Chapter 0 - Prologue

—— Aika’s Perspective ——

The moment I felt my consciousness kick in, I felt the heat spreading all over my body and a cold damped towel over my head. When I sat up, I found a glass of water, a bowl of steaming rice porridge and some cold medicine.

That's when it all came back.

Last night, I got picked on and robbed by some other highschoolers while I was on my way to a bank. I walked home soaked and trembling… If I remember correctly, not even a step was made into the house before I lost my consciousness.

The person who put me here must have been my older brother. He’s now a manager and supervisor at a factory, barely ever home. It must’ve been hard to find time to come around just to see me collapsed in the doorway.

I don't know if the school is informed, but looking at the time… It's already too late to go anyway. Taking the medicine, I lay back on the bed, closing my eyes.

I deserve this rest.

—— Dave’s Perspective ——

When lunch came around, I woke up slightly sweaty and somehow a little grateful that I slept through all the morning classes and got up just in time for my breakfast, which is also counted as my lunch.

After buying two sandwiches worth of two servings, I went to the back of the school, where the garden is located, currently being tended by the school’s janitor.

Taking a bite off a sandwich, I picked up the nearby water hose and started gently spraying at the plotted field full of beautiful flowers. 

Beautiful colors bloomed before my eyes under the noon sun, petals swaying with the mist as I ate in silence.

After being done with tending the garden, I sat down next to a flower bed and opened my phone to Biscord, a globally known chatting app for teens to young adults. 

I’ve been an online friend with someone for years—her username is “Listy”

We've been friends since middle school, she's one of the very few reasons I made it through everything. I can confidently say we are best friends at this point, we talk and play games every day.

Looking at the interface of my phone’s screen, Listy seems to have sent me a direct message. I opened our chat room, and there it was:

“I’m so mentally exhausted right now! So much happened today and now there's so much work being put onto my desk to analyse and sign!!! Please please please, say you have time today…”

“Must be tiring being a school's student council president. Of course, I'm always free after school.”

“Yay!!! See you in a few hours then!!!”

Listy’s job always sounded like hell, but I couldn't help smiling. The way she dumped her stress into texts was cute in its own way.

—— Yamato Yukino, Student Council President Perspective ——

Putting my phone down on my desk next to piles of paperwork, I picked up my pen and took a sip of hot tea, getting ready to fill and file the workload my colleagues had prepared for me.

“Hehe… I'm fired up now!”

I take a deep breath, then set a goal that I can finish all of this then hold a meeting before school ends. After all, someone I love is waiting for me!

—— After School, David’s perspective ——

Yawning, I take out my shoes from the lockers and change them, getting ready to go home.

Walking out of the building, I saw a few groups of students looking in the same direction. Curiosity takes over, I consciously try to look at what is so interesting. Eventually, I heard some students talking to each other.

“That's her? Yamato Yukino?”

“Yeah! She has been known for doing everything so quickly and precisely! There used to be a stack of papers on her desk, but now, someone found the desk empty and neat!”

“Not only that, she wrapped up the meeting swiftly with the other members!”

“Are you sure about the ‘precision’ part though? She looks like she's in a hurry…”

Curiosity takes over, and I change my gaze to what has caught everyone's attention. Sure enough, a girl with brisk steps, and a serious look was walking to the gates—Yamato Yukino, the school’s Golden Student Council President.

“I'm sure about the precision! She just does this everyday. She's amazing.”

I didn't think much of her. Sure, she's attractive, and would've been the person I admired the most before. Now, whatever sparked me is long gone. Heavy steps were made on my way back home, another day passes by within a blink of an eye.

—— Aika’s Perspective ——

Glancing at the time on the phone, I pushed myself out of my bed. The fever was still clinging onto me like a fog, but at least I could move now.

I doubted my brother would come home today, so I figured that I’d stop by the grocery store to grab some medicine and something for dinner.

Maybe, I'll cook today. Something warm, something that feels like home.

Leaving my bed, I stumble across my room and put on my hoodie, getting ready before heading out into the cool evening air.

—— Dave’s Perspective ——

Stopping by at the local grocery store, I picked up some Cola bottles and snacks for the night with Listy. 

When I reached the checkout counter, I see a girl in a hoodie… and a mask hiding half of her face. She looks uneasy.

“What now, miss?” The old cashier asks the young girl,

She looked up, sounding dry and very stiff,

“I-I’ll just go back home to get my wallet.” 

“You sure? You sound sick, I can pay for you beforehand for the medicines.”

She shook her head lightly,

“It's okay, I don't want the gentleman behind me to wait longer.”

Her eyes flicked to me for the briefest moment, before she turned back, waiting for the cashier’s nod.

Without thinking much, I stepped up beside her and told the cashier,

“I'm paying for her, please also put my groceries on the same bill.”

“How nice, are you sure young man?” The cashier asks while smiling.

The girl, coughing lightly as if startled,

“Wh-huh? W-wait- I can't burden more than one person!”

“You didn't burden the cashier, it's alright. I do this because I want to.”

While I spoke, the cashier was already done scanning and ringing them up. The girl stood there, speechless, flicking her gaze between me and the cashier as if she didn't know what to do.

As the cashier is done with putting our grocery in separate bags, he smiled warmly,

“It's rare to have someone like you, young man. And you—young lady, you're lucky today.”

Waking out of the grocery store, I checked my phone to see Listy messaging me that she is set for the hangout. Besides me, the girl finally spoke up.

“Um… Thank you for helping me. I'll repay you back someday…” she says, coughing afterwards

“Ah, no worries. Money’s not an issue for me. I'm glad you're okay, Kataoka-san.”

“E-eh? You know my name? Not to mention… You can speak Japanese so fluently…” she looked up at me, with wide curious eyes.

“We are in the same class, it's me, David. I get why people tend to think I'm a foreigner though.”

She squinted at me, tilting her head to study my looks. A small cough escaped her before her expression brightened with recognition.

“Ah, I remember! Well, it's hard to tell since Europeans all look the same… But you're still able to tell who I am even when I'm under a hoodie and a mask.”

“It took some time, but seatmates are seatmates. Introverts like me observe the environment.”

A pause settled between us. Kataoka-san sniffled, eyes darting away. When she looked back, the tip of her ears were pink.

“Uh… Why don't you come to my place? I'm about to cook something anyway. You could call it… Repayment.” Her gaze flicked up to mine for a second before slipping away again.

“I'd love to, but I already have a plan with someone else. They're waiting for me.”

“Oh. I see… Then the next time we meet, I'll repay you. Um—see you later!” She turned away, walking quickly toward the street.

I watched her go, wondering if she's just rushing up to take her medicine, or if she wanted to escape before her blush got any worse. Hopefully, she doesn't think I'm a stalker for being able to recognize her under all that cover.

—— Aika’s Perspective ——

What? He's the same guy next to my seat? And… He didn't even ask me how I'm doing, he just knows I'm not doing well and stepped up.

When I finally reached home, the silence felt heavier than usual. I tried to remember the last time anyone has caught me off guard like that.

Even while I chopped my vegetables, my mind wouldn't let go. Is he a stalker? No… maybe he’s just good at reading people? No, that sounds too simple.

By the time I sat down to eat, I'd forgotten the reason why I even bothered to cook in the first place. The warmth of the food didn't quiet down the questions. Dave… he's probably the only person in this school who can read someone from a single glance.

And that's unsettling.

—— Dave’s Perspective ——

Back at my apartment, I am still unable to figure out Kataoka-san.

She is usually all smiles and energy, but my gut tells me that she's not what most people perceive her as. There's something in the way she talks—like she's fishing for recognition, a little warmth. Not in an arrogant way, more like a glue holding her together.

I dropped down on my chair and turned on the computer, but my thoughts kept circling back to her.

Next time we meet, I'll ask. Not out of nosiness—she promised to repay me, so I'm taking the chance to know her better.

All I can do now is wait… and worry. 

—— Yukino's Perspective ——

Laying my back on my chair, I kept checking the time and the status of my online friend whether he's online yet 

or not.

Just about the time I was about to take a little nap, a call finally rang through. In an instant, I pressed the accept button.

“Sorry I made you wait.”