I Had The Time of My Life

[Steve42]

~ I Had The Time of My Life ~






~~~~~~~~~

Every story has a meaning. Each one is unique. Some are told to bring joy and laughter. Some are told to frighten children. Some are told to water your eyes with tears. Throughout the ages, people have practiced storytelling, passing on the thoughts inside their heads and releasing the treasures locked inside their minds. A story is an expression of the writers inner world and brings their fantasy to life. As we venture over the letters written down on paper, with each sentence we read the record starts breathing and filling our head with its meaning. Unfolding its content to us as we dive into the consciousness of the author, we become one with the eternal thoughts held down in written form. Such is the nature of a story.

The following story is an ordinary one.
There will be no grand adventures or tragic deaths. It is neither fantastic nor riddled with danger. It is simple, yet as many simple things in life are, it is complex in its own unique way. Reading it, you will realize it tells the story of eight ordinary children going about their daily lives as they live out their years of High School. As the everyday happenings of these children unfold to us, we dive deeply into their minds and explore their sentiments while they experience their individual story and form unique bonds with one another.

We are in present day Japan. A city like any other, a few miles away from Tokyo.

Our story begins here.

~~~~~~~~~~~~


Chapter One
~ Beginnings ~



Spring.
An exciting period full of new life and new beginnings. The cherry blossom trees stand in full bloom and soft gushes of wind carry the many rose colored petals through the streets of the city. The leaves travel in between blocks and buildings, fly over trees and streets, hover over rivers and brooks and softly land on the glistening water, as if carrying the hopes and dreams of the waking year on their flushed skin. Such it is that the new term begins in this time of the year. A new year, a new day. The early morning sun dawns on the city and sends its warm rays over the roofs of the suburban neighborhoods and into the rooms of the waking people. As the day wakes, many alarm clocks are going off simultaneously as the teenagers of this town are being called to their first day of school after the long winter break. Many yawns and a lot of grumbling can be heard as the young students are getting up and getting ready. For some of them it is merely the start of another year at a familiar school. For some of them it is the exciting first day of their High School lives. Regardless of what the individual stories of thousands of students may be, our wandering gaze comes to rest on eight of these teenagers attending Yamamichi High. Our focus sharpens as we watch the unlike boys and girls getting ready for school, whose high school years are promising to be years of great excitement.

Monday, 11 April

What may await our young friends on this new term?

[vFear]

From one side of the farmhouse to the others, alarms begun to chime and screech, raising the residents of the house from their beds.

Tsubasa Farmhouse - 06:00

Both Maki and Kameyo - Maki's loyal companion, a border collie - perked their heads up from their positions. Maki looked down to Kameyo - still cuddled up against him from his position sleeping on his side - and gave her a quick scratch behind the ears, causing her tail to wag and her to stand up, the scratch signalling to her the start of the day. As Maki threw the dooner off him, he swung his feet off the side of the bed and rose to his feet, Kameyo trailing close behind him. As he passed his alarm, he waved his hand over it, turning it off for the morning, followed by whipping up his hoodie and jacket hanged up on the corner of his bed as he passed that and slamming them both on.

As Maki entered the main room of the house - pretty much the kitchen, dining room and lounge room in the same area - he found the females of the house - Ayano and Kumiko, mother and younger sister - working on the frying pants to a mouth-watering sizzling sound. As his nose twitched, Maki asked as he passed,
"Mm, what's that I'm smelling?" Laughing as she looked over her shoulder, Ayano proceeded to answer,
"Poached eggs on toast with bacon, for your first day back to school!" Maki laughed before responding,
"Eww, that school thing?" The two laughed before Ayano replied,
"Ah, suck it up, princess!" Maki proceeded into the lounge where he met his father, Daichi, in wait.
"You good to fix the picket fence before breakfast?" Daichi asked, speaking calmly. Maki shrugged.
"Sure, give us something to come back to. I'll go get the picket driver." Maki proceeded to pace off as Daichi yelled across the house,
"Hurry up, Yuu, or do I need to get Maki to wake you up again!?" Understandably, Yuu got up pretty quickly.

The three figures paced out into the raising sunrise which stretched out over the farm with Yuu carrying the star pickets, Maki the picket driver and Daichi the bolt-cutters and wire. A section of the picket fence keeping the sheep in their field was broken, the picket half out of the ground and the wire distorted and fragile. Daichi took a few paces forward, making quick work of the damaged wire with the bolt-cutters and removing the damaged wire, being the most veteran of the farm. Following which, Maki took a few paces forward, examining the damaged picket.
"What do you reckon'?" asked Maki, "Think it could hold?" Yuu and Daichi took a few paces in, crowding around to examine the picket. A brief pause of considering rung out before Yuu spoke,
"Eh, sure, they're only sheep, but we got the pickets here so we may as well stay safe." Daichi nodded in agreement,
"Yeah, wool often racks in a good price. Let's replace it." Maki nodded, tossing the picket driver next to the damaged picket to free his hands before grasping the picket, removing it from the ground without a picket remover due to how it's already half-out and setting it aside. He then turned to Yuu with the star pickets over his shoulder, drawing one out from the bundle with a loud and metallic grind before placing the tip a decent distance from the previous hole made by the last picket to avoid the new hole caving into it.
"'Ey Daichi, can you hold this for me?" Daichi nodded,
"Sure." before grasping the picket. Maki released the picket and lowered down to the picket driver, grasping it in both hands and sliding it over the top of the new star picket and sliding it down the shaft as far as it will go. Daichi and Maki exchanged a quick nod before Maki raised both his hands and slammed the picket driver down towards the picket, pushing it roughly an inch into the ground as Daichi held his grip towards the middle of the picket. After a few more loud bangs, Daichi released the picket, dug into the ground enough to stand tall. Maki continued his work until the picket struggled to move deeper into the ground and refused to move when one attempted to shake it, where he removed the picket driver and took a few paces back, gesturing Yuu along with him. Daichi started to run out the wire, securing it around the new picket in three locations - lower, center and upper - and securing it around the next two pickets along, checking them as he paced that they're secure. Daichi returned to the ground after trimming the spare wire with the boltcutters.
"Alright, I'm not sure about you, but I want my food." Daichi begun as he started pacing back for the farmhouse. Without hesitation, Yuu and Maki trailed very closely behind, their mouths too filled with drool to speak.

As the three returned to the house without their tools and equipment, various dishes lined up the dining table - each complete with two rashes of bacon and a single piece of toast with a poached egg placed upon it, diced up to cover the entire surface of the toast. The oak of the egg was kept runny, the warm contents spread through the diced egg and toast. Daichi approached the table as per normal, dusting off his hands as he approached. Yuu and Maki, however.. by the time Daichi got half way there, Yuu and Maki were already half-way through literally inhaling their breakfast in a flurry of fork and knife swings, causing Daichi's jaw to drop.
"Have some class!" he boomed, having no effect on Maki and Yuu. Ayano placed a hand to her mouth to giggle whereas the young Kumiko just rolled her eyes as she kept eating. Kameyo stood up on her back legs and placed her front paws on Maki's lap, the only thing that can seem to get him to stop. Maki turned to the dog, pausing for a moment before smiling widely and lowering a rash of bacon towards her. With a furiously wagging tail, she took the bacon in her mouth and lowered it onto Maki's leg, the inseparable couple impolitely inhaling their food together. Daichi couldn't help but to raise a palm to his face.

After breakfast was concluded, Maki, Yuu and Kameyo alike retired to their rooms to prepare for school. Flicking over the familiar uniform, Maki hung up his clothes on the corner of the bed as before and proceeded to place on his school uniform, leaving the top button undone and the tie - tied in double windsor - with the knot positioned to match. After flying past the bathroom to brush his teeth and generally tidy all but his severe case of bed hair, Maki made his way for the front door with his guitar case in one hand, his amp case in the other and his backpack affixed upon his back.
"Hold it right there, mister!" called Ayano, causing Maki to roll his eyes. He turned towards her to meet her gaze, where she proceeded to button up his top button, tuck in his shirt, adjust his tie accordingly and button up his jumper. She spoke once more as she gave his cheek a quick pinch, "Now, have a good day!" she said with a smile. Maki half-heartily returned the smile,
"You too, ma." The moment he got out the front door, he reversed the changes and made his way towards school quite a time in advance, having a longer distance to travel from the farm.

[Jman2220]

Exterior


The sun had just begun rising in the east, and many people had begun the morning rustle from bed, to floor, to car, to work. Taro and his brother Yoshikazu however, were still fast asleep. Normally, a mother or father would have come to wake the boys from their sleep. However, their mother worked from dawn until late at night; and their father had left long ago. It was not irresponsibility that kept these two asleep. Rather, it was the fact that they were so responsible they could afford to be irresponsible every so often. It was now 7:40 according to Taro's alarm clock. His alarm would be going off in five minutes. His eyes had been cracked ever so slightly since their neighbor's alarm had been going off at 6. That man slept through his alarm every day, and sometimes forgot to turn it off even after he left for work. [7:44] Taro rolled from the bed to the floor. First day of school, first day in a new year of facades. He picked himself up off the floor and hovered his hand over the clock, ready to strike.
07:45

BEEP

BE-

~SLAM~


He struck the clock forcefully in the hopes that maybe it would break. When it didn't he sighed and began to get dressed. His uniform was stiff from all the starch his mom had used. He put the tie around his neck without tying it, and grabbed his already set up bag. He walked to the living room and was only slightly surprised to see Yoshikazu already up and watching TV. Taro smiled to himself and began to make himself a bowl of cereal. He turned to look at Yoshi.

"Ready for school today? I know I'm not." Taro said sticking his tongue out slightly. He heard Yoshi laugh and began to pour a bowl for him as well.

"Mom already made me eat. Thanks anyway." He turned right back to his show and seemed to forget all about the situation. Taro frowned a bit. He knew already why Yoshi happened to be up so early. All to often his brother had nightmares about their father who seemed to never leave them alone. Taro quickly put the cereal back and finished making his bowl. He sat down and began to watch this morning's TV next to Yoshi. As he began to finish his cereal he happened to glance at the clock. He dropped his spoon immediately.

"OH NO! It's eight o'clock already! Quick finish getting your uniform together, put on your shoes and we need to leave now!"

Taro rushed to the door and put his shoes on quickly. Thankfully Yoshi's school was just a couple blocks away. He grabbed Yoshizaku's hand and dragged him down the street as fast as he could. There was no way his little brother was going to be late on the first day of the year. Outside the school gates he straightened Yoshi's tie, and his hair and wished him a good day before walking a few steps toward his new school. He looked back and smiled at his younger brother who was now surrounded by friends. Thankfully, that boy was well acclimated to social situations. Taro's smile faded and he began to move on, walking his path towards his new school, and his new chapter in life.

[Jollopin]

おはようございます



“Morning, Sis! Time to get up! ”

“N-..Go away.”

“You too, Reina!”

“Mmff…’kay, just…few more minutes…”

“Hurry up or you’re gonna be late! Breakfast is ready!”

It was 7:30 am at the Akiyama residence.

Akiyama Reiko, youngest in the family, was currently moving briskly through the house, banging on her older sisters’ doors to get them up on time. She had just come home from her morning run around the neighborhood. Her hair was still drying after her quick shower. Reiko liked to run in the mornings just as the sun was coming up and there was hardly a soul to be seen on the streets. It was the best stress relief there was, the best time to think. And she had a lot of things to think about on this particular morning. Today was the first day of the new school year. New beginnings, new challenges. New opportunities to make a good impression.

“Dad left a note saying he won’t be home until this weekend,” Reiko called up to her sisters, who she could hear bumping around upstairs as they hurried to get ready. “Guess he’s got another business trip,” she murmured to herself. She dropped the note on the kitchen counter and deftly caught a piece of toast as it popped out of the toaster. She was in a bit of a hurry herself this morning, hoping to get to the school a little early to meet her homeroom teacher before class. Reiko grabbed her school bag and headed for the front door, stopping to give her appearance a once over in the mirror by the entranceway. She paused to tug on her skirt, adjusting it lower over her long legs. It was hard not to feel a little, well, girlish in the school uniform. It wasn’t like any of the boyish clothes she normally wore…

“Aw~! Don’t you look so adorable in your uniform~! I forgot you started classes today.”

Reiko jumped in surprise, caught off guard by one of her older sisters’ sudden appearance behind her in the mirror. She rolled her eyes and slung her bag over her shoulder, trying to look the opposite of adorable. This just made her sister tease her even more.

“You’re blushing, I can tell. Even if you try to act tough, all the boys are still going to fall for you.”

With a good-natured groan, Reiko turned toward the door and headed out of the house, calling over her shoulder, “Yeah, yeah, we’ll see about that. Did you hear me earlier about Dad’s note? I left it in the kitchen. Don’t eat Rei’s omelet! Hers is the one on the table! I’ll see you tonight!”

The distance from her house to Yamamichi High School was only a few blocks, leaving Reiko the luxury of a leisurely walk. With her bag still slung over her shoulder, she strolled along the narrow sidewalk, admiring the beautiful cherry blossoms that had bloomed just earlier that week. Her reddish blonde hair was pulled back into a long, loose ponytail that swung idly as she walked. All around, she could hear the sounds of the city waking up – cars, bicycle bells, the occasional well wishing as a student or spouse entered the street. The air was warm but there was a cool spring breeze that stirred the cherry blossoms and sent them cascading all around in the most enchanting way. Reiko stopped at the corner just before the high school to take a picture of the pink blossoms with her phone. Even at this pace she would be in her classroom well before the first bell rang.



Before long, she had rounded the street corner and approached the schoolyard entrance. The area was steadily becoming filled with other students, some heading into the school, others milling about to meet up with friends. Reiko smiled and waved to several people she recognized. A pair of first years stopped to give her a quick, polite bow as she passed and when she gave them a cheery “good morning,” they all but turned red in delighted embarrassment.

Reiko stood out among her female classmates, mostly because of her height, but partly because of her attitude. It wasn’t unusual for others to mistake her for being older than she really was. But despite her confident demeanor, Reiko could feel a slight fluttering in her stomach as she walked through the schoolyard. This year would be the most important in terms of how she made an impression on her classmates and faculty. As a second year, she was finally eligible to be a candidate for Student Body President. There was nothing she wanted more. Her older sister, Ayame, had been president at the school when she’d been a student and Reiko was bent on following in her footsteps. Her current position as Communications Director gave her a pretty good advantage - her jobs organizing school events and mediating between students and faculty meant she had met a lot of people over the past school year. Her name was recognizable, even outside her year.

Unfortunately, knowing a lot of people and having a lot of close friends aren't the same thing.

"Morning Akiyama-san!"

"Akiyama-san, good morning!"

Is there even one person at this school I'm familiar with enough to address each other on a first name basis? she thought suddenly, feeling strangely alone among all these polite, smiling faces coming to greet her.

[Ale]

Soft stirring.

A tender rustling.

The gentle clicks of a wall-clock.

Darkness embraced the room gently, it's heavy weight pressed and distorted the objects in the room. To one side of the room stood a worn closet, whose once sharp and refined edges were dulled down by the endless skimming of nervous fingers throughout the years. Standing by it was a humble desk, her figure sparred of the extra compartment known as drawers, that was caked with enough books to match the height of the wall-clock above it should they all be stacked up uniformly. Across from all this was a bed which gave out a gentle squeak as more rustling could be heard.

Korone erected from the pile of sheets with a gentle yawn and a “reach for the sky” stretch. She rubbed her thighs and groaned, attempting vigorously to wake up, before finally burying her face back into the pillow in defeat, her rear end pointing up boldly. The sheets were so soft, the air was thick with sleep, the pillow was not too hot and not too cold: Oh, what she would do just to stay in bed a bit longer. Then she heard it. Without a moments hesitation her feet made contact with the cold wood, her long milky legs shivered for a second before embracing the cold. The figure stumbled across the room before finally breaking out the door, into the hallway which the light flooded and the smell of aged wood and cigarette smoke filled the air. She felt her heart race as her naked figure ran down the stairs into the living room where she nearly slipped turning the corner. There she found him sitting, the source of the beautiful notes.

“Kana~ How long has it been?” the man asked over the keys, his low voice mixing strangely well with the composition.

She fought back tears, her legs quivering as she fell down on her knees before him and buried her face into his warm back. She felt his worn, slender fingers brush gently against her cheek, comforting her, loving her. She was scared to look up, to see what his face had become as of late, so she just held him tighter.

The man before her was none other than her father, Nishizono Kyousuke. Her father, however, was dead.

So then...

Her arms loosened. A sad smile spread across her face. The man before her disappeared, and the white room started fade away.

Embracing these types of dream was one of her many guilty pleasures.

Like magic, the room disappeared and reappeared square by square until she was no longer in the cold living room of some place long gone and back inside her dark room. She looked over at the clock that was frozen at 5:15, her face wet with tears.
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________________
As usual, Korone was the first one to awake.

She started the coffee machine and got to work on the toast. The Kayaba household always ate a Western Breakfast consisting of eggs, bread, and a side of meat which was preferably lean bacon. It was a interesting change that Korone had acquainted herself with the first morning she spent with her aunt and cousin. Breakfast never took long to prepare, five minutes in front of the stove and she was done. She set down a cup of coffee on the corner of the open piano and another on the living room table before checking the time on her phone. Sure enough, at 6:30 flat, the sound of two doors opening in sync stirred the quiet atmosphere. Bowing, she brought her head up and watched the two figures descend the staircase before giving them a gentle smile.

“Ohaiyou Mashiro-san, Ohaiyou Akihiko-chan.” her voice chimed.

“Ohaiyou Korone!” the woman in her early thirty's chimed back.

Kayaba Mashiro or otherwise known as “Yashiro” in the writer's world was the brilliant author behind popular love novels such as Warm Rain in December and Painted Hearts. She was extremely beautiful, appearing to be in her early twenties, holding a body that made her out to be female equivalent of Michelangelo's David.

Stepping past them, the boy that was two years younger than her moved towards the piano. Despite being two years younger, Aiko held the air of sophistication and maturity that matched that of an established business owner. She felt her eyes lingering on him as his soft lips took a sip of the coffee.

Phtssp~

She watched as a barely noticeable grin began to crawl on his face. A sigh of relief left her, as she heard him crack his fingers and work away at his composition. Kayaba Akihiko was the only child of Kayaba Mashiro, the well known romance novelist, and Kayaba Kirigaya, a world famous pianist. Like his parents, he was a genius both academically and socially. In addition to being top of his grade and number three on the nations academic listing, Aiko was also a famous painter, pianist, and even mangaka. Amazing right? At Korone thinks so.

Looking back at Mashiro, Korone gave her a thumbs up before motioning towards the door.

“Well I'm off then.” she muttered silently trying not to disturb Aiko who was scribbling and playing keys simultaneously.

Looking up from her coffee, Mashiro tilted her head and waved childishly.

“I won't be home for dinner so please take care of Aiko.” she called out, not at all concerned about whether or not she disturbed the pianist.

“Of course. Jaa ne!”
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _____________________________________

Korone usually walked faster than most people.

She also tended to notice and speculate more than other people.

For example, here on this beautiful first day of school. The sun with it's majestic rays of light that cast a layer of color upon everything, stands tall and bright like the students that danced beneath her. Their colors were bold, their actions raw and unrestrained as a result of their recent experience of freedom during summer vacation. What of the specks of clouds then? What were they? Beings the didn't belong here on such a beautiful day, simply being brushed aside and forgotten in all the majesties of the sunshine. Among these crowds were people who felt out of place and perhaps even more lost than the first years that tread these grounds. Would they find what they desire this year? Probably not. Society and reality were both unforgiving after all, if whatever have kept these people from enjoying the energy and memories of school thus far, this year would probably be no different. Shame.

Korone snapped back to reality for a second as she looked to her side.

There walked Akiyama Reiko, a person she hardly knew save for the few interactions they've shared in Home Economics. The tall girl wondered where Reiko would fall in the spectrum of lights and clouds. To her surprise Korone was unable to place her anywhere.

"Aki-yaaa-maaaaa Reeeeeeeii-ko!" she called out in frustration despite the girl being right next her.

"What do you wish to be called?"

Was she one of the clouds or a being of the Sun? Which one did she want to be?

Lost in thought once more, Korone moved on further ahead, becoming completely unaware of her surroundings or the question she had just thrown out.

"Was that Nishizono?"

"See there ,first years, that girl will be your goddess from this day forth. You have any problems? Confide them to her. Be sure to tell your friends too." A second year hording a bunch of first years declared loudly to the crowd before giving them a wink. "If you'll lucky you'll get her officially."

"Korone-chan is the same as usual~"

"Nishizono-san sure is eccentric huh?"

"Korone's legs are so beautiful~"

The first day of school was like soft candy. It was delicious and sweet making you happy but it also gets stuck in your teeth leaving you irritated. Oh cruel world! Why must everything that taste good be bad for you!

...Or so goes the thought process of the eccentric and endearing Korone in her second year of high school.

[Chezka]

Mornings in the Shirayuki household were particularly lively, with the main event centered on rousing the heaviest of heavy sleepers, Anzu. Fifteen years of sleeping through the loudest alarm have taught her family that she had to be woken in more creative means. Noise never seemed to work on her, so they had to resort through physical tactics. Anzu had even begun to start a scoreboard for her family, ranking the top three methods used. So far, no one could beat the time her mom jumped on her, wearing frighteningly realistic monster makeup. It scared the hell out of her, but it worked really well and it was so much fun.

Today, it was the twins turn to rouse their sister. They have been trying to knock their mom off the lead, but that was a tall order. They've failed many a time, but they had a feeling this time would be different. Today's involved water pistols, too, and they were sure they could at least get top three.

"Prepare yourself, Zuzu," Natsu, the older of the twins, warned with an evil cackle. He peeked through the door left ajar, confirming the location of their target. "We're gonna geeet you."

Natsu and Sora burst through her door without hesitation, pistol at the ready and trained at the giant lump under the covers of her bed. Sora tiptoed toward the bed and lifted the cover in one quick swoop. Then they both started shooting, laughing triumphantly, proud at their fast conquest. It took them a moment to notice that something was terribly wrong. What they just attacked was a giant stuffed rabbit. Their sister was nowhere in sight.

"Mwahaha," a muffled voice laughed, causing the twins to look around the room in panic. "I've been expecting you two!"

With a battle cry, Anzu leapt from inside her closet, a giant water gun in her hands. She fired back at her brothers, soaking them completely, and spun around in a Sentai-inspired victory pose. "I was too excited for today so I couldn't sleep," she explained with a grin, seeing the baffled expression on their face. She pumped up another round of water in her gun. "Now, beware--"

Before an all out war could ensue, their mother called them from downstairs, threatening to withhold breakfast for those who take too long to get ready. The three looked at each other, suddenly locked in a stalemate. They held each other's gazes, legs twitching as they prepared to run, then immediately scrambled out the door. It was a race to the bathroom. Natsu fell behind as he tripped over Sora's outstretched leg, but Anzu beat Sora by a few seconds. And with just enough time to stick her tongue out and give the appropriate neener-neener.

☀ - - - - -

Breakfast time was a little less hectic, and even Anzu was on her best behavior as she gobbled up the French toast. Daichi joined them after his morning preening routine, hair immaculate and uniform perfectly pressed for his prince image at school. They ate in companionable silence, broken every now and then by Anzu's nonsensical chatter. Her parents were the first to head off, followed by Natsu and Sora just minutes after.

Yamamichi High was only minutes away by bike, affording Daichi enough time to fix his appearance for the umpteenth time. Anzu took the extra time to stuff her backpack with assorted candies, her staple food. She liked having extras to give out, just in case she came across someone who needed some cheering up. Candy was a good medicine for sad, after all.

"You ready, Anzu?" Daichi called after one final look in the mirror.

"Yeah!" Anzu chirped. She was definitely ready, and way too excited. Daichi only had good things to say about his high school life, and it built up her expectations. New friends, new experiences, new everything. There would be so many things to do, it'd feel like the possibilities were endless. She didn't know why or how it could be such a drastic change from junior high, but starting fresh was always exhilarating. After making sure she had everything in her backpack, she rushed outside and eagerly hopped on her bike. Finally. "Let's go!"

As they reached the school's entrance, Daichi was quickly swarmed by his legion of fangirls. They squeed and swooned over him, forcefully pushing Anzu out of the way in order to surround him completely. Anzu stared at the crowd, honestly surprised. "Ooh~ So you weren't lying when you said you were popular!" she told her brother, yelling a bit so he could hear her. She thought he was exaggerating when he said girls fawned over him, but there really were people crazy enough to fall for him! "So do they know about your secret stash--"

"Shut up!" Daichi cut her off mid-sentence and shooed her away, trying to rake in any moment he can to enjoy his popularity. "And don't go wandering around! Head straight for the assembly hall," he added as an afterthought.

"Roger!" Anzu said with a salute, though she wasn't really paying attention. She was too taken in by the new surroundings. The cherry blossoms were in full blossom, scattering petal every time the wind blows. It gave the school a really friendly atmosphere, heightened by the cheerful greetings being exchanged as the students gathered. A wide grin crawled up her face, excitement already teeming and getting harder and harder to quell. Now, what sorts of fun will she be having here?

[Darcness]

5:58:-- AM

Eyes opening wide enough to glance through the shadows had instead met a return within the glance of a mirror. The girl was awakened to the sound of a cart pushing down the hall outside her room. The rattling of squeaky screws and clattering of equipment made it hard for anyone to sleep she would suppose. rolling onto her back, her face turned upward to stare; stare through stagnant air at the occasionally red blinking light from the fire alarm sprinkler that would flicker to life and die out within the pace of a fading star. The girl continues her stare for a moment later while a click of the clock broke her concentration- 6 AM had finally come. It didn't take much for the invalid then, as she had risen from the hospital bed and walked her way to the calender that had the blue star sticker plastered over today- today was the day she was cleared to go home again and probably not need to have another week long stay as long as she wouldn't forget to take her meds again. That mistake was one that she highly punished herself over, more in the physical sense then her mentality- death was an embrace her body would have taken long ago had she not taken her lanaxin.

The nurse had come and gone like a breeze leaving Akemi to her own devices after she took her meds. Dressing was the easy task but the one before her next would be her longest of the morning. A brush came to mind as she sat upon her starch white sheeted bed. strokes came across each and every lock, eyes narrowed in trance, whimsically humming to herself. Each stroke swiftly halted at the length of her hair, returning to its risen position near her face and beginning again. her thoughtless movements were methodical, driven to routine and regimen that was closely followed no matter the circumstances. Dividing her hair down the center from the back, her painstakingly long process of weaving began. Each braid took time, as if every sweep was as important as the last to ensure a tight and secure webbing of her hair into perfection. tying off the braids with orange ribbons, her body shifts, allowing her feet to carry her off to the table to take her mask- at least the one she used to shield herself behind.

Thick circular glasses that had seem to wear from long amounts of use-worn from wind, rain and age; obviously the only pair the girl had- yet still were just right for her face. They were her guide, her vision and sight to everything- but a mask to hide behind. They sat cleanly upon her face as some of her bangs fell over her face, making it as though her eyes were veiled.

"Sendou-san, your mother has come for you.... It's 6:47" calls the intercom, screaming from white noise. the girl didn't respond but it was easier that way to just head down on her own... she already had new school uniform on anyway.




7:19:-- AM
Sendou Residence
Akemi's room

She walks straight to her room when they returned home, not really talking to her mother as much as the later would have liked. Upon reaching the door, it slid open with ease, revealing the abundance of face piercing their gazes about the room. Some porcelain, some resin, some ball joined, some models, some with eyes closed, some without eyes at all, all realistic and sickenly close to human in appearance; cluttered with them all, staring about in hundreds of directions within the room. The boundary of realistic had long since passed the uncanny valley to most. To their owner, they were a welcoming- she's home and in her shell... until she needs to leave for school soon. The ones Akemi cared for the most were still in their places- Ao on her bed and child sized creation clad in lavender and lace upon a chair on the fr end of the room; 'Fredricka' as it was affectionately named.

Her bag was placed near the door as her steps carry her to the bed, scooping the blue bunny into her arms and briskly whisking herself toward Fred, pressing a kiss to it's head before making a b-line to her desk, throwing herself into the old desk chair that spun a few times with the girl upon it. With a press of button, it fired to life before the ticking of life bored through the machine. It was simplistic but most of all of Akemi's money was put into this contraption- well built for the gaming and browsing she used it for- even the audio rendering she needed. Fitted with parts and power housing- all to the mindset of an uninspired tinker who followed manuals to get her computer to the point that it is now.

Time slowly trudged onward as the login screen came alight to her monitor. E-mails needed to be answered, BBCs needed to be flamed upon and forums needed responding to when her connection was re-established. She had so much to do before school today- all of which was possible for her but no recording could be done before hand- so much to do and leisurely activities weren't permitted to herself while her superficial social life needed tending to. There was work to be done!- but first... the confirmation e-mail for her model 89 Hizuki designer Porcelain doll came in... maybe she could fill that out first... so much work to be done...

[Maou Zenigame]

[6:30]

Gaah, why does it have to be today...
Filled with action figures, games, books, dolls and countless other otaku goods, Hayato's room was supposed to be a secret base where he could escape from the unpleasantness of the outside world.

But this wasn't something that he could hide from.

THE FIRST DAY OF HIGHSHOOL.

Mumbling incoherently, Hayato emerged from his cocoon of blankets, snatched his new highschol uniform off its resting place on a chair, and headed into the hallway and towards the bathroom...

...and walked right into something.

"Sleepwalking, eh?" that something said with a chuckle.
"Wh... wha?" Hayato stumbled back, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. "Uncle? What're you doin' here?"

In stark contrast to the disheveled mess that Hayato was at that moment, hunched over with his long blue hair draped messily over his face, his uncle Genzou was sharply dressed in a black suit, his graying mid-length hair slicked back and wearing a huge grin.

Hayato couldn't help but wonder why the hell anyone would be smiling at this ungodly hour.

"What, I'm not allowed to be around to see my favorite nephew off on his big day?" his uncle asked cheerily.
"Big... ugh, it's just another day of crap. I thought you had work or something, you're never around when I wake up."
"I just got back from the office, actually. But yeah! It's a big day for you! Aren't you excited?"

Not even bothering to respond to that remark with actual words, Hayato simply growled and pushed himself past his uncle, slamming the door to the bathroom behind him.

"Ah, to be young again..."

[7:15]

Having taken far longer than he intended to get ready, Hayato made a mad dash out of the bathroom, making a stop at the kitchen to grab something to drink before he left. Out the corner of his eye, he could see his uncle Genou sitting atthe table, sure to make some kind of embarassing comment.

"No time to talk-" Hayato said, immediately before grabbing a bottle of water and chugging it down as fast as he could. Before Genzou could get a word in edgewise, Hayato slammed the bottle down, grabbed his bag off the table, and ran out of the door.
"Bye!"


My first day at a new school... while this may have been something exciting for most kids his age, Hayato was more annoyed than anything. As he passed through the school's gates, the only thing he has hopes for was that nobody would bother him too much.