Unexpected Arrival

(Since I've reworked Avery and retconned everything before, I'm going to re-introduce her with this thread. Basically, I'm starting fresh. The date can be either late April or early May. It doesn't matter. It's just to serve as her introduction into the RP so I can do things from here on out.)

Date: Month: Late April - Early May
Time: 8:00 A.M.
Day: Monday

A long, black stretch limo pulled up at end of the hill, next to the concrete that led up to the school. Several students walking to the school gave the vehicle a couple of glances, before continuing on their way without a second thought. Perhaps most odd was a small American flag attached at the end antenna. A puff of smoke cleared as it stopped, then the side door opening to reveal a tall, long-legged blonde wearing Hikarizaka's traditional school uniform. She looked somewhat uncomfortable it, grabbing a hold of the scarf and tucking it around her neck. She didn't like it very much at all, but it was a part of of the school's dress code. She thought she looked like some fetishist's sailor-girl. The limousine gave a clear honk before pulling away, the girl giving it a half-heartened wave. Just looking up to the school, it was quite different from the private ones she attended back in America, and from her schedule on her list, the way Japan handled its classes was a lot different too. It was a simple slip of paper written in Japanese (which she was still struggling with), listing her name (and basic information), grade, teachers and classes. Unlike her schools back in America, she only had a few teachers and each of them taught a broad range of subjects.

"Pffft. Let's see how this goes, then."

Her briefcase, which held all of her necessary parchments and writing utensils, was clutched tightly in her right hand, with the slip in her left. She didn't have any other choice, though even as she confidently strutted up to the hill, nervousness was fluttering around her insides. After all, it was an entirely different country and she had no idea what it's school, with other students, would be like. The weather was nice enough; quite cool in the spring. She felt a bit embarrassed wearing the short skirt which lightly gave itself to the airy breeze. She patted at it in an annoyed fervor, her cheeks blushing, before hurrying her step to the front doors. Most students were entering the school, starting a new, but typical day. Some chose to hang around the front doors, conversing between themselves. One particular girl gave the blonde a warm welcome with a wave. Filled with an anxious sensation, she coldly rebuffed the native by sticking her nose in the air. The girl was taken back, only watching as the foreign exchange student entered the building, no doubt to what would be a rather interesting first day of school.

Walking in, strange and unwelcome smells entered her nostrils, causing her to sneer in discomfort. It wafted around her as she took a few small steps forward, observing her surroundings. The school itself had a simplistic, clean style to it with tiled floors and solid-colored walls. Banners were lined around the walls in Japanese, possibly with similar slogans, news and other tidbits that were put on noticeboards back home. After consulting with a staff member in the office who attempted to explain where class will be (although she felt she was possibly quite rude to the woman), she bumped accidentally into a male student who appeared to be a bit older, possibly in the grade above her. He tried apologizing to her, but again, the girl wasn't having it. She pointed a finger at him and threatened to sue for sexual harassment as he was now looking her over. Of course, this was her just being insecure about herself but she wouldn't let a total stranger know that.

He prompted, instead of listening to her, to just walk away, leaving Avery feeling victorious, albeit oddly violated. People in Japan were incredibly different and she had doubts she would ever fit in... a huge contrast to her popularity back in America. Any feelings of confidence were skewered away when she came face to face with her class of: 2=B. A large window allowed her to look in and witness most of the other students already settling in. Some seemed to have been there for an even longer while, ready for their lesson. She took one last look at her paper, staring at her name. ヴァンダービルト、エイブリー. (Vanderbilt, Avery)

Straightening out her blazer, she entered the room to meet the teacher's gaze. Immediately, they turned to face Avery.

"Ah, Vanderbilt-san, welcome!"

[Mizukami Ayumu]

OC: A little late, and a little tentative, but I hope you could work off it.

A foreigner...

He had passed her by on the way to school; he did not imagine that she would be going to his class; he was mostly preoccupied with getting on time. And so most of her observations of her were blurred and vague: a stately presence coming out of an equally stately vehicle, yet dressed in the garb their school prescribed; that same presence, or something similar, testily making the climb towards their gates, a few times halting due to circumstances he was not able to pinpoint; and then, in the corridors, the sounds of an argument made by an accented voice, uniquely one-sided in that the protester was ignored. These, and some other details that escape him, were his first clues to the new student who would be joining his class...

As it was, he came before her; his way had been straight, and he had not any certain detours, and walking, in those slipping, striding steps of his, was what he deemed his specialty. He had finished settling himself into his chair, items for the first class strewn about in a random fashion about his desk, and had adopted the stance of the bored and the pensive, toying with his pen (he could never do that little trick where you spun it around... the best he could do was one-eighty degrees and back) when his teacher, their homeroom adviser, entered and went about the usual affairs, as one might expect. He put down the writing implement that he was using as entertainment as soon as their instructor started talking, and silently noted which of the things he was rattling off applied to him, even as he cast a slightly forlorn look towards the world outside; it was nice that his seat was next to the windows.

It was at this point that the teacher mentioned her, and not a few moments after her visage made itself known by the doorjamb, standing upon the threshold of introduction and acquaintance. Naturally, he followed along with the eyes of his classmates to see the newcomer, or as much as he could see of her; the angle made it somewhat tricky, and he was not about to bend over backwards when she was probably entering a few seconds later. She was blonde; her white skin suggested Caucasian, as it was different from the pallor of the Asian variant. She was tall, but then it came with the territory... and given that she was taller than the general female population of the class, she was taller than him, the pipsqueak. She had a fairly... pronounced... figure. There was steel in her posture and steel in her eyes, although it wavered this way and that at times... but Ayumu did not pretend to be a reader of people (even if he wanted to be so) and so he did attempt to interpret it, what it could mean.

A foreigner, huh...

He had been the foreigner a couple of years ago, middle school; still, his foreign-ness was something that made itself known only when people subjected him to scrutiny; his appearance was predominantly Asian, and half of his blood came from this country of cherry blossoms. It also helped that he did not rock the boat so much, and had friends to remind him when he was being strange; in a sense, he was not so foreign, even he was. This... Vanderbilt-san was probably, largely, different, although of course it would be rude to estimate just how much. Americans, Europeans... they were as much foreigners to him when he had not been in Japan, and while he had a clue or two of the workings of the Western mind, he would not put much confidence in those particular tidbits. Besides, not all things conform to stereotypes. There were many different things in the world...

And so, with that, Mizukami Ayumu passively spectated. What else would Vanderbilt-san tell this audience, about herself?

Total silence. It wasn't exactly the most welcoming entrance she had experienced, but she tried pushing past the awkward air with her own powerful presence. The teacher seemed kind enough, throwing out an arm as if asking her to step further inside the classroom. Avery of course had no choice really, lest she wished to risk first impressions on her first day, and she knew quite well first impressions were everything.

Her briefcase was still clutched in her hand as she stepped up to the side of the podium where she assumed the teacher gave lectures. She had expected a desk, maybe papers everywhere or a neglected apple, but no such luck; everything was incredibly different. Even the students who seemed to all stare, some almost studying her. She felt like some strange, new addition to
a zoo's exhibit. She even couldn't help notice how so many of them looked so similar. Avery responded to their inquisitive looks with a slightly disgusted expression, making a few of the students squirm in their seats, and some even look taken aback.

"Vanderbilt-san", the teacher called out to her, "Why don't you introduce yourself, and tell us a little bit about where you came from?"

Avery, who didn't like the usage of "san" at all, looked to the class for a second before nodding and stepping up to the podium, where the teacher moved to the side and allowed her room. She understood its usage, but couldn't quite grasp the importance of it, even in Japan. Back home, people always had preferences to which they were called. She coughed, speaking since she had arrived, her voice prideful, even booming, though it clashed with her imperfect Japanese.

"It's Avery, and I would be oh-so glad to."

[Mizukami Ayumu]

"Aah..."

It was mostly a murmur to himself, as he watched the scene, or rather, the girl, because she made most of it. He watched her as she watched them, as if sizing them up, as if they were competition... or perhaps something else not entirely sportsmanlike. She frowned... no, perhaps it was more, worse, than a frown, and from his seat a few meters removed from the classroom's 'stage', the white-haired sophomore stoppered a smirk.

Interesting. Possibly, almost definitely, troublesome... but interesting.

She did not seem merely... estranged... and of course the airy student did not have any proof, having met her the same time as his comrades have, seconds, perhaps a minute ago, officially; but his guts were whispering to him that perhaps, just perhaps, this Vanderbilt, this Avery... was looking at them with just a pinch, just a dash, of the spice of disdain. Or she was squinting.

He sighed, inwardly; he was probably looking too much into it again, after boring and rigorous days of classes... but, nevertheless, he should be on his toes. Fuukami was more straightforward than this one... similarly foreign woman.

"Welcome, then, Avery-san." he whispered mostly to himself. Perhaps she preferred being referred to by her first name... after all, the concept of picking which names to call people with, and which honorifics, were alien to the West... or perhaps her introduction meant something more?

The teacher would probably assign her a seat, seeing as she had not said much else with her preamble... he would probably have to be careful around her. At least until she showed more of her hand.

OC: So, what's next? This is somewhat a problem, since Ayumu's really... more passive, reactive, and it would require circumstances for him to interact with Avery...