RING.. RING.. RING
"Hello?" Kyo said still half asleep
"Kyo, did you just wake up? It's 11:30 am already, get out of bed!" I am heading over right now." The voice over the phone belonged to non-other than Hiro who was calling to see if Kyo was ready to start moving yet.
Kyo's response was a simple "Mhmm…"
"Don't just 'mhmm' me, get up!"
"Getting right on it," Kyo said, yawning and was two-thirds awake by this point. Kyo then heard the phone call come to an end.
Kyo stayed up late packing not thinking that it would take so much out of him in the morning. As he had begun to fully wake up he got dressed in a simple gray shirt, a dark blue thin jacket, and black loose-fit jeans, then peered outside his room to see if anyone was home, but it seemed like the coast was clear.
Kyo hurried to the bathroom to brush his teeth and to push his longish black hair up to get out of his eyes. Kyo still looked like he had just woken up though. The walk from Hiro's place to here was about seven minutes so given the timing of everything Kyo went downstairs to unlock the door. Sure enough, just a few seconds later he heard knocking.
"Come in," Kyo said as the door began to crack open. Hiro peered his head in and asked "Is it safe?"
"Yes, we are home alone, for now."
Kyo heard a sigh of relief coming from his friend before Hiro asked "what all are we grabbing?"
"Books, school supplies, clothes, and smaller items are all I can think of."
"I forgot that you're a minimalist Kyo."
"Hard not to be when I wasn't allowed to do anything but music and studying."
"Are you going to take any instruments?"
"Is that even a question?"
"Fair enough, at least it will be a one-way trip."
"A bonus really."
As they went up to Kyo's room and gathered all the boxes he packed, there were only three in total, one with clothes, one with books, and one with daily needs like a toothbrush, shampoo, phone charger, etc.
Once all belongings were accounted for and a final check was done, the two went downstairs, and out the door. Kyo was carrying one box as he still needed to lock the door behind him, Hiro had the other two.
"Last time I got to come here, goodbye old creepy house, you won't be missed," Hiro said as Kyo closed and locked the door.
Kyo was only fifteen, but it was the house he grew up in for his entire life so all he could say was "Thank you," with a small bow before turning his back and walking away.
They began heading to the train station. It was now Sunday afternoon at this point, so there were quite a few people, but Hiro and Kyo managed to find good seats for the trip. They sat in silence and just watched the scenery pretty much the entire time. Kyo almost fell asleep in his seat, but once their destination was announced they both got ready to get off.
During the walk over they chatted about how nice an area this is, it had been a while since they came over to Kokoro's place, and since it was next to a great private school it was pretty well kept for being in the center of Tokyo.
Soon they arrived at their destination, a hotel complex by the name "The Sleepy Motif." Hiro set his two boxes on the ground and knocked on apartment number "001." Not long after the knock, Kyo's aunt opened the door.
Kokoro Arinagi had short black hair, was wearing a long gray dress with exposed shoulders, and donning plenty of make-up and jewelry. According to many people, she looked stunning, despite being nearly forty years old.
"Oh, Hiro, it's nice seeing you again." Kokoro said in her sweet ever-so-soft mature voice.
"Miss. Kokoro, it's a pleasure, I am just helping Kyo move is all." He said with a smile.
"I see, thank you for your help, Hiro," she said with a smile. Kokoro then peered over Hiro's shoulder and saw her beloved nephew. "Kyomeowta!" She squealed walking over to her nephew to give him a hug. "you will be in apartment number 003. The door should already be unlocked."
"Right, thank you." Kyo said with a slight bow before continuing, "and can you please stop with that stupid nickname!" The other two completely ignored what he had just said as Hiro spoke again, "Miss. Kokoro, Are you going somewhere?"
"Oh no, I am just here to help with the move-in process, I just like dressing up for special occasions such as this. I do hope you like everything Kyo."
As they walked into the apartment, there was a light breeze from the AC unit. There was a walk-in area for shoes, and a small hallway leading to the kitchen. Past the kitchen was the living area. The apartment was rather spacious for being a one-bedroom one-bathroom; the living room itself was big, enough to fit about four people comfortably.
Leading from the living room were three doors, the two on the left wall in order were a bathroom and then a closet. The door on the far right led to a small bedroom, the view from the bedroom window was amazing as one could see both a park and glimpses of a lake.
This is the best living space anyone in Kyo's position could ask for. "That white look on your face, means that you like it?" Kokoro asked.
"Yes, I really really like it, it's amazing, thank you so much." Kyo bowed his head to her.
"No worries, I am just pleased you like it." She said with a smile.
"Kyo, I am so jealous, first you have a rich hot aunt, and now you get to live in this nice place. When I am old enough to move out I will come here." Hiro couldn't hold back his jealousy and started blurting stuff out.
"Haha, well then I will leave one of my rooms open for you, Hiro." In reality she just wanted another tenant, and if it was someone she knew it would make life easier, so those two had just made a mutual agreement that will probably come true in three years or so.
"Thank you, Miss Kokoro!" Hiro said with glee. "Right then I need to get going, I have a team meet-up happening today so I will leave you two to it," Hiro said with newfound motivation.
"Thank you for your help Hiro, I owe you one," Kyo said.
"Likewise." Kokoro said,
"Hehe, Nah it's fine, really, well see you two later." He began to sprint out the door.
"He sure is a lively one isn't he?"
"Yes he is, and that's just part of what makes him so great."
The time was now 2:30 pm. Kyoyota still had to unpack everything, but he really did move out and now has his own place. He looked around the room one more time, happy, but also with a feeling he could not quite describe, leaving the only place you knew at fifteen years old really does feel unreal.
"Are you okay Kyomeowta?"
"Huh? Oh yes, I am fine, it still doesn't feel quite real."
Kyo thought those words must have annoyed her as he was now sounding like a broken record, but she hugged him again from the side and pulled him into her, she said "If you want this to remain real, please play these next three years perfectly."
"Don't worry, I promise I will be perfect for three more years," Kyo said with a half-hearted smile. He wanted to say that he had gone through enough to stay here for life, but even he knew that wasn't true. Deep down he knew this was a gift that could be stripped from him at any point. So he promised both Aunt Kokoro and himself that he will not mess these next three years up, no matter what happens.
"Thank you, I am sure you will do great." Take the next few days to get settled in, and unpacked. Oh right, I went down to the school and grabbed this."
Kokoro handed Kyo his school uniform. Hanabira's standard student uniform for males was black slacks, a white button-up, a green tie with black stripes, and black suit jacket with green lines on the cuffs. Female uniforms had a skirt and optional leggings over slacks with button-up, and a pink tie with black stripes, the black suit jacket also had pink lines on the cuffs.
The reasoning behind this is because Hanabira's school colors were white, green, and pink and the school mascot was a Roseate Spoonbill."My uniform, it's really here!" Kyo exclaimed with excitement.
"Congratulations Kyomeowta!" she said as she hugged Kyo again
"Would you stop it with that stupid nickname!?"
"Haha, nope, it's way too cute."
Kyo was forever grateful to his aunt, and at that moment he wanted to cry, but instead he chose to distract himself by unpacking his stuff. Kokoro had to take care of business stuff, so Kyo was left with his uniform in hand, a blank apartment building (minus furniture), and three boxes full of stuff. Kyo spoke to himself, "I can't ask for more than this." Then began to set things up the way he likes.