"Usagi, Usagi!" shouted Tetsuo from the kitchen.
Usagi yawned, rubbed her eyes, and trudged out of her room, her hair sticking up at odd angles. "Good morning, big brother."
"Good morning, Usagi. Go get ready for school. It's the first day of junior high—you'll want to make a good first impression," Tetsuo said without turning from the stove. The faint sizzle of eggs and the steam from miso soup rose into the air.
Usagi nodded sleepily and shuffled toward the bathroom. "Go ahead and get ready now. Your breakfast is ready, so don't take too long, or it'll get cold."
"I'll try to get ready as fast as possible!" she replied, dashing toward the bathroom—only to trip over a wire and fall flat on her face. "Ow… again?!"
"You're still as clumsy as ever," Tetsuo said, his tone dry as he placed a plate on the table. He didn't even look back to check; he already knew the sound of her tripping by heart.
Usagi puffed her cheeks as she got up. "You could at least ask if I'm okay, you know!"
"You're fine," he replied, sitting down.
By the time they finished breakfast and got dressed, the morning sun had climbed higher, casting a warm glow through the apartment's thin curtains. Tetsuo locked the door behind them with a soft click.
"I think that's everything. Let's go."
The early morning was cool and quiet, the sunlight cutting across the street in soft streaks. Their footsteps echoed faintly against the concrete, and the smell of grilled fish from another apartment drifted into the air.
Usagi swung her bag lightly, humming a tune. Tetsuo walked in silence beside her, hands in his pockets.
As they turned onto a broader street, the sound of sneakers squeaking and a basketball bouncing reached their ears. A few older men were playing a pickup game on a run-down public court nearby. The net was frayed, the paint faded, but the passion in their movements was clear.
Tetsuo glanced toward the court. One of the players caught a rebound, pivoted, and launched a high arc toward the hoop. The ball swished through the net without touching the rim. A soft thud followed as the ball hit the pavement and rolled.
He stared for a second, still. The sound of the ball hitting the pavement echoed in his chest louder than it should have. For a brief moment, he pictured himself on that court. His hand twitched before he forced himself to look away and keep walking.
Usagi noticed. "Big brother, you were staring at the court just now."
"I wasn't," he said flatly.
"You totally were! Do you want to play basketball with them or something?"
"No."
"Hmm…" Usagi grinned. "Your voice got stiffer. That means you're hiding something."
Tetsuo sighed, quickening his pace. "Focus on your first day. That's more important."
"So, big brother," Usagi said, catching up, "how do you think you did on the entrance exams? You know those grades determine your class placement, right?"
"I'm aware. The exams went well. I was accepted, so it can't be that bad," he replied.
Usagi puffed her cheeks again. "You're so boring when you talk like that."
"Then don't ask."
She laughed and shook her head.
Tetsuo glanced at her briefly, expression unreadable. "How about you? Don't you feel nervous about being in a new environment?"
"I'm not."
"I'll be fine today. I'm not worried," Usagi said, confidently puffing her chest.
"I'll take your word for it," Tetsuo replied.
"If anything, I'm more worried about you since you haven't attended school in ages," Usagi said with a sly grin.
Tetsuo didn't respond, his eyes fixed ahead.
Usagi tilted her head toward the sky, the sunlight warming her face. "You'll manage," she said. Her voice softened. "I know you will… because you always do."
Tetsuo glanced at her but didn't answer. Still, a faint shift in his expression suggested her words had reached him.
Meanwhile, beneath the shade of blooming cherry blossoms, a girl stood alone, watching the petals twirl gently through the air. The breeze played with her long hair, carrying the faint fragrance of flowers as she closed her eyes for a moment.
"It's already that time of year when the cherry blossoms bloom," she murmured. "Amazing… The wind feels great. It's one of the best feelings when it blows through my hair."
She opened her eyes slowly, watching students pass by. Their laughter and chatter echoed in the background, blending with the rustling leaves.
"Time sure has passed," she thought. "I'm already in my first year of high school. I need to make a good first impression on my peers."
Her peaceful moment gave way to mild irritation.
"Haruko sure is taking her time. I told her I had to leave early for a business meeting on Father's behalf. She should've been here twenty minutes ago. Does she want us to be—"
Her thoughts halted as her gaze fixed on two figures walking past the base of the hill, just beyond the tree-lined path that led to the main road.
"Huh?! That person… It can't be. No… That's not him. It must be my imagination."
Her chest tightened slightly, a faint unease lingering as she stared after them.
Just then, a voice called out.
"Hey, Sis! Sorry for the wait!"
Haruko jogged up, brushing strands of hair from her forehead. "Sachiko? Are you alright?"
Sachiko blinked and composed herself. "Sorry, I zoned out for a bit. Shall we get going?"
Haruko gave her a concerned look but nodded. "Yeah, let's go."
As they walked together, Sachiko glanced over her shoulder once more, but the two figures were already gone.
Meanwhile, Usagi glanced over her shoulder. "Hey, big brother, didn't that girl we passed just now seem familiar?"
Tetsuo shook his head. "No. Not to me."
"Huh. Must've been my imagination then," Usagi muttered, though a part of her wasn't entirely convinced.
As they reached the school district, Usagi slowed down, her steps suddenly hesitant.
"Well, I guess this is where we part ways." She forced a smile and waved. "Take care, big brother. All the best at school!"
She sprinted off toward her gate, nearly stumbling again as she went.
"Be careful not to slip and fall," Tetsuo called after her.
Usagi turned, grinning as she waved one last time before disappearing into the crowd of new students.
Tetsuo paused at the crossroad, eyes drifting up to the tall school building in the distance. The buzz of students' voices carried across the street, mingling with the ringing of the morning bell.
He glanced down at his uniform, fingers brushing against the fabric of his blazer. The material felt stiff, almost foreign.
It's been years since I last wore a uniform… feels strange. Everyone else is probably used to this, but for me it's like stepping into a world I left behind.
"First day of high school, huh?" he muttered. His voice was low, unreadable. "Definitely not as nerve-wracking as I thought it would be."
Yet his hand tightened slightly on the strap of his bag.