Volume 1– Blizzard and the Flurry

Amidst the chilly hills and valleys of Western New York lies the private college of Northern Peak University, where academia flirts with battle. The northern side of the school is known as the Honors District; it hosts peaceful, high-performing students. On the southern side—the Troubled District—are students with histories of delinquency, channeling a lust for violence. The students of the chaotic south have transformed Northern Peak into an epicenter of depravity. However, soon a blizzard will arrive, and she will find a flurry: a lovely, adorable flurry who will caress her heart as she protects his body and soul.

For her flurry, this blizzard will bury depravity. She will change this school forever.

And yet, Akari Hirose worries. As far as appearances go—standing nearly six and a half feet tall, with broad shoulders and long, thick limbs—many struggle to even see her as a woman. What’s more, such judgment twists into fear given her near-undefeated record as a delinquent.

Her high school’s environment did not give her a choice in the matter.

She was relieved to finally graduate, and move on to college.

So then, why go to yet another violent school?

She wants to protect people, anyone who is innocent.

“This is your first time at the penance ground, yeah?” Emilija Mazur quips. She always gives Akari a hard time, and yet, she remains one of her closest comrades.

“Yes,” Akari replies, completely stern.

“Hah, good luck.”

Opening the door with Emilija behind her, Akari growls, “Tch! I’ll never live with those bastards.”

Emilija chuckles. “Well, you’ll at least have me regardless of what happens.”

Akari and Emilija enter the admissions hall of Northern Peak University. The college’s stubborn administration forces certain incoming students to come to campus for an interview, even with the growth of telecommunication.

The interviewee indicates a preference, whether they will live among the scholars or the delinquents. Then, the interviewer makes the final judgment based on their physical and mental characteristics, hence the in-person mandate.

Many students can just skip the interview; it is the “indeterminate” students—those somewhere between Troubled delinquent and Honors scholar—who must come in.

Akari and Emilija sit down in the lobby, when in comes a flurry: a man, quite thin and short, with bushy black hair and big brown eyes. Akari wonders just how much taller she is than him, and decides she would rather not know.

This man, Akira, observes the lobby with a certain air of innocence, before laying his eyes upon the two strong women seated nearby. Smiling at them, he says, “Good morning!”

“Mornin!” greets Emilija.

“G-Good morning,” mutters Akari, her face inexplicably turning red.

Akira sits down on a chair a few feet from the girls, the doorway separating his seat from theirs.

“This place is quieter than I expected.” His voice is ridiculously soft, with a high pitch and an endearing politeness behind each word.

Already, Akari wonders if this man is the most adorable human being in the world. The thought disturbs her; someone admiring another’s appearance, when they do not even believe they deserve love themself, may cause more pain than joy.

Once Akari shakes off her enamored thoughts, confusion arises within her. This man is so small and frail. How tall is he? Five feet? Less? Such a skinny form! In what world… should a man like him be attending this school? But, it’s for people like him, that I…

The entrance slams open. A lofty young man stomps in with a stern expression. He has long black hair, sharp dark eyes, and pale skin. Glaring immediately at Akari and Emilija, who stare back suspiciously, he simply goes, “Hmph.”

Akira, forcing a smile, greets, “Good morning—”

“Shut up, manlet,” the intimidator snarls.

Poor Akira gulps, while Akari gives their new visitor a nasty look.

Seeing her glare, the aggressive man waves his hand dismissively. “I don’t entertain fights with women.” He walks off to sit in a chair at a corner of the room, far from everyone else.

Akari’s stern expression perpetuates, while Emilija smirks with a lofty confidence. Akira hunches back in his seat, frowning. Akari looks at him, and for a moment, her face softens.

With a swing of the office door comes a shout, “Akari Hirose and Emilija Mazur, come in.”

But that belligerent man is already walking in their place. He says to the advisor, “We’re swapping appointments. Give ‘em my time.” He gives a condescending smirk to Akari and Emilija, while the advisor sighs in resignation.

“You can’t do that!” Akira rises from his chair, standing as tall as he can. He stares tenaciously at a man far stronger than him.

“Huh?” The bully wields a predatory glare.

Akari stares at Akira with a mixture of surprise, concern, and awe. Emilija sits back and smiles once more.

“You can’t just take someone else’s spot!” Akira shouts again.

The hostile delinquent sneers and walks over to the smaller man, towering over him. As Akira breaks a sweat, the aggressor exclaims, “You’re hilarious! Let me tell you, if this little thing annoys you, you have no chance of surviving at this school.”

“Tch!” Akira trembles in anger. “People like you are just—”

Suddenly, the troublemaker’s eyes turn demonic, and he throws a punch right at defenseless Akira. Yet then swooshes in Akari, looming taller than even the aggressor. With just one hand, she halts his advance, strangling his arm.

“Please, not here!” the advisor shouts, standing in the hallway with an irritated frown.

Akari does not move; she just stares fiercely at the bully.

“Hah!” utters the bastard. “You’re such an eyesore.” But he winces as Akari tightens her grip even further.

Akira stands before them, witnessing the entire scene, his face reddening and reddening.

And finally, Akari loosens up, and immediately the aggressor whisks his arm away. “Pfft!” He stomps over to the office and slams the door.

With the delinquent away, Akari’s anger disappears; a shy gloom takes its place.

Meanwhile, Akira continues to stare at her, the woman towering well over a foot taller than him, who wielded those thick hands and muscled arms precisely to save him.

The flurry stares at the blizzard, utterly awestruck.