Abi's Point of View
I stood in the schoolyard, surrounded by the sounds of students chattering, their laughter mixing with the crisp morning air that still held the scent of night. A cold wind swept through, making me shiver as it danced among the trees, rustling the leaves like nature's applause for a new day.
As the sun climbed higher, the shadows faded, and the day's activities began to unfold. I stretched my arms, walking slowly around the school grounds in search of our assigned lane. The chill was biting, and I regretted not bringing my jacket. Wearing a skirt felt particularly uncomfortable today; I couldn't fathom how girls managed to do it, especially in places like Japan. I just wanted to slip into my PE uniform, but I had to stick to the special clothing that concealed my... identity.
Despite my complaints, I knew I had no choice but to embrace being Abi. I wished for love—some said being single was the best, with no expenses to pay for dates—but I couldn't relate. I had been single my whole life.
Eventually, we found our lane and sat at the front, the first ones to arrive. Not a single classmate was in sight; it seemed we had come a bit early. Minutes passed, and one by one, students trickled in, some joining us in our lane. Familiar faces appeared, but I still felt a disconnect. I didn't have close friends outside of my brother and his friends. I was one of the boys while forgetting that I was, in fact, a boy.
As the assembly began, I whispered to my brother, "Boring." He shot me a look that made me pout.
He was so different outside the house—at home, he was a playful monster, but at school, he transformed into a serious one. I often got scolded, but there was no screaming or the aura of a warlock.
The principal was droning on about rules and regulations, but I could hardly focus. The light and dark green striped skirt felt too short, and I worried that if I sat on the floor, someone might see something they shouldn't. I had forgotten to wear the special clothing beneath.
When my brother nudged me, letting me know the assembly had ended, I realized I might have been the last one still standing there, lost in thought. Thanks, big brother. You just earned some cookie points.
Before heading into the assembly, we checked the bulletin board at the entrance to see our class assignments. Thankfully, I was in the same class as Alfonso. He was my savior in a worst-case scenario, or at the very least, my source of snacks!
Lost in thought, I nodded repeatedly, only to bump into Alfonso when he suddenly stopped walking.
"Why did you stop?" I asked, rubbing my nose.
"What are you nodding for?" he replied.
"I just remembered something, and I'm going to do it later!" I smiled, trying to sound cheerful.
Some might question if we were really siblings; our personalities were so different. He was the serious one, while I was the little ball of sunshine.
My brother resumed walking, but now he walked beside me, staring ahead with his usual serious expression. I noticed girls glancing at him, and I couldn't help but feel a mix of pride and annoyance. He was a looker, and it seemed like every girl wanted to be friends with me just to get closer to him.
Once, I introduced a few girls to him, and he didn't talk to me for a day. It was torture since I wanted to discuss the latest manga I'd been reading!
As we finally arrived at our classroom, it was already lively inside. The extra time it took to get there didn't matter much since our classroom was conveniently near the restrooms. Class A, the top section. But that also meant everyone would have memories of my fake self. The thought disgusted me.
Okay, enough drama. I shook it off and followed my brother into the room.
As he walked in, the class fell silent. Whispers erupted among the girls. "Is that Alfonso Zulmanēnga?" one girl with twin pigtails asked her friend.
And I heard a boy exclaim, "It's Abi!" before quickly covering his mouth.
Yep, my brother was popular. I glanced at him, half-expecting irritation in his eyes, but he simply walked away from me. What a lovely brother!
As usual, he chose a seat by the window, and I slid into the chair next to him. The seating arrangement was boy-girl-boy, which conveniently allowed me to sit next to him without raising eyebrows. The teachers knew about my situation and were understanding.
"You..." he said, breaking the silence.
"Hmm?" I hummed, turning to him.
"You don't look happy," he observed, his intuition sharp.
But my lies were sharper. I forced a smile. "I am, I'm just..."
Before I could finish, the door creaked open, and a hush fell over the room. Students shuffled back to their seats as a woman walked in, exuding professionalism in a neat peach teacher's uniform. Her wavy black hair was tied back, and she moved confidently to the front.
"I am your math and homeroom teacher, Kristine Escarcha. I hope to create some wonderful memories with all of you."
It seemed our school lives were about to begin.