Aru Kim was nervous. She had just returned to the campus grounds from the nearby gas station with Mari. Mari had went and left earlier due to feeling unwell. As of Aru, she was now regretting the the choice of not joining her. As she made her way down the halls, she noticed that  other students of every species was eyeing her. They kept whispering to each other as their eyes never left her. Just as her anxiety was building up inside of her, a familiar face appeared. The boy who had helped her brother with her things yesterday morning popped up out of nowhere. Glad to see a kind and familiar presence, she happily greeted the boy. He introduced himself to her as Eyeball. With a smile, Aru gave him a few bags over to him after he had offered to help carry her things. The two chatted and laughed as they made their way to her shared dormitory.

After filling the fridge up with fresh food, Aru tackled the task of filling and organizing the kitchen cabinets with snacks, spices, and kitchenware. She then put some frozen foods in the freezer, most being sweets. She then peered over at the time. Deciding that she had enough time, she grabbed two bottles of a fruity drinks. As she placed them in a bag, she decided on taking a few melon buns as well. She grabbed a notepad and a few pens as well, just in case. Content with her mini snack and doodle pack, she quietly left the dorm. Filling herself up with determination in the hallway, she made her way down to the courtyard. She was in search of her blue flamed hair clip. She had lost it during freshmen orientation the day before. She just prayed that no one had stolen it between then and now. She put on a determined look as she entered the gates of the courtyard to begin her search.

~                                     ~                                   ~

Aru was now sitting on the roof of one of the buildings on campus. It's been a few hours since she's went out to look for her hair clip without any clue as to where it went. She had ran into Eyeball for the second time that day. When he had asked why she was wandering around the same area, she had told him that she was looking for her hair clip. That's when he gave her some advice. According to him, if you clear your mind and feel with an honest heart, your school flame will find its way back to you. She had disregarded it, not believing in such tales of magic. However, she decided to give it a try after remembering the box she opened in her old room. She couldn't concentrate with so many people around her, so she searched for a quiet and empty place on campus. That's when she found this small place on the top of a building. It was a cozy little place with an amazing view. She decided that this place was her best bet.

Clearing your mind was not easy all the time. That's what she was struggling with at the moment. She opened her heart. Not physically, of course. If she did that, she wouldn't be around. She opened it spiritually and emotionally. Her mind, however, was still clouded. This meant that she couldn't feel where it was. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn't seem to get her endless and restless thoughts to go away. Sighing, she finally gave up got up off the flooring. She dusted her pants off and decided to examine the area a bit before trying again.

The roof wasn't that dirty. It wasn't cramped either. If she swept a bit, then maybe she could add a rug for soft comfort. Maybe she could put a small bookshelf against the wall by the door. And if she set up a mini ambassador tent, then she would have some sort of shelter from the sun and rain! Yeah! Now she was seeing this becoming a safe haven. Smiling to herself, she went over to her bag and pulled out a small notepad, quickly writing down these ideas. She froze at a sudden squawk coming from behind her. Turning around, she saw a seagull fly above her. Her eyes lit up as she set down the notepad and went over to the ledge.

The building was the farthest one on campus grounds. It was the only one with a breathtaking view. From where she was standing, Aru was able to see the stores, apartments, and restaurants on the boardwalk. She could see the beach houses in the distance. The most amazing this however, was the view of the big, beautiful ocean. Aru smiled, feeling lucky and blessed to be able to be attending such a beautiful school. Sure there were some questionable aspects of the school, but didn't every school have some? She already had friends, so she wasn't alone here. Her mother and brother had also moved onto the boardwalk. They also didn't have to pay a single penny on her education. She never once believed that something this good could happen to her. All her life she's been struggling alongside her family. They didn't have a lot of money, but they managed to have just a punch left for food and school supplies.

Aru was constantly bullied back at her hometown, her mother's remarks on being single not helping the case. She did, however, have her brother to fend for her. Now, she had four reliable friends to help her get through her time at this school. Life, for once, was treating her kindly. She smiled and closed her eyes, letting herself bask in the warmth of the sun as it gently hit her face. She was finally at peace with herself and her surroundings. This was a moment she had never experienced before in her life. It was a beautiful moment for her. It was also the moment a big gust of wind blew from behind her.

And the moment she fell from the ledge.