August marched in like a lion. The car door closed behind Theo like an earthquake. Before him stood a grand iron gate, rustic and worn, with a slightly faded sign above it with 'Hoshi Academy' written in faded gold letters. Students were walking in by the dozens, dressed in a traditional dark blue sailor uniform. This is America.

Many students, both new and old, were locking arms as they walked in... Hoshi Academy held no shortage of couples.

"That'll be my happiness soon enough," Theo mumbled.

He took meaningful strides to and through the gate, his eyes eager to grasp every spec of reality.

In front of him was a pathway of stone bricks leading straight to a wide set of steps carved out of solid rock. Those stairs led up into an old building of brick, which was in no regard any lesser than any small castle. A vast open field covered either side of the entrance pathway, with two fountains at either side. The fountain on the left was a dolphin, and the fountain on the right was also a dolphin.

A small crowd was gathered around each other, mostly taking selfies of themselves or friends. It was a fleeting posture. Others sat and ate along the rim. People were talking, laughing, and asking for directions.

"First years this way!" An old lady had appeared from the main building, ushering people in with her arms. Everyone that passed her got asked the same question, "First year?". Anyone who answered yes was pointed off into the darkness inside.

For a couple of moments, Theo stood in place staring towards the main building and the old lady.

"Are you okay?"

A tender touch tapped on his left shoulder, with an even more tender voice speaking into his left ear.

He turned over towards the source to see a familiar face. It was her. She was dressed in the same uniform as everyone else and her hair was not up in a bun this time but rather flowing down past her shoulders. Her head was tilted slightly to the side,

"Um... nervous about your first day?" Her words were smoother than the finest 10,000 thread count silk. Softer than the most melted chocolate on a hot summer's day. Sweeter than grandma's freshly baked cookies and tea. More persuasive and grabbing than a magical floating hand made of the steam of a fresh pie sitting on a windowsill to a man on a diet.

His tongue was like sun-aged chalk against the roof of his mouth, his saliva dryer than the sands of a desert, his breath was trapped and twisting against the confines of his lungs, and his lips were sealed together tighter than the deepest vault of the largest bank. He stared at her. He blinked.

"Y-yeah... it is my first day..."

"-ma'am."

"Ma'am? I'm not that old" Her eyes were drooped around the outside edges, her lips drawn to a pout.

"Ah-uhumahsorruhmhj" Theo bit his tongue at the end there.

Her right hand had been pinching the side of her leg unsuspiciously,

Stolen story; please report.

"... My name is Lily Thorne. I am the secretary for the Sculpture Society."

"If it's your first day then you would want to go to Mrs. Lawson-"

Her hand pointed to the lady who had been snatching up first-year students like a vulture.

"- to get a map of the campus". Theo nodded in thanks and quickly scurried/shuffled towards Mrs. Lawson.

He approached as she was turned towards another pair of students. As she sent them on their way, she quickly latched onto a different student. So Theo stood there as she went through at least three students.

The first student was a girl with bright blonde hair. Her uniform seemed to sparkle in the light like she had bathed in a waterfall of glitter five minutes ago.

The second student was a rough man. He was covered in scars and his hair was cut into a short buzzcut. As he was talking with Mrs. Lawson, it became painfully obvious that one of his eyes was not moving.

The third student to approach her caused a completely different reaction than the previous two. Instead of pushing them off, as soon as she saw this young man dressed up in a suit and tie she rushed forward and gave him a big hug. They talked on and on for a couple of minutes before he waved her goodbye.

Eventually, she turned and saw Theo stunned like a baby bird waiting for food.

"First year?" Her words were soft but her eyes were like a hawk judging a prey.

"Yes ma'am" Theo's eyes were lowered towards the ground

"The first-year convocation is in the auditorium, straight ahead."

"You'll need this pamphlet." From the very moment the words left her lips, his hands were filled with the smooth feeling of lamented paper.

His shoulders were filled with the push of her hands, guiding his legs off into the darkness.

There was an indescribable smell in the air. The best description that Theo could muster to himself was one part cheap cologne, one part chestnuts, two parts wet dog, and three parts rotten eggs. The unknown scent was so rancid that it caused him to gag, but the scent stayed stuck to his taste buds despite his body's efforts to reject it. People were walking around and past him. No one had been or was going to talk about the scent.

He stood blocking the doorway, hairs on his arms shocked like leaves before a storm. People streamed past him in groups and pairs.

"Hey now, getting cold feet again?" At that moment, with the arrival of her voice, it was as if all other things were meaningless. Anxiety, virginity, school, the smell, people, the temp...etc.

Everything didn't matter. It was just him and her, everything else was a fib of imagination. Yes, to him, everything was gone. They were two people floating among the cosmos of stars and space.

"Come on now, you're going to be late for the convocation." Slowly, gracefully, elegantly, like the smooth first contact of man and alien, Lily guided Theo to the auditorium.

The doors were propped open outwards, inside was a stage reminiscent of an opera house. The main stage was far below, adorned with wooden swirls of gold and curtains of red that extended up and across the entire roof of the auditorium. She continued to push him onwards and inwards, to a pair of aisle seats three rows down from the door. He sat down.

"Good morning ladies and gentlemen, parents and faculty, and most importantly our bright future students of Hoshi Academy.

My name is Sophie Hughes. I work in the registrar, and some of you may have already seen me for financial aid. If you don't know me, I work in the office just down the hall from here to the left. There's a big sign out front so it is very hard to miss it.

Today, we gather to celebrate a momentous occasion: the beginning of your journey as first-year students at Hoshi Academy. As the sun rises, so does the promise of your future, and it is with immense pride and joy that I address you on this special day. I want you to know as you go out into your classes today that it is your day and your moment.

Welcome to a place where dreams take shape and potential is nurtured. Hoshi Academy stands as a beacon of knowledge, creativity, and innovation, and today, you step into a tradition of excellence that spans generations. You have been chosen not only for your remarkable achievements thus far but also for your potential to contribute to our vibrant community.

You might be feeling a mix of excitement and apprehension. Perhaps you're wondering about the challenges that lie ahead or how you'll navigate this new chapter of your life. Let me assure you, this is a journey of discovery, growth, and endless possibilities. You are now part of a community that believes in the power of learning, the strength of collaboration, and the importance of perseverance.

Now then our bright stars, let us raise our glasses to your future."

In Theo's left hand, there was a clear plastic cup, filled with a purple liquid. It was in the hands of everyone in the auditorium. The movement started in the front, and it waved its way up towards Theo as everyone was downing their drinks. His hand had raised as well, bringing the cup to his lips.