The Past That Hurts

"Please remind me to install the student card application next year!"

I pleaded to Ko, as we were walking home.

My second week of school has been hell because of the student card application. They implemented the system just this week, so I forgot to install it.

"I will!"

She sounded like a soldier who was given a top-secret mission.

"No need to be so formal..."

I muttered the last part, not wanting to break her mood.

When we came in front of an intersection, we said our goodbyes.

"Hoh... What am I going to eat for dinner?"

I usually talk to myself, because I grew a habit out of it when I was 9. Some people thought that I was crazy, but that's my only way of coping with loneliness.

"Maybe instant noodles? Haven't eaten them in a while."

I spotted a convenience store down the road near my house.

"Yeah, I'll go with noodles."

When I got home, I immediately put the noodles in the microwave. This is going to be my first meal today and my stomach doesn't seem to care.

"Ah!"

I jumped when I heard the timer ring.

After getting a fork, I grab my noodles and watch the holographic television.

"In today's news, an 11-year-old girl lost her mother in an accident that occurred around the construction area of the new mall. A steel beam fell on her, crushing her body in an instant. Paramedics pronounced her dead on the spot."

I turn off the holographic television.

"Why do some people suffer the same fate as me?"

I throw away my noodles. I don't have the appetite anymore.

"Maybe I could look at how the school's flight team performed?"

Right now, one of the most famous sports is the flying race. It consists of people who are willing to use ...jetpacks... at an absurd speed. It used to always amaze me how they could go that fast...

After carefully avoiding the trash in my room, I boot up my HPA. HPA is a Holographic Personal Assistant. It is the successor of the PC.

"What can I help you with, Sako?"

Holographic bird flew around my room.

"How did Mizuwara High's flight team perform?"

"Three wins and one loss."

I was surprised at how well we performed. Flying race is hard to win.

"Play "The Acoustic Feel" playlist."

Having nothing better to do, I listened to music, until I fell asleep.

The next morning I was awoken by the sound of knocking.

"No-bo-ru! Get up! We're late again!"

I can hear Ko getting annoyed through the door.

"Ah? Oh! I'm so sorry!"

I shoot up and frantically search for my uniform.

After 5 minutes, I go out to her, panicking.

"I can't find my uniform!"

Moments later, she started laughing.

"What's funny?!"

"You're wearing it, you idiot!"

She spoke through laughs.

I looked down at myself and immediately got embarrassed.

"Ah!"

I return to my room, grab my bag, and run back to her.

"Let's just go!"

I hide my face away from her, pretending to sound angry.

"The way you act is cute."

After I heard that I felt my face heat up. When I turned around she had a teasing smile.

"K-keep q-quiet!"

I barely stuttered out. She just kept laughing. It took her a while to stop, but then she stared into my eyes.

"Wh-what are y-you d-doing?!"

"Did you sleep last night?"

She had a worried look.

"Yeah, why?"

Her question made me confused. It looked like she was thinking over something.

"Did you have a nightmare?"

My anxiety rocketed. How did she know?!

"Um...yeah."

In a second, she hugged me

"I knew something bothered you... Listen, if you have any problems come to me! I'm your friend! I don't want my friends feeling sad."

She said that in a serious tone with a serious face. I didn't know how to respond.

"Noboru?"

Her expression changed to one of worry.

"It's alright! T-Thank you f-for the o-offer."

"Alright! Let's hurry!"

We then barely made it in time to school.

"Your student card, please!"

"AH!"

I jumped at the robot.

The classes went on normally, nothing special.

"Hey! Want to join me again?"

Ko came up to me at lunch break.

"I would have to refuse..."

I was a little worried how she would react.

"Aw, please!"

Not the puppy eyes again!

"Sorry..."

I averted my gaze.

"You're no fun!"

She pouted at me before running off.

"Why did you turn her down?"

Out of nowhere, Masato popped up behind me.

"How are you here?!"

"Oh, I was here the entire time."

He smiled back at me.

"Anyways, have you heard about the new jetpack the Haojima company's working on?!"

He started getting all excited.

"You're into flying race?"

I was curious about his obsession with jetpacks.

"Yeah! They're so cool!"

You could see the stars in his eyes.

"Uhm, no. I'm not that into them."

"What a shame! I thought you would understand the beauty of racing in the sky."

He stroke a dramatic pose.

"It's not that I don't like them... It's just that they bring bad memories..."

The feeling of guilt built up inside me.

"Oh, I didn't mean to."

It seems like the mood has gone down.

"It's okay... We should eat something fast. Lunch break is almost over."

I tried to change the topic.

We both agreed and went our ways. Days when I remember the murder make me want to cry all over again. It could have been all prevented...

I made my way up to the school roof to get some fresh air. Instead, I bumped into Ko.

"Whoa, what are you doing here?"

I was confused. Doesn't she normally eat in the courtyard?

"Oh, Noboru! I was invited to see some of my friends from the flight club practice! They're amazing!"

She had the same stars in her eyes as Masato.

"Yeah, they look cool..."

I tried to sound normal, as I didn't want to think about flying race right now.

"Is something wrong?"

She looked confused as she looked around, trying to find something that would upset me.

"No, everything's fine!"

My voice sounded more cheerful, which made her happy.

"Hey! Do you want to try some sushi? My friend made it, and it's so good!"

She jumped up and down.

"Uh su-"

Before I could finish my sentence, she started showing sushi in my mouth.

"Agh, show dohn!"

I could only mumble as my mouth was full.

I tried to run away from her when the bell rang.

"Hey! Come back!"

She yelled playfully.

After a few turns, we ran into the school's robot.

"....Your student card please!"

The robot seemed to target me because of the little incident I made.

"AHH!"

I screamed fearfully, as two chasers were behind me.