Yumio woke up before her alarm even had the chance to ring.

  Her eyes flew open, and for a brief second she stared at the ceiling, confused by the unusual surge of energy rushing through her veins. Then it hit her.

  Today is orientation day.

  She bolted upright, nearly tangling herself in her blanket. A bright grin spread across her face as she hugged a pillow to her chest.

  “Ainsworth University…” she whispered to herself, barely containing the squeal bubbling in her throat.

  Akari had told her orientation day was fun and exciting—full of surprises, games, and unforgettable first impressions. But Akari had also been annoyingly vague.

  “You’ll see,” she had said with a mysterious smile.

  That only made Yumio more eager.

  Within minutes, she was out of bed, rushing through her morning routine with record-breaking speed. Her closet door swung open and shut repeatedly as she debated outfits.

  “Too formal… too plain… too dramatic… no, not that one…” she muttered.

  Meanwhile, Ariana stood by the doorway, still half-asleep, watching Yumio whirl around the room like a human tornado.

  “Mio,” Ariana groaned, rubbing her temple, “it’s seven in the morning.”

  “And?” Yumio shot back, already halfway through putting on her shoes. “We can’t be late! First impressions matter!”

  “You woke up two hours early.”

  “Preparation is key.”

  By the time Yumio finished, Ariana was barely done brushing her hair.

  When Yukio and Yurio arrived to pick them up, Yumio burst out of the house before Ariana could even grab her bag properly.

  Yukio blinked at the sight of her glowing expression.

  “What happened to you?” he asked, glancing at Ariana, who looked like she had just survived a natural disaster.

  Ariana sighed dramatically. “I couldn’t keep up with Mio. She’s too excited for the orientation.”

  Yurio chuckled softly, adjusting the strap of his bag over his shoulder. “Well, it is the day we are officially introduced as students of Ainsworth University.”

  At the name alone, Yumio squealed.

  “I really can’t wait!” she exclaimed, grabbing Yukio’s wrist with one hand and Yurio’s sleeve with the other. “Come on, come on!”

  Yukio scoffed, though the corner of his lips twitched upward. Ariana dragged her feet behind them. Yurio simply laughed as they made their way toward the grand auditorium.

  The university campus looked even more majestic than usual. The tall stone buildings gleamed under the morning sun, ivy crawling gracefully along the walls. Banners hung proudly from the lamp posts, displaying the university crest.

  As they reached the auditorium, senior students stood by the large double doors, wearing formal blazers with polished nameplates pinned to their chests.

  One of them stepped forward with a courteous smile.

  “Welcome to Ainsworth University. Please scan your ID to enter and be recognized as an official student of this prestigious institution.”

  Yumio swallowed. Official student.

  One by one, they scanned their IDs. A soft beep echoed each time, followed by a green light.

  When Yumio’s turn came, she held her breath as she pressed her ID against the scanner.

  Beep.

  The green light flashed.

  She couldn’t stop smiling.

  They entered the vast auditorium, which was already filling with freshmen. The ceiling was high and arched, with elegant chandeliers casting a warm glow. The stage was framed with deep burgundy curtains, the university emblem displayed proudly at the center.

  They found seats beside each other.

  Yurio immediately pulled out a book, flipping to the page he had marked earlier. Yukio leaned back and scrolled through his phone. Ariana attempted to keep Yumio seated as she bounced slightly in her chair.

  “Sit still,” Ariana whispered.

  “I am still,” Yumio insisted—while absolutely not being still.

  As more students filled the seats, the chatter grew louder, a mixture of nervous laughter and curious whispers.

  Suddenly, the lights dimmed slightly.

  “Good morning, freshmen!”

  A loud, enthusiastic masculine voice echoed through the hall, immediately commanding attention.

  Two senior students stood on stage, both radiating confidence.

  “Welcome to Ainsworth University, where we make university life fun and exciting!” the male host declared.

  “That’s right!” the female host chimed in brightly. “And today, you’ll be guided by none other than yours truly—the Student Body President and Vice President!”

  “I am Alexander—”

  “And I am Vivienne. We’re your hosts for today—”

  “And we welcome you all to Ainsworth University!”

  The entire auditorium erupted in applause.

  “We all know that Ainsworth is a very prestigious school and has been around for 150 years,” Alexander continued, pacing confidently.

  “And that it used to exclusively host nobles and elites,” Vivienne added. “But 25 years ago, the university opened its doors to scholars from all backgrounds—making it more diverse and renowned than ever.”

  “Now, even with the change, this school still strives to follow its motto: Ubi Studium Fit Adventura—Where Study Becomes Adventure.”

  Yumio whispered the Latin words under her breath, eyes sparkling.

  “We will now hear from our University President, Sir Theodore Whitmore.”

  The applause grew louder as Theodore Whitmore stepped onto the stage—an elegant man with silver-streaked hair and dignified posture.

  “Good morning, dear students,” he began warmly. “I welcome you all to Ainsworth University. Today marks the beginning of a new chapter in your lives…”

  His speech carried both authority and encouragement. He spoke of responsibility, growth, discipline, and opportunity. Afterward, the rules and regulations were presented, and each department head was introduced.

  When the formalities concluded, Alexander and Vivienne returned to the stage.

  “Have you all taken notes?” Alexander asked playfully.

  “Be sure to remember everything in case you come across a problem,” Vivienne added with a knowing smile.

  Alexander suddenly snapped his fingers. “Oh, Viv, remember we still have something to show them.”

  “Oh, right!” Vivienne’s eyes lit up. “The orientation isn’t finished yet. Everyone was informed that this would last the whole day.”

  Excited murmurs spread across the room.

  “If you all look at your seats,” Vivienne continued, “there should be a card waiting for you.”

  Yumio immediately checked and found a sleek black card with gold lettering.

  “Legacy,” she read aloud softly.

  On the back were checklists.

  “If you look at the back of the card, you’ll see a series of tasks,” Vivienne said, turning to Alexander. “What do you think those are, Alex?”

  He tapped his chin dramatically. “I believe… they’re lists of things you need to find around campus.”

  Both of them grinned.

  “We’ll be doing a scavenger hunt!” Alexander announced.

  “You will be placed in groups of four,” Vivienne continued, “and you’ll stay with that group for the rest of the day.”

  Yumio immediately turned to Ariana, Yukio, and Yurio.

  “We can’t be in one group,” Ariana said gently. “We have to scatter. Make new friends.”

  Yumio hesitated, then nodded. “You’re right.”

  As she scanned the auditorium, her eyes landed on a familiar face—Yuina—standing near the corner.

  Yuina spotted her at the same time and waved.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  “I saw Yuina!” Yumio said quickly. “I’ll go with her so you don’t have to worry about me.”

  Before they could respond, she was already weaving through the crowd.

  “Hey, girl!” Yuina greeted with a bright smile.

  Yumio returned it warmly. “How are you?”

  “I’m doing fine. We need two more people for our group.”

  “Can we join you girls?”

  Two tall boys stood before them. One carried himself like an athlete—broad shoulders, confident stance. The other had softer features, his eyes observant and thoughtful.

  Yuina nodded. “Sure. I’m Yuina. And this is my friend, Yumio.”

  Yumio waved cheerfully. “Hi! Nice to meet you.”

  The artistic-looking boy beamed. “Nice to meet you too! I’m Arthur. But you can call me Artie.”

  “And I’m Xavier,” the sporty one added with a small but polite smile.

  “Nice to meet you both,” Yuina replied.

  Just then, Vivienne’s voice echoed again.

  “Has everyone grouped up?” she asked. After scanning the crowd, she nodded. “Alright! First destination is the library!”

  Yumio clutched her Legacy card and looked at her new groupmates, excitement dancing in her eyes.

  “So,” she said with a grin, “shall we begin our adventure?”

  Arthur laughed. Xavier smirked confidently. Yuina nodded eagerly.

  Together, they raised their cards slightly.

  “Let’s go!”

  The moment they stepped inside the library, they were embraced by the scent of aged paper and polished wood.

  It was quiet—so quiet that even the soft shuffle of their shoes against the marble floor felt loud.Yumio stopped walking.

  Her eyes slowly traveled upward, taking in the towering bookshelves that stretched almost to the ceiling. Ladders rested against them, ready to be pushed from one shelf to another. Sunlight filtered through tall arched windows, illuminating floating specks of dust that danced lazily in the air.

  “It’s beautiful…” she breathed.

  Artie smiled as he watched her reaction. “You look like you just walked into heaven.”

  “Maybe I did,” Yumio replied softly, turning in a slow circle to absorb everything.

  At the very center of the library stood a small circular platform. A senior in a formal vest stood atop it, holding a scroll.

  He cleared his throat.

  “Freshmen, your first task is very simple,” he announced, his voice echoing lightly through the vast hall. “Answer the riddle by finding book titles that match up with the answer. You have forty minutes.”

  He unrolled the scroll dramatically.

  “Good luck.”

  A quiet murmur spread across the freshmen.

  Yumio and her team moved toward one of the wooden tables near the tall shelves. A staff member handed them their own rolled parchment.

  Yuina carefully opened it.

  The four of them leaned closer.

  “I am not a castle, yet legends are born within me.

  I am not a map, yet I lead you to undiscovered lands.

  Within my halls, ink becomes courage,

  Questions become journeys,

  And pages turn into pathways.

  You enter seeking knowledge,

  But you leave carrying stories.

  Tell me —

  Where does learning cease to be ordinary

  And begin to feel like an adventure?”

  For a moment, none of them spoke.

  Yumio read it again. And again.

  Her fingers gently traced the edge of the parchment.

  Artie tilted his head. “Okay… that’s poetic. But what is it actually asking?”

  “It’s not literal,” Yuina murmured thoughtfully. “It’s symbolic.”

  Xavier crossed his arms. “Castle… map… halls… ink… stories…”

  Yumio’s gaze slowly lifted toward the grand ceiling.

  Where does learning cease to be ordinary…

  Her lips parted slightly.

  “Wait,” she whispered.

  The others leaned in closer.

  “It might be…” She cupped her hands around her mouth and whispered her answer.

  Yuina’s eyes widened almost immediately.

  “That… actually makes so much sense,” Yuina breathed.

  Artie blinked, then snapped his fingers. “Oh! Ohhh, that’s clever.”

  Xavier nodded firmly. “Yeah. That fits every line.”

  Yumio felt her cheeks warm. “You think so?”

  “Definitely,” Xavier replied.

  “So now,” Artie said, clapping once quietly, “we need to find book titles that can spell it out, right?”

  Xavier glanced at the scroll again. “Exactly. We need the first letters of book titles to form the answer.”

  Yumio straightened, a determined glint in her eyes. “Alright. Let’s split up.”

  She quickly scanned the layout of the shelves.

  “Xavier, go to my left side—check the literature section. Artie, you take the right—maybe philosophy or arts. Yuina, the back shelves near history. I’ll go straight ahead to the center fiction shelves.”

  They stared at her for a second.

  Then Artie grinned. “You’re a natural leader, you know that?”

  Yumio blinked. “I—I just…”

  Yuina gently squeezed her arm. “It’s a good plan. Let’s go.”

  They scattered.

  The ticking of the clock above the librarian’s desk felt louder than usual.

  Yumio moved quickly but carefully, scanning book spines one by one.

  Her fingers brushed across embossed titles. She paused.

  There.

  Her eyes lit up.

  “That’s one,” she whispered to herself, carefully pulling the book out.

  Minutes passed. Students rushed back and forth quietly. Some whispered frantically. Others sighed in frustration.

  At exactly the thirty-minute mark, the four regrouped at their table, each carrying a small stack of books.

  “Okay,” Xavier said, laying his down. “Let’s see.”

  One by one, they placed the books in order, adjusting them carefully.

  Artie stepped back slightly. “Does it spell it correctly?”

  Yuina rearranged two of them.

  Yumio held her breath.

  Then—

  “It fits,” Yuina said softly.

  They all stared at the completed lineup of titles.

  Xavier grinned. “We actually did it.”

  “Let’s go before someone else presents the same thing,” Artie urged.

  They carried the books carefully to the platform.

  The judge adjusted his glasses and examined the arrangement.

  A few long seconds passed.

  Then he smiled.

  “Group 14,” he announced clearly, “goes in first place.”

  Yumio’s eyes widened.

  “First?” she repeated softly.

  Yuina grabbed her hands. “We’re first!”

  Artie let out a quiet celebratory cheer, while Xavier pumped his fist in satisfaction.

  “Wow,” Artie said as they walked back. “You’re really good at riddles, Yumio.”

  She rubbed the back of her neck shyly. “I just… like reading books.”

  “Clearly,” Xavier chuckled.

  Yuina checked off the first box on their Legacy card. “Alright. First task done!”

  The next task brought them to the university park.

  The sun was brighter now, and the once-calm morning had turned into a lively campus-wide competition. Groups ran past them, scanning trees, benches, lamp posts.

  Their task: find all the bubble pin logos of every college Ainsworth had.

  A loud buzzer signaled the start.

  Yuina immediately pulled them into a circle.

  “How are we going to find all of these in time?” Yumio asked, scanning the large park.

  Yuina smirked confidently. “Don’t worry. I have a plan.”

  She quickly divided sections of the park into quadrants.

  “Xavier, check near the fountain and sports field banners. Artie, trees and bulletin boards. Yumio, the garden pathways and statues. I’ll handle the main arch and food stalls.”

  Yumio’s eyes sparkled. “You’re amazing.”

  Yuina winked. “Let’s win.”

  They scattered again.

  By the time the final whistle blew, they had gathered every logo.

  When results were announced, they placed second.

  “Not bad at all,” Xavier said proudly.

  “Second place in a campus-wide scavenger hunt?” Artie added. “We’re kind of elite.”

  Yumio laughed. “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.”

  The third task brought them to several small stations near the Student Council Office.

  There were trivia booths about university history.

  Strategy games that required teamwork.

  Even a small stage for talent portions.

  At one booth, Yumio answered a question about the university’s founding year before Artie could even finish reading it.

  At another, Xavier surprised them by solving a timed logic puzzle in under two minutes.

  Yuina charmed professors during the mini-session.

  And Artie—much to everyone’s shock—sang a short, smooth acoustic verse during the talent segment, earning cheers from nearby groups.

  “You never told us you could sing,” Yumio whispered in awe.

  Artie shrugged shyly. “Didn’t seem relevant until now.”

  Throughout the day, laughter came more naturally.

  They exchanged social media handles.

  They teased each other.

  They encouraged one another.

  It felt… easy.

  As the sun began to set, golden light bathed the campus in warmth.

  They walked toward the largest park on campus—Centennial Park, built during Ainsworth’s 100th anniversary.

  Lanterns hung from trees. Food stalls lined the pathways. Music played softly in the background.

  They tried everything—sweet pastries, grilled skewers, sparkling drinks.

  Artie failed terribly at a ring toss game.

  Xavier won a small plushie from a strength test booth and handed it casually to Yuina, who pretended not to be impressed.

  Yumio laughed so hard her stomach hurt.

  When night finally fell, each freshman was handed a lantern.

  The soft glow illuminated their faces as they walked together toward the soccer field.

  At the center stood a massive bonfire, flames crackling warmly against the cool night air.

  They circled around it as Sir Theodore Whitmore gave his closing remarks about unity, growth, and legacy.

  When the program officially ended, students remained seated in small groups around the fire, talking quietly under the stars.

  Yumio sat cross-legged with her team.

  The firelight reflected in their eyes.

  “So,” Artie began, resting his elbows on his knees, “what course are you all taking? I’m in Fine Arts.”

  “Psychology,” Yumio replied with a gentle smile.

  “Education,” Yuina said proudly.

  “Nursing,” Xavier added.

  Yumio tilted her head, studying him. “You don’t kind of look like a nursing student.”

  Xavier placed a hand dramatically over his chest. “How dare you.”

  Yuina burst into laughter. Artie leaned back, amused.

  “What does a nursing student look like?” Xavier challenged.

  “I don’t know,” Yumio giggled. “Less… intimidating?”

  “Excuse me, I’m very gentle,” he insisted.

  “Sure you are,” Artie teased.

  After a pause, Artie spoke again, voice softer.

  “Anyway… I still can’t believe you girls are part of nobility.”

  Xavier nodded. “Still stuck on the fact that Yumio is a Kishimoto.”

  Yumio simply smiled, the firelight flickering against her features.

  Titles. Expectations. Lineage.

  Yet here, she felt like just Yumio.

  They continued talking about random things—favorite books, embarrassing childhood stories, dorm rumors.

  At one point, Yumio fell quiet.

  She looked at the three of them laughing together.

  Her chest felt warm.

  This is the first time…

  Aside from the girls… and Liam…

  She had never made friends so naturally before.

  No pressure. No formality. No expectations.

  Just laughter and shared moments.

  She hugged her knees lightly, smiling to herself.

  College life had only just begun.

  And somehow…

  She already couldn’t wait for tomorrow.

  I had a hard time creating the atmosphere for Ainsworth and deciding what kind of fun and interactive freshmen orientation I’ll put on.

  I was inspired by My Story Animated’s MSU freshmen orientation on the first episode.

  Also, can you guess what the riddle means?

  Anyways, hope you like this chapter!