Welcoming Unusual Students [NPC's - Gregory & Julia]

Dreams breathe life into men.
The stars... I'll reach them.

Looking at his own cellphone, the clock marked two o'clock. It was the indication that Ryuusei needed to get his back off the gate - without taking his hands off his pockets, of course - and start to move his eyes in search of the students he was supposed to accompany for the next hour or more.

They should be arriving soon, he thought as his eyes went from palce to place. Afteralll, if the British were anything like the Japanese, being on time would something of fundamental value.

As expected, Ryuusei noticed both Gregory and Julia as soon as they both arrived near them. It seemed, however, that they had no idea who he was.

They most likely were only given my name and the meeting point, Ryuu assumed as the english students kept talking.

The japanase teenager was happy to be able to nderstand everything that they were saying. It had been some time since he had actually talked to someone in english, so he was fearfull that he would be rusty and not even able to understand. It appeared that taking time to play english videogames, movies and tv series kept Ryuusei's ears sharp.

Putting the gum he was chewing on the trashcan near him, Ryuu began slowly walking towards the two. Julia was enthusiastic, appearing to be both interested in Japan and proud of being representing her country there. On the other hand, Gregory looked like he wanted to die. Ryuusei felt an immediate conection to both of them, as if each one represented two different parts of himself.

He stopped just two feet behind both of them. With his hands still on his pockets, Ryuu looked at the sakura trees Julia was previously pointing at and started talking only when she finished reprimending Gregory. Ryuusei tone was calm, even kind, but there was no way of hiding his ice tone.

Mono no aware - he said in his native tongue, proceding to talk in english afterwards - It's a little of an untranslatable term, but it means something like "the sorrow of things". It points to being sensitive towards the transience of everything that exists. The sakura is a symbol of this: they're ephemeral, so one must accept the fact that their beauty isn't permanent for they are fragile just like us.

Right after the small explanation, Ryuusei looked to both of them as he continued.

Maybe your friend understands this sadness, even if he isn't consciously aware of it, the blonde teen concluded with a little smile, providing an explanation for Gregory's apparent desinterest in the flowers.

It was after this that their guide for the day would introduce himself, giving both of them a bow as he did so.

I'm assuming that you are Julia and that you are Gregory. My name is Ryuusei Igarashi and I'll be your guide for the next hours. Welcome to Japan and to Yuuei Highschool. It's a pleasure to meet you both.

Notes: They meet!!
Words: 495.
Tags: Epsilon

Dreams breathe life into men.
The stars... I'll reach them.

Ryuusei seemed to be right in assuming those were the students he was supposed to guide. Not that it was surprising, since he had some information about their appearance - he would have to be very unlucky (or borderline blind) to not have guessed right.

After they listened to what the japanese student, Julia and Greg replied back. The girl had some basic knowledge of the japanese language and culture, introducing herself in japanese while bowing back to Ryuusei. Gregory, however, wasn't in the same vibe, saying a simple "Hi" when basically intimidated by his classmate to do so. Julia apologized in his behalf, providing a basic explanation for his attittude. Gregory and Ryuusei were quite similiar, it seemed. So, of course, Ryuu wouldn't take the british boy's demeanor in the bad way.

Don't worry. I'm kind of like that myself, so I understand, he said.

The difference in enthusiasm was evident though. Not even Ryuusei expected so much excitement for the little tour around Yuuei Highschool. What Gregory didn't have Julia had in double. It was a funny contrast to witness.

Sure. Let's go then, Ryuu announced as he began waling two steps ahead of both Valiant students.

Ryuusei planned on showing them the Main Alley of the Sports Festival last - that way, they could stay there for the remaining of the day and hopefully find there the rest of their classmates. Because of this, he was now headed to the main building of Yuuei, where most theorical classes took place. During the way, Ruu decided to try and make some conversation.

So, how is the Hero Course of the Valiant Institute like?

A simple question made out of pure curiosity.

Notes: The tour begins!
Words: 283.
Tags: Epsilon

Dreams breathe life into men.
The stars... I'll reach them.

As they began walking and uncounsciously synchronizing their rhythm, the three teenagers found themselves taking short steps alongside each other, with Ryuusei in the middle, Julia on the left and Gregory on the right.

Even if they only knew one another for some minutes, Ryuusei wasn't surprised by the slighthest when the girl with spring-like limbs brightened up when asked by Ryuu about the Valiant Institute for Unusual Potencial - VIUP for short, the japanese student was assuming.

Hearing Julia Dawson talk and looking at he happy self reminded Ryuusei of his older sister. Just like Yasu, the british girl looked like the main character out of an anime or manga: excited about the future as a Hero, enthusiastic about the present at her home school and respectful towards the ones who paved the way. Looking at her deep blue eyes - the same colour as Yasu's - the sixteen year old could see the genuine sparkle that he had forgotten about: pure, almost childish innocence; a look that gave hope to anyone who stared. He softly smile as a response - something unsual - as she shifted the conversation by taking the lead once again, with Greg being happy to remain silent.

That's interesting - he replied as a mention to the described housing system, something he would use as a starter to answer Julia's question - Yuuei also has a type of division, but nothing like division by colors or attribution of points... That would probably end badly if applied here, he said, thinking of all the competitive and borderline asshole characters that had already come and went since U.A's inception.

He continued.

Since it's the first year we only have three main classes: 1-A, which is the one I belong to... - Ryuu left out the fact that he was the VIce-president on purpose, since he felt it wasn't something important to mention - ... 1-B and 1-C. I say that they are the 'main ones' because they compose the Hero Course, but we also have the Support Studies Class who focuses on items, medical training and that type of stuff, so they have importance too.

Despite the obvious accent, Ryuusei was being able to keep the entire conversation in English and having it flow in a natural manner. He was proud of himself for that, even if in the back of his head he was hoping that both Julia and Gregory were being able to understand him at one hundred percent.

Other than the obvious focus on Hero work it's a pretty regular school, I guess... With an enourmous budget and the press always knocking at the front gates, but still kind of normal. The Principal doesn't even have a Quirk, for example.

It was clear that Ryuusei wasn't has fascinated by Yuuei as Julia was with the Institute, but it also wasn't like he spoke with ill intent.... for him it was just school, something that probably went along the lines of how Gregory felt.

As they continued to walk, Ryuusei would occasionally point towards various building while giving small pieces of information about them: the main building where classes were held, the dormitores, the private gym, etc... Julia maintained her high energy while Gregory also kept his low-key mood. Trying to learn more about both of them, he asked a question: he expected both british students to give a reply, but spoke while looking at Greg in hopes to hear him talk.

How are you two feeling about the Events? Already signed up in one?

Ryuusei was much like Gregory in not really being one to talk, but hey: they were there, so might aswell try to get to know the guy too.

Notes: Breaking the ice!
Words: 619.
Tags: Epsilon

Dreams breathe life into men.
The stars... I'll reach them.

It's weird having someone so fascinated by every single word you say - that was the conclusion Ryuusei Igarashi took as he kept on speaking his best english, spying from time to time Julia's wide gaze of wonder. Or was it that, instead of being genuine interest and attention, it was just the british girl being dumbfounded because of Ryuu's accent? The japanese boy chose to believe that it was the first option.

To his question Julia replied in her optimist and loud tone of voice. However, she did not say which event either she or Greg were participating in. Ryuusei took notice of that but, since he really didn't care about the all thing to begin, decided to give a quick reply that avoided any secrecy of his part.

That's nice to hear. I joined the Recue one, but I think that I'm not as excited as you, he joked.

After this exchange, the girl changed the subject by posing a question herself: the reason for Ryuusei to be a Hero?

That's a good one, he thought to himself.

The girl would surely be disappointed by his response, but her fast paced demeanor didn't even allowed Ryuusei to answer right away: instead, she directed the same question at Greg. Before the Yuuei student could utter a single word, the smaller boy spoke up in a way that he hadn't did before. Bot hJulia and Ryuu stared at him.

A somewhat tragic backstory that made the girl regret asking the question. Gregory, however, didn't seem much emotionally bothered by it. It was for this reason that Ryuusei also decided to not giving more importance than what he should, choosing to just say:

I agree. You seem like you can control yourself, so you'll get there if... you want to, of course - he then turned his voice back to Julia - As for my reason,  well... - he looked at the sky while scratching his hair with his right hand - ... There isn't one.

Looking again at Julia, he continued..

It will probably seem weird to you, but I'm just doing it for the sake of it, if I'm being honest. Trying to be a Hero is just something that I happen to be doing, nothing special about it - his head turned to Greg as he finished talking - By what I've seen I guess that me and you are probably very similiar in that aspect, or am I wrong?

Ryuusei was trying to engage more and more with Gregory - it was almost like seeing a more extreme version of himself. Ryuusei hoped that the excited future Hero in Julia wouldn't be mad at his response though.

Notes: Talk, Greg!
Words: 450.
Tags: Epsilon

Dreams breathe life into men.
The stars... I'll reach them.

Even if he was anticipanting Julia's bad reaction to his words, Ryuusei couldn't have guessed that it would've been that bad. Had he committed some type of sin? It looked like it, at least for the british female. Her jaw dropped and her voice got higher and more passionate as she questioned the japanese student about his lack of a reason to become a Hero. First shok and, then, a barrage of questions.

The confusion on Ryuusei's face was visible: how the hell could he express himself better in a language that wasn't his own? Had he offended Julia that much? Perhaps it was because of this that Greg spoke louder than before, immediately causing Julia to stop talking herself.

This small interaction made Ryuusei look back and forth between Greg and Julia. In his mind, he wondered if those two were friends or had just been paired up for the sake of this little U.A. private tour. Nevertheless, Gregory continued to speak in continuation of Ryuu's last words. The kid from the Valiant Institute was even more cold than Ryuu, which was surprising.

I see, he simply replied.

Silence was the only thing heard for awhile while they continued walking. Then, after some minutes, they finally arrived at the Main Alley of the Sports Festival, where the different schools add many types of lots and exhibitions. It was then that Ryuusei spoke again.

So yeah, this is our school - he spoke out in front of the two students he recently met - Do you have any questions? Anything more you'd like to know?

Ryuusei had lready showed them pretty much everything at the schoolground. However, if they expressed that desire, Ryuusei could also show them the inside of the Alley in more detail.

Notes: ---
Words: 295.
Tags: Epsilon