Ding-a-ling-a-ling! Ding-a-ling-a-ling!
The cheap plastic alarm clock screamed its monotonous song right beside my ear. Groaning, I slammed a hand down on the snooze button, the silence that followed almost as oppressive as the noise. Another day. Another identical Tuesday. Sunlight, already annoyingly bright, streamed through the gap in my cheap curtains. I dragged myself upright, the springs in my old bed groaning in protest.
The reflection in the bathroom mirror was a familiar sight: messy bedhead, sleep-crusted eyes, and the general aura of someone already defeated by 7 AM. Toothpaste foamed as I scrubbed mechanically. New day, new start… yeah, right. Feels more like hitting replay on the same dull recording. When does the interesting part actually begin?
"Kaito!" Mom's voice, sharp and practical, cut through the steam from the shower running downstairs. "Breakfast! And don't forget your uniform this time! You'll be late!"
"Coming!" I mumbled around the toothbrush, the words garbled. A quick glance confirmed the uniform was, miraculously, draped over my desk chair. Efficiency was key. T-shirt, boxers, pants—yanked on in a blur. Uniform jacket snatched, buttons half-done as I thundered down the stairs, nearly tripping over the last step.
The smell of toast and cheap coffee hit me as I slid into my chair at the kitchen table. Mom placed a plate in front of me, her eyes already scanning me for uniform violations.
"Did you pack everything? Textbooks? Notebook? P.E. kit?"
"Yep," I mumbled, shoveling scrambled eggs into my mouth. "All present and accounted for."
"Good. Focus today. Your father's pulling another late shift at the factory." Her voice held that familiar mix of weariness and expectation. The silence stretched, broken only by the clatter of my fork. I finished the last bite, standing abruptly. "Okay, heading out."
"Be careful!" The automatic call followed me as I jammed my feet into worn sneakers, socks bunched awkwardly inside. The front door slammed behind me, the rusty gate squealing its usual protest as I pushed through.
Chapter 1: The Crosswalk Encounter & The Glare That Could Kill
The walk was the same monotonous route: past the identical row houses, the corner konbini with its garish sign, the vacant lot choked with weeds. Tick-tock, tick-tock. My internal clock screamed in panic. Late. Definitely late. Homeroom teacher's gonna have my head on a platter… again. I reached the main crossing, the pedestrian light stubbornly red. Frustration bubbled. Tsk.
As I scanned the traffic impatiently, a flash of familiar color caught my eye. There, waiting on the opposite curb—the girl from this morning! That distinct ribbon, the way her bag hung just so… Up close, under the morning sun, she was… wow. Pale skin, sharp features framed by dark hair, an air of cool detachment. Beautiful? More like intimidatingly perfect. A crazy thought surfaced: Maybe she goes to my new school? Could ask for directions… save me wandering lost…
The light finally flicked green. As the crowd surged forward, I pushed through, reaching her side just as we stepped onto the crosswalk.
"Hey!" My voice came out slightly too loud, too eager. "Ah! Saint Ignatiusu? 一緒に行きましょうか? (Let's go together?) …Wait, was that Japanese?! Why did I suddenly— I don't even STUDY Japanese!!?"
Elis (I'd later learn her name) didn't even turn her head fully. Just a slow, deliberate swivel of her eyes. Dark, intelligent eyes that swept over me—my slightly askew tie, my probably-still-messy hair, my general aura of flustered newness—and instantly narrowed. Her lip curled, just slightly. The look was pure, undiluted disdain. Ugh. Another one. Probably a creep. It radiated off her like a heat haze.
Ehhhh?! My confidence evaporated. "Wait—is it my hair? Did my toothpaste explode? Or is this one of those 'resting weird face' situations people tweet about? PLEASE TELL ME IT'S NOT THE PANTS."
We reached the other side. She finally spoke, her voice cool and clipped, devoid of any warmth. "Elis. I suppose." The "nice to meet you" sounded like a mandatory afterthought, delivered while her expression remained firmly set on 'grossed out'.
"Oh! K-Kaito," I stammered, scrambling to match her formality despite the internal panic. "Kaito Aizome! My parents swear it's my real name, but I've seen the birth certificate and the handwriting is suspiciously similar to my dad's grocery lists." It came out as a question. Her only response was a faint, dismissive hmph as she immediately started walking, faster now, putting distance between us.
Right. Message received. I trailed behind Elis like a lost puppy who'd just been kicked (but, like, respectfully). The six-minute walk to school became the world's most awkward funeral procession
A nearby crow dropped a single cherry blossom petal on Elis as she glided forward, as if nature itself endorsed her disdain. Meanwhile, a pigeon—the universe's comedy wingman—splatted a white surprise onto my shoulder. Of course. Even the birds were team Elis.
This is fine. I've trained my whole life for this moment of invisible humiliation. My ancestors are facepalming in the afterlife. Maybe if I spontaneously combust, the school will name the ashes after me.
Elis vanished into the Class A wing with the grace of a shoujo manga heroine, her ribbon fluttering like a "Mission Accomplished" banner. My shoelaces chose that moment to tie themselves together—because why not?—as the universe whispered: "Suffering builds character!"
Chapter 2: The Nerve-Wracking Introduction
Left alone, my shoulders slumped. "Great start, Kaito. Day One: Make a soul-crushing first impression on literally the only person who acknowledged your existence. At this rate, I'll graduate as "That Weird Hallway Statue" With an upset face mirroring my internal state, I pushed open the heavy door of Class 1-C—my designated purgatory.
"Alright, settle down class!" The homeroom teacher, a man with kind eyes but a firm voice, clapped his hands. "We have a new transfer student joining us today. Come on in!"
The spotlight hit me the moment I stepped inside. Thirty pairs of eyes, curious, bored, or indifferent, locked onto me. My throat tightened.
"Don't screw this up. Don't sneeze. Don't accidentally propose. Just... say... your... NAME—"
[SFX: Squeeeeak—!]
My sneakers screamed across the linoleum like dying seagulls. Then—
[SFX: DOKI DOKI—!]
"THUD."
"KAITO AIZOME AT YOUR SERVICE FROM THE FLOOR!"*
(The aftermath:)
- Elis' pen snapped in half with a CRACK, ink splattering her pristine notebook like a crime scene
- A voice from the back row stage-whispered: "This is painful to watch... I love it."
- The teacher slowly removed his glasses, rubbing his temples as if calculating retirement options
"Welcome, Kaito," the teacher smiled warmly. "Glad to have—"
SNAP!
A fountain pen exploded near the window, ink splattering Elis' desk like a Rorschach test of pure annoyance. All heads swiveled toward the sound as she slowly raised a trembling, ink-stained hand—
"Here."
The single word dripped with enough venom to kill a small mammal. Her other hand clutched the remains of the pen like a murdered relative.
The teacher blinked at the ink dripping onto Elis' pristine uniform skirt. "...Right. Let's see..." (He wisely chose not to acknowledge the warzone.)
A whisper cut through the silence like a knife:
"Psst. Over here."
[SPACING BREAK]
My eyes snapped to the source.
There sat Elis—
- One ink-stained hand clutching the pen's remains
- The other pointing at the empty seat like it was contaminated
- Her expression: "This seat is 99% germs and 1% regret"
[SPACING BREAK]
Her voice hit my ears at "I will murder you" decibel:
"Proximity. Decision. Nothing. More."
(Each word spaced like a separate indictment.)
My response:
"Right! Yeah! Just two people who definitely don't—"
(Why did I say "definitely don't"? Now it sounds like we—)
Chapter 3: The Collision Course & The Energetic Enigma
The morning lessons blurred into a haze of introductions, syllabi, and trying not to feel Elis's silent judgment radiating from beside me. When the lunch bell finally rang, its chime was pure liberation. I sprang up, swept along by the tide of students flooding into the hallway, the buzz of conversation and locker doors slamming filling the air.
"Oi! Kaito!"
I turned, expecting maybe the teacher or a class rep. Instead, Elis stood there, arms crossed, looking intensely uncomfortable. She was staring fixedly at a point somewhere near my shoes, a faint blush dusting her cheeks that seemed more from annoyance than shyness.
"Uh, hey Elis? Need something?" I asked, confused by her seeking me out.
Her eyes flicked up to mine for a nanosecond before darting away again. "The canteen," she stated flatly. "I require… directions." It sounded like the words physically pained her. She doesn't know where it is? The 'respectably class' Elis?
"Oh! Yeah, sure," I said, trying to sound helpful and not bewildered. "It's this way. Follow me." I started walking, acutely aware of her trailing a precise two steps behind, her gaze firmly fixed on the back of my head like a laser sight. Trying not to make eye contact? Mission accomplished.
Navigating the crowded hallway required focus. Too much focus, apparently. Rounding a corner near the gym, my shoulder connected solidly with someone coming the other way.
Oof! A gasp, followed by the sickening sound of books and papers hitting the linoleum with a loud slap-thump-scatter!
"Oh crap! Sorry! I'm so sorry!" I blurted, already crouching. A girl sat sprawled on the floor, wincing and rubbing her elbow. A mountain of textbooks and notebooks surrounded her. I reached out a hand instinctively. "Are you okay?! Here, let me help!"
"Ahh… tsk tsk tsk, ouch," she muttered, blinking rapidly. She looked up, pushing strands of vibrant red hair out of her face, revealing bright, slightly dazed green eyes. A smattering of freckles danced across her nose. "Uhh… yeah, I think so? Just my pride and maybe my elbow." She accepted my hand with surprising strength and bounced back to her feet with alarming energy. "Thanks for the hand! Total klutz move on my part, wasn't looking where I was going! I'm Elaine! Nice to meetcha!" Her smile was wide, genuine, and blindingly sunny.
"No, it's totally my fault! Rushed around the corner," I said, already gathering her books. "I'm Kaito. Nice to meet you, Elaine." Her enthusiasm was infectious, a stark contrast to Elis's… everything.
"Kaito! Cool name!" Elaine chirped, grabbing an armful of books herself. Then, her gaze shifted over my shoulder. Her eyes lit up even further. "Oh! Hey! Are you with Kaito?" Before I could react, Elaine darted past me.
Elis stood frozen, her expression a masterpiece of icy displeasure. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere else on the planet.
"Hi! I'm Elaine!" the red-haired whirlwind announced, beaming. "What's your name? It's super nice to meet you!" She thrust out a hand.
Elis stared at the offered hand like it was contaminated. "Elis," she stated, her voice colder than a midwinter breeze. The "nice to meet you" was conspicuously absent.
Undeterred, Elaine let out a delighted squeal. "Elis! That's a pretty name!" And then, in a move that defied all social norms and Elis's palpable aura of 'do not touch'—Elaine stepped forward and wrapped her in a brief, enthusiastic hug. "Welcome to Ignatius!"
Fwoosh. I swear I saw the temperature drop around Elis. Her eyes widened in pure, unadulterated horror, her body stiffening like a statue. For a second, she looked genuinely stunned.
Elaine pulled back, seemingly oblivious to the emotional carnage she'd just wrought. "Gotta dash! Starving! See you guys later!" With another brilliant smile, she scooped up the last of her books and practically skipped down the hallway, leaving a trail of bewildered silence in her wake.
I stood frozen, clutching Elaine's remaining notebook. Elis remained rigid, slowly processing the violation of her personal space. The blush on her cheeks was now fiery red, but this time it was pure, unadulterated rage. She slowly turned her head towards me, her eyes narrowed into deadly slits.
Oh boy. The canteen suddenly seemed like the least of my worries. Day One, and I was already caught between a glacial tsundere and a hurricane of sunshine. When did my life stop being boring? And why does it suddenly feel so… dangerous?