(Katsuna's POV): 15 years later...

After waking up, I quickly showered, brushed my hair into a "Waterfall in a half ponytail", then quickly put on waterproof makeup to hide my real pale skin. Putting on a long-sleeved white blouse, a large, light purple bow tied around my collar, a brown vest, a tan-colored blazer with long sleeves, and a single-breasted design. 

It had two buttons and a pocket on the left side of the chest whereas the pleated tartan plaid skirt was in shades of red, brown, and yellow, my dark blue socks that reached above my knees before finally wearing my brown loafers; Along with small pearl earrings that matched my necklace. 

"Okay, I got all my stuff, check." I then glanced at my red backpack, wore it over my right shoulder, and began checking myself out for anything in the mirror before I organized my room in a quick motion.

Five minutes later, I was already in the kitchen, pre-heating some grilled fish in the microwave that Uncle Jack had cooked for me yesterday. 

I heard a snore abruptly stop as if startled from the couch and turned to see the familiar blonde guy I call: "Morning, Uncle Jack!" I beamed, pressing the "ON" button, and skipped my way to the fridge to grab two beers for us. 

"You're up early...again." He yawned and gave me a quick 'thank you' as I tossed him a beer, which he caught, while I grabbed mine before I decided to ask him something, "So, how was the boxing match? Did you win again?"

Uncle Jack chuckles, "You betcha, the guy tried to make a sneak attack only to be POW and WHAM to the ground by my fists." 

" 'POW' and 'WHAM', huh?" I mimicked his punches like a little kid, and giggled before taking a swig of my beer: "Sounds like you could use a cape, Uncle Jack!" 

Flexing his arms into the air, and got up from the couch: "Nah, I'm good the way I am," he grins, "But don't let it fool you; I'm more about the strategy than the brute strength. You gotta outsmart your opponent first, you know."

I nodded, sipping my beer thoughtfully. "What's the plan for today? Another boxing match this week?"

this is the living room*

"You know it, kid," he replied, leaning back on the couch with his feet on the coffee table. "This next guy thinks he has some moves, but he's in for a surprise. It's like dancing—you just have to take the lead."

I rolled my eyes playfully as the microwave beeped. I took out the heated grilled fish and placed it on the table. "Lead, huh? You're going to be that human character from 'Rocky' in the ring," I teased, trying not to laugh. "I wish I could see you in action today."

"You can come later, but remember what you told me," he said, standing up in his baggy pants and walking barefoot toward me before sitting down. "If you want to work and live among the humans in Tokyo—"

Sighing at his teasing tone, I interrupted, " 'I gotta have a high school and college degree!' Jesus, Uncle Jack, I know what I said." We continued sipping our beers, surveying the cluttered living room filled with half-opened boxes after Uncle Jack had ruffled my hair. I swatted his hand away, pretending to be serious but failing miserably, which made us both laugh.

"So, when will the rest of our stuff arrive?" I asked, eating my grilled fish. "This place looks like a whirlwind hit it." "Soon, kid," he replied, waving his hand dismissively. "I just need to get through this fight, then I'll come back to fix this place up. I promise it'll look better."

I began seeing a scenario where Uncle Jack wouldn't help me, as I kept imagining the random assortment of things he gets to forget every time we move to another flat, "Uh-huh, last time you said that." I continued, "You didn't unpack anything except the TV and couch." 

"Hey, the TV and couch are the favorite stuff to be lazy in human life!" Uncle Jack jokingly raised his hands in defeat, raising his beer to toast but I shook my head. Not long before I notice the time on my wristwatch and instantly panic: "Shit, I'm gonna be late on my first day of Highschool!" 

Quickly eating my breakfast, Uncle Jack quickly goes to open the fridge, takes it out, and hands me a small can of mint gums to eat on the way which is something I like to eat on the way to the bus every time I go out. "I'll be back by 4:30 pm, love ya!" "You too, kid!" 

Running down the stairs that lead to the streets of Alien Town, I bought and took an alien juice for me to drink on the bus before I turned around the corner where the alleyway leads to the human side; At first, I hesitated when a memory of how Bemular saved me from the drunkards and Uncle Jack finding me there. 

'Snap out of it, Katsuna! It won't happen to me again!' I snapped it out of my mind and dashed outside of it as I was welcomed by the city cars and buses driving every road in Tokyo, I saw the bus and waved my hand for the bus driver to see me; After it parked and entered the bus, I notice that almost every seat was filled except for one.

A male human with short, dark hair that is slightly tousled wore black-framed glasses (A/N: his glasses turn red when he's an adult btw) while holding a book titled: "The Art of War by Sun Tzu"; Which caught my eye until I noticed his attire being very neat. 

He had a dark teal blazer with white piping along the edges, including the lapels, pockets, and sleeve cuffs. It had a single-breasted design with two buttons underneath it all was a white dress shirt with a visible collar that tied a red with diagonal white stripes, his Light gray pants were neatly pressed, a black belt, and shoes. (imagine him wearing the uniform)

"Excuse me, mind if I take a seat here?" I asked politely. He sighed, glanced up from his book, and appeared stunned for a moment before standing to let me sit by the window. As I settled in beside him, his glasses caught the light and briefly blinded me.

Sitting down next to a male human felt awkward.

Sure, I'm used to seeing Uncle Jack as the only human guy to interact with me but now, with another different one is a whole other level; I tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear, feeling the heat creep up my neck as I tried to find a comfortable position. The bus was buzzing with the hum of casual conversations and laughter, but all I could focus on was the unfamiliar presence beside me. 

He smelled like a mix of coffee and something fresh, maybe citrus. It was oddly comforting.

Mentally shaking off the weird feeling, I decided to try making a conversation like Uncle Jack taught me: "Nice day, huh?" I offered, trying to break the silence that enveloped us like a comfortable shroud. He looked at me, his expression a mix of surprise and mild annoyance as if I'd interrupted an important thought but he didn't glance or look at me.

"Sure, if you'd rather discuss mundane topics with a stranger, then please spare me your 'Nice day' questions," he replied, his tone cold and slightly annoyed. I realized I had made a mistake, leaving me puzzled as to why this man chose to be rude than answer my question. But something was intriguing about him—a spark of mystery, maybe. 

Not wanting to give up, I took a peek over his shoulder to see what he was reading, "What are you reading?" I curiously asked. He turned his head slightly, looking at me from the corner of his eye, and said nothing. I sighed and was ready to give up on our conversation when he broke the silence, saying, "Just a book, you would be bored in a matter of seconds." 

This left me stunned, at how a male human could just 'assume' that I would be bored with a book that I hadn't even read before, I tilted my head, a mix of irritation and curiosity bubbling within me. "What makes you think I'd be bored?" I shot back, letting a hint of defiance seep into my tone. "I might surprise you."

He raised an eyebrow, surprised, revealing a flicker of interest beneath his mildly annoyed demeanor. "You sure about that?" he asked, finally placing the book on his lap, its spine adorned with intricate designs hinting at deeper philosophies. "It's not exactly light reading for a high school freshman."

"Hey, I'm not just a newbie," I replied, feeling confident. "I'm ready to dive into serious topics. I want to expand my horizons—understand different perspectives and strategies for the upcoming weeks."

His expression softened slightly, intrigued despite his skepticism. "That's not something I hear every day." He glanced back at the book, the corners of his lips twitching as if he were about to grin.

I took this as my cue to continue. "So, what's your takeaway? Any tips on the topic that you're willing to share?" This seemed to engage him more. He sighed, considering my question. "The story is called 'The Art of War'." He continues, "It emphasizes strategy over brute force and how to use the terrain to your advantage. It's not just about combat; it's about how to approach any situation and think ahead."

I nodded, processing his words. "Hmmm, that makes sense. It's like boxing, right? Uncle Jack always says you need to outsmart your opponent first." I chuckled. "Life's just one giant boxing ring, isn't it?" 

"...I guess you could say that." He finally looked at me properly. "Life's full of challenges, and your strategy can lead to victory or defeat." "Touché," I said, feeling a spark of connection. "But how do you decide which battles are worth fighting?"

He leaned back, contemplating. "That's the tricky part. It takes judgment to discern meaningful fights. Invest your energy wisely." His gaze drifted back to his book, brow furrowed in the thought of something, "Is that what you think?" I tilt my head slightly in interest, "Judge which battles are worth it? Do you think you would find yourself in many fights one day?" 

Chuckling lightly at me, "Probably..." He comments more: "More like navigating social dynamics and academic pressures. It's a fight of wits." He glanced at me, making my heart flutter. "But you're in high school now, right? What's your strategy?"

"Honestly?" I leaned back, considering how much to share. "I'm just trying to fit in. New town, new school. I want to make friends, but it's daunting with so many different personalities."

He nodded slowly, seeming to understand. "Sometimes standing out is better than blending in. People appreciate uniqueness."

"Easier said than done," I replied, skepticism creeping in.

"Maybe," he countered, "but pretending to be someone you're not will only lead to exhaustion. Authenticity has its weight." Suddenly, I noticed a glimmer of empathy in his eyes.

"You talk like you've been through it," I said, intrigued by this stranger. "Got any advice for a newbie?"

"I suppose," he said, amusement flashing across his face. "Don't overthink everything. Everyone's as nervous as you are, even if they don't show it. Focus less on impressing others and more on being yourself."

His words struck a chord, warming me. "I'll keep that in mind," I said, smiling. "You're not as bad as I thought." The bus rattled to a stop, and people began rising from their seats. I realized we had reached my stop and took a deep breath, hesitant to part ways with this intriguing guy. "Hey," I said, steeling my resolve. "What's your name?"

"...Dan," he replied, meeting my gaze. "Dan Moroboshi."

"Katsuna," I said, genuinely smiling now. "Thanks for the chat, Moroboshi-kun. I'm heading out." 

He smirked slightly, adjusting his glasses as he stood. "Don't fight battles that don't matter." 

"Y-Yeah, um, I'll try not to."

As I stepped off the bus, I made my way to the Seito Academy entrance and headed inside.

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