It's my first day at high school. Finally, I'm going to see some new girls. Ting! The school bell rang. Huh! It's already time for class? Ugh... I need to wait until lunch now.
In the hustle of students, I noticed a face that resembled a girl from my past. Later, in the classroom, I couldn't stop thinking about that face. Could it be her? I wondered.
"No, definitely not," I said aloud, startling the class.
"Mitsua Aki," the teacher called out for attendance.
"Present," I replied, trying to brush off the awkward moment.
After collecting attendance, the teacher began a speech—a typical one about school rules and how we need to behave. It was nothing special. In the middle of her talk, someone spoke from the doorway.
"Can I come in, ma'am?" a voice asked.
"Yes, you may, but don't be late next time," the teacher replied.
The voice belonged to a girl, and I noticed an empty bench next to me. My luck might be at its peak, I thought with a sly smile. Maybe I can charm her.
But as she entered, my mind exploded with memories. It was her—the girl from this morning. It was Inoue, my girlfriend from seventh grade. Damn, my luck sucks! As she came closer, I quickly grabbed a book and hid my face. Showing my face to her was definitely not a good idea. I needed to avoid her for at least a week. I didn't want to ruin both of our first days at high school.
---
Somehow, I managed to avoid her until lunch. Now I was in the canteen, relieved that I hadn't run into her yet. I sat with my classmates, trying to blend in. But then, through the window, I saw her heading toward the canteen. Panicking, I crouched behind my classmates, pretending to be deep in conversation.
Ugh... I guess I need to be more careful from now on.
---
Finally, it was the last class of the day. Our last period was P.T., and everyone was returning from the grounds. I saw her again through the window as she walked back to class. Maybe my luck is holding up this time. I grabbed a book and pretended to read, hiding my face behind it.
"Hey, you! Why are you hiding from me? And by the way, you're terrible at acting—the book's upside down," she said, standing right in front of me.
She recognized me... didn't she? I panicked. "It's nothing," I replied, my voice trembling.
"Huh? Do you think I'm stupid enough not to recognize you, Mitsua?" she said in a playful tone.
Her words left me speechless.
"Don't take this the wrong way, Inoue," I stammered.
"What do you mean, 'don't take this the wrong way'? You've been ignoring me like I don't exist!" she said, disappointment evident on her face.
"I have an idea," I said, gathering my courage. "Why don't we meet after school, in private, to talk and settle things?"
She sighed, but then a faint smile appeared on her face. "Okay. Meet me at the restaurant we used to go to," she said softly.
"Alright," I agreed, relieved. She smiled again and returned to her seat.
---
The school ended early that day since it was our first day. I was preparing to leave when one of my classmates called out, "Hey, Mitsua! Good luck meeting that girl from our class!"
"It's not what you think," I replied, embarrassed, as he walked away laughing. This school has some weirdos, I thought. But I had to focus.
Let's get moving, I told myself.
---
It had been a while since I visited that restaurant. When I arrived, I saw Inoue already waiting for me.
"Did I keep you waiting?" I asked.
"No, you're on time," she said with a gentle smile.
After ordering some food, we started talking. "I know why you're so afraid of me," she began. "It's because of our past, isn't it?"
"Yes," I admitted quietly.
"Well, we're in the present now. Let's forget what happened in the past and start fresh. Can we be friends again?" she asked.
Her words surprised me. I was the one who had hurt her. Yet here she was, offering me her friendship. I couldn't help but feel ashamed.
"Hey, take it easy. I forgive you for what you did," she said reassuringly.
Her kindness lifted a weight off my shoulders. "Okay, we can be friends again," I replied.
She smiled, her eyes closing adorably. But the atmosphere in the restaurant was strange. It was a popular spot for couples, and everyone around us was staring. To make things worse, Inoue—or Rika, as she now wanted to be called—looked stunning. She had grown even more beautiful since middle school, and her presence turned heads.
When the bill arrived, I reached for my wallet. "I'll pay for us. Don't worry," Rika said.
"Hey, that's not fair. Let me pay," I insisted.
"Are you seriously questioning a beautiful girl offering to pay the bill?" she teased, leaning closer and locking eyes with me. "Just call me Rika, okay?"
"Alright, Rika," I said with a nervous laugh. "And you can call me Aki."
"You haven't changed, Aki," she said with a chuckle.
After paying the bill, we parted ways, saying, "Goodbye, see you." As I walked home, I couldn't help but wonder: Does she still love me after everything?
---
Meanwhile, at her home, Rika sat with her older sister, Miko.
"Hey, sis! Did you finally get your crush?" Miko teased.
"Where did you come from, Miko?" Rika asked, startled.
"I know that guy was Aki from your middle school! You loved him so much that you didn't talk to any boys for years. So, how did it go?" Miko asked with a sly grin.
"Well... I think it went pretty well," Rika replied, blushing. "But do you think he's interested in me? I mean, what if he has a girlfriend now? He's so handsome."
"Handsome? Him? You're the only one who thinks that," Miko said, laughing.
"Hey, don't talk trash about Aki!" Rika yelled, chasing her sister around the house.
---
When I got home, I was exhausted. "I'm home, Dad," I called out.
"You can join me, son," Dad said from the bathroom.
After a day like this, I didn't hesitate. "I'm coming, Dad," I said, stepping inside.
"So, how was your day?" Dad asked.
"It's hard to explain, but it was... heavy," I replied.
"Is that so?" Dad said with a chuckle.
#And we both laughed as the day finally came to an end.