Code Yume | Apprentice

Chapter 1: Head Start

CHAPTER ONE: HEAD START 

Present Day

Monday mornings is the most loathed day of the week. Yume wanted to dig deeper into the comforts of her own bed but her mind wouldn't allow it. She had already set that yesterday evening that whatever happens, she must be awake. Begrudgingly, she drags her sleepy head into the cold tile of her bathroom. Her jade eyes glinted on her own reflection. A frown etched on her face when she came to realize how bad she looks like.

'Seven candidates. Astoria Academy.'

She bit her plum red lips in dismay while brushing her red locks. Of all the hair colour she could have, why did it have to be in the shade of red? Yume had no qualms about the colour but the fact that is made her appearance stands out proves to be a challenge on her mission.

She may have prayed less in her previous life when she learned the location of the target. It was a local high school down a peaceful town. It was a slap on her face knowing that education was the least of her priority. It's not she hate studying, the subject itself hates her. With no choice left, she head down the stairs to bid her goodbye.

"I'm going!" she exclaimed, turning to head for the door.

"Yume! Lois, her guardian yelled back. "What about breakfast?! Come back here lady!"

Sighing, she slouched and trudged towards the dining room with an eye roll.

She paused in the doorway, quirking a brow at her ten year old partner whose mouth was practically drenched in maple syrup. Ruth, in his own words, is a carnivore in nature so it became a surprise to them when he became adapted to the human food when he detested the fluffy substance a week ago. In fact, she considered him an omnivore in the first place using the 'meat-eater' mentality as an excuse from the food chain cycle.

She bent over to wipe the remains of the syrup on her partner's mouth and plop herself comfortable nest to her guardian.

"Good morning." Yume greeted. Her eyes darted to the door momentarily and she resisted the urge to dash out of it. "Sensei, I'm kinda running late. I have to be in school by EIGHT AM. It's my first day today, remember?"

"Well, good morning to you too," Lois answered, flipping the next page of the newspaper. "It's seven-thirty."

"Exactly," she said.

"There's plenty of time. Sit down and eat."

"But-"

"Eat," he sternly said. "What time does class starts?"

"Around eight-thirty. But there's still the opening ceremony."

"Just eat your breakfast. Then you can go."

Given no choice, she complied. If she disobeyed, her guardian might double her training period. Though he wasn't that cruel. That man was quite ecstatic of her back to school program. Not to mention he can always take pictures of her in her school uniform. If it weren't for the impromptu meeting, Lois might just gladly escort her all the way to her school.

"Mm-hmmm," she replied, stuffing her mouth and swallowing unceasingly. She reached for the glass of water beside her and drank, washing down the food she almost had stuck in her throat. With a clean plate before her, she stood from her seat and began heading out.

She waved. "I'm off! Bye, people!"

Yume kissed the tip of her fingers and brushed it against the portrait of a man on the wall just beside the door frame, flipping back her bloody-red hair and admiring his image of a moment with her sea green eyes. "Bye, aneki.