The doors of the train slid open with a soft hiss, and for a moment, I hesitated. I didn't want to get up. The familiar grogginess of early morning had settled into my bones, and I had forgotten how utterly mundane school mornings could be. However, this was the first day of high school, and despite my reluctance, I couldn't help but feel a spark of excitement beneath the sleepiness.
With a resigned sigh, I pushed myself to my feet and stepped onto the platform. Ichika followed suit, and together we ventured out into the world beyond the train.
We navigated our way out of the station. The thirty-minute ride had drained the last bit of adrenaline from our reunion, leaving me feeling sluggish. Spotting a glowing vending machine near the exit, I realized an energy drink might be the only thing keeping me awake for the rest of the day.
"Ichika, I'm going to buy something from the vending machine," I said, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Ichika nodded and walked with me to the vending machine. As we approached, I couldn't help but replay the scenario in my mind – me buying a drink, and her not buying anything. It felt oddly awkward to be the only one making a purchase.
"Ichika, do you want anything?" I offered, though I was hoping she'd say yes to avoid the awkwardness.
"No, that's alright. I'm fine," she replied.
She had declined, but the thought of purchasing alone still nagged at me. I couldn't let that happen.
"Are you sure? There are some really good drinks here. I'll buy you one," I insisted.
The truth was, the idea of buying something just for myself while she stood there watching me felt excruciatingly awkward.
"I don't need anything. There's just a lot of sugar in that," she said.
I couldn't handle the weird tension. I inserted enough coins for two cans and hit the button before she could protest again. Two cold energy drinks clunked into the tray.
"I don't drink energy drinks. I told you I didn't want to," she reiterated.
"Just try one. It'll give you energy for the rest of the day. I don't drink them often either, but sometimes they help," I reasoned.
"...Okay, just because you spent money on it," she relented.
With a sense of accomplishment, I handed her the can. She opened it and took a cautious sip.
"How is it?" I inquired.
"It's...uh, gives me energy, I think," she replied, her assessment somewhat vague.
"Yes, but how's the taste?" I pressed.
"Weird," she said.
"Is it good weird or bad weird?"
"What does that even mean?" She took another sip.
"Never mind. You seem like you're enjoying it."
We continued walking and eventually found ourselves outside the train station. I had finished my drink, but Ichika still held hers.
"Still drinking?" I asked.
"Yes, I'm still drinking. I drink in small portions!" she defended herself.
I tossed my empty can into a regular trash bin near the sidewalk.
Ichika suddenly stopped in her tracks, clutching her half-finished drink.
"Huh? Why did you stop?" I asked.
"There isn't a recycling bin," she said, looking around frantically.
"Just throw it in the trash, we have five minutes!" I urged.
"No, I can't! I'll feel guilty all day!"I groaned as she forced herself to chug the rest of the weird-tasting energy drink, making a face before sprinting over to a recycling bin fifty feet away.
She dropped it in gently, then sprinted back to me. "Okay, let's go! We're going to be late!"
Three minutes later, we stood at the school gate, panting slightly from our hurried walk.
"We made it!" Ichika announced with relief.
"At least we can walk at a normal pace now," I remarked.
At the entrance stood a stern-looking guard, a common sight at school gates.
"Name and student ID, please," the guard requested, addressing Ichika first.
She confidently replied, "I'm Nakamura Ichika, ID 215."
The guard consulted his phone, verifying the student ID and name before granting her access. His demeanor softened as it became evident she was indeed a student.
Then, it was my turn. Panic gripped me, and I stammered, "I-I..."
My gaze remained fixed on the ground as I struggled to speak my name.
"I'm... Yamamoto Kenji..." I finally managed.
"ID?"
Oh, right, I forgot!
"197, sir.."
The guard checked his phone once more, his expression giving away nothing as he scrutinized my information.
"You may enter," he finally said.
"Thank you," I mumbled with immense relief and quickly passed through the gate.
As I entered the school grounds, Ichika waited for me. It was an awkward moment, one that prompted her to break the silence.
"Kenji?"
"Yes?" I replied hesitantly.
"Your last name is Yamamoto?" she inquired.
"Yeah," I confirmed.
I then realized that we had been using each other's first names all this time.
"Wait, Ichika, your last name is Nakamura," I pointed out. "We've been using each other's first names all along."
"Well, we were kids back then, so we just told each other our first names. I'm fine with that," she reassured me.
We continued walking towards the school doors, the atmosphere gradually shifting to one of calm anticipation for the new day ahead.
"Kenji, what does that sign say?" Ichika pointed to the sign above the door.
I squinted at the sign for a moment. "It reads, 'All first years must go to room 21-E for the opening ceremony at 8:30 AM.'"
Ichika's eyes widened, and she quickly checked her watch. "What time is it now?"
"8:27 AM," I replied with a hint of panic. "We have three minutes!"
Time suddenly seemed to accelerate as we raced through the corridors, searching for room 21-E. Thankfully, the school had placed a map near the entrance, guiding us to our destination. With a collective sigh of relief, we found the room just in time.
The door creaked open as we stepped inside, and a sense of anticipation filled the air. The opening ceremony had yet to begin, and we had managed to make it in the nick of time. Our hearts still raced from the mad dash through the school's hallways.
The room was buzzing with activity as fellow first-year students chatted nervously, forming small groups. Some were already seated, while others continued to trickle in. Teachers and staff members moved about, making last-minute preparations for the ceremony.
Ichika and I exchanged a glance, our shared experience of narrowly avoiding tardiness bonding us in that moment. We found a pair of empty seats near the back of the room, taking our places just as the event was about to commence.
The principal, a distinguished-looking man with graying hair, stepped up to the podium at the front of the room. The chatter among the students gradually faded as he began his welcoming speech. His words spoke of new beginnings, opportunities, and the importance of forging connections during our high school journey.
As the ceremony concluded, the principal dismissed us to check the bulletin boards in the main hall for our homeroom assignments.
The crowd of first-years surged forward, a chaotic sea of new uniforms.We managed to push our way toward the large corkboards. My eyes scanned the printed sheets, my heart hammering against my ribs.
Please, let us be together. Being with Ichika was the only thing keeping my dread at bay.I found class C. There it was: Yamamoto Kenji.
I scanned the names below mine. Nothing. I checked the other classes. "...Ichika..." I muttered, my stomach dropping.
"I'm in Class C."She was looking at the board right next to mine, her shoulders slumping. "I'm in Class B."A heavy, suffocating weight settled back into my chest. We weren't in the same class. The one lifeline I had in this massive, intimidating school was already being pulled away.She looked up at me, her blue eyes filled with genuine disappointment. "Kenji... what are we going to do?"
"Can we talk to the teachers or someone about changing it?" I asked, my mind racing for solutions.
"I'll try speaking with the secretary," Ichika replied, her determination shining through.
I nodded, though my chest still felt tight. Changing classes on the first day was nearly impossible.The hallway around us was getting too crowded to breathe.
A few upperclassmen were shouting over the noise, distributing thick school handbooks to the wandering first-years. I reached through the crowd, grabbed two copies, and handed one to Ichika.
"Thank you, Kenji!" she said with a grateful smile.
"No problem," I replied, returning her smile despite the anxiety gnawing at my stomach.
We pushed our way out of the bustling crowd, searching for a quiet spot in the halls to figure out what to do next.