A few days later, I was in my room when my mom called my name.
A few days later, I was sitting in my room when I heard my mom call from downstairs.
"Cody, dinner's ready."
"I'll be there."
I made my way downstairs and quietly took my seat at the table. We ate in silence until my mom suddenly looked up from her phone.
"My coworker called earlier today," she said softly. "They're moving out of town."
I paused.
"Mia is leaving."
The room suddenly felt quieter.
"…Can you call her?" I asked.
"Please."
My mom hesitated for a moment before picking up her phone.
I watched her wait for someone to answer.
After a while, she slowly lowered the phone.
"I'm sorry, Cody."
"She doesn't want to talk."
I stared down at my plate.
"…Okay."
That was all I could say.
But deep down…
I wasn't okay.
Two years passed.
I was finally starting middle school.
Standing in front of the school gates, I watched students walk past me as if they already knew exactly where they belonged.
I didn't.
Taking a deep breath, I stepped through the gates.
The school was much bigger than I expected. Hallways stretched in every direction as students laughed, talked, and hurried to their classrooms.
I stopped and looked down at the paper in my hand.
"…Class 1-A."
I looked around.
"I have no idea where that is."
A girl happened to be walking by, so I gathered the courage to stop her.
"Um… excuse me."
She turned with a friendly smile.
"Yeah?"
"Do you know where Class 1-A is?"
She pointed down the hallway.
"Second floor. End of the hall."
"Oh… thanks."
"No problem."
I thanked her again before making my way upstairs.
My heart beat a little faster with every step.
When I finally reached the second floor…
I saw the classroom.
Class 1-A.
I stood in front of the door for a moment before sliding it open.
The room was already buzzing with conversation.
Students laughed with their friends, moved desks around, and talked as if they'd known each other for years.
Meanwhile…
I didn't know anyone.
Trying not to draw attention to myself, I walked to an empty seat near the center of the classroom and placed my bag underneath the desk.
As I looked around, a boy with a shaved head laughed loudly with a group of classmates.
Near the window, a girl smiled as several students gathered around her.
She seemed popular.
I quickly looked away.
I just want today to be over.
The classroom door slid open.
A woman carrying a clipboard walked inside, and the room slowly fell silent.
"Good morning, everyone. My name is Ms. Aoki, and I'll be your homeroom teacher."
She smiled before looking down at the attendance sheet.
"We'll begin with introductions. When I call your name, please stand."
One by one, students introduced themselves.
"Kira."
The girl sitting beside me adjusted her glasses before standing.
"My name is Kira. Nice to meet you."
She sat back down and smiled at me.
"Nice to meet you."
"…Nice to meet you too."
A moment later…
"John."
The shaved-head boy stood with a confident grin.
"I'm John."
A few students laughed before he sat down.
"Mila."
The girl by the window stood next.
The room grew noticeably quieter.
"My name is Mila."
Whispers spread through the classroom as she returned to her seat.
Finally…
"Cody."
I slowly stood up.
"My name is Cody."
I took a small breath.
"Nice to meet you."
After I sat down, Ms. Aoki smiled.
"Thank you, everyone. We'll begin our lessons tomorrow."
The bell rang, and the classroom quickly filled with chatter once again.
Kira looked over at me with a friendly smile.
"Looks like we're seatmates."
"…Yeah."
For the first time that day…
I smiled.
Back then, I thought this was the beginning of an ordinary school life.
I had no idea…
How wrong I was.
END OF CHAPTER 3