I try to focus on Ms. Tanaka's words, but the drone of her voice presses heavy against my eyelids like a thick fog. "Satoshi, can you answer the question?" Her sharp tone cuts through the haze, yanking me back to the classroom.
"Uh... sorry, I..." I mumble, blinking rapidly as the harsh fluorescent lights buzz overhead. The stale scent of old textbooks and chalk dust mixes with the faint, sour aroma of sweat from the crowded room.
Whispers ripple around me. "He's always spacing out," someone mutters behind me. Another voice, softer, "Did he even study?"
I feel the rough grain of the wooden desk beneath my fingertips, grounding me, but my mind drifts again. The chalkboard's green surface blurs, and the dry taste of the air scratches my throat. Somewhere, a clock ticks loudly, each second stretching longer than the last.
"Focus, Satoshi," I whisper to myself, but my body betrays me. My head nods forward, and the world tilts as I slip into a brief, restless doze.
"Satoshi!" Ms. Tanaka's voice rings out, sharper this time, stepping closer. "Are you even listening? This is important."
"Come on, Satoshi, focus!" she presses, her eyes narrowing. "You can't keep drifting off like this. What's going on with you?"
A few students glance over, some with pity, others with annoyance. "Wake up, man," a classmate hisses, nudging my arm.
Just then, Rei, the class president, leans over from her seat beside me. "Satoshi, do you want me to help you catch up? You missed the last part," she whispers, her voice calm but firm.
"I don't know how you stay awake in this place," she adds with a smirk, nudging my arm lightly. "You're practically asleep on your feet."
I manage a weak smile. "It's not easy, okay?"
She glances at Ms. Tanaka, who's still watching me with a sharp eye. "Look, I'll fill you in, but you've got to promise me you'll try to stay with us. No more dozing off."
"Deal," I whisper back, grateful for the lifeline.
Rei pulls out her notebook, flipping to the page with neat, organized notes. "So, Ms. Tanaka was just explaining the basics of photosynthesis. You know, how plants turn sunlight into energy."
I nod slowly, trying to focus as her voice cuts through the fog. The faint scratch of her pen on paper, the rustle of pages turning, and the soft murmur of other students whispering nearby fill the space around me.
"Here," Rei says, pointing to a diagram. "This part shows how chlorophyll absorbs light."
"Got it," I say, feeling a little more grounded.
"And if you zone out again, I'm dragging you back," she warns with a grin.
"I'll hold you to that," I reply, the corners of my mouth twitching into a genuine smile.
The classroom noise fades into the background as Rei's steady voice anchors me, pulling me back from the edge of sleep. For a moment, the world feels a little less heavy, and maybe, just maybe, I can make it through this class after all.
"Well, so basically I am studying how plants make food just to honor them to become our food?" I say, trying to sound more awake than I feel.
Rei snorts softly, shaking her head. "That's one way to put it. But yeah, photosynthesis is basically plants turning sunlight into energy, which eventually becomes the food chain."
Ms. Tanaka, overhearing, raises an eyebrow. "Satoshi, that's a... creative summary. But remember, it's about understanding the process, not just the end result."
I shrug, feeling a bit embarrassed but grateful for Rei's help. "Guess I'm honoring them in my own way."
Rei grins. "Just don't start talking to the plants, okay?"
A few students nearby chuckle quietly, and I feel a small spark of connection in the room.
"Alright, class," Ms. Tanaka says, regaining control. "Let's move on to how this process affects our environment."
I glance at Rei, who gives me a thumbs-up. "You've got this, Satoshi," she whispers.
I nod, feeling a little more ready to face the rest of the lesson.
The rest of the lesson was an utter hell trying to fight sleep, every word a mountain I had to climb, every minute a battle against the pull of exhaustion. The chalkboard blurred, the ticking clock mocked me, and the drone of Ms. Tanaka's voice became a relentless tide I couldn't escape.
I pinched the bridge of my nose, trying to summon focus, but my eyelids betrayed me again. Rei's occasional nudges and whispered reminders were the only things keeping me tethered to the moment.
By the time the bell finally rang, signaling freedom, I felt like I'd survived a war. My body ached, my mind was foggy, but somehow, I'd made it through.
"You okay?" Rei asked quietly as we packed up.
"Barely," I admitted, managing a tired smile.
"Tomorrow's another day," she said with a wink. "Try to get some sleep tonight."
I nodded, grateful for her presence, knowing I wouldn't have made it without her help that day.
I slumped down on the table, exhaustion finally catching up with me. "You deserve a treat, Rei," I muttered, my voice rough but sincere.
Rei raised an eyebrow, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. "Oh? And what kind of treat are we talking about?"
"Whatever you want," I said, managing a tired grin. "You saved me today."
She chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Well, don't get used to it. Next time, you better try to stay awake on your own."
"No promises," I replied, the corners of my mouth twitching into a genuine smile.
"Deal," Rei said, nudging me lightly. "Now, let's get out of here before Ms. Tanaka calls on you again."
I laughed quietly, feeling a little lighter despite the fatigue. "Lead the way, class president."
"Always," she said, standing up and gathering her things.
Together, we left the classroom, the weight of the day still heavy but somehow a little easier to bear with Rei by my side.
We slipped out quietly, careful not to draw Ms. Tanaka's attention. The hallway was a welcome relief from the stifling classroom air, buzzing softly with the distant chatter of students.
"So, vending machine?" Rei asked, a teasing glint in her eyes as she nudged me gently.
"Definitely," I replied, my voice hoarse but grateful.
The hum of the fluorescent lights overhead mixed with the faint scent of cleaning supplies as we made our way down the corridor. The cool linoleum floor felt smooth beneath my worn sneakers.
Rei laughed softly. "You owe me big time, you know."
"Yeah, yeah," I said, trying to sound casual but feeling the weight of exhaustion in every step.
We reached the vending machine tucked into a quiet corner. The bright colors of the snack wrappers and the soft clink of coins dropping into the slot felt like a small oasis.
"What'll it be?" Rei asked, scanning the options.
"Surprise me," I said, slumping against the wall, the coolness seeping through my shirt.
She grinned, punching in a code. "You're lucky I'm feeling generous today."
As the snack dropped, the faint rustle of the wrapper and the sweet, salty smell filled the air.
"Here," Rei said, handing me the treat. "For surviving Ms. Tanaka's torture session."
I managed a tired smile, taking the snack. "Thanks, Rei. Seriously."
"Don't mention it," she said, nudging me again. "But next time, try not to fall asleep in class."
"No promises," I muttered, the corners of my mouth twitching into a genuine smile.
We stood there for a moment, the noise of the school fading into the background, a brief pause of calm in the chaos of the day.
"Hey, Satoshi," Rei asked, her voice low but curious as she glanced at me with concern. "Why do you always look so exhausted?"
I hesitated, then let out a tired sigh. "I train every night," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "Martial arts, marksmanship, swordsmanship, anatomy, and field medicine. It's a lot to juggle with school."
Rei's eyes widened in surprise, a mix of awe and worry crossing her face. "Wow, that's... intense. No wonder you're always so drained."
I rubbed the back of my neck, feeling the weight of her words. "Yeah, it's important to me. I have to be ready for anything."
She gave me a gentle smile, her tone softening. "Just don't forget to take care of yourself, okay? You can't pour from an empty cup."
"I'll keep that in mind," I said, grateful for her understanding.
"Good. Now, let's get back before someone notices we're gone too long," Rei said.
I smirked, pushing off the wall. "No, let's head to the roof."
Rei raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "The roof? Planning to escape the world up there?"
"Something like that," I replied, feeling a flicker of energy despite the exhaustion. "Fresh air beats stale classrooms any day."
She laughed softly. "Lead the way, then."
Together, we slipped away from the vending machine, the promise of the rooftop a small rebellion against the grind below.
We headed towards the staircase, anticipation lightening the weight of the day. The worn steps creaked softly beneath our feet as we climbed higher, the muffled sounds of the school fading behind us.
But when we reached the top, the door stood firmly shut, locked tight against our escape.
"Great," Rei muttered, pressing her palm against the cold metal. "Looks like the roof is off-limits today."
I grinned, pulling a slim pen from my pocket and flicking it open to reveal a hidden lock pick. "But don't worry," I said, eyes gleaming with mischief.
Rei's eyes widened, a mix of shock and disbelief flashing across her face. "Satoshi! You're seriously going to pick the lock? Isn't that... illegal?"
I shrugged, smirking. "Technically, it's just a bit of harmless mischief. Besides, it's not like we're breaking into anything important."
She crossed her arms, adopting the typical class president tone. "You know, if the student council found out, you'd be in so much trouble."
I laughed quietly. "Then maybe you should keep this little adventure between us, class president."
Rei rolled her eyes but couldn't hide the amused smile tugging at her lips. "Fine, but if you get caught, don't expect me to bail you out."
"Deal," I said, already kneeling by the door, ready to work my magic.
In a minute, I expertly picked the lock like a pro, the tumblers clicking softly under my practiced fingers.
Rei's eyes widened, a mix of astonishment and disbelief. "Seriously? You actually know how to do that?"
I smirked, not bothering to look up. "There's a lot you don't know about me, class president."
She shook her head, half exasperated, half amused. "You're impossible, Satoshi. But I guess that's why you're interesting. Just don't get us caught, okay?"
"No promises," I replied with a grin, pushing the door open slowly.
Then we stepped outside to the rooftop, the midday sun blazing above us. On the horizon, Tokyo lay sprawled beneath its usual chatter and busy schedules, the midday brilliance dulled to a soft hum.
Tokyo sprawled beneath us, but I knew its brilliance was only a mask for the ruin to come.