The shrill sound of the alarm broke the morning silence, and with a slow, heavy motion, I turned it off, still submerged in the haze of sleep. My eyelids felt like lead, but the tranquility of slumber vanished as soon as Minata burst into my room.
"Kirata, get up! We're going to be late if you keep this up," Minata said in that firm tone she always used when she wanted me to move quickly, like a second alarm clock.
"Just a few more minutes..." I mumbled, dragging the words. Sleep still weighed heavily on me.
"Kirata, we don't have time to waste. You stayed up late last night, didn't you? It doesn't matter, I'll pack everything for you. Get up, you have no more excuses."
Without saying a word, I dragged myself out of bed, the exhaustion still clinging to me. She had already packed my things without me noticing. I looked at my backpack, perfectly ready, and before I could thank her, she was already downstairs, taking my backpack as if she had kidnapped it.
I got dressed in my school uniform, and my mind began to wake up. "Another day," I thought, "a normal day." I finished getting ready and went down to the first floor, where the smell of breakfast already filled the air.
Our mother, Hitoha, was waiting for us in the kitchen with a smile. We sat down at the table, and while we ate breakfast, she said something she knew was meant to reassure us.
"Kids, I know you're still worried, but you can be at ease. What happened last time won't happen again. The school has reinforced security. I trust you'll be much safer now."
Minata, who always wore her emotions on her face, showed clear relief.
"That's good to hear, Mom," she said with a smile. "Now we'll be much safer."
I nodded silently, though deep down I wondered if it would really be like that. After finishing breakfast, Mom handed us both a bag with a sandwich for later. We said goodbye to her before heading to school.
The path to school was one we knew by heart, but that morning Minata seemed worried, as if something was bothering her.
"Hey, Kirata, do you think what happened last time at school could happen again?" she asked me.
"I don't know, but don't worry. If it happens again, I'll protect you," I said, trying to instill confidence in her.
However, her face showed even more uncertainty, recalling what had happened that previous time.
"But... last time, you protected me, and you got hurt. I don't want that to happen again, Kirata."
"Don't worry," I replied, "Kiyo is teaching me how to fight so I can protect you."
When we arrived at school, we saw Kiyo waiting for us at the entrance. He greeted us with his usual enthusiasm.
"Kirata, my dear friend!" Kiyo said with a sly smile. "And Minata, radiant as always."
Minata, spotting her friends in the distance, ran off toward them, paying little attention to Kiyo, who watched her with a certain disappointment as she passed him by.
"She ignored me completely..." Kiyo muttered, frowning, as if trying to figure out what he had done wrong.
I just patted him on the shoulder and smiled, focusing on asking him about our training as we walked through the hallways. The school wasn't the same anymore; security cameras watched from every corner, and guards patrolled the hallways with serious expressions. The sense of control was palpable, as if the entire building was wrapped in a web of watchful eyes.
When we got to class, the teacher presented us with a surprise: a new student. Yukomy Himejima, a 17-year-old girl, entered the classroom and took a seat.
When my eyes met Yukomy's, I felt an unexpected jolt in my chest. It wasn't just her beauty that struck me, though yes, she was beautiful. There was something more about her, something in her gaze that seemed to scrutinize every corner of my being.
She had a blunt bob haircut that fell just below her ears. Her black hair, with blue streaks, gave her a mysterious air. But what truly captivated me were her eyes: gray, piercing, with a gleam that seemed... "Wait, no, no. Focus. I came here to do this job, no distractions. I don't have time for feelings, much less for romantic entanglements. Keep your head cool."
The rest of the class passed in a blur. The teacher started organizing the groups for the assignment, assigning partners quickly, until she stopped in front of me. "Kirata, you don't have a group yet, right? You'll be working with her," she said, pointing to Yukomy.
I stayed still for a moment, surprised. My mind took a while to process what I had just heard. I nodded, trying to seem calm. The teacher, addressing the rest of the class, added:
"Remember, the assignment is due in two weeks. Don't leave it until the last minute."
Recess came, and while everyone dispersed, I decided to slip away. My goal was to reach the rooftop without anyone noticing.
I moved stealthily through the hallways, dodging my classmates and any curious glances. Finally, I reached the door that led to the rooftop. With a bit of trepidation, I turned the doorknob, making sure it didn't make a sound. The door opened, and I let out a sigh of relief.
The fresh air and sunlight bathed my face, and for a moment, all the inner chaos faded away. The silence of the rooftop was a welcome relief, far from the stares and expectations. Here, at least for a moment, I felt free. But I knew that tranquility wouldn't last long.
"Kirata?" her voice broke the silence of the place, but there was no reproach in it, only curiosity. "Are you really hiding up here?"
I turned my head, and there was Yukomy, looking at me. The smile that spread across her face left me breathless. Though she seemed a bit disappointed, there was something about her attitude that made everything feel more... special. There was something in her, a kind of complicity that we now shared by being the only two here.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I'm Yukomy, and it seems we share more than we thought. Pleased to meet you, Kirata."