The Mingle (closed)

[Clouds]

@Sakurako


Chloe would walk down the assembly hall together with the other crowd of students which was supposed to fill up the whole room. Luckily there was enough space for everyone to sit. She took a seat somewhere in the middle of all the rows and listened to what the principal had to say through the microphone which was needed for everyone to hear him clearly. The voice echoed throughout the whole room that the students were in once the doors were being closed by the teachers so nobody could disturb them anymore as it was pretty annoying to hear the doors opening every five minutes as it was doomed for students to come too late even on the first day of school.


Dear students,


I welcome you all to Tokyo Academy, a school that gives the people the choice to do what they truly want to do. Multiple groups that are awaiting you to join them and learn while practicing the things you love to do. Along this year of the school, you will go through many changes for better or for worse. And for the seniors, this year will be the one where you are going to think about your future too. So I hope for everyone to enjoy the time that you will spend here and wish you good luck.


With that, the principal stepped away and the assembly was done. There was a small applause and then the people started to spread out towards the papers which were hanging up on the walls which assigned their rooms. Chloe decided to do the same and managed to see her own dormroom: number 213. She smiled and went over to the dormitory, luckily her luggage was already in her room so the only thing that she needed to do now was to start unpacking. She opened the door with her key but did not close it behind her as she forgot to do so.

 

[chum-is-fum]

Minato stared down at his tightly clasped hands in his lap, and tried to swallow down the lump in his throat. He wanted to throw up. For 17 years he spent his life being what genetics had made him to be, and in 3 weeks, circumstances snatched it all away. Fate could be so cruel. He still couldn't wrap his head around how the paperwork had gotten all mixed up like that. Yes, he was Minato, but he wasn't Minato Ojima. And with a name like Tokyo Academy, how was he to know that it was an all girls high school?! Damn his unisex name, damn his test scores, and damn his parents! Why couldn't they have just stayed in the United States? None of this would've happened had we never left for New York to begin with......, a voice mocked. Minato jumped in his seat. Suddenly the entire assembly hall erupted in applause. He hadn't payed any attention to the principal at all.


Everyone quickly got up and exited the assembly hall in one giant, chattery mass. Minato kept his head down and avoided eye contact with the students while searching desperately for his cousin. He could hear a girl whispering behind him, "Who is she?.... I've never seen her around Tokyo before....She's so adorable, but she looks constipated...." Minato cringed and tried not to think about what he was wearing. Black, button-up jacket, knee-high socks, a small ponytail on both sides of his head, and.......a plaid skirt. The standard school uniform for females. And how was he even able to pull this off? This young man was cursed with natural feminine features since the day he was born. Dressing and carrying himself like a boy helped some, but sometimes people still would mistake him for a tomboy. Yes, fate was incredibly cruel. "Minaaaato-chaaaan!" he heard an airy voice call out over the clamor. A pretty girl with twintails in her hair ran over to him and smothered him in a hug. "Found you!" Hinako said with a grin, "Guess who's rooming with me in 212?"


"Uhhh..." Minato answered in a low voice.


"YOOOOU!" Hinako grabbed his arm and pulled him towards the dormitories. He sighed and let her lead him. He wanted to be annoyed that his cousin was going to be his roommate. After all, her bubbliness was a lot to deal with. But, he owed her a lot. She was going to be the reason why he made it through these last 2 years of his childhood. Hinako unlocked the door to 212, and they walked into the room where they'd be staying all year.

 

[Clouds]

Chloe put on some music to enjoy herself with before her roommate would come inside of the room. She did not really feel like sharing it at all, but rules were rules and only the ones with a lot of money could corrupt the system and earn themselves a single room. Those bastards. How much they irritated her could not even be discribed in words but more in actions like throwing some pudding over their dresses. That would be so much fun to do, only if she would have the chance to do so though. The teachers were everywhere so it was not so easy to get away with the little crime she would do. Huffing at the depressing sound of that thought as she did not feel like encountering one of those snobs at all. It would be even room if she had to share a room with one of them because of a lack of rooms.


And just like the worst thought, there she was, her roommate. The first statement that she heard from the girl was: "I thought I asked for a single room!" It was like a screeching sound on the blackboard. Almost falling down at the sound of it, and she slowly turned around to look at the new roommate. You got to be kidding me... She thought to herself and mentally slapped herself in the face. The girl reluctantly stomped inside together with her butler or whoever he was to her and sat down on the opposite side of the room. "Let's just try to make the best out of this." Chloe said with an awkward smile which was not really a smile. Only receiving a nod and then resuming to unpacking the stuff out of the bagage. The girl of course got help from her butler, which she decided to call him. She would feel totally weird if someone were to do that for her. So once the butler walked away, she relaxed a bit more.


- a few minutes later -


"What the hell! Your space is much bigger than mine. Screw this!" Chloe yelled, audible for the whole corridor to hear. A whole yelling and screaming festival which was not so nice for the ears. Eventually the girl walked out of the place, only to be followed by Chloe herself. "Yeah, go beg for a single room!" She yelled after her but the girl was already walking down the stairs. Kicking the wall, only to regret it afterwards because of the shot of pain that ran through her whole body. Whining a little as she squatted down while holding her foot in her hands because of the pain.

 

[chum-is-fum]

It didn't take long for Minato to unpack, but Hinako had a lot of things and ran about decorating every inch of space she could on her half of the room. His bags only contained some of the things he absolutely couldn't live without (laptop, gaming consoles, MP3 player, art supplies...) and the things Hinako had given him for his new persona. She had pretty much trashed almost all of his old clothes, and had given him a completely new wardrobe. Minato's cousin put up her last AKB48 poster, and then walked over to Minato's bed and plopped down beside him. They sat quietly for a minute or two. "You know....you don't have to do this....I think Uncle would be much happier if you just told him the truth," she said softly. Minato looked at Hinako and shook his head. "I have no other choice! This is the only accredited school that will accept me, and---" Minato was cut off by a very loud commotion going on outside in the hallways.


"What the hell! Your space is much bigger than mine. Screw this!" a girl yelled.


The two cousins ran outside to witness two dormmates having a screaming match in the corridor. Other girls emerged from their rooms to stare and snicker. Hinako approached their neighbor and squatted down to her level. Minato followed and stood awkwardly behind them. He was equally curious about what just happened.


"You okay?" Hinako asked.

 

[Clouds]

Chloe glared to the end of the hallway which was already empty and muttered incomprehensible words after each other as she did not want to swear in the middle of the corridor. The people who came out to enjoy the show only received a glare in response, though it did not really help much as they would still keep chuckling and giggling and whatever they were doing at that moment. The stinging pain in her foot slowly started to ease away but still stayed squatted down to the ground as she did not want to tumble over if it was not better at all. She just visioned her year in the dormitory and it did not look good at all. It was more like hell on earth and maybe there would even start a war after some time but she decided to not even think that far in the future.


However when another girl squatted down next to her, she looked at her with an apologetic smile. "Sorry about that. I didn't think it would have been that loud." An awkward laugh was followed after that sentence as she felt that it was indeed partially her fault for having screamed back at that girl. She pushed herself up when the pain was gone and placed a hand on her hip.


"My name is Chloe, I guess we will be neighbours for the following year."

 

[chum-is-fum]

Hinako laughed and nodded in response, "Yes! My name is Fukuda Hinako, and this is my cousin Okamoto Minato." They both bowed quickly at their neighbor and Hinako nudged Minato in the arm to get him to say something. Minato cleared his throat and spoke in a small voice, "Hai. I am Minato. Pleased to meet you. Where are you from?" He could tell that she wasn't from Japan, and wondered about where she was from. He always had been fascinated by foreigners. Hinako chimed in, "I was wondering the same thing!" They both looked at her with interest, and Minato thought deeply about New York and the city lights and hamburgers. He wondered what Robert was doing now.

 

[Clouds]

Chloe bowed in return towards them only to smile afterwards. They seemed like more decent people unlike her roommate who would probably not get what she wanted. Complaining when there was not even enough room only to get a single room. It was really selfish from them but maybe they did not know better than that. "I'm from London. The capital of England." She said and did not need to ask them the same question as it was pretty obvious that they were actual japanese people looking from the appearance. Also their names were a big hint. She rubbed the back of her head and leaned against the wall next to her door. "I'm already going to apologize for future fights that you will hear. I'll try to keep it down to the best I can." She said to them as she would feel bad if it was part her fault that these people needed to stay awake if they got into a fight or something.

 

[chum-is-fum]

England! Minato had never been there before. So many questions ran through his mind....if only he had the courage to ask them. Hinako tilted her head in response and looked at Chloe sympathetically. "She's not exactly the most pleasant person to live with I've heard. If you'd need to....if she's ever too unbearable....you can always come to me and Minato's room," she offered. Minato's eyes got as big as saucers before he bowed his head so the English girl couldn't see his reaction. He didn't want to be rude, but what was Hinako thinking?! How was he going to make it through the semester with someone coming in their room? He understood his cousin's intentions though. She had always been the type to help others without really thinking. But now was not a good time! If Chloe somehow found out his secret....Minato pushed the thoughts aside and shuffled nervously. This probably was not going to end well....

 

[Clouds]

When Hinako offered to come over to them when there was no way she would be getting along with her roommate, her smile widened brightly. Thanking her for that as that would probably be the case once in a while. And when the other girl bowed, she thought she was agreeing with Hinako which made her think she was actually welcome to stay over with them. She then put her thumbs in the pockets of her jeans and heard footsteps coming their way again and when she turned around to see who it was, her whole expression became more serious. "Speak of the devil." She mumbled. The negotiations probably did not go the way the girl wanted to so it was both fun and annoying as she was the one who needed to be her roommate. Letting the girl pass by them so she could resume to hanging up the things that she wanted but this time keeping her stuff on her own side of the room.

 

[chum-is-fum]

"You're welcome! It's really no problem," she replied with a smile also. It quickly turned into a frown when the rich girl returned though. Her and the girl briefly made eye contact, and Hinako realized that she happened to remind her of someone. Minato looked at Hinako and Hinako looked at Chloe. Suddenly, a loud anime ringtone could be heard coming from their room. My phone! Minato hurriedly ran back into 212 and rummaged around his bag for the device. He knew exactly who it was before looking at the screen. "Ohayou, Minato!"


"Ohayou, Father," Minato replied, "What is it?"


"You don't sound happy to hear from me like you usually do....I know I told you I would call tomorrow, but I wanted to make sure everything went through with your admission. Schools like Tokyo Academy are very demanding nowadays, and it's happened before where they dropped late-admission students at the last minute....Everything is okay?" Oh, if only he knew the truth....


"Yes, yes! Everything is fine! I am already unpacked and meeting people now."


"Ahh, phew! Excellent. I want you to do well at this school, son. You know curriculum here is much more difficult than it was in New York."


Minato shook his head sadly. "I know."


"I have high hopes for you, son. And so did your mother....God rest her soul....When you told me your score on the entrance exams, I could've danced! Maybe all of those video games weren't such a problem, after all! Well, I have to go before I'm missed. E-mail me about your classes tomorrow, and if anything comes up, just call me. I'll handle it. Take care!"


"Bye." The 17-year-old male hung up the phone and looked at the ceiling. He had always felt like a huge disappointment to his parents, but today it weighed heavy on his shoulders like a 2 ton elephant. He had to fix everything. And the only way to do it was to be the most convincing female he could possibly be.


While Minato was answering his phone call, Hinako asked Chloe a question, "Since today is a free day, do you want to look around campus with me and Minato? It'd be a good way to find our classes. Maybe we take some together!" Some of the girls on their hall had already left to explore, and it would also soon be lunchtime.

 

[Clouds]

As the other called Minato walked back inside of the room once they heard a ringtone, Chloe just let her eyes trail behind her until she disappeared from her sight. Though her attention was being pulled back by the girl Hinako. As the other suggested to take a tour around the school with them, Chloe did not need much time to think about it since her luggage was already unpacked and she certainly did not feel like hearing the nagging of the rich girl in her room who was grumbling which she could hear from where she was standing.


"Sure. I would like to." She answered her and nodded eagerly in agreement as it was always better to be outside and do something useful than just hanging around in the room while trying to ignore the nagging and sharp comments that could be possible in room 213. She rubbed the back of her neck as she thought about the future roommating thing and she did not feel that energetic while thinking about it.


"We could also go eat something now that we're at it. I'm getting hungry from unpacking everything." She offered as there were nice things around the campus where the students could go and eat. Pizza, hamburgers, spaghetti, sushi, ... It all sounded like bells in her ears as it made her only more hungry when imagining it in front of her.

 

[chum-is-fum]

"Yes! Very good idea! Let me go get my purse then," Hinako said in agreement. She hurried back to 212. Minato had just gotten off the phone with his father and was pulling uncomfortably at the tight, pink panties he was wearing under his skirt. Hinako entered the room and immediately scolded him, "No, no, no!" The 17-year-old boy jumped and turned around to face his cousin. "Girls do not dig in their butts! What if Chloe or some other girl had come in with me? Your cover would've been blown...or they would've thought you were disgusting...," she continued.


Minato turned red. "I wasn't digging in my butt...sort of...These panties are much too uncomfortable!" He smoothed his skirt down. "And speaking of Chloe, what were you thinking?! You pretty much just gave her a free pass to come in here all hours of day! You're going to blow my cover! What if she finds out my secret???"


"Nooo, letting her come over is a good idea. Sooner or later one of the other girls are going to want to come in here, and if we constantly refuse, they're going to know that we have something to hide," Hinato replied while shaking her head. She walked over to her bed and picked up her purse. Minato groaned. It was too bad that she was right. That meant that keeping his few manly parts a secret was only going to be harder than he thought. The twin-tailed 16-year-old walked over and patted Minato's head. "Grab your purse and come hither, my new, girl cousin! We're going to explore the campus with our neighbor!" Hinako exited the room, and Minato looked at the green crossbody purse on his desk. He had a feeling the charade was just starting now as he slipped the purse over his body and followed.

 

[Clouds]

Chloe nodded toward Hinako who went back inside of her dormroom, making Chloe glance back inside of number 213 that she was going to be residing in for the next months in their school life. Luckily this was going to be her last so that was something to look forward to. She twirled her hair between her fingers as she waited for the other two to come outside as she was wearing a small back as she did not really have many purses. Thinking that they were a bit annoying, though it all depended on the design. Shifting on her feet as she waited for the others to come back outside.


Hearing the voices of 212 but not understandable so she could not really know what they were talking about. Not wanting to disturb them so she just stood there. Relieved however when the girls came out of the dormroom. Cracking her knuckles to make them more loose as there was some tension in it as she felt like punching her roommate before but she had calmed down by now.


-after about an hour of walking through the campus-


Chloe let out a sigh and plopped down on one of the chairs in a cosy cafe near the campus. Groaning at the enormous walk through the building, not having realised that the place was that big. "So... tired." She whined and hung in the chair instead of sitting straight up like most of the girl would do. But honestly, she could not care less about how to behave herself as people needed to accept her for the way she was. Not going to pretend to be some girly girl who only thought about fashion. Not saying that that is a bad thing, but still she was more seen as one of the guys to be honest.