"Hey, Basara-kun, did you get the limited time goodies from Marts?"
"Yeah, I did."
Laughter.
Giggling.
Very annoying.
I sat on my seat and hung my bag as I looked out of the window.
*Another boring day... huh?* I thought before letting out a sigh.
The class started with homeroom. We were already preparing for one of my worst activity in the whole school year..... the sports festival. The teacher had to ask us to pick out the activities we wanted to engage in.
BOYS- Football
GIRLS-Volleyball.
These days always gave me a heartache and I hated them.
"Atsu-kun!" A girl shouted while running in my direction and waving.
*Huh? Am Atsushi.* I thought looking at the girl and raising my hand to wave at her but then..... she ran past me and stopped in front of a guy.
Smile....smile...💢💢
Obviously I felt embarrassed, what if I had waved at her, I'd look like a weirdo.
As you guessed, am a loner. A loser. I have no friends, it's not like I don't want to but, no one would want to be friends with a boring kid. I've grown to be quite uncaring. My mom died when I was about entering high-school and I never met my dad. I've been taking care of myself for the past 7 months.
"Guys, let's go train for our match against class-4, Jo would surely play for his class and we might lose." Juro, our assistant prefect said as the others nodded.
I didn't want to be part of them. I've always escaped the festivals in the school cause attention is one thing I hate.
They kept discussing their tactics and other stuff, things that didn't concern me, After which I reluctantly followed the boys to the field.
Of course I sat it out, I can't join them but something made me to sit back and watch. If I had left no one would notice that but still, I wanted to stay. I don't know but soccer always made me feel nostalgic.
After the practice, I went straight home to open up our diner. It was a family business that was passed down to my mother by her father and it was how we made ends meet until she died. Now, I am the one in charge. Luckily for me, I wasn't a bad cook, I learnt how to make everything on our menu, and I learnt some more online.
"Hey, Atsushi-kun." An old man called walking into the diner.
"Good day, Fujita-San." I greeted as he sat on a seat.
"One plate of curry rice for me." He said as I nodded before turning on the cooker.
I got ready to prepare his order covering my hair with the black clothe-like material which I was always tied whenever I wanted to cook.
The next customer walked in and sat at a table and I greeted him asking what he wanted. He replied and I rushed to prepare it as more customers walked in.
Our diner was a popular one so it wasn't a surprise that many people patronised us even though I was the one preparing it. I was that good of a cook.
I closed the shop after having a series of customers and walked back home which was actually the floor above the diner. After, I was done showering I fell on the bed and slept off.
The next day, I went to school as usual and went straight to my class, class 1-9. First class, homeroom. The teacher asked us to pick papers for the activities that we would engage in during the sports festival( activities other than the general class one).
*The hell?* I thought while looking at the paper, boys 500 meter dash.
"Kisho Atsushi, 500 meters dash." The teacher said as my name was written down on the board.
"The day's almost here, do your best." He said before leaving the class.
*Tch, I should have avoided this.* I thought going back to my seat.
The sports day came, and we engaged in our activities, I wasn't thrilled or happy like the others but instead I felt like puking. Running, I won't say I've never done it before but I just stopped it after my second year of middle school. I left many things behind in middle school.
Well, not like I have any say in this.
"Runners for boys 500 meters dash please line up." I walked up front and stood on my marks.
"Who's that kid that's running for our class?"
"Adunno, must be the one who likes being alone."
"I hope he doesn't make us lose, we've been doing badly since today."
I knew I was the one they were referring to and yes, we've been behind in the activities we've done. The whistle was blown and as I was about to start running, I tripped and fell.
"Whoa!"
"Dammit, we'll lose."
*Arrgh! I've done it.* I thought, my face buried in the sand. I didn't want to stand cause I was ashamed. I cursed myself. But before I knew it, I was running again.
*Huh...? What's happening?* I thought as I passed the 6th, 5th and fourth. I was running faster than I knew myself for. I swear I didn't know what was going on...
"Whoa he's really fast." Someone said as I passed the 3rd. But I kinda like it.
We reached the finish line and I came in second, that's cause I barely made it past the second as we approached the finish line.
"Who's that guy?"
*Am never doing that again.* I thought breathing heavily as the others came to congratulate me.
PS: None of them knew who I was, just that I had a blue head band.
The sports festival went smoothly later on and we had no problem. I hid behind another team when they were looking for boys to replace one of the soccer players.
The soccer game was cool, I enjoyed watching it cause it was weirdly fun. Since I was very little I've always loved soccer. I felt a connection between me and it. Unluckily for me, I never got to play cause according to people I was wierd, so no one agreed to play with me.
The second half of the game was already beginning with no goals from any team.
The red team, our opponents passed the ball to the guy in the right wing and then, their was a corner and then.
"GOAL!!!!!" The red team had scored.
*Huh? What's this? It's wierd.* I thought looking at them. None of them had a face and their movements were slowed down.
I stood up immediately but others were still clapping. Then, Immediately, it was like I was forcefully teleported somewhere else.
"What the hell!!!!!" I screamed as I fell down from a tunnel. "Ouch." I opened my eyes and looked around me. "Whoa!" I gasped looking around the place.
"Welcome to SW East." A man said as I turned towards him.
"Who?" I asked confused.
"I'll be in your care for your stay here. I am Yamazaki Haruya. You can call me coach." He said, his face too stern.
*Oh, I get it. Maybe it's cause I was too tired from running that am having this stupid dream.* I thought.
"You might be thinking it's a dream but it isn't. Follow me and I'll take you to your team mates." He said walking away.
*Reality, team mates, what the hell?* I thought before following him.