"...Alarm clock rang".
Annoyed by the intrusion, he reached out and tapped the button to silence it, the sudden silence ringing in his ear.
With a tired yawn, Yukki remarked, "Well, that's a way to start the day after a long summer break."
'Waking up early was a challenge.'
Seven-thirty in the morning. It was a fine day. The house was same as always. It was a two-story building that filled with daily necessities needed to survive the day.
He lifted himself up and slowly pulled back the curtain.
Casting with gentle rays, he shielded his eyes as the lights penetrated his room, gradually filled the space with lights. He slowly opened his eyes and stood captivated, his breath catching at the sight.
After a moment, he turned away from the window and threw off his covers to swing his leg over to the edge of the bed. With his head turned in the direction of his lap and his arm on his thighs, he yawned deeply with absolutely no intention of going to school.
But...
He was forced to.
"This is going to be annoying."
Yuuki checked his alarm clock that was beside his bed and it showed seven-forty-five. He thought deeply about himself.
"Something feels off - why do I feel like today is important?" he muttered.
He suddenly remembered. His thoughts shifted abruptly, and he hurriedly checked the calendar on his desk. 'Entrance Ceremony'- (22.6.2021). He stared at the calendar in disbelief as today marked an important date.
Yukki's heart raced as he glanced at the clock. Seven-fifty five. The weight of potential consequences crashed over him - being late on the first day could mean detention, disappointed teachers, or worse, being labeled as unreliable by his new classmates. He took a deep breath, willing his anxiety to subside as he reached for the door handle."
Yukki transferred to a high school called Yomi High School. He is a first year who doesn't want to be late for obvious reasons.
Today...
"WAS THE ENTRANCE CEREMONY!!" he exclaimed, his heart pounding non-stop with anxiety.
He had completely forgotten about the important event that marked the start of his high school journey.
He hurriedly opened the door with urgency and sprinted to the bathroom. Once inside, Yukki turned on the faucet, allowing the water to heat up.
"Ahhhh, a hot shower is the best" he muttered, his face filled with satisfaction.
Having no time to spare, he snapped out of his comfort zone and hurried out of the tub. A hand wiped the mist of the mirror and it showed Yuuki brushing his teeth and styling his hair at the same time.
"These stubborn bangs, always getting in my face." he muttered, trying to look like 'The Most Handsome Man'. With a frustrated sigh, he gave up and quickly finished getting ready.
Yukki hurried back to his room, toweling off his hair as he went. He pulled on his crisp new uniform, smoothing his hands over the pressed fabric. He wore the uniform with a feeling of uncomfortable, but he had to admit, he looked pretty sharp.
"At least this uniform has more style than the old one," he said, giving himself a 'one quick mirror'. He grabbed his backpack and hurriedly headed downstair.
In the kitchen, Yukki wolfed down a piece of toast and gulped his coffee. He glanced at the clock, eyes widening as he realized he was cutting it close.
He quickly shoved his feet into his shoes and rushed out the door. He was already running late on his first day.
With his parents working early in the morning and no nearby station to rely on, he walked to his old school nearly every day, which caused him to be late.
But this time it was going to be different, so as he thought. He suddenly remembered the brand-new bicycle sitting untouched in the garage.
"Stupid, stupid, how could I forget about my bike this morning?" he muttered in frustration.
As he sprinted down the sidewalk, Yukki couldn't help but feel a flutter of nervous in his stomach. He was finally starting at Yomi High, the school he'd been looking forward to for months. But what if he didn't fit in? What if the classes were too hard? What if he couldn't find his way around?
Yukki slowed his pace as the traffic light signaled red. He took a deep breath, allowing his thoughts to settle. His gaze fixed on the countdown timer ticking down from ten. Yukki's leg tapped impatiently, the seconds seeming to crawl by as the light neared its final count.
As soon as the countdown reaches to zero, he quickly dashed forward, his backpack bouncing against his shoulder. Before he knew, he accidently hit the curb and stumbled on his leg. He began tumbling towards someone.
As he falls, he realized that he was actually tumbling towards his childhood friend 'Rena'...
"Watch out!" he said.
Rena turned just in time to see him hurtling towards her, but it was too late. His body collided with hers, sending him pinning her down on the hard pavement.
For a moment, there was only heavy breathing and the hum of traffic. Their gazes interlocked as they opened their eyes. Feeling the heat of embarrassment spreading across their faces, they untangled each other.
Rena watched as he quickly regained his composure after the unexpected collision. Rena couldn't help but notice his earnest look in his eyes as he reached out to help her up from the hard pavement.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice filled with concern with a blush of embarrassment.
"Yeah I think so" she replied, brushing off the dust on her skirt. Her heart raced from the unexpected encounter, and she felt a strange fluttering in her chest as she looked up at him.
"I'm really sorry about that" continually rubbing the back of his neck. "I should have looked where I ran."
Rena smiled, a warmth spreading through her despite the embarrassment of their collision. It's okay, she reassured him. "Accidents happen."
As they stood there amidst the bustling morning rush, Rena couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps this collision wasn't just a random event. Maybe, just maybe, fate had brought us together for a reason.
Rena glanced at Yukki as they approached the school. "Remember when we used to race to the playground in elementary school?" she asked, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
Yukki chuckled, "Yeah, and you always won. Some things never change, huh?"
Rena's eyes softened. "But some things do. We're in high school now. Are you nervous?"
Rena squeezed Yukki's hand, grateful for his presence. She hadn't told him about her parents' recent separation, or how she'd been struggling to keep it together. Starting high school felt like a welcome distraction from the tension at home.
Yukki hesitated, then nodded. "A little. You?"
"Terrified," Rena admitted with a small laugh. "But... I'm glad we're doing this together."
Soon after that, Yuuki inadvertently glanced at his watch and realized they were going to be late. Without hesitation, he extended his hand towards Rena's, and as their fingers intertwined, they surged forward together. Rena, caught by surprise, was blushing as Yuuki intertwined their fingers.
"I can't believe I'm actually holding Rena's hand right now," he thought, his face flushing with a mix of embarrassment and excitement.
As they neared the towering gates of Yomi High, Yukki squeezed Rena's hand gently. "We're almost there," he said, his voice tinged with both anxiety and determination. "I can't be late on my first day - not after that crazy morning!"
Rena nodded, offering him an encouraging smile. "We've got this," she replied, giving his hand a reassuring squeeze in return.
The two friends surged together, their fingers still intertwined, as they approached the crowded entrance. Yukki's heart raced as they approached the school gates. He was usually so laid-back, priding himself on his ability to stay cool under pressure. But something about today - maybe it was Rena's hand in his - had him feeling completely off-balance.
Yukki took a deep breath, his heart pounding with nerves and anticipation. This was it - his first step into a new chapter of his life.
As they stepped through the gates of Yomi High, side by side, Yukki couldn't help but wonder what the future had in store for them. Would this chance meeting with Rena change the course of his high school journey?
Only time would tell....