Azukai
Zuki
Life was mediocre when it came to Vivian. Nothing about it suggested that she was suffering by any means, yet at the same time, things weren’t as great as they could have been. Noise was something to become accustomed too when you lived in the grittier parts of Little Lane. There was always something happening outside--be it the ruckus of the nightly drunks, banished from the bars, or the occasional brawls that took to the streets from the various local rivalries. Of course, two years later, none of these occurrences were anything to lose sleep over--at least until it was right outside of your front door.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.
Three sharp knocks cut through the early morning silence of Vivian's apartment. Having not went to bed until early in the morning, Vivian barely awoke to the noise. Her fingers still cramped from last night’s work she’d crammed in last second. This’ll teach her not to procrastinate on her commissions. Vivian begrudgingly lifted the blanket off her body, not wanting to leave its warmth. She slowly raised herself off of her scrappy mattress. It creaked loudly as she slipped off. These were the times where she wished she’d stayed back home in Japan, not having to wake up early, not having responsibilities… Regardless she’d have to get up and answer her door. It was probably the landlady pestering about her monthly rent again.
“Can I help you?” Vivian groggily asked as she slowly opened the door, though nothing about her unannounced guest resembled her landlady in the slightest. Instead, there was a tall, bald, suit clad man, standing amidst an eerie air given the black shades that covered his eyes and the oversized pile of her mail that was held in his right hand. Vivian’s expression immediately twisted, she probably should have looked through the peephole first before she opened the door. It seemed the lack of rest was already taking its toll. She frowned as she stared at the man, contemplating what she could possibly do next. This wasn’t the first time she’d gotten some visit by the local gangs. Though her gut told her this was something else, someone not related to them.
“Consider this your final warning of the deadline,” The man suddenly announced while handing her a particular envelop from pile that he subsequently let fall to the ground. On the front was the striking emblem of Fracture Academy, whereas its contents were nothing more than a tram ticket, and an invitation to meet with the financial office of the campus. “And perhaps check your mail more often, yes?” With that, he left the letter in her hand and turned to depart from her resident apartment. Her mouth was left agape as the suited man took his leave. If her jaw would’ve allowed, it’d be hanging to the floor. Vivian couldn’t believe what had just happened. She gripped the letter in her hand, flipping it back and forth, not sure if it was even real. Her hands shook lightly as she removed the contents from the envelope. She examined them closely, not wanting to miss a single detail.
“Ohmygodohmygodohmygod!” she exclaimed loudly while jumping up and down. Her dreams were finally coming true, her hard work was paying off! There was at last hope in her situation, an actual start to a brand new life away from Japan. Vivian wouldn’t have to stuck taking commissions for the rest of her life. As the reality of her situation continued to settle in, she began to squeal like a little girl.
“Shut up!” someone yelled from room upstairs as they stomped their foot against the floor. Vivian continued to giggle. She stuck up her middle finger towards the floor above here, not that they could actually see it. Vivian was too elated for anyone to ruin her day. She immediately ran back to her room to clean herself up for the big day.
At first glance, nothing about Fracture Academic suggested that it was a campus. For starters, it was defined by over five thousand acres of modern infrastructure, of which included the one-of-a-kind, Nobel Prize winning Green System--a self-sustained power and agricultural grid which utilized a unique mutualism between nature and tech. To add to its grandeur, Fracture Academic was considered an independent district; in that it did not fall under the jurisdiction of Blue Spring’s government, but rather was managed by its own private board known as the Academic Council. Because of this political standing, it was allowed many liberties, unique to itself, including its own diplomatic weight, private security, and the freedom to enforce an education that was unlike any other in the world.
There wasn’t a single person living in Blue Springs who had never heard of Fracture’s name. That being said, there were many who had never been given the opportunity to see its campus for themselves. Arriving on its grounds wasn’t as simple as arriving by car or public transportation. Only particular tram lines connected the Downtown district to the northmost outskirts were it resided--tram lines that required an active enrollment or the invitation that was now in Vivian’s grasp.
Reminiscent to her life in Japan, what followed the events of her surprising morning was a sudden flip to her current life. Unlike the usual, crowded tram that connected Little Lane with the Downtown district, Fracture’s private line was a series of spacious cars, each divided into individualized compartments for every guest. Inconceivably plush seats, a mini-fridge filled with various luxury drinks, foreign snacks of seemingly infinite cultures--every element being one sign after another of the audience who Fracture clearly catered towards. But in the time being, all of it was for Vivian to enjoy.
