of putting her fingers on her forehead, and glaring at him, as if trying to read his mind. Then, with a flourish, she extended her hand towards him. "Painting!"

 

[fukensploogin]

Painting!

"Painting!"

He smiled and looked at her. She was clearly a silly girl and he couldn't help but love her for it. She was also being really nice to him, and for that he was grateful.

"Actually, I'd like to draw one of these," he said, holding up his Cowboy Bebop. "But all of my ideas are just cheap rip-offs of other people's stories."

 

[Katamari Roller]

Ah! She's "Cold", not clairvoyant!

"Oh! Don't say that! Coming up with a plot just needs some inspiration. And inspiration can be drawn from anywhere, and anything. You just need to catch the right moment..."

Youko finished her coffee, and looked again at the time. Still seven... well, why not show him around the city? Restaurants, libraries...

"Say, Hiro, how about I show you around? Not only campus, but the streets around."

 

[fukensploogin]

"Wow, really? That would be great. That's so nice of you, thank you." He had just finished his dinner so he packed his things into his bag. "What's you're favorite place in the city?" he asked her.

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Oh, there are a few. The libraries here are packed with novels and mangas, and the public ones even have anime..." Youko quickly packed her own bag, not that there was much in it anyway, just a book with pictures of primitive statues that they were supposed to have copied in class.

Hanging her backpack on one shoulder, she stood ready to leave, waiting for Hiro to finish with his. "And there are also a couple good restaurants around. But I guess my favourite place has to be the Yakashima park. Not a long walk, and it is a pretty calm place. You can read or listen to music without having to yell at some little kid..."

Suddenly, Youko noticed how fast she had connected with Hiro. It was kind of strange. Maybe it was because Hiro had been one of the few to approach her despite her cold aura? That drew a smile from her. Youko had few friends, and even fewer who shared her hobbies...

 

[fukensploogin]

he couldn't believe his fortune! cute little college chick wanted to show him around, she was as into the manga and anime as he was (although he would NEVER admit it to some of his old friends), and to top it all off they were getting along great! he wondered if this was how really true love starts... just two random people meet and get along great right off the bat... could it be true?

 

[Katamari Roller]

Youko still waited patiently for a while, noticing Hiro was being rather slow... looking into his eyes, they seemed distant.

"Helloooo?" Youko stuck to his side, and waved her hand in front of his face. "Earth calling to Hiro! Guidance systems seem to have gone haywire!"

Heheeehhh... that was a bit freaky! Damn, what a way to prove you are an Otaku... She grabbed him gently by the sleeve, and pulled him out towards the entrance. Youko noticed a few glances and whispered comments here and there among those in the cafeteria... but she really didn't care. Hiro was into the same things as she was... and he was kinda cute too with those glasses. In fact, maybe she should say 'handsome'...

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro tumbled along after her, "sorry" he said as they weaved past people on their way to the exit, "I just got lost for a second..." he said... but she was in a hurry and held his hand tightly and practically dragged him out of the place. He looked at her when they got outside. "Why don't you show me this library with the anime collection?"

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Sure! It's exiting the campus, go straight on, turn on the fifth street to the right, and there you are! Let's go." Youko didn't notice, but she didn't let go of Hiro's hand. In fact, she came to enjoy the tact unconsciously.

The cobble avenue which passed under the Akamon gate (an antique Japanese-style red-painted wooden gate) always felt good for Youko, and she hoped Hiro would enjoy the sights. The ponds, the buildings... sure, there probably were places more beautiful, but the mix of gardens, old styles and new styles had been dizzying to Youko the first day she arrived. She made sure not to walk too fast, though, so as to let Hiro have a nice view of everything around them.

"That over there..." She said, pointing. "... is the Arts Faculty, where I study. I'm into painting and sculpturing. Maybe I'll show you my work tomorrow..."

Truth was, she wanted to show it to him as soon as she could. But no sense in rushing things.

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro

"That's the Arts Faculty? That's where most of my classes are, do you mind--can we just go in real quick, i'd love to see the place..." Hiro said, although he would have been happy no matter where she lead him. He looked around at all the gardens and life and felt overwhelmed by the vast beauty surrounding him, and knew instantly that this would be a great place to create art.

 

[Katamari Roller]

Watching his reaction was priceless, Youko decided. "Of course we can! There is still quite a bit of time left in the day! Come on." Youko pulled Hiro over to the entrance. Inside, the hall was a vast chamber exposing many pieces of art.

In the left side, it was mostly sculpture. There was a bit of everything, from dragons and lions in an antique Eastern style, to Greek-like statues. On the right side, there were paintings in many styles, both Western and Eastern. And in the front, there were both models of buildings, and smaller works. One Youko particularly liked was an incredibly complicated origami dragon, which was also painted in vibrant greens and reds with hints of blue in the eyes and the tail.

"Well? What do you think? Isn't it wonderful? All of these were made by students, though, the older, more famous ones are in the other side of the building." Youko stopped beside the dragon's stand, and grinned, waiting for Hiro, watching his reaction.

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro found himself completely entranced by the origami dragon. it was probably the most beautiful thing he had seen in such a long time...

"my god, that's amazing. i would just love to meet the student who took the time to create that!"

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Well, you might!" Youko started to feel like a tour guide. And although watching Hiro's amazed expression was well worth her time, she didn't have all day to show him around. In fact, it would probably take a few days to show him the whole campus!

"The first floor is for workshops mostly, the second is where the classrooms are, and the last floor is for audiovisual resources and teachers' offices. Most buildings are distributed the same way."

Youko looked towards the sculptures, recognising the one she made as graduation project in her first year. An stylised hawk in mid-flight that was mostly in the air, held aloft only by a slim rod of stone that held the whole clay figure in the air. It was her pride, having achieved honor marks with a relatively simple solution to keep it straight up... but she didn't want to brag about it in the first day.

"Well, where do you want to go now, Hiro?"

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro

"You know what I need now? A cup of coffee. I want to go to your favorite coffee-shop around here. I need a latte in a bad way! Need some energy, I think I'm inspired to create something really great tonight!" Hiro said. This little Youko was having a wonderful effect on him. He felt really at ease in her presence, comfortable, like he could be himself for the first time in forever, because a perfect stranger... who was so beautiful!... had accepted him for who he was

 

[Katamari Roller]

"Wow! What enthusiasm!" Youko giggled. Truth was, she was starting to feel enthusiastic too... Hiro's mood was contagious sometimes!

"Ok, we'll go to Aika's, then. It's right beside the library, too, so we'll be killing two birds with the same stone." Youko walked to Hiro's side, patted him on the arm, and walked off towards the exit of the building, and the university.

 

[fukensploogin]

Hiro was quick to follow her out the school building and into the evening city, briskly walking together to Aika's. They left the university grounds and walked the city streets, just a few blocks, but bustling with people, lots of students and young people hurring about to whatever was coming next. Hiro held onto Youko's hand, letting her lead the way. He watched her hot little body hurrying along in front of him, that tight little butt, her commanding gait, despite her short stature.

And the lights! Everywhere! The likes of which he only imagined possible in big Hollywood movies. He was excited to be in the big city, away from his past and free to be himself for a while...

Youko stopped and led him into Aika's. It was a little place, with little tables and chairs, most of them designed for couples, scattered about the place... populated mostly by college-age kids reading, writing, and drawing, and sipping cappucinos. it was almost closing time. Still, the high-schoolers working at Aika's were only too enthusiastic to help them (perhaps well caffeinated?).

"I'll have a vanilla latte!" Hiro said, pulling out his yen. He looked at Youko, waiting for her order.