The school corridors stretched endlessly, a maze of echoing footsteps and fleeting shadows. Amidst this labyrinth, a figure darted with the urgency of a fugitive, sweat beading on her brow, trailing down her neck in glistening rivulets. Each step she took sent her backpack bouncing like a restless companion.
Suddenly, she halted, chest heaving as she gasped for breath. "Airi!" Her voice echoed off the cold walls, the desperation tanglible.
"Kenzui!" The response was a soft, familiar murmur, a beacon of reassurance in the chaos.
Turning, she spotted her friend, a moment of relief washing over her like a gentle tide. With weary steps, she closed the distance, sinking into the chair opposite Airi, her sanctuary amidst the storm.
Airi arched a questioning brow. "Where on earth were you?"
"I've been searching the entire school for you," Kenzui confessed, weariness etched in every line of her face.
"I tried calling you the moment I was out of class, but knowing you, you probably left your phone at home" Airi scoffed, a hint of annoyance in her tone.
Kenzui sighed, a familiar refrain of forgetfulness. "You know me too well."
"And... you had gym session, right?" Airi's gaze softened with understanding as she rummaged through her bag.
Kenzui nodded wearily. "Morning practice again. Our coach pushed us to the brink this time. It was brutal. I might just skip it next time."
As the words left her lips, Airi reached in her ba a handful of coins and extended her hand to give them to Kenzui. "Get something from the vending machine over there. You need to eat."
"You're a lifesaver, Airi" Kenzui exclaimed, gratitude flooding her features as she leaped from her seat while excitedly hopping up and down.
She strode towards the cafeteria with measured steps, chin held high, a soft smile playing on her lips. Her hands nestled in her pockets, a gesture of quiet contentment. Her mind danced with visions of the vending machine's offerings—a long baguette adorned with freshly sliced ham, the creamy embrace of American cheese, and a soft layer of mayonnaise, a humble feast for a simple soul.
Turning the corner, she found the vending machine, a beacon of hope amidst the mundane. With practiced ease, she inserted the coins, tapping the usual code. The machine whirred to life, its metallic gears spinning until a savory baguette tumbled into the tray below. With eager hands, she retrieved her prize, fingers deftly unwrapping the plastic casing.
"Mmm" she hummed, savoring the anticipation of her well-deserved reward.
As the aroma of her breakfast tantalized her senses, Kenzui returned to her seat. With eager hands, she tore into the baguette, savoring each bite as if it were the first taste of freedom after a long captivity. Yet, despite this delight, tiredness weighed heavily upon her, and she found solace in laying her head upon the table, a moment of respite amidst the hustle and bustle of the cafeteria.
"Anyway," Kenzui sighed once more, her words punctuated by a hint of exhaustion, "We have to go to... class soon." she muttered, a grunt slipping between syllables.
Airi nodded in agreement, her gaze thoughtful. "Yeah, we do. I heard a new professor is coming in today, although I don't know why they changed him. Hopefully, he's good."
"Really?" Relief flooded Kenzui's features, her fatigue momentarily forgotten. "That's great news. The previous one was so dull. This could be a refreshing change, y'know?"
As the words left her lips, a wave of weariness washed over her once more, and she closed her eyes, the promise of a new professor offering a glimmer of hope in the midst of her exhaustion.
Glancing at her watch, Airi's expression shifted to one of urgency. "I think it's time to leave the café," she remarked, tapping Kenzui's head lightly.
With a reluctant groan, Kenzui stirred from her brief respite. "Alright, alright! I'm getting up!"
With a final stretch, Kenzui opened her eyes to the warm embrace of sunlight streaming through the café window. Pushing her chair back, she slung her bag over her shoulder, falling into step beside Airi.
The echo of footsteps reverberated down the hallway, a symphony of hurried strides punctuated by the high-pitched call of a familiar voice that filled the school's halls. "Airi? Airi!" Each syllable seemed to carry a sense of urgency, causing Airi to quicken her pace, a restless energy simmering beneath her composed exterior.
Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Kenzui cast a puzzled glance at Airi, a nervous grin tugging at her lips. "Hey! What's gotten into you?" Her words were interrupted by an abrupt yelp as Airi seized her hand, thrusting it into Kenzui's mouth with surprising force. Their eyes met, a silent understanding passing between them.
"She's coming... you know," Airi whispered urgently, her gaze darting around the hallway.
"Wait, hold on...Huh?!" Kenzui's protest was muffled as Airi silenced her with a warning. "I told you not to shout! She'll come soon," Airi admonished, her tone laced with frustration as she released Kenzui's hand and resumed walking.
Puzzled, Kenzui glanced down, only to find her white shoelaces being tugged back and forth, seemingly of their own accord. Before she could voice her confusion, her words were cut short by the appearance of a figure with light pink hair, striding towards them with an air of confidence.
Taller than Airi, with eyes that sparkled like polished chestnuts, she commanded attention with every step, her attire a testament to her boldness.
"Airi!" The newcomer greeted, removing her sunglasses with a flourish. "It's been a while"
"Welcome back, Hibiki" Airi replied flatly, her monotone betraying none of the warmth typically associated with reunions.
Hibiki chuckled softly, her gaze shifting to Kenzui, who stood nearby, hands buried in the pockets of her red jacket, feigning indifference.
"Ugh! What are you doing here, Iwasaki?" Hibiki's voice rose in indignation, her hands assuming a defensive stance. "I thought they kicked you out too!"
Kenzui laughed, her amusement evident. "Where did you hear that?"
Hibiki's expression darkened with anger. "How did you manage to get back in, Iwasaki? Tell us, all of us!" Her words echoed through the hallway as she looked around, drawing the attention of nearby students who eagerly reached for their phones, anticipating a confrontation.
"I never left, Hibiki" Kenzui replied calmly, her tone devoid of malice.
Hibiki's accusation lingered in the air, a weighty silence enveloping the hallway as tension crackled between her and Kenzui. With her head bowed, Kenzui's wide eyes remained fixed on Hibiki's, a silent challenge amidst the charged atmosphere.
Slowly, Kenzui's hand found the strap of her bag, her movements deliberate as she leaned forward, her entire weight pressing down on Hibiki. With a deft motion, she nudged Hibiki with her jacket, a gesture laden with defiance.
"Hey, be careful not to swallow her whole again going after her," a chorus of laughter erupted from a group of boys who had just arrived. Unmoved by their amusement, Kenzui remained focused, her attention solely on Hibiki. Without a glance back at the jeering group, she seized her bag and hurled it towards Hibiki's face.
"Hey! Stop it. You'd better behave like adults," Airi's voice cut through the tension, her interruption a plea for reason amidst the escalating conflict.
"Michiko, it's been a while since we had such incidents at school, why do you keep defending Iwasaki?" A male voice emerged from the crowd.
"Oh, Makoto! What are you doing here?" Another girl shouts.
"Would I miss Iwasaki? Let's see what she'll do this time." They all burst into laughter as Airi interrupts them.
"The matter is over. Hibiki, please stay calm, and Kenzui, it's better—" Airi's attempt at mediation was cut short as Kenzui lifted her head, her gaze fixing on the tall figure at the center of the commotion.
"Are you proud of the shit that just came out of your mouth?" Kenzui's voice held a hint of mischief, her eyes narrowing with determination.
"Shut up, brat. Do you want the teachers to know about this?" Takemoto's retort was laced with venom, his voice barely audible amidst the murmurs of the crowd.
"You have my consent to tell everything to the principal, I didn't do anything after all" Kenzui responded evenly, her tone betraying no hint of fear or remorse.
"Do you think your stupid replies belittle me? You wish, Iwasaki," Takemoto's words dripped with disdain, his frustration evident.
"Takemoto, are you always like this, or are you just showing off your stupidity when I'm around?" Kenzui's retort was met with a simmering silence, the tension between them reaching its zenith.
"I said it's over," a voice from afar interrupted, drawing the attention of the crowd. With each echoing footstep, the woman's presence loomed larger, casting a shadow over the confrontation.
"Kenzui Iwasaki, Makoto Takemoto, in my office in 5 minutes. The rest of you, please leave and have a nice weekend," the woman's authoritative voice commanded, her words punctuating the end of the altercation.
Shocked but seething with anger, Kenzui began to gather her scattered belongings from the floor, her embarrassment palpable. Though she remained silent, her resolve burned brightly, a fierce determination fueling her every action.
"Really now?" Takemoto grumbled impatiently, his frustration barely contained as the crowd dispersed, leaving behind a lingering sense of unease.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the room, the only source of light seemed to emanate from Mrs. Sasaki's desk lamp. Its soft glow illuminated the solemn faces of those gathered, lending an air of gravity to the proceedings. With each movement, the click of Mrs. Sasaki's pen echoed in the otherwise hushed room, a stark contrast to the tension that hung thick in the air.
With a deliberate clearing of her throat, Mrs. Sasaki broke the heavy silence, her gaze shifting between the two students seated before her.
"This isn't the first time you've found yourselves in my office together," she began, her voice carrying the weight of authority.
"Ma'am," Makoto interjected, his tone defensive, "you know I had nothing to do with Kenzui. She was already causing a disturbance with another student."
Mrs. Sasaki's expression remained impassive as she turned her attention to Makoto. "Indeed. Makoto, could you please explain why you were out of school at that time?" Her inquiry was met with a dismissive click of Makoto's tongue as he shoved his hands into his pockets, a gesture of nonchalance.
"I... I was just walking around," he mumbled, his excuse lacking conviction.
"Hmm, an acceptable excuse, Makoto. You're dismissed. But please, refrain from interfering again," Mrs. Sasaki's verdict was delivered with a firmness that brooked no argument.
Makoto's eyes widened in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up as he processed the unexpected reprieve. He offered a hurried thanks before snatching up his backpack and hastily exiting the room.
Meanwhile, Kenzui remained immersed in her own world, her attention fixated on her untied shoelaces. Her head hung low, obscuring her gaze as her long bangs veiled half of her face.
Minutes stretched into eternity as Mrs. Sasaki waited patiently for Kenzui to emerge from her reverie, her silence a deliberate invitation for the girl to speak.
Finally, unable to ignore the weight of Mrs. Sasaki's expectant gaze any longer, Kenzui stirred from her thoughts. "Your parents called," Mrs. Sasaki's voice cut through the stillness like a knife, her words sharp and commanding. "It's about your studies."
Kenzui's attention snapped to the teacher, her expression a mixture of confusion and apprehension. "Huh?" she muttered, her mind racing to decipher the implications of Mrs. Sasaki's cryptic statement.
As Mrs. Sasaki continued, her voice softened with concern. "Well, since your parents haven't come into my office for a while to be informed about your academic performance, they called me recently." Kenzui shifted uncomfortably in her seat, her eyes drifting away from Mrs. Sasaki's gaze.
"Look, Kenzui, I don't know what you've been doing, but—" Kenzui cut in sharply, her frustration evident in her tone.
"Mrs. Sasaki, I honestly don't care. They don't even—" Her words were halted by Mrs. Sasaki's firm interruption.
"They're worried, Kenzui," Mrs. Sasaki's voice held a note of sympathy, "and so am I. It's my job to look after you."
Kenzui fell silent, her temper simmering beneath the surface. A nervous energy coursed through her, manifesting in the rhythmic tapping of her foot and the restless motion of her hand against her forehead.
"Look, I know you don't like chatting with me, and I perfectly understand the reason behind it," Mrs. Sasaki's voice softened, a hint of resignation creeping into her tone. "Your parents may pay me, but that doesn't make me a bad person."
Kenzui scoffed, her skepticism palpable. "Right, if that's what you think is the reason, then you're fooling yourself."
With a weary sigh, Mrs. Sasaki leaned back in her chair. She turned her gaze towards the window, where the last rays of sunlight painted the sky in hues of orange and pink. An idea sparked in her mind, and she turned back to face Kenzui.
"I have an assignment for you," she declared, her voice cutting through the heavy silence.
Kenzui offered no response. Mrs. Sasaki retrieved a small piece of paper and quickly scrawled a single period on it before extending it towards Kenzui.
Kenzui glanced at the paper without interest, her hand remaining limp at her side as Mrs. Sasaki offered it to her. With her head still resting on the palm of her hand, her expression bored and detached, she made no move to take it.
As the scene faded to black, the sound of a door closing echoed through the room, signaling the end of their conversation.
Kenzui approached the lockers, which lined the wall facing the glass windows, her red hood casting a shadow over her face. She reached into the back pocket of her jeans, retrieving the key to her lock. The metal clinked softly as she unlocked and opened the door, the sound stretching across the hallway in a long, hollow echo.
Inside, her locker was divided into three shelves. The top shelf held old notebooks and books, remnants of past classes. The middle shelf, the largest, was a chaotic jumble of unfolded clothes and sport flasks. She glanced at the disarray, then turned her head to the side, her eyes catching on the old magnets she had placed there when she first opened the locker.
Her hand reached for a bottle of water, but she paused, her gaze shifting to the locker's back wall. It was a canvas of metal, covered in stickers and "tags" with her name scrawled on them. She paused, turning her head to the right, where a small Polaroid picture was pinned. It was a snapshot of her and Airi, both smiling. Kenzui's expression remained stoic, yet she carefully took the picture in her hand, studying it.
After a few moments, she turned the picture around. Faded, hand-written letters on the back read, "August 10, 2015". She muttered to herself, "When was that, three years ago?" and let out a big sigh. She replaced the picture, securing it with a magnet.
Abruptly, she knelt down and pulled her backpack to the front. She entered a code on a small black safe at the bottom of her locker. With a click, the lid opened, revealing an array of brand-new colorful spray cans. She quickly loaded her backpack with the cans, zipped it up, and stood.
With a final glance around, Kenzui closed her locker and left the hallway. The sun had set, leaving the school bathed in the soft, artificial glow of the hallway lights, and outside, Akihabara was coming alive with its usual nighttime energy.