The morning bell at Seika High School rang sharp and loud, cutting through the chatter like a knife. Mio Takahashi stood frozen in the middle of the crowded gate, her fingers gripping the strap of her school bag so tightly her knuckles turned white.
Another new school. Another new sky I can't even see clearly anymore.
Tokyo was nothing like Hokkaido. There, the air had been crisp and quiet, the stars bright enough to count from her bedroom window. Here, everything pressed in — the roar of voices, the sharp smell of exhaust mixed with cherry blossoms, the blinding sunlight reflecting off a thousand windows. Her heart beat too fast, too loud in her ears.
She kept her eyes on the ground, counting the cracks in the pavement. One… two… three… If she counted long enough, maybe the world would slow down.
"Mio Takahashi?" A teacher's voice called from the classroom doorway. "Come in, please."
The classroom smelled of chalk and too many people. Thirty pairs of eyes turned toward her as she stood at the front, shoulders hunched, bangs falling over one eye like a shield.
"Everyone, this is Mio Takahashi. She transferred from Hokkaido. Please be kind to her."
Mio's mouth felt dry. "N-nice to meet you…" she managed, her voice barely above a whisper.
She could already hear the whispers.
"She's kinda weird already."
"Space girl, right? Look at her staring out the window again."
Mio slid into her seat near the back, hands disappearing under the desk. Her fingers found the small star-shaped fidget ring in her pocket and began to spin it slowly. The cool metal was the only thing that felt steady.
Just get through today, she told herself. The stars will be there tonight… even if they're faint.