"How is your first day?" 

Yurika raised her eyes from her breakfast plate, just a simple toast and omelet. 

Lughna, the man who sat in front of her was the one who made it for her. He was looking at her with his jet eyes. She couldn't help herself to observe him. His long ivory hair was tied neatly in a braid, his lips were pale and thin and his nose slender and rounded. A prominent jaw curved gracefully around and the strength of his neck showed in the twining cord of muscle that shaped his entire body; strong.

She still remembered vividly when he suddenly showed up on that day. When all of her hopes were lost, when she felt lonelier than she could have ever felt. Being an orphan since a baby and raised in a small orphanage made her knew the word of loneliness and envy from the get-go. But that day was the loneliest she could ever be. No one on her side, not even those she thought as friends decided to defend her or at least stay by her side. Sometimes she had the desire to ask him, why. Why he decided to save her even giving her a place to stay and a chance to get educated. Especially when she was the one who killed his most important person. But she never really has the guts to do so.

"Yuu?" he called out.

"Ah... yeah," Yurika averted her eyes back to her morning meal, "it was okay."

"Is that so?" Lughna said while taking a sip of his coffee, his raven eyes gazing, evaluating, and judging her, "remember your promise. I am risking so many things to get you there. Don't cause any trouble and lay low."

Yurika body tensed, if this was said before the incident she would have barked back. She never thought that whatever she did back then was purely causing trouble. She had to calm her desire to defend herself.

"I know," she said with a restrained voice, her hand clutched the fork a little too hard. She kept her eyes bored at the almost empty plate.

Lughna sighed, his eyes were gentle for a few seconds before it disappeared and replaced with the same aloof stare.

"Do you meet new friends?"

The words 'friends' made her think about the Alstair sisters, but she quickly shook the idea away. She had enough experiences with those who called themselves her friends. On how they could just turn their back and even stabbed her in the back. She had decided and promised to herself to stop at the 'acquaintance' level to anyone in her new school. She didn't need any friends. 

"... yes," she answered shortly and quickly finished her breakfast. She didn't want to answer any of his questions anymore, "I need to go to school now, thank you for the breakfast."

Without waiting for his answer, she stood up, collected her plate and cutlery and put it in the sink, "I will wash them when I get back, you could just leave your plate here."

She then quickly gathered her bag and walked toward the door.

"Yuu," Lughna called her out, stopping her. She didn't really turn and face him, but she waited.

"Have fun at school and study well."

Yurika didn't answer, she just shrugged and quickly left the house. 

***

The wind blew along with the arriving students through the gates, hustling and bustling down the corridors. Greeting their friends with a hug or a playful punch. Yurika walked quick passing them, with head down and hunched shoulders. She didn't want to be noticed like yesterday. It was a mistake, she just hoped that the prince didn't decide to wait for her or find her. She must lay low and away from trouble, but that guy didn't make things easy for her.

She had managed to push past the constant stream of students and to her classroom without any incident. Her eyes did a quick glance around the room, hoping for the nonexistent of that particular golden-haired boy. She exhaled in relieved when she didn't saw him. 

Yesterday when she got back to class after the short adventure she had with Wenona and Riddele, she didn't saw him until the end of the class. She guessed he had decided to skip the whole class and she was happy with that.

"Yuu!!" a girl voice barged in her ears just a second before the owner of the voice jumped and hugged her from behind, "good morning!"

Yurika turned her head, even though she already knew who was it.

"Good morning," she replied with a tight smile, "could you please not hug me?"

Wenona titled her head, confused, "you don't like hugs?"

"Yeah, something like that," she replied. It was the best answer she could give. She didn't need to explain herself to the purple-haired girl.

"Oh, okay sorry," said Wen, letting her go, "anyway, did you finish your homewo--"

"Wen, I am thankful for your help yesterday, but I am sorry..., " Yurika quickly cut her, "it is best if you stayed away from me. I am not here to make friends."

Yurika could see the shock that registered on Wenona's face. Her heart suddenly ached to see the girl expression, but it is for the best.

"Now if you excuse me, " she bobbed her head and moved away from the door. 

"Yuu!" suddenly Wen called out her name, "I don't buy it! That's bullsh**! You can't push me away. Just you wait and see."

Yurika was stunned but she decided to say nothing to it. She sat on her chair and ignored Wenona for the rest of the day.