"Rin! Rin! Honey, it's time to rise and shine! The clock has struck 7:30, and if you don't get out of bed soon, you'll find yourself chasing the minutes. Can you hear me, Rin?" Pleaded a voice from the kitchen, infused with a sense of urgency and concern.
...
In that fleeting moment, silence enveloped the atmosphere, as if holding its breath in anticipation, until the sound of footsteps drew nearer, making their way towards my room.
I braced myself, aware of what was about to unfold.
Suddenly, a tiny fissure of light emerged, revealing a familiar pair of feet. "Ah, without a doubt, it can only be my dear, beloved mother," I mused, recognizing the distinct shape of her orthopedic shoes.
"Get in gear! Move swiftly and take action, now!" she exclaimed, her words laced with a mix of urgency and determination, as she swiftly whisked away the blanket and nudged me aside with her foot.
"Uwaaa!" I cried out in surprise, a mixture of shock and mild pain filling my voice.
"Ouch! What was that for? You can't simply jolt someone out of bed like that, especially when they're lost in the embrace of slumber!" I feigned astonishment, attempting to make sense of the abrupt jostle.
"Your breakfast awaits on the kitchen table, and don't forget, it's already 7:32. It‘s very important that you arrive on time, because today your academic journey begins. You want to make a good impression," she reminded, and her tone conveyed the seriousness of the situation.
"Yes, Mom, I understand. Please carry on," I replied, an undertone of annoyance seeping into my voice. The forceful push had indeed left me with a lingering discomfort.
Regardless, I should tend to my morning rituals—washing my face and brushing my teeth.
"Oh, right! I completely overlooked the fact that today is indeed my first day at school... Wait just a moment," I interjected, a flicker of realization illuminating my thoughts. Today truly heralded a new chapter in my educational voyage.
I burst into laughter, sounding like a mad scientist who had finally cracked the mind-boggling equation of 1+1•3 equaling 4 instead of 5. But seriously, what the heck happened? I had a whole army of 37 alarm clocks, and yet, I slept through their cacophony like a bear in deep hibernation.
Okay, Rin, take a deep breath, girl. You still have a solid 13 minutes left. Well, scratch that, 13 minutes is basically how long it takes my mom to decide what outfit to wear. This is definitely not fine. It's the complete opposite of fine!
"Ahaha," I chuckled, a mix of amusement and anxiety escaping my lips. It was my first day of school, and I was already running late. This can't be real! Time to channel my inner Usain Bolt and bolt out of bed!
I muttered to myself while frantically rummaging through my messy closet, "Where the heck are those darn uniforms hiding? It's like a jungle in here!" Finally, I laid my eyes on them - black pants, a white shirt, and a black jacket. The classic look that says, "I'm here to learn, not to party... yet."
As I hastily threw on my uniform, I couldn't help but admire myself in the mirror. "Looking sharp, my man. I bet the ladies won't be able to resist this handsome devil," I smirked.
But seriously, I needed to hurry up before I became the poster child for being fashionably late. With my outfit in place, I headed to the kitchen to grab some breakfast. Well, turns out I didn't have the luxury of enjoying it there because being late was looming over me like a dark cloud.
As I happily munched on my breakfast, I couldn't resist praising my mom's amazing cooking skills. "Mmm, this is seriously delicious! My mom is definitely the best," I whispered to myself, feeling a radiant smile spread across my face.
Heading towards school, I noticed a bunch of my fellow students wearing the same uniform as me. It was a small relief to know that I wouldn't be the only one late if I happened to be running behind. Pushing aside any worries, I continued on my way, eager to reach my destination.
To pass the time during the journey, I plugged in my trusty headphones and began indulging in some music on my phone. With still some distance left to cover, I figured jamming to my favorite tunes would help calm my nerves.
As I strolled along, more and more students joined me on the path, including a few attractive girls. I chuckled to myself, momentarily distracted by their presence, but quickly refocused my mind on the purpose of my journey. I reminded myself that I wasn't here to socialize; my primary goal was to learn and make the most out of my school life. With a determined mindset, I vowed to put in the effort and pay attention in class, all in pursuit of achieving my aspirations.
"Excuse me," a shy voice called out from behind.
Hearing the voice, I initially dismissed it, thinking that no one would actually want to strike up a conversation with me.
"Hello, can you hear me?" the voice persisted.
Still paying no attention, I cranked up the volume on my music and continued my stride.
"You with the headphones, stop!" the voice grew louder and closer. I finally turned around, only to find a girl who collided with my chest and fell to the ground.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, rubbing her head in pain.
As I glanced down to assess the situation, I couldn't help but notice her lying there, head rubbing and wearing purple panties.
An interesting choice of color, I must admit.
"Are you alright?" I asked, extending my hand to help her up.
"Thank you," she replied, her face brightening with a grateful smile as she clasped her hands together.
"Why did you approach me?" I inquired, genuinely curious.
"I just moved here and enrolled in school. I'm not familiar with the way, so I was hoping you could accompany me," she politely explained.
"Well, I certainly don't want to be late on my first day either," I responded, agreeing to her request.
"Thank you so much," she expressed her gratitude, walking ahead with a smile.
As we continued our journey together, she asked for my name. "I'm Aomine Araya. What about you?" she inquired.
"Aomine Araya, huh? I'll call you Araya then. I'm Rin Takahashi, but Rin is just fine," I replied, a hint of grumpiness coloring my voice. I never cared much for my last name, especially since my father left us.
"Nice to meet you, Rin. Thanks for keeping me company," she said, smiling warmly.
"Nice to meet you too, Araya," I replied, feeling a glimmer of connection amidst the bustling school day.
"I can see the school just up ahead. We're almost there," I eagerly pointed out, directing her gaze.
Her grasp on my hand tightened, and she exclaimed with excitement, "Yes!"
Feeling a twinge of embarrassment, I pleaded, "Hold on a second, could you please slow down? And maybe let go of my hand?"
Inwardly, I fervently prayed that no one would catch sight of us, dreading the potential impact on my budding social life.
She paused briefly, then took a deep breath before jokingly saying, "Phew, that was quite the adventure. I feel like I'm on the brink of collapse!"
Despite my mortification, her light-heartedness elicited genuine laughter from me.
Her grin widened, and she remarked, "I'm glad I could bring some amusement. You know, you're a lot of fun to be around."
I playfully rolled my eyes, yet a wave of relief washed over me. "Just be careful not to drag me into any trouble," I warned as she made her way into the school.
As she disappeared through the school's entrance, I couldn't help but mutter to myself, "What a character..." while a smile involuntarily spread across my face.
A few minutes later, I reached the school building. Near the main entrance, I noticed a row of lockers and two bustling hallways—one to the left and one to the right. Both hallways buzzed with activity, filled with students attending various classes. However, my own class was located on a different floor. To reach my destination, I ascended the staircase positioned to the left of the entrance.
Upon reaching the second floor, I found myself standing at the end of a hallway, where my class, 10-C, awaited.
"Alright, Rin, gather your courage. This is your moment, seize it now or never."
With a renewed sense of determination, I crossed the threshold and entered the classroom...
