"Oh, you're awake?" a soft voice greeted him the moment his eyes fluttered open. "Good morning…"
Akira blinked, slowly adjusting to the light filtering through his curtains. He turned his head to find his younger sister standing at the side of his bed, her expression calm, as though she'd been waiting for him.
"…Akira-nii" she added, her voice laced with affection.
Akira smiled faintly, reaching out to pat her on the head, though he felt a bit groggy from the remnants of his dream. Pushing aside the strange thoughts lingering in his mind, he got out of bed, ready to change into his school uniform.
But before he could even start searching, he noticed his uniform had already been laid out neatly for him.
"I've already prepared it for you," his sister said, stepping closer. "Ahh… I'll change you instead."
Akira chuckled softly, shaking his head. "No, it's alright. I can do it myself, but… if you insist…"
She moved behind him, wrapping her arms around him in a warm embrace, her touch lingering as she helped him dress. There was a quiet intimacy In the way she hugged him from behind, her closeness unmistakable, as she carefully eased him into his uniform.
"Alright, you're good now," his sister said, having completely dressed Akira and straightened everything.
"Thank you, Aoi," Akira replied, patting her head again. Just as he was about to move, the door creaked open, and a boy stepped into the room.
"Oh, good morning, Nii-sama."
"Good morning, Shinji," Akira answered.
"Hm… I was about to prepare your uniform, but… since you're prepared already, let's eat together. Mom's cooking," Shinji said, noticing Akira already dressed.
"Alright, we should go to the kitchen together," Aoi said, gesturing for them to follow her. They made their way down the stairs and into the kitchen where the smell of breakfast filled the air.
Inside, a lady stood over the stove, her figure elegant and graceful as she prepared their morning meal. She noticed Akira's arrival and turned to him with a warm, passionate smile.
"Oh? Good morning, Dear," she greeted him, her voice soft and affectionate.
"Good morning, Mom," Akira responded, nodding.
"How is it, dear? Does it still hurt?" she asked, her voice tinged with concern as she stirred a pot on the stove.
"Don't worry, Mom, it's alright," Akira replied, offering a reassuring smile.
"Are you sure?" she pressed, her worry evident in her gaze.
"Really, it's fine," Akira assured her, trying to ease her concern.
"Then… anyway, I'll finish preparing…" she said, her expression softening as she turned back to her cooking.
Once she had finished cooking and set the table, the family gathered, ready to start their meal. Before taking their first bite, they all brought their hands together in a gesture of gratitude, saying in unison, "Itadakimasu."
After breakfast, the family brushed their teeth and prepared to leave for their respective destinations. Shinji was the first to head out, followed by Akira and Aoi. As they made their way to the door, Mom called out to Akira.
"Dear, wait for a moment…" She voice was soft, causing Akira to pause and turn back. Aoi, noticing the delay, looked at Aiko with a curious expression.
"Oh then, we'll wait for you outside," Aoi said, heading toward the door.
"Sure, alright," Akira replied, giving his mom a questioning look.
"I'm sorry for delaying you, but—" she began, her voice soft, a sad expression crossing her face as she looked down at the floor.
Akira's face broke into a sly grin. "Don't worry, Mom. Like I said yesterday, I will never leave you all."
She felt a wave of relief wash over her after hearing Akira's reassuring words. A warm smile spread across her face, lightening her expression. "I'm glad to hear that, dear," she said softly, her voice laced with tenderness. The moment hung between them, a blend of comfort and unspoken emotions, as they shared a brief yet meaningful glance before Akira stepped back.
She gently touched Akira's face, her thumb grazing his eye as she moved it back and forth twice. "Just be safe, all of you." A smile crept across Akira's lips.
"Alright, I'll be going now. You too, Mom, take care," Akira said as he opened the door and stepped outside.
"Well, we're going now, Mom!" Aoi called out, waving. Shinji also gave a brief wave as their mom returned the gesture, her hand moving slowly.
"See you later, Mom," Akira said over his shoulder as they made their way down the path toward school.
The siblings continued their journey, the warmth of their morning still lingering in their minds as they headed off to start their day.
As they walked to school, which wasn't far from home, Akira inserted his earbud and turned up the volume, letting the music flow into his ears.
"What music are you listening to, Akira-nii?" Aoi asked, her voice barely reaching him.
Akira didn't respond, lost in the sound, unable to hear her over the max volume. Aoi, noticing his distraction, poked him in the side. He turned to face her, and she pointed at her ear, signaling him about the earbud.
"Oh, you want to listen too?" Akira replied, a smile breaking across his face. "It's 'Dream Flower' by KLYDIX." He shared his right earbud with Aoi.
"Yeah, I know this song!" Aoi exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile as she enjoyed one of her favorite tracks.
Aoi walked on Akira's right side, who was in the 2nd year of senior high school. She's one year younger than him, and both were attending the same school, which lay a mere 500 meters from home.
"I finally beat the Bloodbath yesterday," Shinji announced as he munched on some chips.
"Yooo, how many attempts?" Akira asked, reaching over to grab a few chips.
"8… 8,467 attempts in total." Shinji answered nonchalantly.
"Hmm, that's fast progress compared to mine. 7 years ago, it took me around 21k attempts," Akira replied, admiration mixed with a shudder at the memory of his old gameplay.
On Akira's left was Shinji, who was in the 3rd year of junior high school. Being three years younger, he attended a school just 150 meters away from Akira and Aoi, which made it 450 meters from home, but he was still in the same school district.
If one were to talk about their appearances, the four of them—Akira, Aoi, Shinji, and their mother—shared striking similarities: golden eyes and brown hair. They were all blood relatives.
"Share me that food too— the song paused, Akira-nii," Aoi said, looking a bit disappointed.
"Just double-tap on the earbud—wait, we just brushed our teeth… Haaa…" Akira sighed, realization dawning on him.
"Aa, you're right," Aoi groaned, echoing his sentiment.
"That's unfortunate for you, Aoi-nee," Shinji chimed in, a hint of mischief in his tone.
Aoi sulked at her brother's teasing, but they continued their way to school, the bond between them strong despite the playful banter.
As they neared their respective schools, Shinji slowed his pace, glancing back at Akira and Aoi. His expression remained calm and neutral, as usual.
"Alright, I'm off. Take care, Aoi-nee and Nii-sama," Shinji said, his voice steady and composed. Without waiting for a response, he turned toward his school, which stood a little ahead of theirs.
"You too, just stay safe as always," Akira replied with a smile, though he knew Shinji didn't need any reminders about safety.
"Yeah, be safe… and just you wait…" Aoi added, her voice playful, though she sulked inwardly, still plotting her unfulfilled revenge on Shinji.
With a quiet nod, Shinji disappeared into his school building, his demeanor unchanged. There was no rush in his step, just a steady, measured pace that reflected his calm and disciplined nature.
Akira and Aoi continued their way toward their own school. The silence between them was comfortable, but Aoi suddenly sighed, her thoughts drifting.
"Haa… seeing Mom like that…" Aoi's voice trailed off, and a shadow of worry crossed her face. But just as quickly, she shook her head, her expression softening. "…but I guess, I shouldn't be worrying now." A faint smile appeared on her lips, and she leaned against Akira as they walked side by side, finding comfort in his presence.
As they reached the school entrance, throngs of students chatted and laughed together, the air alive with energy and camaraderie. Aoi and Akira walked side by side, the familiarity of their companionship warming their hearts.
Aoi closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. "Ahh, you know, it always feels new when important things break," she mused, her tone thoughtful as she reflected on the sensation of renewal that followed significant changes.
"Yeahh," Akira responded, nodding in agreement, fully understanding the sentiment she conveyed. He pulled out his phone, checking for notifications. "Hmm…" he murmured, a fleeting thought crossing his mind before slipping the device back into his pocket.
They finally arrived at the building entrance, where they changed their shoes before making their way up the stairs. As they ascended to the second floor…
"Let's talk and meet later again, Akira-nii," Aoi said, parting ways as her classroom was on this floor, specifically in Class 1.
"Yeah, I'll see you and talk to you later," Akira replied, offering her a reassuring smile as he continued up to the fourth floor. Upon reaching the landing, he walked toward his classroom, opened the door, and stepped inside, ready to face whatever the day held in store for him.
As he entered the room, Akira took off his earbud and returned it to its case, but he suddenly remembered that the right side was with Aoi.
"Hm… I guess maybe later," he thought as he walked to his designated seat.
The murmurs of the classroom swirled around him as all eyes were on Akira. He faced them for a brief moment before turning back, continuing his walk to his seat.
The classroom's seating arrangement consisted of six rows and five columns. Akira's seat was in the first column, located by the left window in the fifth row.
"Tch!! He's here," muttered the gal sitting next to him just as Akira was about to sit down.
Akira sensed her disdain but chose to ignore it, facing the window instead. The wind blew gently, causing him to squint slightly.
If one were to describe Akira's appearance, they would note his medium-length, messy brown hair, which fell over his eyes. He wore a monocle over his left eye and an eye patch on the right.
"Elloo, Airi~" the gal's friend greeted her brightly. "Hm? What's up with you all of a sudden?"
"Uh, I forgot that I sit next to a loser," Airi responded, frustration creeping into her voice as she glanced at Akira.
"Ah, yeah," Airi's friend said as she turned to face Akira and walked toward his table.
"Yuki, just leave him be. We don't have a choice," Airi called out, trying to stop Yuki from causing trouble.
Yuki shot Akira a disdainful look as she approached his table, clearly prepared to demand that he change seats. Just as she began to say, "Hey, will you—" Akira stood up, adjusting himself to avoid any confrontation. Without a word or a glance at Airi or Yuki, he quietly left the classroom.
"Yuki, didn't I— Haa… never mind." Airi sighed, placing her right hand on her forehead and closing her eyes in frustration at what had just happened.
"Aa, my bad, sorry…" Yuki responded, her cheeks flushing slightly as she realized her mistake.
"Yahoo~!" Natsuki called out, her voice bright and cheerful as she skipped into the classroom, her usual enthusiasm infectious.
"Hello," Miyu added, entering right behind her with her trademark calm expression, offering a gentle wave to Airi and Yuki.
"Uh, hii…" Yuki greeted them back, her tone a bit sheepish as she glanced at Airi, who still wore a frown.
"Hmm… what's going on here?" Natsuki asked, her brows furrowing in curiosity as she observed the unusual tension in the air.
"Did something happen?" Miyu inquired, her voice soft but probing, concerned for her friends.
"Ahh, it's just that I forgot I sit next to a loser," Airi huffed, the irritation still evident in her tone. "Then Yuki confronted him and was gonna demand he change seats."
"Really? Where is he, by the way?" Natsuki asked, glancing around the room and noticing Akira's absence.
"That guy left the classroom," Airi replied, crossing her arms with a huff. "He stood up before Yuki could even demand him to move."
"I just can't stand weak, lowkey people. They're indecisive," Airi claimed, her tone sharp as she pulled out her phone.
As she scrolled, a small smile crept onto her face, catching Yuki's attention. Noticing the reaction, Yuki leaned in and peered at Airi's screen.
"He really looks good… no wonder you like him," Yuki teased as they scrolled through pictures on Instagram.
"Eh? What's that? What's that?" Natsuki chimed in, her curiosity piqued as she scooted closer. "Is it about that guy? Lemme see."
Natsuki joined in, and soon enough, Miyu slid over too, peeking at the screen. They were all huddled around, staring at a photo of a handsome guy on Instagram, sharing amused glances.
Just then, the classroom door opened, and a guy walked in. His presence immediately grabbed the attention of most of the girls. Their eyes followed him as he made his way inside.
As the guy sat down in his seat, located in the 3rd column and directly beside Airi on her right, the quiet murmur of the class continued around them.
"Kaito-kun, good morning~" one of the girls called out to him, her voice calm and composed, almost melodic.
"Good morning, Rina," Kaito responded casually, his tone matching her composure with a quiet confidence.
As the two exchanged greetings, Airi glanced at them from her seat, leaning on her hand, her eyes slightly narrowed in observation. Her face remained calm, though a soft sigh escaped her lips. "Haa…"
---
The two girls strolled through the hallway, each carrying a stack of neatly arranged books in their arms. The girl on the left drew the attention of nearly everyone around her. Her eyes were as beautiful as the sky, and her pale yellow hair shimmered like sunlight, catching and reflecting the natural light streaming through the windows.
Walking beside her, the girl on the right—her assistant—kept pace with a calm and attentive demeanor.
"Eleanor-san, that guy earlier in the hallway… was it…" the assistant said, her tone hinting at curiosity.
"Akira," Eleanor finished, her gaze shifting as she recalled the boy from earlier. The thought of him lingered in her mind, pulling her into quiet reflection.
"Yeah… I wonder what happened," the assistant continued, clearly intrigued by the brief encounter.
"Yeah… I wonder…" Eleanor echoed softly, her eyes narrowing slightly as her thoughts swirled. "That eye…" she mumbled to herself, barely audible.
"Hmm?" The assistant glanced over, curiosity in her expression.
"It's nothing—" Eleanor replied, her tone dismissive as she waved the thought away. "By the way, Naoko, wanna join us later? We're planning a tea party."
"Uh, is it alright? If it is, then… sure," Naoko responded, a small smile forming on her lips. Her initial confusion was replaced by excitement at the invitation.
Eleanor and Naoko walked side by side, chatting as they headed to the faculty room. After a short walk, they finally arrived at their destination.
---
In the courtyard, Akira sat on the bench, pulling out his phone to scroll through Instagram. The minutes passed as he mindlessly swiped through posts, his attention fading into the familiar comfort of the screen. After a while, he checked the time—a sharp reminder that class was about to begin.
With a sigh, he slipped the phone into his pocket and stood up. But as soon as he did, a wave of dizziness hit him hard. His vision blurred, and his body felt like it was drained of all its strength.
"Fuck, I forgot to take my medicine," Akira muttered weakly, his legs buckling beneath him as everything faded to black.
---
"Uh! Hmm… I guess someone brought me here—" Akira groaned as he stirred awake, feeling the softness of the bed beneath him, his body heavy and his head throbbing. He pressed a hand to his temple. "Ugh, my head still hurts," he muttered, squinting as he sat up, still a bit dazed.