The chirping of a bird reached my ears, pulling me from my slumber. Soft sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling into my room as I slowly opened my eyes.
"Ugh..." I groaned, trying to sit up, but my body felt oddly heavy. That's when I noticed her.
"Mm...nh..."
"Kei?" I gently shook her shoulder, attempting to wake her. But despite my efforts, she remained motionless.
"Good morning, Nii-san," she said, her voice calm, her expression as unfazed as ever despite the situation.
"…Good morning. What are you doing here?" I asked, confusion creeping into my tone.
"Aunt Mareia told me to wake you up," she replied simply, finally getting off my body.
Sitting up in bed, I let out a sigh. "You did wake me up… but, what was that about?"
"What was what?" she asked, tilting her head slightly.
This girl… I've never understood her, not even back when we were kids.
"…Nothing."
For a moment, I glanced at her again and realized something. She was already dressed in a school uniform.
"That uniform…" I muttered. It was unmistakably the Tsukigaoka High uniform.
"Does it look good on me?" Kei asked, her tone oddly serious.
"Well… it suits you," I replied, noting how the blazer looked a bit snug around her chest.
"Hmm. Reasonable for me," she said with a self-satisfied nod, as if she'd accomplished some great feat.
I shook my head and stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."
"Alright."
…She wasn't leaving my room.
"Kei, why don't you go downstairs? Mom would probably be happy if you helped her," I suggested.
"Reasonable choice, Nii-san," she said with a small nod before finally walking out.
After taking a shower, I quickly changed into my uniform and headed downstairs.
"Morning, Mother," I greeted.
"Good morning, dear. Take a seat and eat your breakfast," she said with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Mom." Glancing around, I noticed someone was missing. "Where's Dad?"
"He's already off to work."
"Oh…"
I sat down and ate breakfast with my mother and Kei, the three of us quietly enjoying the meal.
Afterward, I grabbed my bag and went outside to my bike. As I turned it on—
Bump.
I felt a weight behind me. Turning around, I found Kei already seated on the back.
"Kei?"
"To school, Nii-san," she said matter-of-factly.
Our mother came out, phone in hand, snapping a picture of us on the bike.
"See you both!" she called out cheerfully.
"We're going, Mom," I replied.
"We're off, Auntie," Kei added in perfect English, earning a laugh from my mother.
"Take care!"
And with that, we headed off to school. Kei was quiet the entire ride, so much so that it almost felt like I was alone.
When we arrived, I parked the bike, and heads immediately turned. Kei's presence drew attention, particularly from the male students, who whispered to each other as they glanced her way.
"Alright, you'll need to go to the faculty office first," I told her.
"Which way?"
…Right.
"I'll take you there," I said with a sigh.
The faculty office was located on the left corridor, between the schoolyard door and the nurse's office. After dropping her off, I made my way to the bulletin board in the lobby to check my class assignment.
"Hmm…"
As I scanned the list, I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning, I saw a familiar face.
"Kousuke?"
Déjà vu hit me like a wave.
"Hey, who was that girl?!" he asked, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
I let out a sigh. "She's my cousin, and no, I'm not introducing you to her."
"Aw, you're no fun, Himeya."
"You tell me," I muttered, refocusing on the board.
"3-A… That's my class," I said, spotting my name. Coincidentally, both Hiro and Yuka were in the same class.
…
…
Later in Auditorium
The auditorium buzzed with quiet chatter as the students assembled for the opening ceremony. I adjusted my tie nervously, seated with the other senior students at the front row. After the principal's speech, it was time for the clubs to present their introductions to the new students.
My turn came faster than I expected. Rising from my seat, I walked to the podium, the sound of my footsteps echoing in the vast, silent hall. Taking a deep breath, I faced the sea of curious faces.
"Good morning, everyone," I began, my voice steady despite the tightness in my chest. "My name is Himeya Shin, and I'm here to introduce one of the most enriching and inspiring clubs in our school: the Literature Club."
A few whispers rippled through the crowd, but I pressed on.
"Life at Tsukigaoka High is full of opportunities for learning, growth, and self-discovery. But sometimes, amidst all the studying, we forget the importance of creativity. That's where the Literature Club comes in. Here, we channel our emotions, thoughts, and experiences into words—crafting poetry, stories, essays, and even scripts for plays. Literature is not just about reading old books; it's about creating something new. It's a form of art that allows us to express who we are."
I paused, letting my words sink in before continuing, "If you've ever had an idea you wanted to share, a story you wanted to tell, or even just a curiosity about literature, then I encourage you to visit us in the library after homeroom. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a seasoned writer or a complete beginner."
I stepped back slightly from the podium, offering a slight bow to the audience. The hall erupted in polite applause, and I allowed myself a relieved smile. As I returned to my seat, I couldn't help but feel a rush of adrenaline.
"That was amazing!" I muttered under my breath. My heart was pounding like I'd just run a marathon.
So this is what Uguisu-senpai must have felt every time she gave one of these speeches.
I sat back down, the applause still ringing faintly in my ears.
After the opening ceremony, we headed to our classrooms. As I took a seat in the middle, a familiar voice called out from behind me.
"Heyya, class vice president!"
Turning, I found Yuka grinning at me.
"Good to see you again, Michigami."
"Yeah, good to see you too, Himeya-kun," she replied before heading to her desk.
Wait… Since when did she call me by my first name?
Glancing around, I noticed Hiro seated near the front, looking as serious as ever.
After homeroom, Hiro approached me.
"Hey, let's head to the library," he suggested.
"Yeah, sure."
As we walked through the hallway, I couldn't help but notice the pensive look on his face.
"Something on your mind?" I asked.
"Yeah… Something feels off," he admitted.
"What do you mean?"
"I don't know. It's just a feeling," he said, shaking his head.
"Himeya!!"
A familiar voice rang out, cutting through the chatter.
I turned, my eyes widening in shock.
Long golden hair, sparkling like sunlight, and those ocean-blue eyes—
"You're…"
Before I could finish, she leaped forward, wrapping her arms around me tightly.
"I missed you!"
"Alicia?!"
What in the world was happening?!