We arrived at the entrance ceremony, and, well... all of us were quite literally bored and already seemed tired from standing around listening to the principal and other directors drone on.
Wow, no surprise there. For a prestigious, government-funded academy, the welcome ceremony was no different from any other regular school.
Afterward, we headed outside, and people started to scatter, walking, riding bikes, or in some cases, just seemingly teleporting out of existence.
I swear, I saw someone from Class 3-D vanish the moment I looked away for a second like what the hell?
As I kept walking, I started thinking about the convenience store and the fact that I definitely needed to grab some snacks.
There was no way I was going to eat anything Ayaka cooked tomorrow for the first official day of the academy. Snacks were a much safer bet.
But when I arrived at the convenience store, I noticed Sokota was already there, standing by the snack aisle, inspecting the selection.
I casually walked over and joined her, also browsing the shelves. This was it, this was what life was about. Snacks, not Ayaka's questionable culinary experiments...
"Hey, emo-looking dude, since you're here, how about telling me your name?..." Sokota said without even glancing up, still focused on the snacks.
"You ran off earlier for no reason, and the entrance ceremony wasn't even that long from Sakura tree path so there's no way for you to run away cause you are late..."
Her straight forwardness caught me off guard, but I couldn't help but smirk mentally at her observation. Her logic was sharp, as expected.
"Ah, yeah... I didn't have the confidence to talk to a girl like you," I said, my tone calm as I grabbed some snacks, trying not to make it too obvious that I was lying.
"Though, I guess I gained a little more confidence after finding out you're an otaku."
Sokota raised an eyebrow, still rummaging through the snack aisle. "Is that so?" She asked, sounding more amused than offended.
"Anyway, my name is Losherk Andrew Avalon," I said out of nowhere, figuring there was no point in dragging it out since I didn't answer that question to her during the encounter
"..." She paused, her hand hovering over a bag of chips, her eyes fixed on me. For a moment, it was like she was calculating something.
After a brief silence, she returned to looking at the snacks, but it was obvious something clicked in her mind but I can't figure it out unless is her deduction on my name being closed to L.A.A, definitely with all of the evidence, if she knew the existence of L.A.A and know the broadcast I make, it wouldn't be hard for her to think that I am L.A.A.
Since, in the same world wide broadcast I make to those criminals, I say that I am foreign detective in Japan. With also the fact that I also say that my codename is the first three letter of my real name, L= Losherk, A= Andrew, A= Avalon.
So with this I probably can make a theory that she is thinking about my names and my profile
"... Losherk Andrew Avalon, huh? You're definitely not Japanese with a name like that, despite your fluency."
"Well, I do have someone teaching me Japanese at home," I replied casually.
"Oh, like a tutor?" She asked, glancing at me out of the corner of her eye.
"I guess you could call it that. Anyway, I should get going. I already answered what you wanted to know."
"It was just your name!, I want to know more about especially after that help of yours in the introduction!" Sokota protested, shaking her head in disbelief
"That's still a lot, Sokota," I said sarcastically, waving at her as I grabbed my snacks and headed toward the counter.
As I paid for my items, I noticed the store was relatively empty. It made sense, there was a closer store near the academy, so most students probably went there.
I chose this one on purpose, though... because I predicted that Sokota would come here, too. Coincidence? No
Sokota might, like me, probably prefer quieter spaces to avoid too many people, especially if she's known to enjoy calm environments. Since she didn't go to the nearest store cause of the students
And she may have some specific reason to visit this store, possibly preferring its products or the environment over the academy near store, or she may have a routine involving this store that I picked up on.
"See you around, emo dude," Sokota called after me with a smirk.
"Sure, otaku girl," I replied, amused at how easily this conversation flowed despite the oddity of it all. Maybe Sokota wasn't so bad after all.
I started walking out of the store as Sokota finished her purchases, heading in the same direction toward the crosswalk. As I pulled out my umbrella after looking at the sky, it was dark
Coincidentally, she ended up right next to me, both of us waiting silently for the light to turn green, our umbrellas shielding us from the rain that just happened suddenly
"..."
"..."
Neither of us spoke, the silence hanging between us like a weight. We exchanged quick glances out of nowhere, but neither of us broke the silence.
When the traffic light finally turned green, we began walking in sync, our footsteps splashing through the puddles on the wet pavement.
As I strode forward, my legs felt strangely frail, almost like those of a skinny bird. I kept my head down, watching the road, when suddenly, something caught my eye, a bright light in the distance, rapidly approaching.
Before I could react, the next thing I knew, Sokota lunged at me, shoving me hard out of the way.
The sound of screeching tires filled the air, and I felt myself slam into a puddle, water soaking through my clothes as I hit the ground.
Dazed and lying there, I felt Sokota's hand gripping my shoulder, steadying me as I struggled to process what had just happened.
"... What the hell was tha-"
"Holy shit, Andrew! Are you okay? You look like a freaking wet cat right now!"
Sokota blurted out, her voice a mix of panic and exasperation. Before I could answer, she lightly slapped my face, as if trying to snap me out of my daze.
"I'm awake ok!?" I grumbled, though the throbbing pain in my back made me question if I should've stayed on the ground.
The impact had been harder than I thought, and the cold water only made things worse. I could feel the embarrassment rising, this was exactly the kind of attention I didn't need.
"WAKE UP, YOU BASTARD!" Sokota shouted again, unnecessarily slapping me for a second time, even though my eyes were wide open.
I sighed, slowly getting to my feet. My clothes were drenched, and I could feel the cold rainwater dripping down my back.
I reached for my umbrella, grabbing it off the ground, and stood up stiffly. My back still ached from the fall, and the whole situation made me want to kill myself with these attention.
Sokota was staring at me with a mixture of relief and frustration.
"... You could at least say thank you, you know,"
she muttered, shaking her head.
"You could've been roadkill back there like a deer..."
"..."
"... Fine... Thanks, I guess..,"
I mumbled under my breath, though it came out more sarcastic than I intended. Without another word, I began walking away, trying to distance myself from the embarrassment.
As I walked away, I could still hear the truck driver apologizing profusely to Sokota, his voice dripping with guilt. I didn't bother turning back or listening too closely. The faster I put this entire incident behind me, the better.
"I'm very sorry for almost hitting you and your boyfriend!" I see the driver stammered from afar
"What the fu-" I barely heard Sokota's exasperated retort before I rounded the corner, eager to get away from the chaos.
The streetlights flickered as I walked, the rain still pouring down. My umbrella was soaked, as were my clothes, clinging uncomfortably to my skin. I trudged forward, eventually approaching the headquarters.
As I endure the back pain until it disappears.., I remember when I had once cried when I first felt this, but gradually, I lose my tears.
I learned that in life, a Man should be act like a Man, but yet, I didn't choose my appearance or avatar, I never held the options to choose if I can become a female or a male.
I never once had freedom and I instead strive for false freedom.
As I stepped through the sliding doors, the building's warmth hit me, though I was still dripping water everywhere. The guard at the gate, Mr. Amon, stood there, his bushy eyebrows and brown eyes raised as he noticed my appearance.
"Well, well, look who it is!" Amon greeted me with a chuckle.
"You look like you've been through the wringer, Andrew! What happened, boy? Fall into a puddle? Or did a car splash you?"
I sighed, shaking my head slightly as I tried not to leave a complete mess of the entryway.
"You could say that, yeah. Let's just say I had an unexpected meeting with the road... and a truck."
Amon's laugh boomed through the lobby. "Sounds rough! Where's Mrs Asami at? She usually keeps you out of trouble."
"Still in the apartment, I guess," I replied, my voice tired as I headed toward the elevator.
"Well, alright then. Try to stay dry, boy!" Amon called after me
The elevator ride felt longer than usual as I watched the numbers light up, one floor after the next.
The sound of my wet shoes squeaking against the floor echoed around me, adding to the overall discomfort.
When I finally reached the apartment, I opened the door, only to be met with an unexpected jump scare.
"Boo!"
Ayaka shouted, appearing right in front of me with a grin plastered on her face. I stared blankly at her, too exhausted to even flinch.
I know this would happened since before I got inside the headquarters, I was able to see Ayaka smirking at the window at me, which I later guess that she is plotting something and... I wasn't wrong
"..."
"... Never mind, I expected that..." She muttered, waving it off. Then, without warning, she jumped again.
"BOO!"
"..."
"You're still wearing that same chef apron..." I pointed out, my voice monotone.
Ayaka looked down, as if realizing for the first time that she was still dressed like a TV chef.
"Oh yeah! I've been practicing cooking ever since you critiqued me so harshly last time..."
"It was an accurate critique though." I responded flatly, pushing past her toward my room.
"HEY! WHAT?! That's harsh you know?!" Ayaka shouted after me, throwing her hands in the air.
"Well, I guess you were right... but still! ALSO, WHY ARE YOU WET AND LOOKING LIKE YOU JUST GOT DUNKED IN A SWAMP?!"
Ignoring her, I trudged into my room, shutting the door behind me. I heard her running after me, probably wanting answers, but I had no energy left to deal with her questions.
"Andrew, seriously! What happened? Did you get in a fight? Did someone throw you into a fountain?, I am worrying you know!?"
She called through the door, her footsteps soft as if she hovered outside.
I peeled off my soaked clothes, tossing them into a heap on the floor. The weight of exhaustion was pulling at me, and all I wanted was to lie down, but for some reason, the bed felt too far.
Instead, I spotted the familiar tilted chair in the corner of the room.
I grabbed a towel, half-heartedly drying myself before collapsing into the chair. The angle was odd, the chair tilting just enough to be uncomfortable for most people, but for me, it was oddly relaxing.
I let out a sigh, feeling the tension in my muscles ease as I leaned back, staring blankly at the ceiling.
The rain continued to patter against the window, a rhythmic sound that filled the silence. Ayaka knocked softly on the door again, still persistent.
"Andrew? Are you okay? You didn't get hit by a car or anything, right?"
"I am fine..." I mumbled. "Just... tired."
"Well, okay then," she replied, her voice a bit softer now outside the door
"But seriously, you look like a drowned rat. Try not to fall asleep in that chair again. You'll hurt your neck."
I repeated that in my mind in a nerd voice
Her words barely registered as my eyelids grew heavier. I replayed every seconds and details of this day in my mind, the academy, Hastur, Sokota, the truck, the store, and now, here I was, in the same chair I always found myself in when I didn't have the energy to make it to bed.
It wasn't comfortable by any means, but somehow, it was the perfect place to drift off.
And just like that, I let the exhaustion take over, my eyes closing as the world around me faded.
Ayaka's voice became a distant hum, and all that remained was the soft rain and the steady rhythm of my own breath.
I fell asleep in the tilted chair, just as I had so many times before
______________________________________
Bonus :
"I'm very sorry for almost hitting you and your boyfriend!" Is a sentence I would never thought I would ever hear in my entire existence in this universe...
"What the fuc- HE IS NOT MY BOYFRIEND, OK?!" I yelled, my voice echoing down the street as my face turned beet red like someone you see from a romance story
Not talking about the shitty one alright?
The driver of the truck looked at me with wide eyes, clearly taken aback by my cool outburst.
"Oh! Really? I'm so sorry!" He dumbfoundedly say- I mean, he bowed deeply, looking as though he wanted to disappear. I sighed, bending down to pick up the umbrella I'd dropped in the chaos.
The wet fabric of my uniform clung to me uncomfortably, adding to the irritation of the whole ordeal, LIKE SERIOUSLY, I HATE THIS FEELING, THIS IS LIKE WEARING A WHOLE SCHOOL UNIFORM TO A FRICKIN SPORT FESTIVAL WHILE LINING UP OUTSIDE.
And then... T h e r e t h e S w e a t
Taking a deep breath, I tried to regain my composure.
"Well, it's not a big deal anymore," I said, forcing a polite smile as I looked back at the driver.
I know what my mood is, is indeed wrong. As it is a accident from the driver anyway
"I can get home just fine, so no need to worry. Thank you, though."
He seemed to relax, mirroring my smile with a relieved expression. "Alright, miss, I'm really sorry again. Take care!" With that, he hurried off, and I watched as his truck rolled away.
Once he was gone, I shook my head, muttering to myself as I adjusted my damp clothes. "Of all things to assume... boyfriend? Seriously?,"
The thought lingered, bringing a fresh blush to my cheeks as I began my walk home, silently hoping I wouldn't run into anyone I knew.
Now that I think about it, it is kinda make sense... Since both Andrew and I were walking with umbrella and we both look completely different which eliminated the siblings assumption...
Ok what the hell am I thinking now?...