A fish fillet

“Hahaha, I see. That’s so unlucky for you!”

「Yeah…and I have to explain the whole thing like some kind of a storyteller…」

The snow falls heavily that morning as the Alto family’s kei truck was driving through layers and layers of snow. Sipping a hot coffee from a plastic cup, he offered Alto the drink but he refused, he then put it back on the nifty cup holder that clips on the car AC vent, or rather a blower.

「Anyway, are you going to go to fish in this snow too Dad?」

“Why of course, I’ll be going after dropping you off at the school”

「I see…is it really okay? There’s just a lot of snow…」

“Ah, don’t worry about it, It’s going to disappear at around 9 am later”

「Oh, is it really? I haven’t checked the weather yet…」

“...huh? But you told me that last night…?”

「Wha- is that right?」

“I mean…” he looks at Alto and paused for a second, before looking at the road again.

“...nevermind, with you looking like that…I think it’s natural that you forgot about it.”

「Looked like…what?」Alto turned around and showed his face, there was a noticeable dark circle under his eyes, his usual sparkly blue eyes seems to have dimmed, and his figure are as sloppy and pale as…

“...a fish fillet.”

「WHAT EVEN IS THAT METAPHOR!?!?」

“See, even though you’re mad you still look as floppy as it is”

「Do I really look that bad?」

“Jeez…I am also confused as well you know…what are you staying up late for?”

「...eh, I-it’s…」

…shit, I can’t tell him that I…waited so- so long for her to reply to my messages!-

[Alto] : Hello Sana! It’s me, Alto, I got your number from one of your friends, let’s get along together^^

Fucking hell…that was super cringe but I can’t just delete it! It took me the whole night to figure out what to say…and she hasn’t replied yet! He grinds his teeth at that thought.

「It’s my homework, Dad.」he sighs before giving his answer.

“...I see, your teacher sure is cruel…giving homework during this time.”

「I-i know right?」he covered his face as it started to turn red, he usually won’t tell a lie that much in a span of two days.

…

After a road uphill, they turned their vehicle to the right and goes through the school’s gate where there was a lot of snow around. Parking their vehicle in front of the stairs, Alto zipped his puffer jacket and wore its hood.

“Stay safe Alto” he offered his fist to Alto.

「That should be my line you know, be safe out there in the sea.」bumping his fist, he smirked and looks at his father.

“...heh, you got it boy.” his thin beard, messy red velvet hair, and dark blue eyes symphonized and makes a heartwarming beam of a smile to Alto.

「See you then old man.」he jumped out of the vehicle and ran toward ahead the school’s door-

Shit-!

Tragically, as he gets on top of the last stair he lost balance but managed to not fall, he then looks back at his father waving a sign of ‘I am absolutely fine!’ with his hand, and seeing that makes him shake his head left and right.

…

Walking up the stairs, he unzipped his jacket to cool himself down while taking out his phone from his pocket. He scrolled through his messages and stopped when he saw the message he sent to Sana that remained unread for twelve hours. He sighed and arrived in front of his classroom where he decided to peek through the windows first and there were a couple of his classmates that had already arrived.

「Good Morning.」he slides the door open as he greets his friend.

“G-good morning…-”

“GOOD MORNING ALTOOOOOOOOOOOOO-!” a distant thump can be heard from the corner of the classroom and it’s rapidly approaching him-

「N….nope.」Alto rotated his body and a blue flash came right past him and into the walls.

“YEOUCH!-.” but before she could hit the wall, her jacket are stuck between Alto’s finger.

“Gee…you could have used your arms or something you know?”

「No way, that would result in two injury dummy.」

…

“…so that’s how it is”

「Yeah, it’s actually that easy.」

“I see…well, I don’t know how to thank you but…”

「...? It’s alright, you don’t have to-」

“DON DON!-”

「Uh…is that a…」Alto paused, and looked at the peculiar…material that are hanging on a metal chain.

「A sheep…keychain?」

“That’s right! How do you think it is?” she waited in anticipation while pushing it closer to Alto’s face.

「I think it’s…」Alto looked at its round white fleece body where there were 2 pair of black rectangles that is supposed to be its legs and its head that are made out of round black fleece and a pair of googly eyes, all of it slowly swaying right and left as it hangs from the chain.

That’s really cute-

「I think it looked silly.」he sneered before taking t with his right hand.

“Hehe I know right? Since you really liked Cloud and all…that’s what I come up with!”

「How very considerate of you…」

Ding dong ding dong

The school bell rang before they know it, what they also didn’t know are the fact that the once-dark skies have cleared away. Umi left as soon as the bell rang, leaving Alto in the class alone in front of the class with the sheep keychain lying in front of his desk

…

She left…well, not like that it matters anyway, now let’s check for Sana’s reply-

[Unknown number ] : You asshole, you didn’t add my phone number, aren’t you?

…is it who I think it is?

[Alto] : I’m sorry, but who is this again?

[Unknown Number (?)] : Who else it could be!?

[Alto] : Right…how did you find my number anyways?

Alto leaned on the wall behind him and exited the messaging app to add her name to his contact list, he looks around with his listless gaze and puts the sheep keychain in his clothes pocket before staring back at his phone.

[Hina] : It doesn’t matter! Now you really need to come to the library!

[Alto] : Why?

[Hina] : Jeez! Just come over here quickly!

[Alto] : Alright…

[Hina] : My life is in danger right now.

[Alto] : What!? Alright- alright! I got it! I’m coming now!

「Jeez…what the hell is wrong with her? And where the hell did she get my number!?」he jumped out of his seat and ran to the library, not knowing that the phone he tried to get into his pocket slipped out and fell to the floor.

His hurried step echoed through the hallways along with his breath, though it looks like it was nothing but light work looking back at his expression, he didn’t break a sweat at all. Right before he can reach the library door, he is greeted with a bunch of noises coming from the library books falling over, the desk being dragged around and pushed, and a bunch of-

「H-HELLO!?-」

“Ah! He’s here miss!”

“Alto! Can you please, like put the…”

Meow~

「Ah…that is…」he looked over the looming presence on top of one of the bookshelves, it looks down on both Ms. Sydney and Hina that are hiding behind one of the desks hugging each other while stricken in fear.

Donned in a vertical stripe of brown and black, her green eyes blinked a couple of times as her smug smile appeared and her tail wagged when Alto showed up, she then yawned carelessly before looking at Alto once again.

「Are you two like…allergic to cats or something…?」

“Hina told me that she’s allergic!” Ms. Sydney hugs her even tighter.

“Uuu…I’m actually just scared of it…” Her eyes are teary as if she’s about to cry, though she can’t do so as she’s suffocating from both of Ms.Sydney's arms.

「Scared to death eh…I guess I’m just going to get over there and humph!-」before Alto could finishes his sentences, his mouth suddenly muffled, and…

“Ack!-”

“ALTO!!!”

He fell on his back.