"Hey... Hamasaki!!" I heard a voice.
"Be happy okay?" It felt warm and made me feel safe. But then
Ring…
I woke up and checked the alarm clock. It was already 8:21 a.m.
I needed to fix my sleep schedule sooner or later.
I rubbed my eyes and started yawning.
"I needed to get myself ready for today." I muttered, then went into the bathroom.
I brushed my teeth, washed my face, and took a shower.
I changed my clothes and went downstairs.
"Oh, good morning, Hamasaki. Did you sleep well?" my dad asked.
"Yes, I guess so..." I replied while standing on the stairs.
"Great. Breakfast is on the table. I have to go to work now. I'm going out!" He then left for work like he usually did.
I went to the kitchen and saw the breakfast my dad had prepared for me.
"I told you not to make breakfast for me" I muttered. Normally, he always prepared breakfast for me before I woke up in the morning.
But since I was older now, I told him that I could make breakfast on my own and he didn't have to worry about me.
I guess he didn't listen to me after all.
I sat down and had breakfast.
After doing what I needed to do at home, I went shopping to buy a high school uniform. The old one had gotten too small, so I needed a new one.
I went to a clothing shop where I usually go when I need new clothes. But
"Sorry Hamasaki. The uniforms are sold out right now!!" The shop owner apologized to me.
"No, you don't have to apologize Ms.Kohaku. It happens sometimes," I said, trying to comfort her. Ms. Okumura Kohaku and I knew each other well, since she was the one who always helped me with clothes.
Since there wasn't the uniform left in Ms.Kohaku store, I guess I need to try other shop
I don't normally go to different shops unless it's needed.
I started to searching other clothing shop where I can get the uniform I need.
I searched in the nearby stores.
"Sorry"
"We just ran out"
"We don't sell Shinonome High School uniform."
Why did they run out so quickly? I didn't find one. If I went to the store where I can ask them to make, it would take 2-3 days at least.
What am I supposed to do now? I thought about giving up and almost decided to skip high school in the first day or two. But then
"Oh it's Tamotsu-kun!" I looked toward where the voice came from while sitting on a bench.
"It's been a while, isn't it? He raised his right hand and greeted me. I can see that he felt happy when he saw me.
"Uhh... Who are you?" I didn't know that person at all. Maybe he mistook me for someone but he knew my name was Tamotsu.
"Don't make laugh, man. Stop playing around" he started laughing like I was just playing around with him. But
Silence ~~~
"You don't really remember me!" He calmly asked me. He finally notice I just stared at him confusedly.
"It's me, Yuichi. Okada Yuichi. We were in the same class last year remember? Class 1-B" he started yelling at me again but he wasn't angry at all.
I sat still for a moment and then remembered.
"Oh, you're the guy who got rejected by the school popular girl" I said to the guy nonchalantly.
"You don't have to bring that thing man, not cool!" He yelled at me again because of embarrassment. "But I'm glad you remembered me" I can see him felt relief.
As he said his name is Okada Yuichi. He wasn't particularly smart, He even got rejected by the school's popular girl in front of everyone.
I noticed that he carried something. "Are you shopping?" I asked.
"Yes, I need an new uniform and school starts tomorrow. What about you are you shopping too? And did you already got your uniform?"
When I heard about it, I knew luck was on my side today. "No, But can you tell me where did you buy that from?" I asked him while standing up.
"Oh I forgot the shop name and it just sold out"
*Crumble*
I dropped to both knees right in front of Yuichi. I knew I will be in a big problem if I didn't show up at school on the first day.
"I'm done for..." I muttered. I still didn't get up. I gave up...
"You don't have to worry about it Tamotsu, I bought 3 uniforms. I can borrow you 1 if you want." He offered me one of the uniform he bought.
I looked up at him instinctively.
"Really?" I'm surprised by his offer.
"Of course, we're friends after all"
"Friend?" I paused for a moment as soon as I heard a word "friend" and my mind went blank.
Seconds later.
"Hey, Tamotsu are you okay?" Yuichi snapped me out of it. I was still on the ground on my knees.
"Are you gonna stand up or not?" He asked me with an nervous laugh. I can see that he's embarrassed but why?
Then I looked around and saw dozens of people watching us. Some even took a picture.
Maybe luck wasn't on my side
I slowly stood up and took the uniform Yuichi offered me. "Thanks" I said calmly.
"No problem, see you tomorrow. I hope we're in the same class again!" He happily waved his hands at me.
"Yeah, I hope so" I wasn't happy. I just waved at him. Not even showing him a smile.
I finally got home and went to my room to see if the uniform fits me or not.
"The size is perfect to me" I muttered looking myself at the mirror. I checked the school uniform.
I put them in my closet and I went downstairs to kill time by watching movies.
Soon it went dark outside and my dad came home.
"I'm home"
This time it was already 7:07 p.m. and I didn't make dinner. Cause I already know the results.
"I'll make the dinner okay. So please wait" He told me to wait for a while. My dad's not only good at working but also at cooking. Whatever he makes it's delicious like always.
"Dinner's ready!" He shouted happily.
"So Hamasaki. School starts tomorrow, correct?" He asked me while eating.
"Yes, why" I wanted to know what he was onto about.
"Nothing particularly. I just wanted to say that you should study hard."
My scores were bad last year and my dad wasn't really happy about it.
"Yes dad..." I answered hesitantly.
After having dinner i went back to my room. I started packing some note books in my school bags and change the alarm clock to wake up earlier in the morning.
*Knock... knock...*
"Come in" I said calmly.
My dad open the door and put an smile.
"Are you getting ready for tomorrow?" He asked me.
"Yes, I guess so..."
"Great...keep working hard okay?" He worried about me.
"Okay" I replied calmly.
"Then Goodnight, son"
"Goodnight" He wished me goodnight and close the door gently. He was like this since last year.
I got up and brushed my teeth. I look at the mirror for a while and thought about what happened today.
"Friends huh?" I muttered.
That word trigger something inside me but I didn't want to think about it.
I went to bed and fell asleep very soon.
Ring...
I stopped the alarm clock and slowly got up from the bed. It was 6:30 a.m.
Today's the day I guess.
I wasn't happy to go to school, just like other students. I washed my face, brushed my teeth and took a shower. I put on the uniform Yuichi lended me and went downstairs.
"Good morning, Hamasaki" My dad was already waiting for me with breakfast.
"Good morning" I sat in front of my father across the table and had my breakfast.
"Here's your lunch box, don't lose it okay?" He gave me a blue lunch box.
"Okay dad.don't worry about it." Then I went to the front doors and put on my shoes.
"Is there anything you forgot or needed?" My dad asked me.
"Nope, I've got all I need" I said calmly.
"Okay then"
"I'm going out now, bye" I said goodbye to my dad and went to Shinonome High School.
I didn't have to take a train or buses like other students cause I can walk to high school easily.
On my way I saw a lot of students. Some are from same high school and some are from different high schools.
They all are with their friends and lovers. Some laughs together and some are teasing themselves.
I didn't pay much attention to them and went to high school straight.
Soon I stood Infront of the school gate.
"I wonder what kind of people I will met this year" I looked up at the big school Infront of me across the gate with a big sign of "Shinonome High School"
I looked around again and saw people laughing, chatting and gossiping. They all looks happy.
Whatever happen. It is what it is
I took a deep breath.
Then I stepped inside.