The alarm screamed.
Kuhaku didn't move.
He groaned, buried his face into the pillow, and mumbled,
"If I don't wake up, morning doesn't exist."
From the hallway came his little sister's voice, bright and merciless.
"Onii-chan! You're gonna be late again!"
"Tell time to wait five minutes," he muttered.
Two seconds of silence.
Then—
BAM!
The door flew open.
"Rin—wait!"
Too late. His pink-haired sister launched herself like a missile and landed squarely on top of him.
"Onii-chan! Wake up!"
He groaned dramatically. "I'm under attack!"
Rin giggled, bouncing beside him. "You said you'd wake up early today!"
"I also said I'd live a stress-free life, and look where we are."
"Come on! Mom said to drag you out if you don't move!"
He sighed, ruffling her hair as she grinned. "This is child abuse. The child's abusing me."
"Yup!" she said proudly. "Breakfast time!"
And with that, she ran out of the room, her laughter echoing through the hall.
Kuhaku stared at the ceiling.
This world has no mercy… even at six-thirty in the morning.
⸻
Morning Chaos
The smell of grilled fish and toast drifted through the kitchen.
Aoi hummed softly as she plated food. Daichi sat at the table, newspaper in hand, his usual calm aura filling the room.
Rin kicked her legs, sipping miso soup with cheerful hums.
Kuhaku stumbled in, hair a mess.
"Morning," he said weakly.
"Morning," Aoi replied warmly. "Eat before it gets cold."
Daichi peeked over his paper. "Try not to be late again."
Kuhaku sat down, yawning. "I'm improving. Yesterday I was eight minutes late. Today'll be six."
"That's not the kind of progress I meant."
Rin giggled. "He's the best at being bad!"
Kuhaku pointed at her. "Et tu, Rin?"
She stuck her tongue out. "Et me, yes!"
Aoi laughed, serving rice to the table. "You two sound like a comedy act."
Daichi sipped his tea quietly. "One day, he'll learn punctuality."
"Maybe in the next life," Kuhaku said under his breath.
"What was that?"
"Nothing, sir!"
⸻
After breakfast, he waved goodbye.
Daichi reminded him again to "ride safely," and Rin yelled, "Bring snacks later!"
"Every day's a new adventure," Kuhaku muttered, hopping on his bicycle.
⸻
The Ride
Morning air brushed against his face as he pedaled down the familiar streets.
The sun was gentle, not too hot, and the world felt calm — the sound of cicadas faint, the smell of fresh bread from a nearby shop.
Three days in this world already.
Still feels like a dream.
He smiled faintly.
At least, it was a nice one.
⸻
Morning at School
He reached the gate just before it closed.
The teacher by the entrance sighed. "Barely made it again, Hoshizora."
Kuhaku saluted. "Every legend starts with 'barely.'"
Inside, his classroom buzzed with familiar chaos.
He slid into his seat by the window. To his right sat Mei Raiden, quietly arranging her books.
In front of her, Kiana Kaslana leaned back in her chair, spinning a pencil like a bored cat.
A seat away from Mei, Bronya Zaychik stared at her tablet, probably hacking NASA for fun.
Kiana noticed him immediately.
"Hey! Transfer boy lives again! I was about to start a memorial service."
Mei sighed softly. "Kiana, don't tease him."
"But it's tradition now!"
Bronya didn't look up. "Statistically, your traditions are nonsense."
"Bratnya, don't ruin my fun."
"Correction: your fun ruins everything."
Kuhaku blinked. "Do you three… start every day like this?"
Mei smiled politely. "Yes."
Kiana grinned. "You'll get used to it!"
"Can't wait," he muttered.
⸻
Cleaning Duty
After lunch, the teacher read out the cleaning groups.
"Kaslana, Raiden, Zaychik, Hoshizora — you're together again."
Kuhaku groaned. "The universe has a strange sense of humor."
Kiana struck a pose. "The dream team returns!"
Mei rubbed her forehead. "Or the disaster team."
Bronya added, "Efficiency predicted: 12%."
Kuhaku sighed. "I'll take it."
Kiana spun her broom like a spear. "Operation Clean Sweep begins!"
"Please don't break anything," Mei said calmly.
Kiana winked. "I'll try not to!"
Bronya swept quietly in the back, moving with robotic precision.
Kuhaku watched her. "You're like a cleaning AI."
"Accurate," she said without missing a beat.
Kiana burst out laughing. "Bratnya the cleaning bot! Amazing!"
Bronya looked up. "Designation rejected."
Mei covered her mouth, laughing softly. "You're all ridiculous."
When they finished, the classroom sparkled — against all odds.
Kiana stretched her arms. "Mission complete!"
Bronya replied, "Casualty count: zero. Unexpected."
Kuhaku leaned on his broom. "I'm proud of us. Sort of."
⸻
Lunch Under the Tree
Cherry blossoms swayed lazily in the afternoon wind.
Kiana plopped onto the grass, opening her lunch. "Feast your eyes!"
Mei peered inside. "Did you actually make that?"
Kiana puffed her chest. "Yup!"
Bronya leaned closer. "It's burnt."
"Extra flavor!" Kiana said.
"Carbon is not flavor."
Kuhaku sat beside Mei, quietly unwrapping his sandwich. "You guys really are something."
Kiana pointed at herself. "I'm the leader!"
Bronya glanced at her. "That explains the chaos."
"Hey!"
Mei smiled, shaking her head. "You two really are like sisters."
Kiana grinned. "The cute one and the cold one!"
"Incorrect," Bronya said immediately.
"Corrected: the cute one and the cool one," Kiana tried again.
"Still incorrect."
Kuhaku laughed quietly. "Feels like I transferred into a comedy anime."
Mei giggled softly beside him. "You'll fit right in then."
⸻
After School
The final bell rang.
Students packed their bags, chatting about club trial week.
Kiana pointed at a poster on the board. "Mei! You're joining volleyball with me!"
"What? Why me?" Mei said, startled.
"Because you're tall and you look like you can spike!"
Bronya spoke without looking up. "Kiana lacks coordination. You will need her."
"See? Bratnya believes in me!"
"I said you'd need Mei, not that you're capable."
Kuhaku watched, amused. "This is better than TV."
Kiana turned to him. "Hey, Ku-kun! What about you?"
"Me? I'm thinking of joining the Napping Club."
"That doesn't exist!"
"It will, once I sleep on it."
Mei sighed. "That was terrible."
Kuhaku grinned. "Thank you."
They walked toward the gate together, laughter filling the evening air.
At the corner, Kiana waved. "See you tomorrow, Nap King!"
Bronya gave a small nod. "Goodbye."
Mei lingered a moment. "Thanks for helping earlier. You didn't have to."
Kuhaku smiled. "Chaos loves company."
That made her laugh softly. "You'll fit in here."
He watched her go, the orange sky glowing above.
It's not peace… but it's something close.
He got on his bike and pedaled home, wind brushing against his face.
⸻
[Scene Shift – Third Perspective]
The schoolyard was empty now.
Desks aligned. Windows glowing faintly in the sunset.
Above it all — silence.
Then, the air rippled.
A thin, jagged crack of white light split across the blue sky — silent, radiant, and gone within seconds.
No one saw it.
No one remembered.
The breeze whispered once, and the world returned to calm.
As if nothing had ever happened.
⸻
End of Chapter 1 – Part 3