I didn't wake up to my alarm. It had been buzzing under my pillow for a while, but it was the sharp honk of a scooter outside that finally pulled me out of my sleep. I glanced at my phone and felt a knot in my stomach—I was late.
I scrambled out of bed, nearly tripping over my blanket, and grabbed the shirt from the chair. I didn't even bother smoothing out the wrinkles. My tie hung loosely as I stuffed my books into my bag and rushed out the door, ignoring Mom's call from the kitchen about breakfast.
The street was already busy. Scooters zipped by, cars honked, and groups of students walked together, chatting and laughing like it was a normal morning. I squeezed through the crowd, my bag bumping against my side, and the sun was bright, making me squint a bit.
By the time I got to the school gate, the bell was already ringing, and I saw Takumi leaning against the railing, that familiar grin on his face.
"Late again," he called out, and a few people nearby laughed. I just shrugged and hurried inside, hoping the teacher wouldn't notice.
I slipped into the classroom just as the teacher was starting to speak. I found my seat and tried to settle in, the fan above turning slowly, the room buzzing with the sounds of students getting settled.
Everything felt normal until I glanced out the window. The courtyard was bright, and the shadows of the students stretched long on the ground. Most of them moved in sync, but one shadow seemed to lag behind just a tiny bit.
I blinked and looked again, and everything seemed fine. But that little moment stayed with me, making the rest of the day feel just a bit off.