[center][h1][color=ffb7c5]Minako Ikeda[/color][/h1]
[img] http://i.imgur.com/uOaV9oH.jpg [/img]
[b][u]Location;[/u][/b] Limo -> Outside
[b][u]Interacting With;[/u][/b] Samantha Youngblood [@HushedWhispers]
[b][u]Mood;[/u][/b] Forlorn -> Nervous [/center]


Much of the ride from the airfield was done in silence. Or, at least it was for Minako. Her father sat on the other side of limo, but he might as well have been on the other side of the world. In fact, if the half of the conversation that she could hear him having was any indication, that’s exactly where his mind was. So, she sat in silence, gazing out the window at the passing countryside and listening to the [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f-NDniCr1ZQ]song[/url] through her headset. 

[i][color=696969]“Don’t ever talk to me again!”[/color][/i]

[b]“I apologize for that. A mix up at Panama.”[/b]

Blinking in surprise, she pulled her headphones down and looked towards her father, meeting his apologetic smile. [color=ffb7c5]“It’s alright. Was it a significant problem?”[/color] she queried. 

Devon shook his head, reaching over to a cabinet and pouring himself a scotch. [b]“Clerical error at the Canal. Somebody mixed up the crossing schedule, so the [i]Sumara[/i] was delayed. Client won’t be happy, but it was out of our control.”[/b] He took a sip from his glass, following her gaze out the window, then turned back to her. [b]“Nervous?”[/b]

She nodded, tucking her headset into her bag. [color=ffb7c5]“A little.”[/color] It wasn’t technically a lie, but it wasn’t the whole truth either. 

Studying his daughter for a moment, Devon could make a good guess as to what was really on her mind as he turned back to the window.[b] “You have nothing to be ashamed of.”[/b]

Minako nodded, sighing heavily.[color=ffb7c5] “I know. I just wish…”[/color]

[b]“I know.”[/b] He reached across and gave her knee a reassuring squeeze, then settled back into his seat.[b] “She’ll come around. You know that she could never stay mad at you.”[/b]

[color=ffb7c5]“She’s never been this angry before,”[/color] came her somber response, as she pressed her forehead against the cool glass. 

[b]“She’ll come around.”[/b] 

Minako looked towards her father, his body relaxed and shared violet eyes radiating confidence. The certainty of his words, as though there was simply no other possibility in the world, reassured her, and she smiled as she turned back to the window. [color=ffb7c5]“I hope so.”[/color] 

A semi-comfortable silence settled over the pair, and it remained until the spires of Mayweather Academy came into view. Used to the glass towers of Kobe, it was far from the most impressive set of structures that Minako had seen, although the expansive greenspace did appear to be impressively maintained. [i][color=ffb7c5]Mei would love it here.[/color][/i] 

The limo came to a stop in front of the school, and her father’s bodyguard slipped out to open the door for them. Devon, of course, got out first, casting his sharp-eyed gaze over the school grounds as he buttoned his suit jacket. As he stepped aside to give her room, Minako followed him out, conscious of the many, many pairs of eyes that were aimed in her direction. Shouldering her backpack, she turned to her father, accepting her suitcases from the bodyguard. 

Devon smiled down at his daughter.[b] “Well, here we are.”[/b] He eyed her for a moment.[b] “And you’re sure that you don’t want Noboru to stay with you?”[/b]

Minako blushed slightly, glancing at the impassive bodyguard as he surveyed the school. [color=ffb7c5]“Yes, I am sure, Father. I will be safe here.”[/color] 

Chuckling at her answer, Devon bowed his head for a moment.[b] “Well, you can’t blame me for being worried.”[/b] He sighed, a mixture of emotions washing over his face.[b] “I wish that I could at least see you to your dorm, but business calls.”[/b]

[color=ffb7c5]“I understand, Father.”[/color] She embraced him, lingering inside his warm arms, then broke away and gave a deep bow.[color=ffb7c5] “I will bring honour to our family.”[/color]

Devon answered with an equally deep bow.[b] “I know you will, Minako. You are an Ikeda, after all.”[/b] Giving her one last, long look, he stepped back into the limo, Noboru closing it behind him. 

Watching her father drive away, she lingered there for a moment, then took a deep breath and turned away, pulling her suitcases along behind her. The first step was to locate the residence where she would be staying. Unfortunately, she didn’t have much of an idea of how everything was organized here. As she looked around her, she noticed a blonde girl sitting on the front of the steps leading into what she thought to be the main building. Swallowing the fluttering in her stomach, she approached the girl and made a light bow. [color=ffb7c5]“Um, forgive me for disturbing you, but could you give me directions to the Residence Office, please?”[/color]