The core of Liliana's elementary school and middle school experience revolved around Akumi bullying her, and her staying mute. She learned over the years to just stay silent, and keep to herself. No teacher nor student ever tried helping or talking to her personally, and if they tried, she'd just smile at them. Her eyes were spaced out most of the time, tuning out every day antics like being harassed. Home life was lonely, but better than living with her father. Her mother, Elaine, suffered from brain bleed from her husband during the years she lived with him, and so shortly after arriving to Japan, fell into a coma. Years later, Liliana in highschool now, she waited every day for her mother to wake up. In the mean time, her over bearing grand parents raised her.

   Liliana stood at the front of the highschool. It was two stories, made from brick, with a rather large campus. Students in the courtyard messed around, showing off their powers, flashes of fire, bursts of ice, glowing hands, etc. Liliana still never had her power show itself, if she even had one. Akumi made sure to remind her of that, too. As she stood there, watching the cherry blossom tree leaves flutter down to the ground, she felt some one bump into her from behind. She jumped and closed her eyes, waiting for them to push her to the ground.

   After a few seconds, she opened them. Wasn't it Akumi? He usually goes all in. Why isn't he doing anything? She felt her chest tighten and slowly turned around, her pastel pink hair braided to one side. Her gaze was locked on the ground, then a pair of black dress shoes. Her eyes trailed up dark blue school pants, then a shirt that was neatly buttoned. As she glanced up at who pushed her, she stepped back in surprise; Akumi. She expected to him to smile harshly, or get mad at her for looking at him, but he just stared at her. His black hair was groomed, and his yellow eyes dark. 

   "So, you're going here too then." He spoke, his voice deeper. She noticed he got taller, much taller. And built more. His hair was shaved on either side, and the top tied in a small pony tail. His book bag slung on his shoulder, his faced unamused. Liliana quickly glanced back down, expecting him to bark at her. He sighed in annoyance. "Look at people when they talk to you." He demanded. Weird, he wasn't pushing her around. He seemed different. Calmer? 

   She flinched a little at his loud voice and nodded silently, glanced up at him. He closed his eyes and shook his head, shoving past her. "Annoying." He muttered as he briskly kept walking. He didn't even push her down. She breathed out a sigh of relief before collecting herself and turning around. First day of highschool and of course he attends the same one. But, he left her alone, mostly. Hopefully it stays like that. She squeezed the strap of her bag tightly and started walking towards the front doors of the school, head down. As she made her way up the stairs, two people stepped in front of her, blocking her way.  

   Old classmates from middle school. They would usually hop on the train of bullying with Akumi, and here they stand, two guys, used to be shorter than her, now towering over her. She stopped, and stood their silently, trying to shrink her shoulders in to appear smaller. One of the guys laughed, and shouldered her to the wall. She whimpered as she felt her elbow hit the wall, hard. "You know the gig." The other guy said, crossing his arms. She stayed silent, not meeting their gazes. She didn't move. One of them raised their voice. "NOW." He barked out, cracking his knuckles. The other leaned in closer to her. "Not gonna pay us?" He chuckled. 

   She shook her head. She couldn't, she had no extra money. But she couldn't say that. She looked up at them once, her eyes pleading. One had orange hair, shaggy, and the other had brown, short. The orange haired guy growled in annoyance and raised his hand. Liliana closed her eyes, preparing for the impact of his strike. Suddenly, someone slammed right next to her, and she opened her eyes. The brown haired guy had his mouth wide open, staring next to her. She gingerly glanced to the side, and there was a tall and broad shouldered Akumi, hand on the throat of the orange haired guy, pinned to the wall. 

   Before she could move away, Akumi leaned in to the orange haired guy's ear. "I will break every single finger if I ever see you try and pull this shit again. I am her bully, not you. Got that?" He growled deeply, his grip leaving marks on the orange guy's neck. Before the orange haired guy could respond, a male teacher had witnessed and was trying to grab Akumi's shoulder. "Hey! Hey, what's going on?" The teacher, a thin, tall dark haired man, yelled. Akumi shrugged his hand off and released the orange haired guy. "Nothing, we were playing around." Akumi muttered, picking up his bag. He glared at Liliana and nearly knocked her over walking into the school. 

   The brown haired guy went over to his friend to check on him. Liliana just stood there, staring after Akumi. What's with this guy? HE can only bully her? Her brows furrowed, but she wasted no time to gather her things and rush inside before the other two noticed her again. That was out of character, but oh well. School awaited.