"Oya? Oya oya oyaa? Did the nerd grow a spine overnight?" Ignoring him, he grew restless. Quickly, he matched my speed again and took me by my right arm, shoving me into the wall right of us. "Answer me, nerd." This time he was serious, his smile dropped.
This is a bonus of dying. No matter if I embarrass myself, badly hurt myself, or get into legal trouble… it won't matter. Tomorrow doesn't exist anyway, might as well die with one less regret.
As we were near the school entrance, kids were passing by us — some curious, some scared, most mocking.
I huffed cold air directly onto his face, then tightly gripped my fists. He glanced at it, then back at me.
"Huh? What are you gripping those fists for?"
I tightened my back against the wall, preparing to launch myself forward. "WHAT ARE YOU GRIPPING THOSE FISTS FOR, I ASKE—" As he prepared to launch a jab at me, someone defended me with his own arm, deflecting his punch left by seconds. "What the—"
It was Akito Yuu, the captain of the school's football club. Behind him were his friends — the usual cliché, tall, handsome, and most importantly, 'good-willed airheads with a sense for justice.'
"Bullying in this day and age..?" He slowly took him by the wrist. Being stronger than him, Ryuzaki's grip slowly left my arm and instead gripped the captain's wrist. "Let go—"
He did, letting a bit of force though Ryuzaki stepped back a few steps while gripping his wrist, now marked red by Akito's hold.
Akito then proceeded to pat my arm. "Alright there, buddy?"
Sure am.. Who asked you to butt in?
"Yeah, I'm alright. Thanks, I guess?" Not like I needed your help. Today of all days?
"WHAT'S THE DEAL, AKITO?" Ryuzaki yelled, straightening himself while glaring at Akito and his friend group. "FEELING BAD FOR THE FUCKER BECAUSE OF—"
Suddenly the bell rang behind the wall, the gates just a few meters distant from us starting to close.
While the strap of the watch around my wrist continued ticking, slowly but surely.
331
330
329…
Suddenly my gaze toward the countdown was distracted by a warm touch against my shoulder. "Sato, we'll be late, man. Come on." He shook his head toward the half-closed gates, and I stepped forward, past agitated Ryuzaki, without an ounce of fear
He knows my name?
Akito glanced back at his friends but quickly ignored it and raised his arm, prompting them to follow. Hitting Ryu's arm, he went past him and after me.
As we passed through the gates, I could hear Ryuzaki mumble something under his breath, quietly enough so no one would get agitated by it.
Since the gates were automated, there was thankfully no teacher to greet us, nor to belittle us for being late, a bonus of being an F class. "Hey man, ignore him, he's just pissed his girlfriend dumped him, y'know."
Why is he talking to me?
"Ah—sure… He did?" I tried continuing the half-hearted small talk, being sure walking in silence would be worse.
"Yeah, apparently she started dating that first year, the genius of basket or something?"
"Oh… wow, I can't believe it." I muttered, trying hard not to appear sarcastic or roll my eyes.
Suddenly two arms got me from behind. "Hey hey, ignore that. More importantly, more importantly, did you get a notice yet? Did you, did you?" An excited voice, like a child who's about to buy candy, blasted through my ears.
I shook his arms off me, prompting him to walk by my side now. His black football club uniform shirt was tucked in on the left side, the right side left to hang loose over his waist. Unlike the other four who had their uniforms neatly tucked in, including Akito.
"Hey Nozaki—don't be—"
"It's fine~ That's what we're all interested in, right boys?" He looked behind, the other three excitedly nodded. "So?" He asked again, staring into the left side of my cheek.
Entering the entrance hall, I stopped in front of my shoe locker, slowly opening it. It appeared as everyone was watching me — from Akito to the rest of his friends and even the nearby kids who were running late. Ryuzaki entered shortly after us, albeit two rows away.
"No, not yet."
"Aw, that's a shame. I wanted to see what it looks—" Suddenly his mouth got covered by Akito. "NOZAKI! There are some things which shouldn't be asked.. Sorry Sato-"
"Shame?" I muttered as I dropped the white shoes lined with black underlines onto the ground. "Is it that fun to watch a dying man's last day? Hm? All of you? In that case, it really, really sucks to be you."
The chatter over the next line of shoe lockers stopped, "Did someone just insult Akito?" the laughter behind as well. It was completely silent while Akito's head dropped a bit, releasing Nozaki's face.
"I get that Nozaki went a bit too far, but so did you, Sato."
He glanced back at his friends. "Let's go."
As they passed by me, the shortest one adjusted his glasses. "We just tried to help…" he muttered, leaving me there alone again. I blankly stared at the backs of their uniform, a skull being pierced in two by a scythe.
Help? More like looking down on me. Bastards, all of you.
I glanced down at my watch again.
220
219
218
Is this really how I'll spend my last moments? Rotting in this pathetic building with a bunch of pathetic people?
Not knowing what happened to my mom, or dad?
I refuse that… I don't want that. Why me? Why why why why WHY—
I grasped for my pounding heart. With each thought, my chest warmed not with kindness but with madness. It wanted to burst open through my chest and burn someone, something. Even myself.
Just then the doors opened, my heart stopped for a moment. I immediately turned around, somehow recognizing whose steps those were. Her perfume immediately filled the dark corridor with the smell of spring roses, tackling the moist smell of fungus in the air.
Her pale skin glistened even in the dark corridor, lighted only by the dark grey clouds outside the school, which were most probably preparing for rain, while her red eyes pierced through my face like an arrow. It quieted my heart for but a second, sure did, but the other it was blasting louder than before. So loud, I could swear everyone could hear it, almost like drums of liberation.
A short white jacket clung to her waist, tight enough to trace every line of her figure. It ended just above the hips, where the faint curve of her black skirt began — short, just below what's allowed, precise enough to be considered… daring anyone to comment on it. Accompanied by black nylons and finished with white sneakers.
The bitchiest third year, Marianne Thurigsonn… I turned toward her fully, widened eyes, and slightly opened my mouth.
"Oh great, the first thing I see early in the morning is your face." She glanced at the watch. "Oh right, it's your last day, isn't it? Finally, not gonna hear your wimping anymore. Every month wa wa wa wa so annoying—"
How does everyone know that? Why? No.. More importantly-
"I love you."
One more regret less.
She blinked. "What—?"
If only I had a bit more time.. I'd throw all the regrets I had away, the best time to start was yesterday, the next best time is today..
I just turned around, not expecting an answer. I already knew she'd consider me crazy after that since she was also the one who used to pick on me the most — sending me to pick up anpan, juice, milk, spitting in food if I brought the wrong one. Little did she know I liked that one—
"Wait wait wait—" She stepped forward a few steps, now the corridor mostly empty, but the two of us could listen to her breathing simultaneously with my raging heart. "You can't just say something like that out of the blue and just leave?"
If this was the usual every other day, sure. But it isn't. It doesn't matter anymore. The fewer regrets I have when this watch hits zero, the more blessed I will feel.
As my classroom was just beside the corridor, I turned left and opened the doors. "Hey—WAI—" And simply closed them, leaving her outside and unable to reach me.