#(Fortune hunters and social climbers see opportunity at alumni day)

[more-than-a-princess]

Sonia gave him a sympathetic smile. Perhaps, like her, he had an undesirable talent or one that attracted controversy. She didn't dare ask: it was impolite, to assume out loud that someone's talent wasn't favored by the school or its alumni. "I hope I do not forget my time here so quickly," She replied. She didn't fault him for it but it did seem rather sad to have such memories fade. "I have adored my time here and, come next spring, I shall be sorry to see it end. I hope to hold onto those memories for the rest of my life, I should not wish to forget a thing!"

Perhaps it wasn't wise to 'peak' in high school, but that wasn't what Sonia envisioned anyway. Rather, she felt certain that high school and university would likely be some of the happiest times in her life, or at least times with the most amount of freedom and least amount of expectations. Even the media kept themselves at bay near school campuses, often unwilling to snap and record candids of young royals simply trying to obtain an education.

He insisted he didn't want to monopolize her time, and the men that surrounded her, crowded her, seemed to be in vehement agreement with that assessment. Sonia swallowed: it was easier, in a way, to defer the attention when she had her armor on. A modest dress and matching coat, or a full-length gown paired with select pieces of the crown jewels, and several members of her security detail flanking her ready to strike should she need them. In her brown school uniform, matching flower headband, and loafers, she felt vulnerable: the downside of blending in, she supposed, as she fixed a more pleasant, tight smile upon her face. Looking all manner of normal high school girl meant anyone would treat her like a normal high school girl. Even one poised to wield unimaginable amounts of power one day, she was still a girl, impressionable and easily swayed, in their eyes. And afraid, always, of being rude and untoward.

"I would be most pleased to assist you, sir," Sonia agreed with little time to deliberate. Frankly, insisting he had no intention of flirting with her was enough to secure her agreement. It was almost ironic: she'd just explained to Anzu and her sister her philosophy on romance and dating and not five minutes later she was surrounded by men looking to do exactly that, doubting that any of them actually cared to get to know her and were truly interested in what she, and her family, could offer them. The age gap aside, of course: being royal, it wasn't the first thing that stood out to her as terribly off.

Stepping out from behind the table, she passed by grumbles and glares, all in the direction of the newcomer who didn't seem to share the same sort of peacocking attitudes the other men possessed. Sonia led him out of earshot, to the opposite side of the courtyard, before letting out the large sigh she'd been holding in since she'd been bombarded by attention. "Truly, thank you," She told him, pushing a lock of blonde hair over her shoulder. "I am not usually so ill-prepared in such situations, but I should have expected such things from a normal school and on a day like today. I am not sure what constitutes a can't-miss attraction, but I suppose if I were in your shoes I would want to meet my old classmates and teachers to re-establish our friendships and learn about their lives nowadays. There are displays set up for the past ten years of graduating classes that your peers may have contributed to: perhaps you may wish to see those first?"

At first, Masaru had thought that the men surrounding the girl were all alumni in similar situations to himself, but he was quickly realizing that that might not be the case. Frankly, he had a hard time believing that guys that fashionable somehow couldn't figure out which way to the party. "Oh, cool," he said, nodding along to her explanation. "When I was a student here, they used to set me up on the far side of campus, out by the track on the backside of campus, so I never really got to see all the festivities." Maybe that had been a downer, but back then, he'd had other things on his mind anyway.

Refreshments sounded like a good idea, especially cooked by someone with experience and talent, but as Masaru tapped at the mark on his chin, eyes flitting over towards those men who were regarding him with some kind of animosity, an idea struck him. "Honestly, it's been forever," he admitted. "I graduated six years ago, in the 71st class, and that feels long enough that I've forgotten almost everything." That wasn't a lie, although it was less about the time, and more about a conscious attempt to put Hope's Peak Academy behind him.

His smile was easy and genuine, if a bit crooked, as Masaru shrugged. "I really wouldn't want to monopolize your time, but, I could really use some more serious help, probably. I'd hate to wander off and get lost in that labyrinth of a school, and it'd probably give a bad impression if I was walking around on my own without a nametag." Those were compelling enough reasons, as far as he saw it - the kind of justification that could be made convincingly.

Again, he shrugged. For all the anxiety that had been knotted in his stomach that morning, things were starting to melt away. He really was different from that anxious, panicky boy. And why shouldn't he be? He had a decent job, his own place, the world's most amazing girlfriend. Masaru hadn't spoken to his father in six years, and he'd left archery behind in favor of playing piano and occasionally bartending. Some people might have seen that as a waste of his 'talent,' but it was hard not to see it all as growth, not when he could wake up in the morning and breathe in a way that it felt like he'd never done as a teen.

He offered the girl another smile, as he pushed his hair back out of his face, then tapped at his chin again. "Looks like you've got a lot of guys crowding around," he added, dropping his voice into a low whisper. "If you're looking for a break, I'd be happy to be your excuse to leave your post." He wasn't even sure if that was allowed, or if she wanted to, but he might as well make the offer. "Don't worry, I'm not here to hit on students or anything, but, it looks like you could do without the posse."

Was he overstepping a boundary? Probably so. Then again, when Masaru looked back on his own adolescence, the thing that he always came back to was his wish that someone in any kind of position of experience or seniority had reached out to help him. Obviously, a couple of overly-familiar guys didn't necessarily measure up to what he'd gone through, but wasn't the principle of it more or less the same? If he was going too far, the girl could just tell him off, and he could find his own way. "By which I mean, I really am lost, and it'd be a big help to have a current student show me around, including giving her opinions as guidance as to what are the can't-miss attractions."