Chapter 23 - The Move
Chapter 23 - The Move
Sakura Academy. It wasn't the top secondary school in the Nation, and it was in State S, about 100 miles away from Kyle and Kay's home. As Kyle and Kay arrived, Delilah couldn't help but complain again.
"Why did you guys have to choose a school so far away? And it isn't even the top academy!" she moaned out loud as she looked at the building. Sure, it was pretty enough and there actually were Sakura trees planted all around.
Kyle remained silent, not bothering to explain. There was no way he could reveal to her that Sakura Academy was the one of the schools that had an exchange programme with Country C, the place where he lived as Kylie. Out of the schools that had such an exchange programme, Sakura Academy was the top performing school.
It wasn't a bad school, truly, and it had a good solid base. As long as you obtained good grades here, they could apply to any Top Universities in the Nation, and that was more important. This school served two purposes : as a connection to create a link or relationship with Kylie's children, and to live in the dorms. They needed to step up on their plans, and being cooped up at home while being constantly monitored at home made it difficult.
In preparation for this move, MIB had a branch office set up nearby. Of course, to other people, it appeared like a normal convenience store, but underground, it had the operations room. It was already fully equipped with what they needed, and Agent Oreo was the Head of the Sakura Branch.
Master Shifu had also moved here, and the Smiths provided him with housing that "just happened" to be next door to the MIB branch office. One could access the underground operations room from Master Shifu's house as well. All had been planned, and today this part of the plan was set in motion.
"Look, it's not too late to change your mind, Kyle," Delilah tried to persuade him, "Just say the words and I'll settle the matter as quick as you can snap your fingers!" She looked at him with big, pleading eyes.
"Auuuww, Mum," Kay came over, hugging her, "We're not THAT far away, you know. We'll still see each other during every semester break." And then leaning closer, she whispered, "Perhaps it's time for you guys to give us siblings, right?"
"Oh, you!!" Delilah replied.
"Don't worry, Mum," Kyle assured her. "We'll be fine. I just want to experience a whole lot of things. We'll still be going to Preston University later." Preston University was THE University. The elite of elite, and highly prestigious. The only reason why Delilah had agreed to this was because she had lost the bet. She promised him he could go to any secondary school he wanted so long as he was the top student at Retsu. She just never imagined that he would choose ... this.
At first, she refused, not caring that she was breaking her promise. She didn't think it was wrong to put her foot down if it meant securing his future. Coming here was a step down, in her opinion. However, Kyle managed to negotiate with her and said that he would be going to Preston University in the end. Eventually, she relented.
"Remember," she warned, pointing a finger at him, "The deal was that you must be #1 all the time. Otherwise, we're pulling you out."
"Yes, Mum," Kyle said obediently. If this had been him in his previous life, he never would have agreed to such a ridiculous requirement. There was no way he could ever be #1. Here, however, it was not only possible but not a problem.
"Come on," he said, urging them forward. "We have to register at the dorm before going to school. We don't have much time."
The Opening Ceremony was going to begin in two hours, and they still needed to register with the Dorm Head, find their way in the dorm, change to their school uniform and head to school.
Kyle and Kay were living in the dorms, and they were sharing a room with another. Each dorm had several types of shared accommodations : two-to a room, three to a room and finally, four to a room. Other than the two of them, everyone else had already moved in. It was the rule that one had to be living in the dorms at least a day before school began.
As for Kyle and Kay, however ... their father actually managed to get permission for their stuff to be delivered and unpacked by other people the day before. It was the school rule that those living in the dorms had to move in at least a day before school began.
When everyone else had their parents or relatives helping them move their stuff in, and then they themselves had to unpack ... there was a whole team of people moving in the dorms for them. People watched in amazement as two white vans arrived, and at least four people from each van alighted. With quick precision, the goods were unloaded, unpacked into the respective dorm, everything arranged neatly inside (clothes were placed in the closet, the bed was made, the books were arranged on shelves etc) within an hour.
The team had not only asked which side of the room was available before unloading everything, they even helped the current occupants with their things. So, while other people were looking in disdain (and intense jealousy) over the obviously preferential treatment that the two unknown students were getting, their actual roomates reserved judgment. If the people working for them were nice, the actual people couldn't be that bad now, could they?
Everyone in the dorm knew that the "rich spoilt brats" would be arriving that day and were intensely curious about who they were. So when Kyle and Kay arrived, there were several people already in the lobby, talking loudly ... "lounging" ... but in actual reality, stretching their necks out, waiting.
The dorm building was actually two rather large apartment block buildings facing each other and being connected via the lobby on the first floor. In other words, the entire dorm building was a U shape. The left "U" was the boys block and the right "U" was the girl's block. There was only one entrance to both buildings, and as they passed through the glass door, they noticed a rather stern looking matron behind the desk while the spacious resting area were full of other students.
"Ah. You must be the Smiths," she said kindly, getting up, "I am Matron Camillia". Despite her rather strict appearance, she had a kind voice . . . which they could hear so clearly suddenly when the noise around them just stopped. It was rather surreal. At first, you felt like you had walked into a wet market with all the sounds and noises all around and then ... nothing.
Delilah smiled back and nodded, shaking her hand while introducing Kyle and Kay. They both greeted her politely and shook her hand as well. Kyle and Kay then turned to look wonderingly at the other students who suddenly went all quiet, then back at each other. The shocked expressions on their faces were priceless. Some even had a big open "O" which had yet to close.
The moment Kyle and Kay turned their gazes away form them, the loud whispering started.
"Omigosh migosh ... no it can't be, can it?!" squealed one girl under her breath, grabbing the arm of her friend nearby, "I must be dreaming. That's it. Yes, a dream..." her friend was mumbling, dazed. Three girls were holding on to each other, jumping about like kangaroos but trying to be as quiet as possible.
Another girl was going "THANK YOU! THANK YOU!" while spreading her arms above in gratitude. Only she knew who she was thanking at that moment. Not that anyone cared. Everyone basically forgot about their disdain at the "rich spoilt brats". Rather, they were busy taking some shots in secret (cuz the Matron was very particular about privacy) and posting it online.
"Guess who's living in the same dorm as I am?"
"My dreams come true. I can die happy," another posted.
"Not in my wildest dream. Ever."
Similar posts were popping up. One girl, who had managed to get quite a good side profile of Kyle, posted it on the school student's website, with the caption #GuessWho?
The boys who were there just sat down, smiling. Goofy smile, mind you. Well, at least their reaction was better.
Suddenly, one voice was heard asking clearly, but hesitatingly, "Er, who are they?"
As if on cue, every single head turned towards the girl, their eyes incredulous. The girl shrank back a bit at their intense gaze, her eyes blinking rapidly. Did she ask something strange? She turned to look back at the people that had caused the entire lounge to act crazy.
As she glanced up, she noticed that the boy had also turned, and was looking at her curiously. Time seemed to stop still for her, as his intense blue eyes seem to bore into her. As she stood there, frozen, while her heart was beating rapidly, he suddenly smiled, waved at her and turned to follow the Matron up to his dorm room.
The spell broken, she then realised everyone was still staring at her. Though this time, some of the gazes from the girls weren't so nice.