April 10
Sunday
Early Morning
Cloudy
Akira sat on the couch with his jacket in his lap. Despite having a strange dream, his main concern was the state of his body. His stomach ached with hunger. He had grown significantly in height and weight, and his appetite followed suit. He had already eaten half a dozen energy bars from his bag and wanted to save the rest for emergencies.
He was jolted from his thoughts by the sound of the downstairs door opening. Seeing the older gentleman climbing the stairs confirmed Akira's guess and reminded him to get a curtain for his room. While he doubted Sakura-san would knowingly allow someone to go upstairs, a too-curious individual could be tempted to climb up.
"Good to see you're already up."
"Good morning to you as well, Sakura-san."
"You didn't eat dinner, and with the size you're at, I doubt a few snacks would do you any good. We don't have much time now, but bear with it until we come back."
"Sure."
"Let's go introduce ourselves to the staff about your transfer. The school you're attending is in the Aoyama district. It'll take a while to get there by train, and the transfers are a real hassle. I'll drive you there just for today. Let's go."
"Sheesh… Men aren't usually allowed in my passenger seat," grumbled Akira's "guardian".
Thankfully, Sojiro was climbing down the stairs and couldn't see Akira suppressing a chuckle. It was difficult to pinpoint what exactly it was about Sojiro that made him like him as a game character even if his initial impression was terrible. Perhaps it was the coolness with which he dealt with the world while still being a warm-hearted person? Nonetheless, Akira fixed his expression and gathered his thoughts as he followed behind the café owner.
Daytime
Cloudy
Later, the two arrived at the front gate of Shujin Academy, a dreary grey school building.
"I doubt I have to tell you how to behave, but I'll remind you anyway. Don't cause yourself or me any trouble."
.
.
.
Soon, Sojiro was signing the documents finalizing Akira's transfer.
Whilst the principal, who resembled Dr. Eggman with stubbier legs, and Sojiro were discussing, Akira feigned attention and took secretive glances at the woman standing next to the highest authority at Shujin Academy.
Sadayo Kawakami. Despite faint dark circles under her eyes, slightly wrinkled clothes, and slouching posture, she was still a charming woman. However, Akira was more interested in what building a stronger relationship with her would unlock.
"To reiterate, just so we're clear, you will be immediately expelled if you cause any problems. In my opinion, you're nothing but a liability, but we had our circumstances to consider. Whatever you might've gotten away with in your hometown, those days are over. If you are thrown out of our school, there will be no place for you to go. Keep that in mind."
Akira looked into the principal's eyes with an indifferent expression. He desperately wanted to refute the man. Akira's high school entrance exam scores were among the best in the nation, and he had received offers from elite schools but opted to stay home. The high school there was prestigious enough, and he could stay close to home. A school like Shujin wasn't barely worth considering, yet now this Dr. Eggman wannabe wanted to act like he was doing him a favor.
Instead of voicing the insult his heart wanted to release, Akira bowed his head noncommittally, barely restraining himself.
Unaware of Akira's internal turmoil, the principal continued.
He gestured toward the woman standing silently next to him. "This is the teacher in charge of your class."
"I'm Sadayo Kawakami," she said, weariness evident in her voice.
"Here's your student ID."
Sadayo handed over a standard-issue plastic ID card, but Akira noticed the colorfully designed card underneath. He quickly gestured with his eyes so Sadayo could notice. Like lightning, she grabbed the flowery card and continued as if nothing had happened.
"Be sure to read the school rules. Any violations, and you'll be sent straight to the guidance office. And if by chance you cause any problems, I won't be able to protect you at all."
"…That IS your promise, yes, Principal Kobayakawa?"
"Mmhmm. He is responsible for all his actions."
"But really, why me? There should've been better candidates."
"It was a sudden transfer, and your class was the only one with an opening."
Sojiro and Akira shared a look before the former addressed the two unwilling educators.
"If you're done explaining things, mind if we get going? I have a store to get back to."
"Sakura-san, please keep a close eye on him. Don't let him cause any trouble outside."
Principal Kobayakawa stared intensely into Sojiro's eyes before leveling Akira with a sharp gaze.
"I'll be sure to have a serious talk about the situation he's in."
Heaving a great sigh, Sadayo adjusted her gaze toward Akira, though she was just staring in his general direction and not at his eyes.
"Come to the faculty office when you arrive at school tomorrow. I'll show you to your classroom."
With those encouraging words, Sojiro and Akira bid their farewells and left.
"Everyone's giving you the cold shoulder. That's what having a criminal record does to you. Turns out your past follows you wherever you go. By the way… if you get expelled now, I won't hesitate to kick you out. Got it?"
"Contrary to popular opinion, I am an exemplary honors student."
Sojiro wanted to retort, but he had done some research and learned that Akira was not just a good student but a nationally recognized one. How a kid with such a bright future ended up in this situation was beyond him.
"Hmm… I don't doubt your capabilities as a student. Just stay away from trouble… for your own sake. Come on, we're going home."
Evening
Cloudy
"Ugh. Traffic's not moving at all… You're taking the train starting tomorrow. So, how was it? The school, I mean. You think you can manage?"
"Like I said before, Sakura-san. Don't worry about it because I'm certainly not."
"You're really a guy that only follows his own rhythm. So damn troublesome. Huh? What's wrong?"
"I'm just hungry."
Akira turned his gaze toward the still scenery outside, but he could feel Sakura-san's sideways glance.
"Right… You didn't eat dinner last night or breakfast. And with that kind of build, I bet your calorie intake is high. I'll make you something once we get back."
"…Thank you."
"Don't mention it. Seriously, don't."
[…And now back to today's top stories. A subway train has derailed, severely affecting the timetable across all of— ]
"…Another accident? So that's why it's so crowded. There have been a lot of those lately. In fact, there was a really sad one last month. It happened before you came here. If I remember right, the girl who passed away was only fifteen. Her parents have gotta be just…"
[…All traffic around Shibuya Station is being redirected due to the accident, so drivers should expect jam-packed streets.]
"Oh, come on!"
Hearing Sojiro's complaints, Akira's lips quirked into a barely noticeable smile. The fact that Sojiro so accurately remembered the information about the girl and thought about how her parents would react revealed to Akira that his seemingly aloof "guardian" was much more soft-hearted than he led on.
Akira spent the car ride creating an internal map of what he saw. While doing so, he thought about the future and the plans he would need to make.
When the teen and the middle-aged man returned to Cafe Leblanc, it was quite late due to the detour taking an exorbitant amount of time.
After grumbling a bit, Sojiro asked Akira to sit at the counter. After taking off his hat and jacket, he went into the kitchen and prepared a simple meal of rice and curry while the TV played the news of the accident. Within half an hour, Sojiro served the teen a large plate of delicious-smelling rice and curry.
Akira's attempt to thank him was interrupted by a phone call.
"Hey, what's up? Hmm… I'm about to leave right now. Don't worry, I'll be there in no time. Uh-huh, I'll see you soon."
Anyone could see the smile and look of affection Sojiro had when talking to the person on the line, and Akira, having a good guess at who it was, couldn't help but also smile.
"Well—, what's with that look on your face?"
"It's the first time you've had a genuine smile on your face since we met."
"…"
"I won't pry, but it sounds like someone you hold dear is on the line. Don't loiter around here for my sake, Sakura-san. Thanks for the food, and I'll make sure to clean the dishes after I'm done."
"You're really a troublesome guy. There's more food on the stove if you're still hungry afterward. You've got school tomorrow, so make sure to head off to bed once you're finished."
"Thank you."
After giving Akira another glance, Sojiro removed his apron, grabbed his jacket and hat, and headed out the door with a gruff goodbye as he left.
Akira devoured the plate of food and quickly finished the remaining portion on the stove. On his way to the nearby bathhouse for a quick soak, the phone rang. After a brief exchange, Sakura-san tasked him with flipping the entry sign to closed at night and told him to lock up the store.
After a warm bath and locking the door to the café, Akira relaxed on his bed, scrolling through the news on his phone when he noticed the familiar black and red app. This time he didn't attempt to delete the app and instead placed it in a password-protected folder. The sounds of cars in the background served as an impromptu lullaby, allowing him to drift into sleep.