Kasumi's mother dragged her away, which left me standing there like an idiot.
Well. Nothing left to do now.
So I hauled my fat ass back home to start my daily workout.
My days as a hero might be over, but old habits die hard. If I skip exercise, my body starts feeling restless. Like something important is missing.
'There's gotta be a way to make school more enjoyable.'
After one day, I was already bored out of my mind.
Sure, I might have made a friend.
Maybe.
But if I had to survive another one or two years of this, that would be fate worse than death.
'Phew.' I wiped my sweat off. 'At this rate, I could fill a swimming pool.'
Once my physical training was done, it was time for the second half of my routine.
Mental training.
Did you really think this hero was just a musclehead?
Ha.
Honestly, I probably would've been. But back in my hero days, that old geezer never stopped nagging me to study.
Every day.
Non-stop.
Eventually, I started studying just so he would shut up and now… it had become a habit.
Back then, my life was full of noise.
Battles.
Training.
People are constantly talking.
Now I finally had silence.
…Even if it felt a little lonely sometimes.
'So what now?'
With all my exercise finished, I suddenly realised something.
I had free time.
A lot of free time.
Back then, every moment of my day was filled with something.
Now that all of that is gone… I didn't know what to do with myself.
'Damn it.' I rubbed my head. 'I can't think of anything.'
After a long sigh, I looked over at my desk.
'Maybe I should study Japanese culture and school subjects?'
I stared at the books.
If someone had told the old me that I'd voluntarily choose to be a diligent student.
I would've laughed in their face.
But right now?
I'd do anything to keep my mind from going crazy with boredom.
'Alright.'
I opened the book.
'Let's begin.'
______________________________
[Kasumi's pov]
Today I met a strange boy who transferred into our class.
His name is Ku-reiji Di-ran.
At least, think that's how you pronounce it.
He slept through most of the class.
Every time I looked over, he was resting his head on the desk, sleeping peacefully.
I wondered.
Will I ever be able to make a face like that?
So calm.
So relaxed.
Then there was the food he gave me.
Whoa.
It was amazing.
The best food I've ever eaten in my life.
But I also felt a little guilty.
I ate almost all of it. Even if he did offer it.
'Sup, insert-your-name.' He said.
He even picked me up and carried me all the way to the rooftop.
What a strange person.
Suddenly, a hand appeared in front of my face, waving up and down.
Startled, I jumped.
Then I realised it was him.
'Sa-ppu?' I asked, tilting my head.
He explained it meant 'what's up' in his language.
Then he asked for my name.
That's when I remembered.
Earlier… I had run away before telling him.
How embarrassing.
So I told him.
'Sato Kasumi.'
But then he casually called me by my given name.
Foreigners really are different.
In Japan, using someone's given name usually means you're close to them.
Yet for some reason…
I didn't hate hearing him say it.
When he said 'Kasumi.' I felt something warm inside my chest.
Still, it's far too embarrassing for me to call him by his first name.
'KASUMI!'
My body froze.
'Mu-mother?!'
The moment I heard my mother's voice, my body reacted automatically.
My temperature rose.
My heart began racing.
My hands started shaking.
I couldn't think straight.
'Get over here now!' She shouted. 'We'll be late for cram school!'
C-coming, m-mother!'
I couldn't disobey.
I was never allowed to disobey.
The only thought in my head was:
Follow her. Or be punished.
So I quickly said goodbye to Ku-reiji and ran toward my mother.
'Get in the car.' She ordered.
'Yes, mother.'
I sat down and fastened my seatbelt.
Then I looked out the window.
Other students were walking home with their friends.
Laughing.
Talking.
Smiling.
I watched them quietly.
… I wish I could do that too.
_______________________________
[Dylan's pov]
'New day, Same old me.'
After a night of 'studying'. And I use that word very loosely. I dragged myself out of bed.
I studied all night, but it would be a lie.
The real schedule looked something like this:
Study for twenty minutes. Mess around for forty minutes. Repeat that until I go to bed.
'Time for another day of school.'
I grabbed my bag and left the house.
Luckily, my school was only about a forty-minute walk away. That meant I didn't have to cram myself into a train with the rest of the little gremlins every morning.
The streets were strangely quiet.
Most of the shops were still closed. Cars passed by occasionally, but there were barely any people around.
It felt eerie.
Like I had wandered into the opening scene of a horror movie.
But the closer I got to the school, the more the world seemed to be awake.
Kids laughing.
Cars rushing by.
Bicycle bells ringing.
The sudden shift felt strange.
One street was dead silent.
The next was full of life.
Weird.
When I finally arrived at school, I headed straight for the classroom.
Kasumi was already there.
She sat quietly at her desk with a textbook open in front of her, pen in hand, as she carefully studied the materials.
'Sup, Kasumi.'
I dropped into my seat.
Her whole body jolted.
'Ah… Sa-ppu, Ku-reiji san.'
'What are you studying?' I asked, leaning towards her.
She immediately leaned the opposite way, putting distance between us.
'I-l'm studying history.'
'I see.' I leaned back in my chair, 'Well… have fun.'
Nap time.
Through half-closed eyelids, I noticed Kasumi glance at me for a moment before returning to her book.
A few minutes passed.
*Ding-dong*
The bell rang.
*Tap tap*
I opened my eyes.
Kasumi poked me with the tip of her pen.
'What's up?'
'Wa-ttsu-a-ppu?' She tilted her head.
Right.
English again.
'It means "what do you need?"' I explained. 'In English.'
'Oh.'
A tiny light bulb switched on above her head.
'So… why were you poking me?'
'A-ah.'
The imaginary light bulb shattered.
'W-We have to go to the morning assembly.'
'Morning assembly?'
'It's when we prepare for the school day. We sing the national anthem and the school anthem and then we also -'
I raised my hand to stop her.
'Bloody hell, is this the military?'
She blinked.
'Instead of fighting enemies, we're fighting textbooks.'
Kasumi let out a small giggle before quickly covering her mouth.
'C-Come on,' she said. 'If we're late, we'll get in trouble.'
'Got it, mum.'
I stretched and stood up.
Kasumi's brain seemed to short-circuit.
Smoke was coming out of her ears.
'What?' I said. 'You're nagging me to hurry up when you could've gone without me. Typical mother behaviour.'
'I-I just don't want you to g-get in trouble…'
'This is why I hate kids,' I sighed. 'Using their innocence against me.'
I patted her on the head and walked toward the door.
'You coming?'
She stood there. Staring into space.
'Earth to Kasumi.'
She blinked.
'Co-Coming!'
_____________________________
After the morning assembly, we returned to the classroom and started the first period.
Unfortunately, today's teachers had apparently decided I shouldn't be allowed to sleep through their lessons.
Every few minutes, they called on me.
'Ku-reiji san, read the next paragraph.'
'Ku-reiji san, answer this question.'
'Ku-reiji san, explain the concept.'
And every time I answered correctly, they praised me like I had just donated to charity.
'Good job!'
'Excellent!'
'Everyone should learn from Ku-reiji san.'
It continued like that until lunch break.
Naturally, I headed straight to my favourite place.
The rooftop.
But unlike last time.
I wasn't alone.
Kasumi sat beside me.
The food thief's herself.
'Um-yum-yum…'
'You really like it, huh?' I said.
She turned toward me, cheeks puffed out with food.
'Is-ish vewi dewicious.'
'I think anything would taste better than your food.'
I glanced at her lunchbox.
Inside were only canned foods.
What kind of diet is that?
Looks less like a lunch and more like someone trying to raise a future assassin.
And I'd know.
That drunken thief used to tell me plenty of stories about training assassins.
We ate quietly for a while.
The rooftop was peaceful.
The same couldn't be said for class later.
When we returned to the classroom, Kasumi froze beside her desk.
She stood there.
Staring at it.
'What's wrong?'
I walked over and looked down.
Her desk had been covered in scribbles.
Slut.
Crybaby.
Mommy's girl.
And a dozen other childish insults.
I sighed.
'This is why I hate kids.'
Petty little creatures.
I grabbed her desk and dragged it aside.
Then I swapped it with mine.
'You can use my desk.' I said.
'B-But…'
'I don't care which desk I sleep on.'
I tapped at the scribbled surface.
'This means nothing to me. As long as I can still sleep.'
Kasumi looked down.
'Th-Thank you, Ku-reiji san.'
I waved her off and sat down.
Then I put my head on the desk.
ZZZ.
God.
Why did you send me back to school?
Just to suffer?