How is Yumi so bright and bold it's like she doesn't give a damn about the world....it'd weirdly refreshing — Sakura
The last bell rang, and the hallways erupted into noise. Lockers slammed, laughter bounced off the walls, and for a moment, I felt like a tiny fish in a river of rushing students. I clutched my bag a little tighter, hoping I didn't look completely lost.
"Hey, Sakura!"
Yumi's voice cut through the chaos before I could even think. She waved me over like she owned the hallway. I jogged to her, dodging a boy who nearly bumped into me and muttered something under his breath. Yumi was already halfway to the gates, notebook clutched under one arm, hair a mess from leaning back in class.
"You survived!" she said, grinning. "Barely, but hey, you're alive. That counts for something."
I laughed, a little breathless. "Barely?"
She nudged me with her elbow. "It's a war zone in there. People take this school seriously. Too seriously. I've learned to either ignore them or beat them at their own ridiculousness." She tilted her head, her brown eyes glinting with mischief. "You're quiet, but I like that. Not in a creepy way. In a… 'I can tell you actually notice stuff' way."
I blinked, unsure if I should laugh or blush. "I… notice things. I guess."
"Good," she said, skipping ahead a few steps and then spinning back to grin at me. "Notice the chaos. Notice the nonsense. That's how you survive here. And notice the fun, too. You'll need it."
We stepped off the school grounds, the sun warm on my back, and Yumi started walking at her usual chaotic pace, swinging her bag. I tried to keep up, dragging my feet slightly, but she didn't seem to care.
"So," she said suddenly, leaning over to look at me. "Tell me about you. Not boring, I mean real stuff. You're not the type to just smile politely and vanish, right?"
I hesitated, unsure how much to say. "I… I don't know. I've mostly just… kept to myself. Lived at home, did schoolwork, piano lessons, that kind of thing."
Yumi snorted. "Piano lessons? Oh, man. I can already tell I'm going to mess with you a lot. I draw during class, sometimes nap. I'm basically chaos incarnate." She grinned like it was a point of pride. "But hey, that's why we'll get along. You balance me out."
I smiled, shaking my head. "I'm not sure I'm ready to balance chaos yet."
"You'll get used to it," she said, waving her hand like it was nothing. Then she grabbed my arm suddenly, stopping me. "Promise me something."
"Okay…?"
"Promise me you won't just float through this school being perfect and unnoticed. Take risks. Say hi. Mess up. Daydream in class. Do something that's… you. Understand?"
I thought about it for a second. Something in her gaze, fierce but playful, made me trust her. "I… I'll try," I said.
She smirked. "Good. That's all I ask. Hey, come on, I promised you caramel lattes. You haven't lived until you've had one of mine."
We turned down a small street lined with cafes, the city alive with people heading home from work, the smell of fresh bread and coffee hanging in the air. Yumi pulled open the door of a tiny café like she owned it and dragged me inside.
The place was cozy, warm, and smelled like cinnamon and espresso. Yumi led me to a table near the window, kicking my chair out for me. "Sit. You look tense. Relax."
I sank into the chair, letting out a small sigh. "I'm not that tense," I protested, even though my shoulders had been tight all day.
"Uh-huh. Sure," she said, leaning across the table, elbows on the wood, her face inches from mine. "Look, first day's over. You survived classes. You didn't get eaten alive by the popular crowd. That's a win. Now, you drink this caramel latte, and we celebrate."
I laughed, watching her wave at the barista and give some exaggerated, dramatic instructions about how my latte should be "life-changing." She clearly took her caffeine very seriously.
When she returned with our drinks, she slid mine across the table. "Here. Carefully. One sip, and you'll understand why I'm a legend in this café."
I took a cautious sip. Sweet, warm, and comforting. I didn't say anything at first—I didn't want to ruin the moment—but my eyes widened slightly.
"See?" Yumi said, beaming like she'd just performed magic. "Life's better with sugar and chaos. Don't forget it."
I smiled. "It's… really good."
"You're welcome," she said proudly. Then she leaned back, arms crossed, smirking
We continue drinking our latte , and a few seconds later Yumi has finished her latte and is stands up to leave .
"I'm gonna go get another one for the road , I still need energy". She says as she throws her empty cup into the trashcan and she sulks and she speaks to the cashier .
I continue digesting my drink and eventually finish as Yumi still orders and I smile as I shake my head , turning away to stare at the city outside. Everything seems to be paused like as the sun slowly starts to set into the clouds casting a stunning view.