On a beautiful day outside.
An early time, Kouji woke up.
Standing from his bed.
He washed his face.
Cook and eat breakfast.
Then took a bath and later wore a uniform.
After that, Michiko picked him up, so they went to school together.
Now they're on a bench viewing the scenery of blossom trees.
"hey… heY… Hey, Kou!"
"Hm, ha?... what?"
"Jeez! You're not even listening!"
"Erm… can you repeat what you said?"
"I am not going to say it again."
"Really sorry about it, so can you repeat it?"
I said I'm not. Besides, what is it even in your mind, to be that immersed in your thoughts?"
"Its… are you sure/"
Kouji was about to say it, but suddenly he stopped talking, leaving the sentence unfinished.
"Sure… what?"
"..."
"Why have you become silent? Aren't you going to tell me what's on your mind?"
"Ah, eh… um… w-wait… what is it again?..."
"...huh? Are you kidding? A while ago, weren't you trying to say–something??"
"Can you remind me what it is?"
"Are you for real?... If you are asking me, I don't know. Instead, arent you suppose to explain it to me?"
"Sorry, it seems i… never mind."
"Hey, why end it like that? You're making me curious."
"Just//Let's forget about it."
"What//Alright."
"Hey, do you remember when we were in middle school…"
"...oh yeah, I remember that. We're…"
The weird feeling that Kouji felt suddenly disappeared. Ending the topic there and starting a new conversation.
They talk about their middle school.
Recalling the past, how fun or funny it was.
Their chat was pretty long, it seems they got immersed in it.
And without realizing the time, suddenly a church bell sound was already ringing from afar.
"Oh, shoot, the bell!"
"Ah!"
Once they're back to their senses, they start running.
There are other students running alongside them.
"This is your fault."
Kouji blames Michiko.
"Eh? How is it my fault that we're too immersed in our conversation and not realized the time?"
"Aaa… I wish I hadn't agreed to you a while ago."
"Just forget it, what is done is already done."
Following the path of the brick road, the bell sounds getting louder.
As they get closer, the sight of the gate can already be seen from the distance as it slowly shuts.
In a couple of seconds, the bell sound suddenly stops, and the gate is completely closed.
Many students were not able to get in.
And for Kouji and Michiko, fortunately, they made it in.
"Kono… Kono?"
"P-Present!"
They barely made it to their room, however, the checking of the attendance was already at the end.
"Come in."
Luckily, the teacher was kind enough to let them in.
So both of them went inside and went to their respective seats.
"Hey Kouji, it's unusual for you to be late. Did something happen?"
After sitting, he got a question from his classmate, the neighbor in front of his seat.
"Nothing particularly."
"Oh really… is it really nothing, that the two of you had a date."
"Date?"
"Ha, pretending to be dumb arent we? Here, look at her post on Twitter."
At the hand of his classmate was a phone, showing the post a while ago, about them together taking a selfie in a blossom tree as a background.
"Eh… that's just Michi forcing me to take one with her."
"Oh, don't be shy. Ain't she your sweetheart?"
"Sweetheart? I don't remember having such a relationship with her. Plus, we're just a childhood friend, I thought of her as my sister."
"Hmm, you're not honest at all."
Kouji sigh, "Hey, listen, I already told you I have no feelings for her–"
"Ahem!"
Getting immersed in their talk, they forgot that there's class and a female teacher was glaring at them.
"Didn't I say the class is already starting."
"Ah, sorry Kiiro-sensei."
Just a quick scolding, the situation didn't go any further.
Furthermore, the teacher eventually started teaching the class.
Teach, listen, and learn of what happened inside the room.
With switching in each teacher for a subject, they obtain new knowledge.
And finally 8 hours passed and the school ended.
"Okay class! Tomorrow, March 23, we're going to have a test, so prepare for it.
"Alright, Kiiro-sensei."
"Now, the class is dismissed."
After clearing the table.
"Ready to go home, Michi?"
"Sorry, Kou, I have a club today. So you can go without me."
"Alright then, see you tomorrow, I guess."
Then, after a farewell, he left the school alone.
THE NEXT…
Day is engaging.
Birds are performing.
Flowers are opening.
On a morning like this, it's a good time for Kouji to stand up.
Eating breakfast.
Taking a bath.
And wear his uniform.
"Alright, time to go."
DING-DONG!
To the rung of the doorbell, he grab his bag and answered the door.
"Good morning, Kou!"
After opening the door, a girl wearing the same uniform as him greeted him.
"Morning, Michi."
Kobe Michiko, she comes to Kouji house to pick him up since they are neighbors and as well his childhood friend.
"Are you ready to go, Kou?"
"Yeah, let's go."
Together, they walk their way to school.
Passing their neighborhood.
And soon arrived at a brick road headed to the school.
"Wow… pretty…"
Michiko spoke as she was astounded by the pink scenery that prunus trees make.
With such scenery, then she took out her phone and started taking a pic.
"Hey, Kou, let's take a selfie."
"..."
"Kou?"
Michiko calls his name, but he seems dumbfounded or rather confused and didn't hear what she said.
Him looking at the scenery, the fellow students around doing the same… as them.
Students taking a pic, or sitting on the bench to enjoy the view.
It makes Kouji feel something familiar… again?
"Kou!"
Michiko called him again, and this time he heard it.
"Huh, what?"
She sighs shortly, "Finally, my words reached you."
"Aa… what is it?"
"You, does something bother you?"
"Huh?"
"Your face, making that expression as if you saw a ghost."
"It's because… i dont know…"
"Hey, why not sit on the bench and try to think it over."
"...alright."
They decided to take a seat and talk things out.
So they keep chatting until a church bell clangs.
For that reason, they run as fast as they can on their way to school.
The gate was already closed, leaving many students out there. But fortunately, Kouji and Michiko barely made it.
And arrived at the classroom before class started.
8 hours passed and finally the school ended.
In those hours, Kouji from time to time had that weird feeling again.
"Okay class! Tomorrow, March 23, we're going to have a test, so prepare for it.
"Alright, Kiiro-sensei."
"Now, the class is dismissed."
After clearing the table.
"Hey… Michi… can we go home together?..."
"Sorry, Kou, I have a club today. So you can go without me."
"Alright then… tomorrow I guess?..."
Then, after a farewell, Michiko went to her club, and Kouji left the school alone.
Walking by himself, he exited the brick road, the area of the school.
Continuing his way to the urban area and arriving in the pedestrian light to cross the road.
And after some waiting, the light turned from red to green.
The time starts to count down as the people that waited are crossing the road at the same time.
All of them crossed except for Kouji.
Kouji is still at the pedestrian light without moving an inch.
He was just staring at the people crossing, feeling confused.
"Have I… been here before?..."
The familiarity he's feeling grows more as he recognizes the situation he's in.
Adults, elders, kids with parents, schoolmates, etc. were passing the road.
"This…"
After reconfirming that the sight he was seeing really did happen before, a truck in high speed suddenly hits the crowd that is crossing.
"This!... I remember!"
The truck, the people, and me. Hearing the sound of getting hit.
Many people died or screamed in agony.
With this sight, Kouji's familiar feeling was confirmed. He completely remembers everything.
"Here, i–"
The sentence cuts short when suddenly his back has been pierced through the chest.