Chapter Text
Pomni had been a scholarship student for about three years of her career. A prestigious university had accepted her with a full ride after she proved her abilities in high school. The tests had been rigorous, but in the end everything went well and she was admitted without problems. She had to stay among the top students, and she quickly noticed she was treated differently.
They weren’t cruel, just condescending—and honestly, she didn’t have time to deal with these stupid people. So she isolated herself and made no friends.
Things had gone well until she learned she had been selected as an honor student. That meant that, in addition to her scholarship, the institution would now cover her stay in the university residence. At first, it was good news—she had moved far away from home to study, and having her expenses covered felt like a dream come true.
She had never heard much about these honor students. According to rumors, they were those whose costs were fully covered by the university and who were expected to uphold the school’s reputation by attending charity events and social functions. She had no interest in any of that, but the university had already put her on a plane with all her belongings. She didn’t see the point of moving her; she had been perfectly comfortable in her old two-bedroom apartment.
The neighborhood was beautiful, much nicer than she imagined. Quiet streets, tidy façades, and fresh air made her think that maybe, at least, living there for a year wouldn’t be so bad. She liked the atmosphere, though she couldn’t stop her anxiety from whispering whether she’d be able to fit in. She was the last to join the program, taking the place of a student who had dropped out. She didn’t know the details.
With a sigh, she leaned against the wall near the doorbell. A small sign read: “Honor Students.” She pressed the bell, wishing she could rest her legs after walking so much.
Suddenly, the door swung open.
“HELLO, GOOD MORNING!” She jumped back.
“Uh… hi. I’m the new student-” she stammered, her voice still shaky.
“Ah! You must be Pomni! I’ve been waiting for you all day. It must have been a long trip, right?” The floating set of teeth circled her, grabbing her suitcases with what she interpreted as an excited face. “Come in, come in! There’s so much to see!” Before she could protest, he was gently pushing her inside the residence.
Pomni barely had time to look around, noticing the inner garden—a wide space full of plants she had never seen before and flowers with vibrant colors. Tiny insects rested on the petals, as if the place were its own calm ecosystem.
She had never been much of a gardening fan, nor of nature in general. She had lived in the city her whole life. At least now she might learn something new. Caine’s excited shaking pulled her from her thoughts once more. She dropped her things on the floor and forced a smile.
“It’s so exciting to have a new member in this home! My name is Caine, and here you’ll learn about the most extravagant, shocking, and bizarre things in the world.”
“W-what?”
“Bah, enough about me! Let’s show you around, Pomni! You’ve got places to see and people to meet!”
“Wait, my stuff!” Her protest went unheard. Caine was already dragging her closer to the plants.
With a dramatic gesture, he pointed toward a butterfly fluttering nearby. “This is the garden. Are you passionate about gardening? No worries, you can spend your days taking care of the environment here. Of course, we’ve got strict rules about what can and can’t be planted—especially things that are bad for the bugs—so if you have any doubts, just ask Kinger.”
Pomni glanced around again, noticing how well-kept everything was, how the insects seemed like part of the place. They must have been, or else Caine wouldn’t have mentioned it.
“Kinger is in charge of the garden?”
“That’s right! Each honor student is responsible for a different task in the house. We’ll figure out yours soon enough. Now, ONWARD!”
The tour took them back toward the main door. The house itself was large and elegant, far more beautifully decorated than she expected. More plants inside, but smaller ones, blending well with the aesthetic. Sofas, cushions, and colorful rugs. Paintings that looked expensive and mirrors with delicate details. What caught her eye most was the painting above the fireplace—Caine, standing beside five other students, all smiling in the photo.
Were those the other honor students?
“Looks like you liked our family portrait. We’ll update this baby once we’ve gotten to know you a little better. Don’t worry, you’ll be in the next one very soon.” Caine paused for a moment, giving her an up-and-down look. “No, no, no. This won’t do.”
Pomni looked at herself. She wore a long denim skirt, yellow sneakers, and an ordinary red T-shirt. “I don’t see the problem—”
“No one told you about the dress code, did they? You can wear whatever you want inside, but outside, every honor student has a reputation to uphold. We’ll need you in formal clothes, just like the rest of the group.”
“I didn’t think I’d need something like that.”
“Don’t you worry your little head. We’ve got a student in charge of that—just look for Ragatha. She’ll help with your wardrobe and teach you proper etiquette. Everything you need to know to interact with the world now that you’re living here.”
Caine then led her to the kitchen: spacious, with utensils hanging neatly in order. Pale blue walls, dark wooden cabinets, and a huge table with seven chairs lined up.
“This is the kitchen!” His expression darkened suddenly. “I have to ask… do you know how to cook?”
She blinked, puzzled by the question.
“Not really. Uhm—I can make rice and other basics.”
“Snails. Guess I’ll still be the designated chef. Our last cook gave up on the task.” He waved his hands thoughtfully before perking up again, dragging her upstairs.
The library was what impressed Pomni most. Polished wooden shelves, filled with books organized by subject, with a study area equipped with tables and computers. She remembered visiting the public library in her old city—it had been far away, but beautiful. And now she had something similar right where she lived.
“Here we have the Library. Full of everything—books on every major you can think of. Plus our study area, with tables and computers for each student. You’ll find yours tomorrow morning.”
This was more exciting than she expected. She loved books. Running a hand carefully along the nearest shelf—painted a lovely burgundy—she noticed a sign above it labeled “Science Fiction.”
“There’s a library supervisor, right?”
“That’s right! You learn fast. Zooble’s in charge here. Just don’t move the books out of their sections and you’ll be fine.”
This time she didn’t let herself be dragged—she followed instead. The hallways were full of doors in different colors. Caine pointed out the one white door.
“These are your classmates’ rooms, and this one’s yours. If you want to decorate, talk to Gangle. She’s in charge of details. Colors, ornaments… anything you can imagine.”
Pomni had never had a decorated room before. She didn’t know where to even begin. At least someone could give her advice.
Finally, Caine pulled a rope that unfolded stairs up to the attic. Above, there was a recreational space with mattresses, hammocks, blackboards, and board games perfectly organized.
“This is our rec room. Everyone used to pitch in at first, but now Jax takes care of it. He organizes the leisure activities—and also the schedules and itineraries for all the house’s tasks.”
Pomni blinked, surprised.
“Just him?”
“That’s right!” Caine laughed. “He loves structure. I imagine he already has your schedule ready for tomorrow or the next day. But if you have questions, just ask him.”
She sighed, nodding. It was too much information, and her exhaustion made it even harder to focus.
“Now that I think about it… where is everyone?”
“They’re all out on a mission today. Once a week we do community or recreational work. But since you’re new, we’ll let you settle in this time. Next week, though, you’ll be going with them.”
She nodded, overwhelmed but with a spark of excitement stirring inside. Caine waved her off cheerfully, mentioning he had paperwork to finish and that she should rest in her room.
Tired, Pomni picked up her suitcases, still left in the garden, and headed to her room. The space was simple: white walls, gray sheets, and a wide desk. It reminded her of home, though with more space. On the desk was an unexpected little detail: an origami flower with the word Welcome written across its petals.
With a sigh, she let herself fall face-first onto the bed. She hoped the others would be kind.
She had to keep studying and give more than one hundred percent if she wanted to keep this scholarship.
She wondered what she might contribute to the house as she stared at the ceiling. Finally, sleep won over, and she closed her eyes, deciding to think about it tomorrow.