“Thank you for the reassurance, Mr. Takahashi,” says the teacher, reminding me where I am. “Now everyone, be sure that Mr. Takahashi feels welcome and to help him in any way he might need.” He turns to Kaname. “Your desk will be the only one that’s left open, at the back there. Mr. Shizuhara! Raise your hand!” 

‘Shizuhara? I know that name.’ Watching a hand unenthusiastically rise in the air, I see that it belonged to the person I was hoping for: Renji. We had been pretty close before I was admitted. But his reaction struck me as odd. He is keeping his eyes on his own desk, avoiding mine, and I can only think that he must not be happy that I’m back.

“It’s yours for the year, so make yourself comfortable,” the teacher finishes.

“Thank you.”

Walking to my desk is like I’m on a runway. Everyone’s eyes are still on me, so I decide to play the part and smile at whoever I make eye contact with. I just know that once these people have a chance, they are going to crowd and smother me with questions.

Sitting at my desk, I glance at Renji, to my right. For the most part, he looks the same as I remember. Even sitting, I can tell he’s grown a lot over the past 3 years and changed his hair by adding some blonde highlights. I remember that he always talked about doing that, so I decide to comment on it to confirm whether or not there’s any tension between us. “I see you actually went ahead and added the blonde. It looks good.” Still not looking at me, he didn’t seem like he was going to acknowledge what I said. 

“Thanks.” Renji says in a hushed tone. “But you should cut—.” 

I already turn my attention away, so I don’t fully listen to what he has to say. But I know he’s mad, and just needs time to come around. Although, I highly doubt it. He didn’t come to visit me, while I was at the Rehab Center. And I never questioned why—even now. If I had to be honest, something similar to this happened when Renji first moved to town. We were about 9 years old at that time. 

[Kaname’s memory 8 years ago]

“I’m Renji Sizuhara! It’s nice to meet everyone!” Exclaims young Renji, at the front of the class.

I didn’t think much of him at first: he was small, looked like he couldn’t handle himself in a fight, and was an obvious attention seeker. But, of course, since he was the new student, that made him the topic of everyone’s conversations.

“The new boy is kinda cute.” Gossips a young classmate, during lunch time.

“I think so too.”

“Not as cute as Kaname, though.” Young Nana adds, in a snotty voice.

“Well, duh,” retorts the first classmate. “Kikyo! What do you think about the new student?”

All the girls stare at Kikyo, waiting for her answer. Feeling the pressure, she wears a confident smile and says, “Nobody looks better than my brother. Because that would mean, he looks better than me too.”

Yeah, that’s how it was for a while, when he moved here. I actually didn’t mind it, all things considering. He took some of the load off of me, as far as getting attention from girls went. It wasn’t until he tried to talk to me that ruined everything.

“U-um,” young Renji struggles to speak, as Kaname stares at him skeptically. “I think you’re cool! Can we be friends?!”

I wanted to laugh to his face. But I thought just being straightforward with him seriously was the right thing to do. “No. Now go away.”

Everyday, after that, he would ask me the same question. And I would give him the same answer. Until one day, he catches me trying to steal food out of a vending machine. 

“What are you doing?” Renji asks me, sheepishly.

“The dumb thing took my dollar!” With a bat in my hand, I kick the side of the machine.

“I have a dollar. Here! It’s the only dollar I have, but it’s okay, my mom gives me money for the vending machine everyday.”

I stare between him and the dollar in his hand. ‘Why would he give me his only dollar his mother gave him?’ I saw him as being ungrateful for what his mother did for him, and it irritated me.

“Do I look like a charity case to you?” I say, as I give him a menacing look.

Taking a step back from me, fear in his eyes, he says, “N-no. I just wanted to do something nice.”

“ ‘Do something nice’? You call giving away the hard earned money your mom worked for to me, as being nice?” I lifted the bat, making Renji close his eyes, thinking I was going to hit him. “You should appreciate the things your mom gives you.” Taking the bat I had in my hand, I swung it as if I were about to hit a home run, smashing a hole in the now actually broken vending machine. As snacks started to fall out onto the ground, I smiled triumphantly, resting the bat on my shoulder, and say, “Now everyone can have a free snack. So you don’t have to give your mom’s money away.”

I knew everyone, including the teachers, told Renji about my behavior, but I don’t think he actually believed them until that day. A few weeks go by and one day, I see a group of kids ganging up on Renji, trying to take the money his mother gives him for snacks. Of course, I jumped in and fought the kids. And after Renji got over being surprised of me helping, he jumped in too. All those involved in the fight were sent to the Principal’s office, to wait for our parents. For me, it was my Grandfather who came, since he’s the one taking care of me and Kikyo. What happened to our parents? That’s another story, for another time.

My grandfather wasn’t mad at me, but he wasn’t quite happy with me either. He’s just happy I didn’t put anyone in the hospital this time. But I wasn’t really worried about my “sentencing”, I was more concerned for the new kid and how his mom would punish him. 

I walked up to his mom and slightly bowed and said, “I’m sorry. It’s not Renji’s fault. I’m the one that started the fight, so please don’t be mad at him.”

I stood with my face facing the floor for what felt like too long of a time. But then, I saw female shoes in front of me and then her knees bent to kneel on the floor. She places her hand in my cheek to lift my head and face her. Gently caressing my bandage on my face, she pulls me into a tender embrace and says, “Thank you for helping my son.”

[Kaname’s POV: Present Time]

Come to find out. Renji’s mother also got the whole spiel about me, from the other parents. Everyone thought they were doing her a favor, since she and her family were new to town. But instead of being weary of me, she was actually telling Renji to be nice to me. 

I didn’t care for the sympathy, but getting to experience a mother’s touch was nice. Since that day, in the Principal’s office, she basically adopted me and Kikyo: offering to take us home, make lunch for us, and even letting me and Kikyo spend nights at her place, when my Grandfather needed rest from working the bar so much. People thought her taking us under wing would cause Renji to become jealous that we’re taking his mother’s attention from him, but of course, they were wrong. Just like Kikyo and I gained a mother and a brother, Renji felt the same way about us. His dad got really sick and passed away when Renji was only a baby, leaving just him and his mom. And even though Renji does love his mom, having us around made things more fun. 

Throughout the years, we grew older and Renji’s mom was still treating us like we were her own. I even calmed down, a little, on my bad antics. She’s the one that recommended to my Grandfather I go to the Rehab facility, after what happened, and she visited me every week even though Renji never did. I think she only visited me out of guilt of her being the person suggesting I go there, so I made sure whenever she came, she felt welcomed. I always hoped that was enough to show her I wasn’t mad at her. I was rather appreciative towards her, like I always have been. 

“To continue with what I was saying,” the teacher begins again, taking me out of my reminiscences. “As third years, this might be your final year as high school students, but keep in mind that this is the stepping stone for your futures. Some of you will be busy with studying and cram school. And some of you will be looking for jobs. But as you’re getting ready to be young adults and adjust to being a part of society, don’t forget to take a break. Go out with your friends, watch a movie, or just go for a walk and take in your surroundings. Because, as much as you want to be prepared for the future, don’t forget to enjoy the present. And with that, I’m going to let your Student Council President and Vice President take over from here.”

‘That was a very inspirational speech. And I thought he was one of those strict and do-nothing-but-study type of counselors.’

“Oh, and Mr. Takahashi!” the teacher calls out to me.

Thinking absurdly that he might have somehow heard my thoughts, I quickly answer, “Yes!”

“Come see me at the end of the day.”

“Okay!”

“Okay?”

‘Maybe I judged him too soon.’ “Yes, sir,” I correct. He might be one of those counselors, after all.

“Okay, everyone!” A girl who I assume is the President steps up. “So, just like every year, once the bell rings, the school club fair will begin. And like our counselor said, we should take this as our last opportunity to be a part of something we enjoy doing, to try something new, or to even make new friends. We highly recommend that everyone join at least one club. High school is about making memories, after all. Do you have anything to add, Vice President?” The President is cute. She looks familiar too, but I’m not sure. We might have gone to school together in the past. But if she’s the President, while my sister is only Vice, she must be pretty smart. 

Kikyo nods and steps up to the podium. “Over the break, the Student Council decided to start a study group. So, if anyone would like to catch up on their studies, needs help with anything, or would just like to come hang out, you’re welcome to. Again, it’s our last year, so we want to help make sure all of us are prepared for any entrance exams anyone wants to take. If you want to join, just let me or President Nana know, and we’ll add you to the group chat, so you know when upcoming study sessions will be.” The school bell starts to ring once Kikyo finishes speaking. 

“Great!” The President chimes in again. “And with that, let’s all have a good year!”

Everyone starts to clap for the President and Vice President and follow them out of the classroom. ‘Nana? Nana. Now, I know for sure, I had to have known her back then. But at the same time, I can’t recall. Weird.’

The classroom’s now empty, with everyone going to the club fair. But there’s one person that stays behind: Sleeping Beauty. Still staring outside, even as I walk up to her, she most likely hasn’t even noticed that the bell rang. Looking for my jacket, I notice that she no longer has it. ‘What did she do with it?’

This is my chance to talk to her. She has my jacket and happens to be in the same class. And she might be the girl from the accident, so us talking is inevitable either way. But just like when she was sleeping, she looks so calm and serene that I don’t want to disturb her. ‘How can she be so detached from everything that’s going on around her? I feel like a whole day could go by and she would still be here, gazing at….’

I look outside and don’t see anything except for a cherry blossom tree in the school courtyard. ‘Is that really all she’s been looking at, so intently, this whole time?’ Just as I’m about to ask her that question, I hear someone barge into the classroom.

“Oh, perfect! You’re both here! I was afraid we were going to have to send out two search parties!” Nana smiles jokingly as she breaks the silence.