I yawn, as I rub my eyes while getting up from my bed.
It's 6 am, and I need to get ready so I can get to school by 7:30.
I look at the calendar on the door of my room, as I was leaving, heading to the bathroom so I could take a shower after picking up the clothes I'll put on.
It's Thursday.
I sighed since on Thursdays I have two extra classes, and usually don't have time to visit the cafe I usually go to.
Nonetheless, it is closed now for vacation, but I liked the time I had at the cat cafe yesterday.
"I'd love to go again today but it'll be late" I say while getting ready to take a quick shower.
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"That was refreshing," I mumble while heading downstairs "I really want a piece of cake right now".
My usual breakfast every day is a cup of tea or a coffee mug with French toasts, yet, I couldn't forget about the cake slice Hirotomo served me yesterday.
I sigh, for the second time on the day already, and just take a seat on the isle of my small kitchen with a coffee mug and the French toasts.
I take a sip from my mug and scroll down my phone, which had the News tab open.
Wait.
Hirotomo.
So, I choked on my drink, after realising and coming back to reality.
" Where do I know him from?" I thought out loud, as I gave a bite to one of the toasts.
I looked at my phone's screen and started searching in the short amount of social media apps I have for his name.
Nothing came up, after searching for a solid 5 or 7 minutes.
In the span of that time, I was done with my breakfast. So, I took my bag, and, before leaving, make sure to look alright in the mirror next to the front door.
After giving myself approval, I leave my house and started heading to the station.
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Halfway through the route to reach the station, someone screams and calls out to me.
"Takafumi-Senpai?!" There's no way.
I stood still in my place and looked down a bit.
I heard steps coming from behind "Takafumi-Senpai! You live nearby this area?" And now, Hirotomo is right beside me.
I looked up with a smile and said "Yeah, I live about twenty minutes back from here".
" Oh, I see. I just got out of my house, it's right there, look" He pointed to a small yet cute looking house "I guess you're heading to the Campus, then"
"Yeah, I am, we can take the train together if you want" I added.
"Sure!" And so, both of us started walking towards the station.
I glanced at Hirotomo. He is shorter than I am, around 8cm I guess? His hair is not done and seems to have trails of it being dyed once on the ends.
I look up to the front again and keep quiet about my thoughts.
«Yep, I do not recognise him from anywhere»
Which is strange.
"So, Takafumi-San, can I call you by your first name?" Hirotomo asked for, which honestly surprised me a bit, but I looked back at him with a kind smile.
"Yeah, sure. I'm not used to it, but that's not a problem" I looked at the front again, and I heard Hirotomo chuckle.
"Then, Atsu-kun! When do your classes finish today?"
I stopped my walk and bought my hand to cover my mouth.
"W-what's with that nickname-" I laughed, sincerely, and I don't like how I look while laughing, so that's why I covered my mouth.
"Hey! Don't cover your face, I've never seen you laugh" Hirotomo tried to take my hand away, but I was quicker and started walking again while calming myself and stop my laughter "Hey, Atsu! That's not fair~"
"Whatever. Let's go or we are going to miss the train, Hirotomo"
As I said so, Hirotomo caught up to me, and then he added.
"You know you can call me Arata right"
"Yeah, I just don't. Hirotomo is a nice name, in general, all the Kanji variations are nice"
"Oh, I can show you mine if you want, I have a notebook and a pen" As he said that, I smiled and nodded.
Hirotomo proceeded to take a small notebook from a pocket of his school bag, and with that, a pen, too.
He wrote in two Kanji.
"Imposing appearance... and friend" I read the Kanji separately.
"Yeah, although it's not like I'm a real ikemen or anything" I looked at him, deadass face "What?"
I sighed and kept walking.
"Wait- Senpai! You really think the opposite?!" I started walking faster "Atsu!" And so, I heard Arata running my way, laughing.
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"We got just in time" An almost dead Hirotomo said by my side, as we sat next to each other on the train.
"Yeah. I thought we wouldn't get in for a hot second" I caught up my breath, and then sighed, as I got comfortable in my seat.
With that said, I took my school notebook and started making some notes on today's exercises, so it'll be easier to get them done earlier today.
I glanced at Hirotomo, and he had the same notebook from before, and he looked concentrated on it. It looked like... a recipe?
"What are you writing?" I said, curious.
"Eh?" He looked up to me, and put his hair behind his ear, as it was in the way "Ah, it's a recipe I'm trying. The dough didn't turn out the way I wanted it last time, so I'm modifying it"
"I see"
And like that, both of us went back to do our stuff.
"Will you go today?"
"Huh?"
"To the cafeteria" Hirotomo added.
"Oh... I have classes until six, so I don't know. I don't wanna go back home late" I said.
"Then, let's go together" And as he said that, I messed up the note I was taking "We go back the same way anyways, and I don't work the days I have class"
"Alright, you win"
"See you at six?"
"See you at six"