The morning sun spilled its annoying warm glow over the silent streets just as I slipped out of my apartment, already regretting my decision to get up earlier than usual. My plan? Dodge every single human interaction on my way to school, because the last thing I needed was some unexpected social debacle ruining my carefully guarded solitude.
But, predictably, as I turned the corner, there she was, Shiina Mahiru, standing there like some kind of golden dream come to life. Her long hair shimmered annoyingly like actual gold in the morning light, and her eyes sparkled with a warmth that made me want to roll mine so hard they'd get stuck. She was decked out in her school uniform, perfectly ready to face the day.
Seriously? I drag myself out of bed at an ungodly hour just to avoid her, and here she is, looking like she's been ready since dawn. Don't girls usually need at least two hours to fuss over their hair and makeup? Apparently not.
Mahiru spotted me and waved, that radiant smile of hers practically blinding. "Good morning, Aiko!" she chirped, her voice a melody that probably would be cute if I weren't dead inside.
"Morning," I muttered, doing my best to sound calm and not like a zombie about to collapse. "You're up early…"
She nodded enthusiastically, eyes sparkling like she'd just discovered the meaning of life. "I didn't want to miss you. Thought we could walk to school together, like we said."
So she's excited to go to school. Huh. That's cute. If I actually liked mornings.
Walking to school with someone wasn't something I was accustomed to. I was a lone wolf by default. "Sure, I guess we can do that," I said, trying to sound as nonchalant as possible. I mean, can I really refuse? Our paths cross anyway, so what's the point?
Mahiru's smile widened, and she fell into step beside me. The morning air was crisp, the streets unusually quiet. No crowds, no yelling kids, no clueless adults pretending to be awake. It was peaceful, almost suspiciously so.
As we walked, Mahiru glanced at me with a soft smile. "Did you sleep well, Aiko?"
I nodded, awkward and vaguely uncomfortable but somehow... not completely miserable. "Yeah, I did. Thanks."
She seemed to sense my discomfort and changed the subject quickly. "The weather's lovely this morning, isn't it? Feels like it's going to be a beautiful day."
I looked up at the clear blue sky, feeling a flicker of agreement. "Yeah, it does."
We walked in silence for a while, only the sound of our footsteps and distant birdsong filling the air. For once, I actually felt myself relax a bit.
Approaching the station, Mahiru's gaze softened, drifting into some private memory. "There's a cherry blossom tree at Sakura no Mori Shrine," she said quietly. "I used to sit under it for hours with someone… just watching petals fall."
I glanced at her, noticing the wistful smile and the faraway look in her eyes. I didn't know anything about that shrine or its tree, but her tone made it clear it was special.
Trying to sound halfway interested, I said, "Sakura no Mori? Never heard of it, but sounds like a nice spot. Memories like that, especially with someone important, can be really meaningful. Glad you have that."
For a second, my mind flicked to my parents, the only memories I actually cherished. Everything else felt disposable. I wished I could see them one more time. Especially Mom.
Dad: "What about me??"
Mahiru smiled softly, eyes warm and sincere. "It was a long time ago, but sometimes it still feels like yesterday. The cherry blossoms were beautiful, and the time spent there was… magical."
I gave a slight nod. "I get it."
We turned a corner, and there she was again, Komi Shouko, standing by a small café. Her cat ears twitched as she noticed us, eyes lighting up with a blush creeping over her cheeks.
Young people really do wake up at dawn? I felt ancient.
I nodded to her, a bit surprised by the coincidence. "Good morning, Komi. This is Mahiru," I said, gesturing toward the golden-haired girl. "She just moved in next door."
Mahiru's smile faltered slightly as she looked at Komi, a flash of curiosity mixed with something else. Jealousy? Who knows. But she quickly masked it with a polite nod. "Good morning, I'm Shiina Mahiru. Nice to meet you."
Komi nodded back, her eyes flickering between Mahiru and me. She scribbled something in her notebook and showed it to me: "Nice to meet you too, Mahiru."
There was a subtle shift in the air. Mahiru's warmth seemed to cool slightly. I caught her eyes narrowing almost imperceptibly when Komi used my name. Probably just paranoia.
Komi glanced at Mahiru and back to me, her expression soft and understanding. She wrote: "Are you two heading to school together?"
I nodded, feeling the weight of their gazes like a physical pressure. "Yeah, we are. Want to join?"
Komi's eyes brightened, and she nodded eagerly, slipping in beside us. The three of us walked on in a somewhat tense silence.
I couldn't help but notice the unspoken tension between Mahiru and Komi. Some silent power play or rivalry? Their mixed emotions were like static in the air. Yet, strangely, there was also peace, a quiet understanding binding us together.
Hm. Weird.
Mahiru glanced at me, eyes flickering with curiosity. "Aiko, how do you know Komi?"
"We met yesterday," I said simply. "She lives a few streets over."
Mahiru nodded slowly, glancing at Komi before looking back at me. "I see," she whispered.
We boarded the train, already crowded with no seats free. I used my long arms to carve out some breathing room for Mahiru and Komi, perks of being tall, I guess.
The cramped ride was thick with awkward glances and shy blushes. Mahiru watched Komi like she was a puzzle to solve; Komi twitched her ears every time she looked my way.
Sorry, girls. If I don't do this, you'll both be crushed to death.
Mahiru stood closer, her arm brushing mine as the train swayed. The warmth of her presence was comforting but confusing. Her eyes met mine briefly, a soft smile flickering before she looked away, cheeks reddening.
Komi seemed lost in thought, clutching her notebook. She glanced up, eyes intense, then looked down again, blushing. She scribbled something and held it up:
"It's a bit crowded, isn't it?"
I nodded, trying to sound reassuring. "Yeah, but people usually get off at the next stop. You'll have somewhere to sit."
As if on cue, the train emptied a bit and seats appeared. We sank down. me in the middle and I took a sharp breath. Their pheromones were... overwhelming.
Komi wrote again: "It's more comfortable now, isn't it?"
I nodded, glancing at her. "Yeah, it is."
Approaching our stop, relief washed over me as the train slowed and doors slid open.
Komi looked up, meeting my eyes with gentle warmth. She scribbled quickly: "Goodbye, Aiko, Mahiru. Nice meeting you." Her cat ears twitched.
"Goodbye, Komi. Have a good day," I replied.
Mahiru glanced at Komi, eyes softening. "Goodbye, Komi. Nice meeting you too," she said quietly.
Mahiru and I continued toward school under the morning sun's long shadows when suddenly a new presence appeared, a confident girl, calm and poised, with a school uniform bearing a student council badge.
"Alya...?" I said, surprise leaking into my voice.
Alisa turned with a confident smile, eyes full of purpose. "Shall we walk to school together, Aiko~?"
Can I just die already?
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Thanks for reading. I don't know how many chapters I indent to have for this novel, but probably no less than 150. It will be a bit fast-paced because of that. I tend to get bored easily, so I'm trying to limit myself here.