New environment

The following morning Amari comes to consciousness from his sleep as he woken up by the sound of chirping birds and smell of the fresh morning atmosphere. He tries to get off the bed but can't, but he debates with himself on whether he should continue sleeping for a little longer or get ready for school.

He is persuaded by how comfortable his bed is and finally convinces himself to carry on sleeping, but Nana intrudes his peaceful slumber by barging in the room.

''Hey kid, it's morning! wake up!'' 

''I'm up, I'm up!''

''Get yourself ready for breakfast, we don't want to be late on your first day.''

Amari responds by giving her a thumbs up. She leaves his room and heads downstairs to prepare breakfast. Amari finally gets up after minutes of contemplating on fully getting up from the bed, he drags his feet as he walks towards the bathroom. He walks in the bathroom and heads straight to the shower.

After a long and warm shower, he finally steps out and wipes himself dry before stepping out of the bathroom. Feeling refreshed he wipes himself dry with one of the towels. Before leaving the bathroom, he is caught by his refection from the bathroom mirror.

He stops to look at himself and is impressed with how clean he looks compared to when he was using the river to wash himself, but his problem was his hair, it was his first washing it and after it looked fuzzy and dry. It wasn't something he was used too but he shrugs it off and goes to ready.

After finishing with everything upstairs he heads to the dining area for breakfast.Nana is already eating her breakfast, but he hears footsteps of someone else in the kitchen. He heads to the table and his plate is already there and takes his seat next to Nana.

''Just so you know when our transport arrives, we'll immediately. Whether you finished eating or not.''

Amari nods and she finishes her food and leaves the plate on the table. She goes to the other room and takes one of her books to read while waiting for the transport.

The person that was busy in the kitchen comes to the dining room and it's Nana's maid. She smiles and waves at Amari and he greets her back, she takes Nana's plate along with the cutlery she used to eat and returns to the kitchen.

A knock comes from the door and the maid goes to attend it, after opening the door the maid and the person at the door have small talk before, she allows the person to get in.

''Where is she?'' 

''She's in the room next to the dining area.''

''Okay, thank you.''

The man goes to the room where Nana is.

''Good morning, madame.''

''Oh! Maxwell, you're earlier than expected.''

''I came as early as possible madame.''

''You can wait for us in the carriage we'll join you there.''

''Yes madame.''

Maxwell leaves to wait for them in the car. Nana goes to call Amari so that they could leave, he takes his plate with him to the kitchen while stuffing his mouth with the food left. 

After swallowing all the food in his mouth, he wiped his mouth off and left for the carriage. Nana was already getting ready to enter as he was approaching the carriage, Maxwell helps her get on it by making her use his shoulder as leverage as he holds her arm for balance. 

She gets in the car and Amari follows her in.

''Where to, madame?''

''We're first going to Northside.''

''The school?''

''Yes.''

The carriage starts driving and they head towards their destination. On their way there the carriage keeps slowing down and stop which starts to agitate Nana, and she becomes more impatient to get there. She keeps checking her watch on her wrist to keep track of time.

''Maxwell, could you go faster?''

''I'm afraid not madame, there's a lot of vehicles in front of me.''

''Then take a detour.''

''This is the fastest route madame, the other one is longer.''

''At least we would be moving consistently if we did.''

''Apologies madame.'' 

''It's okay, just make sure we get there.''

Nana is completely frustrated and suddenly looks at Amari, she examines him from head to toe.

''Your hair... It's untidy and too long. I'll take you to the salon after school so you could cut it.''

''I don't want to cut my hair.''

''You will and that's final.''

''No, I won't, it's my hair and I'll do whatever I want with it.''

''I'm your guardian and I decide what you can do or not do.''

''I'm not your slave, you don't own me. You won't tell me what to do with my body.''

''Slave...?'' She whispers to herself.

Nana was startled by his perspective on the type of relationship the two of them are supposed to have.

''Okay... You don't have to cut them then, just try to make them neat.''

Amari doesn't respond and the silence is awkward for Nana. After what seemed forever the carriage finally stop in front of a big school gate, 'Northside' is written in big white letters.

Nana rushes Amari to get out of the car, and they both enter through a smaller gate that's next to the big gate. Amari is surprised on how fast she can walk for an old lady. She drags him they walk towards the reception of the school.

''My gods we're late!''

They finally enter the school building, and the receptionist desk is by the front door.

''Excuse me, hey! I came here with my child for an interview.''

''Goodmorning to you too ma'am.'' the receptionist replies nonchalantly.

''Yes, yes good morning. Am I still in time for the interview.''

''Please take a seat over at the waiting and wait, I'll call the headmaster to see if he is able to see you.''

''Look, you don't seem to understand the interview was meant have started fifteen minutes ago.''

''Ma'am please take your seat.''

''But I'm already late.''

''And?''

''I need to see now.''

''Ma'am that won't make you early to the interview regardless of if you seeing him now or later.'' 

Before she argues Amari stops her by holding her hand.

''There's no point in going back and forth, maybe we should wait.''

She uncomfortably agrees with Amari and they both go take their seats in the waiting area.

''Why are you in such a hurry?''

''What?''

''You've been impatient and in hurry the whole morning, why? because we still made to the school, right? and if we can't meet him today, we can do it tomorrow.''

''I just prefer being punctual. I don't like people who aren't punctual.''

''By punctual, you mean on time?''

''Yes, on time.''

Minutes after, a man who seems to around Nana's age, wearing neat and clean clothes appeared in the waiting area. Nana recognized him and immediately stood up to greed him.

''Ms. Stephenson, welcome.''

''Headmaster, thank you for allowing us to have the interview.'' 

The two of them professionally shake hands

''It's always a pleasure. And this must be the young boy you've brought for us, yes?''

He offers Amari his hand for a handshake, and Amari does what Nana did and shakes his hand.

''What a firm handshake for a boy as young as you. Please follow me to my office.''

They both follow the headmaster to his office and while walking he tries to catch up with Nana as if they are longtime friends. Until they finally make it to the office.

''Please take a seat.''

The headmaster takes out a file of papers from another desk and brings them to his table.

''We should get straight to it, yes?''

They nod and he takes out papers from the file and looks through them.

''So, your names Amari, yes?''

''Yes.''

Nana hits his arm.

''Yes sir.'' she whispers.

''Yes sir.'' he quickly repeats.

''Looking at the report from your previous school, you seemed to struggle at every subject.''

''You did? He did? Yes, he did. Amari wasn't under the circumstances where he could focus on school.''

''I'm aware of that, and we are planning on helping him.''

''Oh? Is he already accepted as a pupil?''

''Yes. His majesty's orders. Since Amari here is struggling with his subject, we were planning on putting him on the D class where he can get more focus from the teacher to help him study affectively.''

''Is there some kind of new hierarchy system I don't know of?''

''Not at all Ms. Stephenson, this just helps the pupils who are behind in their education reach the level of the other students.''

''Why not place him where with them so he knows what's expected of him.''

''We don't want to put pressure on him, we've sent a lot of kids their and most of them improve drastically.''

''But-''

''It's fine, I can go to the class.'' Amari interrupts

''Are you sure?'' Nana asks

''Yes... yes, I'm sure.''

''Okay that's settle it, yes?'' 

They finalize with their signatures on the details of Amari attending the school. Nana wishes him luck by the reception and wishes him good luck and heads out the building. Amari follows the headmaster to the classroom; after walking past a dozen doors, they finally reach the classroom where they stop in front of one of the doors.

The headmaster knocks, someone shouts for him to enter, and he allows Amari in first. Amari walks in and every student in the classroom has their eyes on him.

''Hey, the new guy finally came huh.''

''Mr. Ohara, this is Amari, Amari this is your new teacher Mr. Dominik Ohara.''

''Nice to meet you kid.'' 

Ohara and Amari shake hands. After introducing them to one another the headmaster waved goodbye to everyone and left the class.

''Amari, welcome to class D. Everyone here knows why they're here including you. My class has 2 simple rules... One don't fuck around with me or I'll kill you, and two don't fuck up rule number one, deal?''

He tries to scare Amari by giving him a scary look but Amari seems the least fazed by this.

''Deal.''

''Okay then Amari...

''Are you ready for some fun?''