Krinng!!! Kring!!! Kring!!!… Thup!! "Aaawuh… damn, what time is it now?" I looked at the alarm clock beside me: [08:20]
"Ah—hhh, crap!" I cursed in my head. I just had a dream about meeting a bald monk last night, and now I'm late. I rushed to shower and put on my school uniform. What a tragedy, right? A high schooler whose only job is sleeping and dreaming, hahha.
I quickly put on my neatly arranged shoes and didn't forget to hit the dining table. There, I saw a lunch box that I see every single day.
"Ren-kun, do your bestTT!!! At school, okay dear. By: Mom :3"
I quickly grabbed my bike and put the lunch box in the front basket. I pedaled with all my might, cutting through the morning wind. The air brushed past my face, making the atmosphere so cool and reminding me of my late Father. Hehe, I miss him, but I'll tell you about that another day :).
Every day I witness dozens of bikes heading to school. The Kyoto sky looks so clear today. Hmm, maybe that monk gave me a blessing. A beautiful view, where the grass and water help each other create a beautiful nature aesthetic, accompanied by the morning breeze that almost made my face a bit stiff. Please, I'm freezing here!
The morning sunlight and beautiful blue sky accompanied me until, without realizing it, the school gate appeared before my eyes. Beside the gate, it was written: [Kamogawa High School].
I pedaled my bike even faster. The school gatekeeper looked like he was about to close the gate, but relax... because I am Ren Ichinose!! YyyAAaHh!!! Stttttttttuuuu… My bike tires screeched and stopped exactly before hitting the closing fence.
"Hey, please open the gate.."
"I-Chi-nose-kun! How many times has this been!!!!"
"One.. two.. three.. four... FOUR!!!!" I answered randomly.
"Bakaa!! It's the sixth time! Just get in quickly, don't do it again, you idi-ot!!"
"Haikkk, arigato, wlekk!" I purposely teased him, not because I'm naughty, but well... it's already the sixth time for me like this. The beautiful Kyoto school atmosphere for me every day, maybe….
Ting!!… Ting!!… Ting!… The sign that school is starting. I rushed to my classroom on the second floor. As I was about to climb the stairs, my eyes accidentally bumped into the gaze of that delinquent girl from last night..
"HEI Bakaa!! Don't tell me you're late again!"
Huh? I mean, in my heart, how did she know I'm always late? Even for a bookworm like me, just being seen as "still alive" is already something to be proud of. I ignored her call and rushed to my class.
''Heii Mio, do you know that bookworm?" her friends asked.
"No way, I like him, hehhe.."
"C'mon!! Weird, someone like you liking a guy like him."
I arrived in front of my class. A sensei named Shiga-san was about to enter. I ran fast and.. Bruk!! I tripped. My shoelaces were accidentally tied together like a parasite. I held back my shame as my classmates' laughter exploded.
"HAhahahahAHA!!"
"Typical BooKworM!!"
"How pitiful, the dorky classmate, heeh.."
Yeah… I'm used to this every day with different insults. Sensei Shiga-san pulled my hand and patted my shoulder gently.
"Be careful next time, Ichinose."
"Haikk, Sensei!"
I sat at the front desk near the window. You probably thought I'd sit in the back near the window, right? Hahha, so funny….
"Hello everyone, welcome to today's class.. this time.. open chapter…."
Blaaa blaa... Yeah, this is my voice, baka! I'm bored because, well you know, being bullied every day by my classmates and lessons that I feel are quite light for this genius brain, hehhe.
But don't be sad, if you feel bullied at school, don't hit back but channel it into positive things, okay! Eh, why am I talking like someone is listening to me? Weird… baka… baka..!
Ting!…. Tingg!... Ting!… That sound finally arrived. The sound of heaven's freedom. Amitabha…
I walked towards the Book Lovers Club room. Yeah, I like reading books, like the adventure of a "Sun Princess". The story blablabla... you'll get bored, so I'll just continue.
I slid open the door where the students who love the Book Lovers Club are. I stepped towards the bookshelf, but…
"Heiii Baka-kun!!"
Ah, crap. That voice again. Why at the same time, hmmm..
"What?" I answered flatly.
"Remember we're going to the beach later?" she said in a soft tone. Not like usual. I only nodded my head slightly to answer.
"BAkkkAAAAAAA!!!!!"
She screamed again in this library! Damn my ears. I covered my ears to protect my acoustic nerves.
"Stop!!" I said. "Ye—ss but.. don't scream, can you?" I said a bit loudly.
"Oi baka!, you challenging me again?"
This girl grabbed my collar again. And this time, her hand accidentally touched my chin. Ukhh… I was stunned. Her ring finger when it touched my skin felt like an electric shock that made yesterday's feeling come back again.
"Oiii Mio-chan let's go! Why bother that dork again?"
Haaa... so her name is Mio all this time. Weird girl.
"Cotomate! Why do you call my name so casually, Himari-chan?"
"Just let that bookworm go, let's go, I want to get close to our 3rd-grade senpai."
"Haik Haikk," she looked at me again, releasing her grip this time. "Remember after school... you're giving me a ride on your bike, understand?"
"I..-yes, yes I understand."
She stepped away from me towards the library exit. Her scent lingered. Yeah, women's soap scent is indeed different, hehhe.
Dug..dug..dug.. Heavy footsteps. Maybe it's an ancient giant waking up.. Puk! I turned my body around.
"WHwawaw!!"
"Ren, why do you look like you saw a ghost, baka!.. It's me, Daichi."
"Owehhhh.. Daichi so it's you. You startled me, baka!!" I hit Daichi's head jokingly.
Yes, Daichi. My friend in this club. In people's eyes, we are indeed trash. Bu..tt… in the eyes of the right person, our existence is actually valuable. We've been like-minded since we first joined here.
"What's with you Ren, wh—at… don't tell me you like our school's boss? Hehe," he whispered and asked.
"No way bakaa, someone like her is annoying. And what school boss? You just haven't seen her real personality," I replied a bit loudly.
"Haehh," Daichi muttered. "Ren-kun, I've known you since we joined this club... there's no way I wouldn't notice your change in attitude, he.."
"Whatever, I want to continue my reading." He patted my shoulder and went back to where he usually reads.
Yahh.. may..be I..do..li..ke her.
I left the club room after only reading well.. a few short books today. I wanted to go to the school rooftop to catch some air, heheh…. I walked up the stairs step by step, something I'm already used to doing.
There was an old sofa chair whose leather was already peeling. Sad to see it, something this comfortable looks so pitiful just like me... eh-hek!
I opened my small diary, the place where all the feelings of the day I lived were poured out. I opened my small book, there was the last entry there:
"Yesterday I walked with a weird delinquent girl and her beHHHavior had no ethics.. she is very beautiful b-bbut it doesn't mean I like her.. she's just weird … like me"
I stared at the empty line below it and started writing:
"Today.. I found out that her name is Mio hehe.. her name is beautiful just like the water flowing in Kyoto hehe .." I closed my small diary and sat enjoying the view from the top of the school. The sunlight seemed to be right on top of my head…. I opened the lunch box from my Mom, and as usual... "Tamagoyaki!! Mom's cooking is indeed delicious hehe," I muttered softly.
I ate it with a faint smile on my face. Suddenly... Bruk!!! The door to the rooftop opened. Shiga-san Sensei was seen there. He didn't come close to me, he just glanced at me then stepped towards the edge of the rooftop to light his cigarette… Yeah, a teacher's habit when stressed. For you guys, don't smoke, okay? Not healthy, baka!!!
"Ichinose, are you eating the same lunch again?" he asked while inhaling his smoke.
"Haikkkk Shiga-san, do you want to try some?" I replied.
"No need, eat until you're full, Ichinose," he replied. But then he suddenly muttered, "hAHHeh... why are kids nowadays so naughty, huh?"
He seemed to be talking to himself there. Weird, right? That's just how he is. "Ichhinoseee.."
"Haikkk," I replied.
"Maybe they don't eat their lunch, that's why they're baka!?" I blurted out.
His belly shook, his face smiled while holding his head. "HAHAHAAH!.. Good answer, Ichinosee! Okay then, finish your food before going back to study."
He threw his cigarette butt over the edge and disappeared down the stairs. That's him every day, getting a headache from naughty students. "Good grief." Yeah, don't be like them okay, baka!!
I finished eating my lunch. "Arrigato Gozzaimas." A tradition we must do after every meal; being grateful for the food, especially one full of love.
I wanted to head to the stairs for class, bbb-but… suddenly that delinquent girl came to the rooftop. Who knows what her intention was this time even though I already gave her an answer. She saw the book I tucked in my shirt pocket. Suddenly.. Zhup!! She forcibly took my small diary.
"Hey, you're being rude!" I said.
"Whatever bakaaaa!! Wlekkkk!" She said 'baka' while mocking me.
"Don't.. op..en—it!"
Trrrrtrtr! She opened the last page I just wrote. And yep, she laughed like she was insulting me. "Pffftt," she muttered. "PFFtfffTTT HAHAHAHA! Oiiii BaKaa-kun, do you like me?"
She said that while re-reading my small book there. "WW—what, n..oo way!" I replied with a trembling tone.
Suddenly she crossed out one page of my book. I saw it but I didn't know what she wrote at that time. She came towards me while smiling and flicked her finger right on my forehead while whispering:
"Bakaa—aa-!"
She left after saying that. And Ting!… Ting!… Ting!… Yeah, the sign that my freedom has been snatched by that holy bell, hahaha. I opened my book, trying to find page after page. There I saw a page where it was written:
"BAKAAA!!!" That writing covered the entire page. I only smiled thinly while walking towards my class. Oh Buddha, save your servant... hhuuhh….
Ting!!… Tingg!!.. Ting!!…. The sign that the prison cell has been released—ek-hem, I mean the end of school today. I quickly packed my writing tools and textbooks.
"Haikkk, Arrigato gozaimas! Make sure all of you remember the lessons and all assignments, students! And go straight home, UnderSTOOOD!!!!?" shouted Shiga-san Sensei loudly.
"Haikkkk!" replied me and other classmates. I tidied everything up and checked that no belongings would be left behind but.. sud-den..ly...
Dhhug! A loud sound on my desk.
"Ichino-see, don't go home yet, follow us now," said a fri.. nah, not my friend.
I followed him to the boy's bathroom. There, the thug and bully hit me. Bhukkk! "WHyyy!! Why did you get close to Mio-chan?!" Bhuk!!! "WWHHhyyy!!"
He hit me multiple times. I didn't fight back and let him hit me. Finally, he gave up and left. My small notebook fell away and got soaked by the water... I was sad….
After I cleaned my clothes and made sure no dirt was left on my face or my school uniform.. I went out to keep my promise to that girl. She was waiting for me right beside where my bike was located.
"Hoiikkk Bakaa!! Where have you been…" she said while tapping my shoulder.
"I—-I just went to the toilet for a bit," I replied calmly.
"Wee..ll then, let's go to the beach!" she said excitedly. I nodded slightly, signaling that our adventure continued, hehhe…..
SssttSTSTSTttsts….. The sound of the Kyoto evening breeze blew on both our faces like a carp- .. I mean like school friends enjoying their journey.
"Oii Baka!! How about we stop there, I want to buy dango!!" she exclaimed excitedly.
"Haikkk," I said with a weak tone due to the incident in the bathroom earlier.
We stopped at the dango seller. I bought two because maybe as a real man, there's no way I'd be treated by this girl all the time. "Arrigatoo—" I said after paying for the dango, and gave it to the girl behind me.
"Ek-khem, you baka!! You can be attentive like that too, huh," she said.
"Eh—hhh… it's nothing."
"I didn't mean that, Baka!!.. Baka!!.. Bakaa!!" She said that while tapping my shoulder. I almost fell while trying to control this old bike to stay balanced.
"I—-I didn't mean any—-thing, I.. just wanted to pay back for last night," I replied while holding my wobbling bike.
"Hfehmmm," she hissed sharply while facing sideways.
"Alright then, speed up… the bike…. CapTain!!!" She shouted while standing in the back!
I pedaled my bike with speed. The breeze and the chirping of birds that evening were no less beautiful right now….
"sHahhhAHHhsss'..." My breath was panting. Gosh, luckily we were on time…
The girl got off the bike while I tried to park it near the shops there... After finishing, I approached that girl,. mweheheh..
"Bakaaa!! Look! That view!" her grin pointed exactly towards the setting sun.
"Sugoi…iii….," I whispered softly. I saw a truly beautiful view where the sunset process created the golden hour light… awwww blinding.. Like there's a bald monk's head at the end of that sun, hehehe..
"Hey Kid!!" said the girl trying to call me in my daydream, as if I saw a falling meteor from over there.
Tap!!…. She tapped my right shoulder. "Oiikk Baka-kun, don't daydream!" She waved her hand right in front of my eyes.
"eE-ee-hHHh yeah what is it?" I answered for a moment.
"What kind of girl… do you like.." she said in a very soft tone that I never heard when I first met her.
"Ha-hhh?" I muttered in a sudden question at that time. "eAAa-aeEto... a girl who likes books?" I replied seriously at that time.
"Hemm," she hissed. "Turns out yo..u like someone like… that.."
"Who do you think.. is the most beautiful in school?" asked the girl again. I daydreamed and thought for a while.
"Shizuka-sensei maybiiiin."
"HA—HHhhh!!" she replied in shock. "HAHAHAHhah!! Turns out a dorky kid like you likes mature women.. HAhha!"
She laughed while tapping the wooden bench we were sitting on. "Ano-..oo-but that's what I like about you, Baka!!"
"Why do you al..ways call me Baka?!"
"Because if I call you Da—aarli..ng, you'd be embarrassed hahhaa!" she said with a laughing tone, but I felt something different about her laugh this time.
"Baka-kun! Le—et's go home now."
"Yeees," my tone was made to be cool this time so I could be the coldest guy in the world hahahhaah…
We walked with a distance of 2 steps towards our bike… I rode the bike with her sitting again on the back. Pedaling through the light that crossed that afternoon until the darkness came like a full moon.
After dropping her off at the corner last night, we stopped for a moment. Looking at each other as if time was frozen at that very moment… And at that time, I saw her sm—ile.. that sincere smile.
"Arrigato.. Bakk—kaa-kun!" She smiled while waving her hand for the last time that day.
"Arrigat..oo," I whispered softly, my voice blown by the night wind. I pedaled my bike again, towards the place where I actually belong.
"Tadaimaa… Oka-saannn…" I greeted, signaling that I'm home.
"Haik, tadaimaaaa Ren-kun," Mom replied while stroking my hair, as if I were still 8 years old. "How—-aa-a was school, Ren-kun?"
"Haikk, just fine as usual. Nothing special," I answered cheerfully. But, suddenly…
"Ren-kun?"
"Yeeess, Mom?" I replied while changing my school uniform.
"Why is your small diary notebook wet?"
DEG. "EEea-ano... I accidentally dropped it in the toilet, Mom," I replied with a slightly trembling lip. Lying to this woman is the hardest thing in the world.
"Alright then. Tidy up and put your dirty uniform in the basket. Neat up your shoes and have dinner with Mom, okay dear." That soft tone was something I really wanted to protect.
I packed my school supplies and put my bag beside the stairs. Then I walked back towards the dining table. There, Mom had cooked Tamagoyaki and Tonkatsu. They look delicious, right? Hehe.
"Wwoooihh!! Oka-san!"
"Yes, what is it dear?"
"Aren't you tired coo..king every day after coming home from work?"
"No, Ren-kun. Mom is happy being able to cook for you.." She said that while looking at me, and then I saw her steal a glance at my Dad's photo.
"Ittadakimass…!" me and my Mom said together.
That night, it was like a normal night. Warmth under this beautiful wood, where the outside world is just a foreign place to me. The warmth in my chest, felt only here… thanks to Mom.