Everyone has their own opinion on what the meaning of life is. Everyone has their own theories based on other people's opinions.

But I'm not gonna lie....

I never understood the meaning of life. Ever since I was little, for as far as I can remember, I was never able to comprehend it.

It's not that I've never tried to understand it tho, in fact I did try over and over again. But with how things were back then.... I guess at one point I just gave up in ever trying to grasp its meaning....

I doubt anyone cared enough about my own opinion and my thoughts, I doubt any one cared with how badly treated I was... and it was at those times that I began to question life's meaning, without getting an answer back....

But now that's all in the past.

It is now the year 2022 and I'm what you would call a normal High School Student and today is another normal cloudy day. As I sit here in my desk inside the spacious classroom filled with the smell of sweaty teenagers just finishing their P.E class, I look outside the window to the gloomy dark cloudy sky hoping that the sun will poke its head out and say....

"Morning Zein!"

Ah soft yet rough voice interrupts my meditation if you could even call it that. With my thoughts shattered I gave out a long sight and say.

"ugh..... you ain't the bloody sun...."

"huh??"

As I drop my head down on top of my desk, I'm able to hear the confused voice of Arvin.

Who is Arvin? Ladies and Gents! this noisy guy is:

¡Background check on Arvin!: Arvin Tomoka, a normal extroverted kid, with medium brown hair, good looks and also a popular personality(?). He is also the Vice Captain of the school and he is the same age as me which is 18. He does look like he would be the main character of a story but he pisses me off with how much he approaches me....

But yes, as you just heard the guy, my name is Zein, Zein Kuragari to be more precise.

Not Satisfied with my gloomy behaviour, Arvin suddenly hits the desk, surprising me, and then lifts one of his hands up and points out the window.

"What are you doing being so gloomy right now? Can't you see its such a beautiful day outside?!"

He says with a bright tone and a big massive smile.

I slowly turn to look up once again up to the sky.... While rubbing my eyes juuuust a little to see if I was mistaken but.... nope, still the same cloudy clouds I saw less than a few minutes ago.

its been the same for the couple of days, the clouds look very menacing with their dark and grey colors. It is kind of weird actually specially since even the nights are cloudy. This has never happened before but somehow no one really cares much about it.

"If you are gonna try to approach me like that at least try and get the weather right...."

I grunt and and bury my head in my arms lying on top of my desk once again.

"H-How could you? Even though we are besties!"

"Besties? Since when??"

I laugh a little at his remark but I guess he ain't wrong. We are on our final year of high school and when I first got to the school 8 years ago, him and I have been quite close and the best of friends.

I remember when I first got here I was even more gloomy than I am these days. I wasn't originally from here, I came from overseas trying to scape my past and with all honesty I never really thought anything would change here either. I was ready to be greeted by a terrible environment of rude teachers and students. However, I was greeted instead by very soft and kind classmates and very friendly staff.

The school itself wasn't small either. It had a big campus where the kids did most of their sports, even a tennis court and two basketball courts. It had quite a few buildings made out of bricks in a very old fashion way but it didn't mean that it looked terrible, in fact it looked very presentable and artistic. The motto for the school was "from trail comes failure but from failure comes success" apparently it was to encourage students to always learn from their mistakes.... Very creative I guess....

"Hey heyy!"

As I'm pulled back from my thoughts once again thanks to Arvin's interruption, I realize he is holding a piece of paper with the big tittle of "FUTURE CAREER!!"

"Tell me, have you thought about what you are gonna do once school is over?"

"No."

I respond bluntly right away without even thinking about it for a second.

"What??! Why not??? We are already on our final year! You need to start paying more attention and focus on figuring out what you'll do when it's all over"

He ain't wrong but I've honestly haven't even thought about it, I'm still surprised everything is about to end.

Just as I was thinking of everything ending, the bell rings. Looks like school is over so I get up of my chair and grab my back. As I turn to look at my good old friend I can see he is still waiting for me comment on his previous statement.

"Look Arvin.... I know you are worried and I appreciate that but its not like I need to have an answer right now!We still have around 8 months before school its even over. "

Dejected he shakes his head but still agrees with what I just said. As he lets out a long sight he exclaims.

"well.... I mean you are right.... we do still gave quite a while before graduation but.... it wouldn't hurt to start thinking about it? right?"

He says with a rather shaky and worried tone. As I reached the old door of the classroom filled with scratches from good old times, I turn around and say.

"Alright, I'll give it some thought, but it ain't like i need an answer right away, its not like I'm gonna die any time soon"

I place my hand on his shoulder giving him a soft smile to reassure him. He laughs and pushes me away.

"I guess you are right... Come on let's go! We might be able to make it to the arcade and go for another round in that PvP shorter game we played last time!!"

As I shrug to his plan I smile and walk out of the classroom into the cold air of the outside world.

"Yeah, come on let's go and don't think you are winning, the result will be the same as last time!"

Last time we went to the arcade I ended up destroying him. Although we ended up going at the game for 4 hours due to him not accepting his painful defeat.

"Awwww don't say that!! You never know things could change!!"

As we walk towards the exit of the school we end up walking pass various staff members who greets us happily and many other students both known and unknown to us.

To get to the arcade we end up having to go through the park that's located one street down from the school. Its quite big and recently the locals planted quite a few trees on it. The park also has a main road right next to it and during this time of the day it is usually very busy.

"Hey Zein.... Looks who is over there!"

As we were walking Arvin suddenly pokes me in the arm and points towards a group of students that found themselves walking beside the main road. Among them was a very beautiful, lender, eye catching girl from our grade.

"I think that's June! Isn't she the girl you've had a crush on for 5 years?"

"Shut up....."

Looks like he ain't wrong, as we walk closer to the road I can now clearly see that it is Kira.

June Makino, a very beautiful girl with long black hair, with skin pale as snow and blue eyes. She is also quite reserved and quite. I first met her when I was in my second year here and it was just pure coincidence.

At the time we were both in different classes but one afternoon when I forgot one of my books in the classroom, I heard a very calming, charming and soft voice coming from the classroom next door. When I opened the door I saw her still studying all alone in her classroom. The scenery of the afternoon sun hiding away in the horizon and her elegant expression as she focused captivated me. When I got closer and touched the door, the damm thing moved to the side and made noise causing her to realize I was there. After that we began talking once in a while and at some point I ended up falling in love with her.

Of course I never told her or asked her out since I was afraid of one day having to leave and not being able to say goodbye. However, when we got to our 6th year we stopped talking and drifted apart...

"Are you still not going to ask her out? Its our last year and your last chance to do it!"

As Arvin tried to encourage me to tell her my feelings, deep down I still refused to do it. I know I shouldn't be afraid of having to leave one day anymore but..... Would she accept me if she knew my past?....

"Nah its fine.... Things are just the way they should be, I'm sure she'll find someone much better"

After walking silently a bit more we are now walking right behind the group of students with June right in the center. I may have forgotten to tell you but June is actually our school belle so she has always been the center of attention. It does make me a bit sad knowing that we were once close and now we aren't. I sometimes wish things could go back to normal..

As I remembered all the good times I had in this school, I catched from the side of my eye as someone dressed in black, with a hoodie and a fox mask with blood like painting coming out of its eyes, ran past Diryan's side towards the group and suddenly without any warning push June into the main road and in the way of an incoming truck.

The moment I saw what was happening in front of me, I felt like my whole world had stopped. As I saw the incoming truck towards June and her incoming doom, a face which I had long forgotten reappeared inside my head.

"Z-Zein!!"

I couldn't just sit still and I see her die right in front of me so I sprinted as fast as I could and reached her. When my hand made contact with her soft hand I pulled her back and myself forward and then I let her go.

I managed to regain my balance and prevent myself from falling face first into the hard and clod pavement of the road. I then looked back and saw how June was now with the group, back on the grass and out of harms way.

As I stood there seeing her safe and sound I was filled with joy and relieve that I managed to get to her on time. But as I looked at her face I saw her expression change from confusion to sadness and shock.

I heard as Arvin screamed my name and ran towards me, it was at that moment that I realized that in the mist of my excitement and joy I had completely forgotten the most important part of all this development....

Truck-kun had arrived.

And as I felt the cold yet warm steel from the front of the truck hit my side followed by the intense pain of the rough wheels of the mighty beast run above my limbs, I couldn't help but be glad that the one lying on the floor was me and not her.

And after being ran over by the truck who stopped just a few meters from the scene, I laid in the cold concrete below, now colored red by my blood, coughing and gasping for air that I could not seem to obtain.

And after a few more seconds.... The pain began.

It hurts....

I can't feel my arms and i can't feel my legs.

It hurts....

I wanna cry yet no tears will fall.

It hurts....

And when I try to speak no sound will form.....

I can only move my eyes and and look around. I can hear the screams and cries of those surrounding me yet I can't make what it is they are saying. I try to look for the guy with the fox mask yet he is nowhere to be seen. And last but not least I see Arvin and June next to me crying....

I'm alright!

I wanna tell them....

Everything will be fine!

But I can't say it.....

My vision begins to blur and I begin to feel cold. Is this how my life will end? Is this my punishment for my sins? Soon everything turns dark and the noises stop. My mind and thoughts begging to vanish and my consciousness fades away....

But suddenly I hear a voice, rough yet warm.

"Who.... The fuck.... are you?"

....

Never mind I take it back, it's not warm at all!!!!