I Got Hit by a Truck, Maybe

Katsuo lay on his bed throwing a baseball up into the air and catching it. Up, down, catch. Repeat. His alarm went off as he caught the ball again. Sighing, he reached over and turned it off and sat up. His light was already on, and he was already dressed. He hadn't really slept much that night, once he was awake, he didn't bother trying to go back to sleep.

He got up and went to the bathroom, brushed his teeth and made a halfway attempt at fixing his messy brown hair. Looking at himself in the mirror, he sighed again. He flipped off the light and headed for the stairs, walking by his sister's room as quietly as he could. He definitely didn’t want to wake her up this early.

Walking down the sidewalk with his bag over his shoulder, he stopped at the convenience store on the corner of his street. Grabbed a couple of salmon filled rice balls and a can of pro gamer coffee, the name all in capital letters as if that somehow made it stronger. He paid the cashier and headed for the park.

He sat on his usual bench, just under a large tree on the corner – the best spot in his estimation. He pulled out the coffee, slowly flipped it upside down, and then back upright again before cracking it open and setting it down beside him on the bench. Then he unwrapped the first rice ball and took a bite.

The sun had just started to peek through, and the birds were beginning to wake up. This was the best start to every day, the peaceful nature of the park. A few people walked past, and cars could begin to be heard more frequently as others too began to start their day. He sighed; the moment ruined. He stood and headed to the main road.

Finishing the last bite of his rice ball, he stepped over the large crack in the concrete as he approached the crosswalk. He then put the now crumpled coffee can and rice ball wrappers back in the bag. The light signaled and he crossed, mingling with the other pedestrians as he did so. Once on the other side, he turned and continued walking up the street. A few blocks later, he entered the front of the school. Nakagawa High School.

Katsuo was halfway through the first term of his second year in high school. He had no real friends, or enemies. No one really liked him or disliked him. He was just, well, Katsuo Nakajima. And if anyone asked him, not that they had, he would tell them he liked it that way.

He stopped at the shoe lockers and swapped out his shoes, then headed to his classroom. Class 2 – 2, he hated the symmetry, and it always made him feel like he had shown up for ballet. Not that there was anything wrong with that, it surely taught great balance or something like that.

Katsuo walked through the door at exactly eight o’ clock, with 30 minutes until class started, he was first to arrive, as usual. Walked over to his seat in the back corner along the wall, opposite to the windows. Slowly other kids started to arrive. The day passed by just like any other. Had class, ate lunch in his usual spot behind the school, then some more class. The chime sounded, and the school day was over.

He left the classroom, swapped his shoes, and then headed back towards home.

Despite the monotone of it all, Katsuo didn’t mind the simple repetitive style of his life. Okay, maybe that wasn’t true. Sometimes he did hope for something a little different. Maybe even more than sometimes.

He dodged the same crack in the concrete on his way home. But decided to stray a little from his normal route and stopped to grab two cans of pro gamer coffee. He wasn’t a gamer, or really even that into games, they just made a good strong coffee. He exited the convenience store, pulling the first coffee from the bag. He slowly tipped it upside down, and then back upright, cracked it open, and continued walking. He walked a little way before taking his first gulp. Yep, that was just the right amount of time to wait.

He entered the front door of his house and slipped off his shoes.

“I’m home.”

There was no reply, but he really hadn’t tried to make himself heard either. Now if he could just –

“Welcome home little brother!”

Too late.

“Oh, hey Kanna.”

She was sitting on the couch watching tv, or at least it was on. Her black hair was unkempt. She probably hadn’t done anything with it that day. And of course, she had a beer in her hand.

“Don’t give me that look. At least pretend you’re happy to see your big sister when you get home. Hmph.”

She made a pouty face. Evidently trying to make him feel bad, or at least pretending to be upset.

“Guilty, I am happy to see you.”

Happy to see you not drunk yet. He added silently to himself. She jumped from the couch and cheered. So, pretending it was. He started for the stairs, after only climbing a couple of steps he heard Kanna call out again.

“Dad called, he said they would be home a little later than expected. He asked if we could start dinner, so we aren’t eating late. And you know how mom feels about take out.”

Katsuo grumbled inwardly, by ‘we’ she meant him. Kanna couldn’t boil an egg to save her life. He waved her off, but in case she hadn’t seen he added.

“Let me put up my stuff, I’ll be right down.”

He dropped his bag in the corner of his room and changed his clothes. Then headed back downstairs to start dinner. Kanna was grabbing another beer out of the fridge when he entered.

“So what’s for dinner?”

She cracked open her beer and took a sip, observing him as he made his own way into the kitchen. Opening the fridge, he peered inside.

“Whatever we have, I guess. Probably rice.”

She made the pouty face again, and pointed at him with the same hand she held her beer in.

“You’re being mean to me again! Of course we’re having rice, but what else are we having?”

She crossed her arms and harrumphed. Katsuo sighed and begun pulling ingredients from the fridge. As he cooked, his siter cheered or commented on whatever was on the tv. He began pulling out the plates and serving utensils when Kanna suddenly jumped up from the couch and ran over to him.

“Here, let me help with that little bro!”

“No, it’s fine, just watch your show.”

He said it seriously, without any sarcasm at all.

“But I want to!

And with that, she began setting the table. No sooner had the first plate touched down than the front door opened. Their parents were home, just in time to see Kanna helping. How on earth did she do it? It’s like she knew they were coming. Katsuo glanced over at the clock on the wall, 7:20. Unless of course, she knew when they’d be home. Sighing, he got to carrying the food to the table.

“Hey kids! We’re home!”

His dad almost always sounded excited, and he might have been. Few things broke his father’s positive demeanor.

They walked into the dining area all smiles. Kanna ran over and hugged them both, and everyone got seated. His mother had black hair, just like Kanna’s. And his father's brown, like Katsuo’s. It made for a funny father and son, and mother and daughter pairing. Another one of those weird symmetry’s that bothered him. His mother sat first, taking in the mixed scents of dinner.

“Mm, this smells good. Thank you kids for all your hard work, it looks delicious.”

Kanna, ever the pleaser, jumped in to respond.

“You are certainly welcome, and I know right! I’m starving!”

Katsuo made a noise that might have sounded like agreement. Everyone dug in and enjoyed. It was delicious, even Katsuo couldn’t deny he had a knack for cooking. And it always tasted better with people you cared about. Even Kanna, annoying as she could be, he wouldn’t trade his family for the world.

After dinner, everyone helped clean up, Kanna and their mother washed the dishes together, while Katsuo and his father tidied up and brought the dishes to them. It was satisfying work. After cleaning, they played a game together for a short while. Laughs and mock outrage at defeat all-round.

The game ended, everyone said their goodnights, and made their way to bed. Except Kanna of course, Katsuo could still hear her hiccupping and laughing drunkenly at the tv for some time after he went to his room. The whole time he lay awake atop his bed staring at the ceiling, when he hadn’t heard her for several minutes he looked over at a clock. It had been nearly an hour before her ruckus had finally come to a stop, presumably because she fell asleep.

He went downstairs to turn the tv off. Sure enough, she was passed out on the floor with her upper half slumped onto the couch. Sighing, he got down and hoisted her onto the couch. She promptly rolled onto her side and made herself comfortable, snuggling into the couch. He turned off the tv, covered her with a blanket, and then headed back upstairs to bed. Between the extra coffees he grabbed on the way home and his sister keeping him up a bit later than usual, Katsuo had a feeling he was in for a rough night of sleep.

The next morning, he discovered how right he was. A slight headache, and groggy like never before. He tried shaking himself awake, then went to the bathroom and splashed his face with water. He looked at his dripping face in the mirror. His eyes had lines under them, and his hair looked like some rats had moved in while he slept. He went through the usual routine of getting ready, but soon gave up on his hair and decided it was time to head out. He was barely going to have time at the park as it was.

His sister was still on the couch when he made it downstairs, just sprawled out with a leg and an arm hanging off the edge, and a bit of drool beginning to puddle as she snored noisily. He shook his head and headed out. It was noticeably later than when he normally left. He actually saw a few people on his way to the convenience store. He stopped in and grabbed his usual brew and rice ball breakfast, then headed for the park. If he ate quickly then he should still be the first to class. He never like walking in later, everyone staring at you as you entered.

He made it to the park, nearly tripping on his own shoelace. That was close, could’ve lost my breakfast. He set his stuff on the bench and retied it, then tied the other one as well just to be safe. He flipped his coffee both ways, cracked it open, and then set it on the bench. As he began finishing off his first rice ball he checked the time on his phone – he was late. Crap..

Well late to Katsuo, not actually late for class. Rushing to his feet, he fast walked to the crosswalk. He heard a single chime ring out, seemingly from everywhere and nowhere. He looked around in confusion, not seeing the source of the sound, he shook it off and continued onward. Holding his bag with one hand and attempting to shove the rest of his last salmon ball into his mouth he failed to notice the crack he usually avoided on this route. The toe of his shoe caught the crack, and the last bite of his rice ball went flying into the air. He wacked it with his hand, in an attempt to catch it, sending it back up again. Stumbling forward all the while. He finally managed to get a grip on it when he heard the truck horn.

He glanced over just in time to see, he was now in the middle of the road.

Everything went black.