Chapter 1 - A Shocking Coincidence

"Yuuto, you have made sure you didn't forgot your stuff?"

"I have." I said with my mouth full of food.

Today is my first day as a high school student and honestly, I'm excited. I keep hoping that my time in high school will left much sweet memories in the future.

Can my hope become a real thing? I sure hope so.

"Don't forget your lunch box."

"I know."

Finished with my breakfast, I get up from the chair, put in my lunch box inside my bag, walk towards the door, wear my shoes and finally go to school.

"I'm going!"

"Take care!"

And with that, my day as a high school student starts.

Today's morning feels really peaceful, the birds chirping only add to the calm atmosphere.

Aahh... Feels so nice....

My home distance to school isn't far either, definitely lot more closer than going to my old junior high school—which to get there, I need to ride a train. 

So I'm grateful I no longer need to ride a train nor spend money on transportation.

After walking for a while, I finally arrived at my destination : Koumyo High.

Woah... I'm surprised to see how big the school is.

Well, I have checked it online, but I never thought it would be this big to see in person.

Alright, done with the surprise, now I need to search for the bulletin board to find which class I'm in.

Mmm...

Searching for my name in the list didn't took long because I'm in class B—which is next to class A list.

After knowing which class I'm in. I rushed to the class because the opening ceremony will start soon.

The hallway is filled with chatter of students as they walk.

Didn't take much time for me to find class B.

When I entered the class, I can hear students chatting with each other.

Mmm... I scanned the class, looking for a perfect seat for myself.

Find it! A seat in the back corner of the room, next to the window. The position fit perfectly for me as it didn't attract much attention... Which is good for me.

After hanging my bag on the table hanger, I immediately run to the auditorium because when I looked at the wall clock, it showed that I only have 5 minutes left before the bell ring—

"S-Sorry!"

Because I was in a rush, I accidentally bumped into someone—and worse, she's on a wheelchair.

"It's okay."

I bowed as I apologize and then continued running to the auditorium as fast as I could.

Arghh... I feel bad but I'm running out of time...

I keep running until a boy stopped me.

"Excuse me, that girl have been calling you out."

"Oh...?"

Calling out? But I didn't hear anything...

I didn't believe him until I looked back and see a girl on a wheelchair is coming towards me.

"Oh... Ah... Thanks for letting me know."

"Not a problem."

Shortly after that, she finally caught up to me, then she said something.

"Huff... You... Huff..."

"C-Calm down... I'm not running anymore..."

As if following my words, she slowly breathing properly. I think I troubled her without knowing....

"Are you okay?" I asked, concerned about her.

"I'm okay, don't worry, I'm just a little out of breath..." She answered, sounding a bit more calmer.

"Im sorry... Really... If I have heard you calling me out, none of this wou—"

"No, this is not your fault... It's mine because too late realizing it..."

"Eh?" What does she mean?

"Are you... Homura?" She asked hesitantly.

"How—... How did you know?"

No, no, no ... This is way too weird. How come she know my name?

"Huff... I'm glad I didn't mistake you for someone else."

Who's this girl? Have I met her before?

"Sorry... But... Who are you?"

"Eh? You... Forgot about me, Homura?"

"I don't think so... But I feel like I have met you before..."

"That's right! We met two weeks ago at the hospital, we even chatted for a bit!"

She knows that much?! Well she's not wrong... Wait... I think I remembered her...

"Are you the girl named Aka... Aka..." I couldn't remember her name and that makes me stutter.

"Akari. My name is Akari Yuna!" She said with a pout. I think I annoyed her...

"Oh! I remember now! Sorry... I'm not good at remembering people's name..."

"I see... By the way, why were you in such a rush before?" She tilted her head.

"That's because the bell will ring soon... So I was rushing to the auditorium so I wouldn't be late."

"Eh? But there's still 10 minutes left though?" Akari said, looked a bit puzzled.

10 minutes?! But—

"But the clock in the class showed there's only 5 minutes left!"

"Mmm... Maybe the battery hasn't been changed. It different from the clock in my phone." Akari showed her phone to me.

Ugh... She's right...

Akari smiled as if she's trying to cheer me up.

"Ah, about earlier... I'm really sorry!" I bowed deeply, full of guilty.

"Don't worry about that, I know you were in a rush before."

"B-But still..."

"Okay, if you insist then..." Akari put her hand under her chin, as if she's thinking about something. "As payback, what about helping me to go to the auditorium?"

Hearing her request, I immediately nodded. "Alright!" I said as I walked behind her and grabbed the wheelchair handles.

Akari tell me that we only have 7 minutes left, so I started pushing her wheelchair and walks towards the auditorium.

To my surprise, pushing someone on a wheelchair is not as hard as I thought.

Yeah... It's not. Wait... Did I just unintentionally commented about her weight? Please forgive me...

"Hey, Homura."

"Yes, what is it?"

"I've been thinking about this since before... It's a coincidence that we meet again, right?" Akari chuckled.

"Ah... Mmm... Yeah, that's right."

Yeah... Akari is right but... I don't know how to respond to that, I hope it's not that bad...

"Even though it's only a coincidence, I'm happy that we meet again! What about you, Homura?" Akari turned to look at me.

"Yeah... Mmm... I..." What... What do I really feel? Am I happy about our reunion?

"Homura, you didn't feel the same?" Akari's voice sounded a little sad.

"Ah... Yes, of course I'm happy," I answered with a forced gentle voice...

I hope she believes that little lie... I know it's bad but, I haven't figured out about my own feeling either...

Aside from that, I'm still wondering about Akari herself. Why is she happy about our reunion? I'm just a stranger she talked to two weeks ago...

Arghh... Social interaction is really confusing...

And before I know it, we already arrived at the auditorium. There's not much students can be seen here... Maybe because the bell hasn't ring?

There's already some students sitting here and there in the available seats and chatted with each other. There's also some who just arrived like us and still searching for a seat.

"Homura, thanks for helping me."

"It's not a problem... Mmm..." I looked at the many rows of seats and didn't find one spot that would fit for her.

"Is there something, Homura?" Akari asked me.

"Ah, it's nothing. I just didn't find any spot for you to be ... Maybe I'll ask a teacher, wait here okay?"

"Oh... Okay..."

Hearing her respond, I run to a teacher who happened to be near the podium.

After telling the teacher, I move out one chair to make a space for Akari.

"Akari! I moved it!" I called her as I run towards her as she's trying to push herself. "Here let me help you." After getting behind her, I grabbed the handles and help her to get to the space I already freed.

"Thank you..." She said, almost like a whisper.

You're welcome, I said to myself. Why is she whispering? There's no need for that... As far as I could think of...

Well, it doesn't matter, no use of overthinking it...

After helping her to get to the place I freed, she suddenly called me.

"Homura."

"Yeah?"

"Do you want to sit next to me?"

What?! No, I didn't mean anything bad from that shriek... But, why so suddenly?

Mmm... After thinking about it, it's not bad... It's better for me to sit next to someone I know rather than next to strangers.

"Alright." I said as I sit down.

Mmm? What's wrong with her?

"Akari, are you okay? Your face is red..." I asked with concern.

"Eh? Oh... Mmm... It's nothing... I'm fine," She said with her usual smile.

"Oh, okay," I replied shortly.

Okay if she said so... I thought something happened to her.

Right after that, the bell rings. The students start coming to the auditorium one by one and sit on the seat available. The teachers also start to line up at the side if the room, the school headmaster showed up on the podium and start his speech.

I hope my high school life would leave much sweet memories for the future...

Eh... I think I have said that before...

Well, it doesn't matter.