Welcome to the Reedster University

Ikumo Taisuke just wanted to be an ordinary student, even though his origins weren't. Was it his fault that his parents were what they were? He hadn't asked to live, and he hadn't asked for his life to be destroyed in an instant, so violently. So forever. His life would never be the same, and he would probably never see the sheets on his bed again. He would probably never see his family again. At the height of his twenty-three years, Ikumo was just chained to the bottom of an abyss. The light on the surface no reached him longer; it no longer warmed his body. The beginning of September might well be warm; he was cold. He never stopped trembling during the flight or even when he put one foot on British soil. But he had no choice. His life depended on it. So he walked over to the car sent by Reedster University. After his luggage was cleared, he climbed aboard.

Immediately, he noticed he was not alone inside.

It was the first thing that made his stress soar again. The small limousine contained seven other students in uniform, all very different from each other. One of them, right next to him, didn't even bother to move to give him more room. Ikumo immediately felt uncomfortable; their gaze was on him and nothing else.

"Hello," he said painfully, twisting his fingers.

In response, one of seven students beside him grabbed the only glass still full on the table and handed it to him. Immediately, the stranger noticed the beauty of his eyes of the colour of hazel. Then, when he took the glass in his hand, he noted his long brown hair and the few braids decorated with silver rings. Hypnotizing; no other word came to the mind of the Japanese man who felt captured by the student's beauty.

"He's beautiful, isn't he?"

Ikumo shook his head slightly, coming out of his dumbfounded state to notice the other six. A dark-haired student with a very muscular body, compared to the one who had given him the glass, fills his before repeating the question.

"Yes, he is," the new student replied, without even thinking.

"My name is Will Grant, and the one whose ego you just flattered is Shane Preston. But personally, I prefer to call him little vain."

"What I still won't allow you to do," the student named Shane recalled. "I'm telling you now the new one, forget about the formality. You might have a hard time at first, but it will be easier for you."

"All right, I will do my best."

"What is your name? We didn't even ask you; excuse us for that. You are just so cute to be so nervous and want to be forgotten."

"My name is...Wait, what?"

"Are you called?" said another student.

"Ikumo Taisuke. What did you say a moment ago?"

"He said you were cute, and he's right."

Confused and embarrassed, the new student turned to the speaking student. Obviously, he seemed to be having fun moving the piercings on his lips. That short brown hair, barely combed, looked like he had barely been woken up before he was late. Unlike the handsome student, his brown eyes were dark. Beside him was a blond student with beautiful blue eyes and shoulder-length hair. Or, more accurately, his shoulder, since one side was completely shaved. His sleeves rolled up allowed his tattooed forearms to be seen.

"My name is Leigh Tyler," the student continued once he had put his piercing back on. "The one with the tattoos on his arms is Griffin Moore. The two redheads are called Gavin Brixton, with green eyes, and Pierce Fleming, with brown eyes. The first is Scottish and the second Irish and above all, above all, don't be mistaken. They can be quite touchy as to their origins."

"Okay. Delighted."

"And the one next to you, who should look up from his book before we throw it out and him with, is called Edward Blair. I hope you enjoy it because you will have it on your back for the next three years."

Ikumo turned to the student next to him, who simply rolled his eyes. His brown hair, shaved to the sides, was perfectly groomed, as was his outfit. The jacket of his uniform was even buttoned up! The piercings in his ears stood out since they were clearly visible, including these gauge earrings. They were a bit small, probably the size of an inch or a little more. Now that he was paying attention to other students, he was the only one in the car with some gauge earrings. The Japanese man must have looked at him too insistently as the student turned his head towards him, fixing his green-brown eyes in his.

"It's the first time I've seen a Japanese with naturally eyes green," he complimented, or at least Ikumo took it like that. "Are they really green, or do you wear contact lenses?"

"They naturally are," assured the stranger, much more at ease now that the atmosphere had relaxed.

"It's rare."

"Oh yes? So it's rare," Griffin smirked before opening the box to his legs. "Do you want a pastry? I made them myself."

"Oh yes. Thank you so much."

"With fruit, rich in cream?"

"Whatever, it's already very nice of you."

"He's in the Gluttony dorm specializing in baking. It's his job to bake," Leigh retorted bitterly. "Griffin, stop hitting on him with food. If you start like this…"

"You can't go on."

"Shut your mouth. I don't intend to impress the new student with a certain pastry, me."

"Normal, your pastry is the size of this tart."

The two students shared an evil look before Griffin put the tart on the table. Strawberries. Ikumo looked at them longingly and walked over, coming to sit on the floor so he could eat the pastry. The tenderness of the strawberry, the sweetness of the cream and the delicate crunch of the dough made him smile. He had never eaten something so tasty and sweet at the same time! The balance was perfect, unlike his life.

"You like?" Griffin asked with a small smile.

"This is delicious. This is the first time I have eaten something like this."

"What? Haven't you ever had pies or even tarts ?!" horrified Gavin.

" Never. In Japan, fruit is quite expensive."

"It's a crime!" Pierce said. "Griffin, you'll have to show this newcomer the full extent of your abilities to make him discover the best sweets in the world."

"What? Hey, stop. I'm not asking anything."

"We're not asking your opinion," Shane said. "You're cute, so you'll have sweets. What's more, it's not like you're with ordinary students. We can break the rules and pamper you."

"What?"

"You might not have noticed since you haven't put on your uniform yet, but the colour of our vests is different. The dorm leaders have them in red, and the other students have their vests in blue."

"I hadn't paid attention. So you are the dorm supervisors. What is your role exactly?"

"We take care of the serenity in each dorm," Edward replied as he turned his page. "If anyone has a problem with another student, it's us they come to see. If there is a problem in the dormitory, it's us they come to see. If there is anything needed at the school level, it's us they come to see."

"Oh, I see. It must be pretty exhausting, right?"

"You get used to it. It's not our first year as a dorm manager. We have to keep our dorm at its prime. Plus, we are the manager of the club we're in. And finally, we have to keep our dorm at its prime talk to the principal every Saturday morning. Oh, and we're a reflection of our dorm at events."

"The events?"

"The doors open to experience the university, galas and the like with partners from all over the world or other universities., we have to be perfect. At least, in appearance..."

Ikumo saw the smirk on the face of the one who was the head of his dorm. If he hadn't been used to seeing that kind of smile, he would have shuddered. But he had been used to it, and that didn't stop him from finishing his tart. He wiped the cream off his lips with the napkin held out by Griffin and came and sat down in his place, thanking him for showing him something so good. Quickly, he looked outside again, but there was not the slightest animation to watch through the tinted window.

"More than an hour, guys!" Will suddenly announced, his deep voice suddenly pulling Shane from his sleep,

"Why are we taking so long?"

"The university is far from the city."

"That much?"

"Yes. You will see, this is so much big, and there is not just one building. There is also a lake, a meadow and fields in the distance. The university is in partnership with local producers. So what you eat will be local and high quality, meat included! Unless you are vegetarian, are you?"

"No, I eat everything."

"You reassure me! For a second, I thought you were going to be like this vain guy! Hey, oh, don't look at me like that, Shane. You know we know you like it when we look at you."

The student in question snorted, far from being affected by such a remark. The two comrades continued to quarrel, livening up the rest of the ride as the others mingled. Even Edward closed his book to participate in the argument. This allowed at least Ikumo to know more about the seven dormitories based on the seven deadly sins. The seven dormitories were therefore named: Greed dormitory, the dormitory of business run by Gavin Brixton. Then Pride dormitory, the dormitory of the justice run by Pierce Fleming. The Envy dormitory, the dormitory of scientists run by Edward Blair. The Wrath dormitory, the dormitory of athletes run by Will Grant. After, the Gluttony dormitory, the dormitory of culinary arts run by Griffin Moore. Came after the lust dormitory, the dormitory of artists run by Leigh Tyler. And finally, the Sloth Dormitory, the dormitory of stylish run by Shane Preston. Ikumo knew then he was in the dormitory Envy, located in building E. The new student also learned that his dorm supervisor was following the same classes as him. Even the same club of astronomy! Even though it surprised him at the time, the short-haired student was reassured; he wouldn't be alone. He would have a shoulder to lean on while he took his hands.

He wouldn't be alone in another country, far from his home and his old life. What has left of it anyway if it weren't for fragments scattered here and there, impossible to glue together? His life was dependent on this peculiar university and these strange students. If all were the same as the seven dorm leaders, his last three years of PhD would be not boring.