I awake to the light shining through my bedroom blinds as I roll out of bed onto the floor.
“Mmmm it’s Friday huh?” I sleepily scratch my eyes and open my bedroom door to the hallway.
My cat Ikki looks at me and hisses whilst darting away. This dumb cat has never liked me for as long as I can remember. He makes it seem like I terrorize him on the daily, not like I give him affection anyway.
“What did I ever do to piss you off so much ehh?”
I talk to Ikki as I walk down the stairs to a kitchen that smells like my favorite meal of the day, breakfast. Breakfast is extremely important because without this holy feast I would not be able to go on with my daily life of being an amazing person that’s adored by the whole school. Wait, that’s not me at all is it?
“Ah Yuta come help set the table. We are having left-over miso soup and rice balls this morning. Your dad had to rush to work this morning and I don’t have much time left. Where’s Ikki he needs to eat his food already!” my Mom notices me as I drudge down the stairs.
“Ikki will eat eventually, actually no, he can’t eat until he stops being an annoying creature who looks down on me like some peasant!” as I remember my cat’s below-average cute face.
“You know he’s just getting old let him live out the rest of his time in comfort okay? Oh that reminds me we need more eggs for tonight. After school can you go pick some up, you can even go with your little buddy Kasuno”.
I click my tongue in annoyance at the thought of grocery shopping with Kasuno. The image of him pointing at every little thing like some five year old really makes me cringe.
“No I don’t need him to hold my hand for some eggs, I’ll grab them after school I got it okay?” Everyone in my life seems to think I’m not able to do simple tasks just because I’m a little lazy.
“How are you feeling lately? Not too stressed and overwhelmed with the new year yet?” she asks while warming up the soup on the stove.
Why does she always ask me these things like I’m some old lady in a nursery home?
“I’m fineeeee okay? Do you really think something as little as Algebra will get the best of me? The amount of times you ask me this will actually make me stressed then I will have to drop out of school for parent-bullying which will then lead to my lifestyle as a shut-in for the rest of my life unable to support myself financially.”
“Okay okay I got it just make sure to eat your breakfast before you head out. What time is it any— I have to go oh my god! See you this evening and don’t forget about the eggs!”
She rushes out the kitchen and through the door grabbing her rail pass dashing to the station. This is almost a daily thing for her, forgetting what time it is then acting all surprised when she’s late.
“Sighhh”
I sigh while thinking about the uneventful grueling school day ahead. The TV is still playing the morning news in the kitchen. Something about how authorities should raise school security, it’s always something they’re worrying about.
I hear meowing behind me, and not a cute meow either.
“Oh look who it is, your meal awaits you your highness” I coldly point him to his bowl.
Ikki looks up at me with a look saying, “I won’t miss you please don’t come back Yuta my friend!”.
I grab my bag and head out the door to school on this unusually humid Friday. The fact that it is indeed Friday may make the day more bearable. I dig in my bag to search for my water bottle—
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Thud!
A small bottle of pills fall out of my bag onto the concrete ground.
“Ahh this dumb medicine, thanks Dad way to make me seem like a drug dealer now.”
I’ve been battling with migraines for as long as I can remember, they come and go but since my dad is a pharmacist he insisted I lug these along to school each day. If I get detained by the police for possession of drugs at school I’ll be all over the news and officially shunned by society, hmm doesn’t sound too bad actually.
“It’ll be fine Yuta just don’t sell them to your friends!” I can still hear my Dad’s sarcastic voice in the back of my head. Well whatever at least that would make up for my lack of allowance…
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As the bell rings letting out the school day I pack up my bags and walk out the class.
“Where ya going Yuta, to sniff out Kurihara-san after school hours? Who would have thought you were such a closest pervert. I mean if you need a wing-man to talk to her I have you covered”. Kasuno puffs out his chest all pridefully like my loyal knight or something.
“Tch, you’re out your mind. I’m going to the store to pick up some eggs for tonight’s meal. And no you can’t come like some slimy nuisance.” I shoot back at him.
“Oww that’s harsh! Whatever I have to go to archery club practice anyway, I take my leave now. Goodbye Hiragi-dono my friend.” He bows and walks away towards the archery field.
When will he ever just act like a normal civil human being? I switch out my school slippers for my normal shoes by the lockers and head out to the store.
I actually like walking, its peaceful with no crazy distractions. The sounds of other students talking in groups and bikes whizzing by really puts me at ease somehow. Everyone in the city seems to want to get wherever they are going as fast as possible. Maybe if people would relax and just enjoy a stroll every once in a while we could have world peace.
I walk into Mito’s, the neighborhood grocery, and head for the cold isle where the eggs are in the back. I’m scanning for my target among the masses of food–
“Ehh 500¥ for a pack of eggs?! These prices are insane, Mom better pay me back…” I depressingly say to myself.
“Umm excuse me, I have a coupon for eggs that’s only good for today if you would like it.” I hear a calm voice from behind me.
“Ah thanks, since when did the price of th— ehhh Kurihara-san??” I almost choke on my words in surprise.
Miya Kurihara was standing right there smiling while offering me the coupon.
“Hiragi-kun right? When you and Yatago-kun argue with each other it’s really amusing”. She chuckles lightly with her radiance beaming off in all directions, it’s overwhelming.
“Ah uhh thanks I guess, that idiot doesn’t know when to stop”.
I feel my face turning red, what is this supposed to be some fated meeting in a manga with the MC and the heroine? Whatever I have been blessed with I accept it gratefully, as I pray to whoever is listening.
“Say Hiragi-kun, why does it seem like Hitoshi-kun is always trying to start a fight with you? Sorry if I’m going too far over my head!” She smiles shyly while asking me.
“Oh Taki huh? I don’t know what his problem is, ever since I entered my care-free high school life he has had it out for me. I really want to just punch him square in his glasses with the force of 60,000 megatons.”
Kurihara-san looks at me with a confused look then starts laughing wholeheartedly. Does she like the idea of violence? Oh no Yuta what have you gotten yourself into?
“You hate Taki that much too?” I ask curiously.
“No, I just can’t imagine you resorting to violence like that, you seem like a kind person.”
Oh great my face is getting even more red, surely she has noticed by now?! This is it, it’s now or never Yuta!
“O-oh that reminds me Kurihara-san have you been studying for that English exam coming up soon? I mean I have a little but you know how weekends are”. Oh great what an amazing icebreaker that was!
“Now that you mention it I haven’t, I’m really bad at English so I might fail it..” She actually looks kind of sad while talking about possibly failing.
“Well I’m no English master but if you would like to study with Kasuno and I tomorrow at my place you’re more than welcome!”
“Hmmm well I do need the extra practice. If it’s not a bother to you and Yatago-kun I’ll take you up on that offer”. She bows deeply to me in the middle of the store.
I clench my fist in excitement and cheer internally awaiting tomorrow
“Kurihara-san please don’t bow its not a big deal! Come by my house tomorrow around noon okay?”
“Okay noon is perfect, thank you again for helping me out!” Her smile making me turn red again.
I give her my address and walk out the store, wait.. did I buy the eggs?