I am Akari Mitsuha, I was raised in a big mansion with maids and all the necessities I need. Although I have many things that a person would want to have, I'm not satisfied with my life.

I as a child wasn't able to have a good experience in life.  What I really want is  to spend time with my family, I always get what I want  except for the love I always yearn from them.

I thought I was lucky compared to other people because we're wealthy and my family is well known. "I'm really happy to be part of this family" is what a six years old me thought before, but I came to realize that this life of mine that I have is not good as much as I thought.

I started attending school, My parents are always busy on their work and they only come home once a month, I wanted to spend some time with them but they don't have time to pamper me. I always thought before that that was totally normal in every family, but I was wrong.

Since the day I've been born, the one who was with me was  our maid, Tiyako Manang.

I was really happy to be by her side, I even thought that she was my real mother but she wasn't, When my parents was not there for me, there are someone who's always with me, and that was our maid. I also thought that was normal, but I came to realize that I was different from the rest of the kids when I started going to school.

Every time there is an activities in school I was always alone. Although sometimes, Tiyako Manang was with me. That fills the hole of my loneliness, but apparently, she can't come to school everyday because she has some works in the mansion.

Everyone has their parents beside them, playing and doing the activities while smiling. I felt jealous, and Excitement at the same time on what I saw, because I thought my parents will do the same thing to me.

"Tiyako-san Can mother and father attend at the school festival? You see, the teacher told us that we need to bring our parents to participate in the game."

"Okay, I'll say it to your father."

"Thanks Manang!"

I asked our maid, hoping that she will tried to persuade my parents.

Waking up early on that very exciting day because I thought my parents will finally spend their time with me. I rose from by bed and ran towards the living room to greet my parents, but I saw them preparing to leave early.

"Eh!! I overslept?!! Tiyako-san, We're leaving now? I have to hurry!"

Feeling excited and shocked because I thought I overslept, I immediately removed my clothes, and then Tiyako Manang greeted me with her unusual expression.

"Sorry, my lady, your parents will leave for business trip, they can't go to your school because they're busy, instead I'll accompany you."

Tiyako-san, gently smiled at me and rubbed my head.

my enthusiastic smiled and excitement, vanished in an instant.

I attended the Festival with Tiyako Manang. It was over before I knew it when we were walking around the school looking at the stall with my glum face.

I wasn't able to enjoy it because I really thought that would be the day I'll be spending some time with my parents, Still, it leave some void feeling in my heart. Maybe I shouldn't have expect it in the first place.

If you have expectations, reality will crush it in front of you and will leave a mark on you.

As time passed by, I turned eight, My birthday was being celebrated on that day, but nothing have changed. My parents still haven't paid attention to me. They didn't go home because they're in business trip.

I get that they're busy on their work and they're trying their hard to maintain our family, but can't they just come home on my birthday and  pay attention to me for a little bit? Or can't they just great me? I've never heard from them the words " I wish you a happy birthday"

when will I ever heard that?

My parents were Still busy,

Of course, they do come home from time to time, but when they're here, They're either sleeping or Lecturing me for what I should do.

I always listen and nod at everything they told me because I thought that would make me a good girl, but they never said that I'm one.

Still, our maid Tiyako always encourage me that I'm a good girl and I just need to be patient because there will be time when my parents will spend some time with me and make a great memories with me.

Maybe it's because she saw me having a glum face and she's apathetic...

She brought me around to some place, someplace like amusement park, aquarium, and Museum. Those days were really fun.

She always told me that I should memorize every thing in there, so when I and my parents came there, I can show off to them.

I really like her, she's always been by my side,  I thought she will stay with me all the time but I was wrong, she left me because of her family circumstances. She had to go home because her parents were sick.

I don't have an authority to stop her from leaving, I only have my sympathy to what happened to her parents. When she left, I focused on my school and hope that everything will be good and exciting just like what I saw in some videos, but reality and expectations are different.

I became a third grader, it was the start of my new school with new classmates.

At first I didn't  get to enjoy it because all of the children was treating me like a stranger. Although they're not showing it I grasped the situation why they acted like that.

They're afraid that if they talk to me my father will do something to them. My father is a famous businessman and has a lot of influences, even the school where I  go was one of his property.

I tried to fit in the class and  everyone had started to befriends with me; they're  really kind to me.

All of the teachers and students had also started treating me like a special and of course, I'm really happy about it, who wouldn't be happy to be treated like that? But.... I came to realized that everything they've done to me was only because of my family.

I started doing my best to convey to them that even I, can do what I can to make things work, and they will treat me without regards to my family and wealth. I  proved to them my existence by topping the exams and being good at sports, so that they would be proud that I am their friend. I just wanted to have friends and have fun with them while going to school, but that dream has been crushed by the people who are expecting a lot from me. I did my very best to meet their expectations, only to heard  the words I hate the most.

"As expected of the Chairman's daughter."

"You're really his daughter."

Why? It has nothing to do with him? I am the one who made it not them, so why?...

Ever Since that day, my days have been miserable, and day by day   everyone  have started treating me like I'm some kind of Princess or some sort. Everyone adores me and treated me nicely, but their admiration towards me was just a lie.

"Isn't she lucky? She always scores high in the test and the teachers always praise her just because she's the Chairman's daughter."

"Yeah, you're right, she's really annoying, she always do everything and get everyone attention. It's infuriating to see that smiles of her."

"Her grades was probably edited too, I only become friends with her because she will give you everything you ask."

I was planning to comeback in the classroom to get back the handkerchief I forgot.

When I was about to reach the door, I heard the girls talking about me. 

'So after I left, all the girls in my class that I thought my friends, will started  talking behind my back?...' I was so  shocked  on what I've heard  from my third grader classmates. I hid myself in the wall and abstain myself to make any noise. I  rubbed the tears on my face and sprint back to the bathroom. A third grader like me doesn't know how I should react on what I've seen, but when I got home I cried and cried until tears run out of my eyes.

After that day, I continued going to school and acted that nothing have happened and pretend that I didn't hear anything.  Every day  that passed is just hardly good days.  The girls is still lying to me, so I sincerely talked to them  when I heard them again talking about me.

"You shouldn't lie to me! I'll become your friend, so let's be true friends!" My desperate request didn't reach them and so they  started bullying me.

They mess with my locker by putting some mud and trash in it, and they also started messing with my notes by scribbling and tearing it whenever they find an opportunity. 

Every day was really hard that I thought everything will continue like that, but...

On January first 2025, that particular day, a P.E. was held. It was a memorable day for me and I  won't forget it even if something happened to me.

Our P.E. differs from other schools. On That day our activities theme was "Survive". Our teacher told us to form a team but no one has approach me.

I looked around and saw that everyone had already made their own team except for thd guy who was standing beneath the tree and showing an indifferent look on his face.

I wonder why he's  all alone?

"Okay everyone! Let's start the activities!--"

"---Ehh... Yusuri-kun, why are you there? Come back here and form a party with your classmates!" Our teacher approached him and pulled him beside me.

"Akari you still don't have a group, right?.. then, why don't you two become a partner, I think that would

be wonderful." Sakasa Sensei smiled in front of us as she said those words.

After a few minutes, the activity  started and I have no choice but to be his partner. Our activities was to go under some trials that our teacher prepared for us and reach the goal with the baton we're holding. It was given to us earlier when the teacher is giving us an instructions.

I looked at Yusuri-kun, he was idly standing in the starting line and in a few seconds he started to make his move. He crawled Inside the net and began to go under the trials and as for me, I followed him.

After crossing the Net crawling, Ladder, maze and slide, we're finally at the final trial, the Mountain. The "Mountain" was only a name for it. It was actually  a wall with handles and  foam beneath it . The structured was designed to test our strength mentally and physically. The wall was over six meters and its surface was a bit slick.

Everyone has started to climbed already and so I also started to climb the wall. It's sticky and it's hard to reach the top easily, but exceptionally some of my classmates is already on the top.

I finally reached the halfway and was about to reach the top, then someone stepped on my hands.

"Ouch!"

It was really painful that I let out. That really hurts!

My left hand loosened its gripped on the handle.

I looked above and see a girl with a smirk on her face. It was Kawasaki, the one who always mess with me. She gave me a contempt looked and  stomped my other hand before proceeding to go up.

My hands loose its grip and I'm about to fall, but a hand suddenly  reached out to  me and held my hand.

"Are you okay? That was close, you need be more careful." Yusuri-kun looked at me, he has some graze on his face. I was dazed and felt something that I can't seem to understand back then.

He pulled me up and let me hold onto the handle.

After that, he removed his hands on me and started to Ascent. I was dazed on what happened, my heart have started to throb, it's thumping so loud. I wonder what is the reason, is it because I could've fallen earlier  or is it because I was struck by him? I'm still stunned and can't move but after a few seconds I started  climbing the wall.

... After a few minutes,  I finally reached the goal, but my mind is still reminiscing  what happened earlier.

The P.E. is finally over. Everyone, including me have started to go back  to our classroom but before that, I looked around to see if Yusuri-kun is still around, but he's already gone.

We entered the class and it already starting, I still haven't seen Yusuri-kun. Instead of listening to our teacher, my mind is only full of thoughts  about Yusuri-kun and him alone.

***

The time flew by so fast and

The class is finally over.  The students have started going home, and I am now in front of the gate, waiting for my Tiyako Manang to  fetch me.

I was looking at the road, counting every vehicle who passed by and then  I saw a familiar face. It was Yusuri-kun, without hesitation I moved out and walked towards him.

"Uhm-ano--uhm.. Miyuki-kun..th-thanks for earlier!"

I restlessly said to him when I found myself in front of him.

"Who are you?"

"Ehh... I-it's me..th-the one you h-elp.. I..I mean you helped me earlier in the "mountain climbing" don't you recognize me? I'm Akari, Akari Mitsuha. Thanks for earlier hehehe!"

"Huh.. it was you? It's fine,  don't sweat it?" He rubbed his head and smiled. I was stunned, the sun radiated along with his smile and I felt some weird sensation.

"Uhm..Yu-Yusuri-kun, c-can I become your friend?.. Uhm-ano--uhm eto...I want to be your friend! Please be my friend!" I  managed to mustered up my courage.

I felt my heart, it was thumping so loud that I can hear it and feel it at the same time.

Yusuri-kun is only staring at me with his serious face.

"Ca-can't I?"

Feeling anxious, I asked again.

The wind blows right through my face, some leaves fall and flew in the air, chirping birds was all over at the top of the tree, and then

Yusuri-kun answered me with the words I want to hear the most.

"Of course it's fine, let's be friends then."

On that day Yusuri-kun and I become  friends.

I was so happy and felt something I can't seem to understand, maybe because It's my first time to have a boy friend.

Since that day I've started wearing my uniform more elegantly and braid my hair.

Yusuri-kun and I have started to hang out. He was so nice to me, every time he find me having a hard time he always talk to me. The other students are still bullying me, and I find it uncomfortable, I don't want to drag him with my problems but I feel like I can depend on him, and so I decided to tell him what I've been dealing since I started going to school when he asked me what's going on, he gently

held my hands and said "Don't worry! I'll protect you from now on, if ever someone bully you, tell it to me! I've got your back." His words that he said to me was the one I always yearn to hear. Those words of his was engraved into my heart and still lingering it until to this day.

Since then, everytime my classmates tried to bully me, Yusuri-kun was always there to protect me.

"Huh? Why are you protecting him, scholar?"

"Don't get in the way!"

Kawasaki had tried to pulled me but Yusuri-kun tightly grabbed her hand and pushed her away.

Just like that, it continues, They will bully me and Yusuri-kun will protect me. In just one month, they stopped harrassing me.

Yusuri-kun and I become more intimate to each other.

Yusuri-kun have become my knight in shining armor; apparently, he also doesn't have any friend, we've become more and more intimate. I learned that Yusuri-kun is a diligent student, he's considerate and caring. He also like to talk about what we likes and what our plans. What we did was all our first time.

I was so happy that I wish those days will last forever, but  I didn't expect that it will only last for almost two years.

In the middle of our fifth grade, Yusuri-kun disappeared without a trace.

I searched every possible place where he could be, but  I wasn't able to find him.

His home was empty and our teacher also didn't know what happened to him. No one knows where he could have gone.

My days that I enjoyed so much was over in just a blink of an eye and I graduated in grade school with emptiness.