The alley was still covered in darkness the moment I reached the school, with the sun was yet to shine its light fully. Well, I prefered being the first to come to the class, so that I could finish everything that I had not done at home.
As I stepped inside the class and had the lights switched on, I could see that the class was in full mess, might be the work of those junior students who had no common sense about cleanliness. Well, I might beat some sense into them, if given the chance later.
At least that didn't take too long to clean before my classmates arrived, hoping that they would not see that mess. Since I had done it, I guessed it will be best to retreat to my seat, intending to enjoy the silent moment before it disappeared.
And just like that, the silent atmosphere was filled by the sound of chatter the moment my classmates entered the class. It only took one voice to break the silence, just like destroying things. It was a piece of cake compared to build things back. That words might be exagerrating a little, but trust me, it was true after all.
Nevertheless, I didn't give a damn of those background noises, because I knew this was thousand times better than the sound of destruction, the sound that made the weakling's heart trembled. In fact, I would rather be deafened by the sound of chatter and playful banter from my friends than being forced to withstand the noise from all those cannon beams and explosions.
When the clock ticked at 6.50, the teacher had already entered the class just like the usual days. However, I had no idea that the day was going to be different than usual, and I guessed it wasn't only me thinking like that, not when we gazed at a rare sight.
Right behind the teacher was a girl in a school uniform, an unfamiliar face to us. Her hair was tied neatly at the back. Her white skin and face radiated innocence, and judging from her face feature, she might be Japanese. No doubt that she was a transfer student from overseas.
Even so, it didn't pique my interest that a new student will enter my class. So it will be best to not give a damn on it.
"Class, today you will have a new classmate. Fujisawa, please introduce yourself." The teacher said to us, introducing the new student.
"My name is Amane Fujisawa... Nice to meet you all."
A simple introduction. Nervousness was clear from her tone. Probably it was the first time she spoke to foreigner.
Then the teacher spoke to us "I hope you can get along with her, and one more thing, I need someone to act as her guide during her first week at school, someone who speaks Japanese fluently. I believe she might need some assistance for the first week."
The moment she spoke the words 'japanese' and 'fluent', I could feel that my sense was telling me something, like a spider-sense did to Spider-man.
And I was right, all eyes set their gaze on me, even that foreigner as well. When I looked at the teacher, I could tell that her gaze reflected hope from me "Iru, I think this job suits you well. I'm hoping for your cooperation, will you?"
I knew that I was fluent in Japanese, yet I didn't think I would like to do that. But the moment I looked at the teacher again, my heart told me not to let her down. I guessed that was my weakness.
And so, I agreed "Only for a week, right?"
"Yes." She nodded.
"Then count me in."
"Thank you, Iru. I know I could count on you. You may sit now, Fujisawa. If you need any help, you can ask Iru at the back." The teacher told the girl.
The girl only nodded. It seemed that she understood English to a certain extent.
It was just for a week. Only for a week, and I hoped everything will work just fine for both of us, because I knew troubles will always find its way, in a way that could get me off guard.
After that, the foreigner walked past me to the empty seat near me. The scent of the perfume she wore was quite strong, floral, if I wasn't mistaken.
Right after the class had just begun, I could see that the girl was quite struggling with the study, possibly due to the language barrier. Confusion was clinging on her face as she tried to catch up with the teacher's explanations.
Not long after that, the girl came to my place. Her footsteps were getting closer and closer. Then, she spoke to me in her mother tongue.
"Erhh, excuse me. I don't really understand what this question ask. Could you explain it for me?"
She was a little bit shy, but that was understandable.
And so I helped her with the question. As expected, she was a genius for being able to catch up with my explanations. If only she had Malay in her arsenal, no doubt she will become the top 1 in class.
"You should do this to find this, and use this formula to get the answer."
"Ohh, I see."
She then returned to her seat, but not before thanking me. As expected, Japanese and their politeness were inseparable.
***
Time passed without me even realising, and it was already recess. When everyone was already making their way to the cafeteria, the girl was still on her seat, writing some kind of notes on her book.
So I approached her, and it seemed like she was startled by my presence, and very invested in her notes to the point that she could ignore the whole world.
"Lets eat." I said while looking straight to her eyes.
"Yes, yes. Please show me the way." The girl smiled nervously while closing her notebook and had it stored inside her bag.
Hence, we walked together to the cafeteria. It was all silent between us until she tried to open up a conversation. "Your name is Iru, right? My name is Amane."
"I know."
"Actually, thanks for helping me during the class again. Appreciate it." She added, her voice softened as we walked side by side.
"Don't thank me. I'm just doing my job, but you can do me a favor by staying out of trouble, for I have zero tolerance towards that. That is what I consider as "thank you"." I replied. My voice came out colder than I intended.
Then, she became silent. Possibly offended from my words.
I might sounded cold, but that was for the best of us, so that she knew I was serious, and at the very least, to protect her from something she had yet known.
By the time we arrived at the cafeteria, I made a quick work by buying my own meal. However, the girl seemed to have some problem on her own.
"What's wrong?" I asked, wondering what was going on with her.
"I couldn't find my cash. Guess I left it in the class." The girl said while searching for her penny in the pocket.
So I pulled out some notes and paid for her meals. Not a big favor by the way.
Not long after that, I could hear her footsteps getting closer to me once I walked out.
"Thanks, Iru. I promise I will pay back for the food." She said while panting after chasing me.
"No need." I dismissed quickly.
"Why, though?" She titled her head, but I don't need to elaborate that, for I wasn't helping for something in return.
Before she could finish her words, I already disappeared to the class.
***
Time ticked fast, and the teachers already called it a day. After packing up all of my stuffs, it was time to go home, to do some training and stuffs. However, it wasn't going just like I had planned.
After doing some warm-ups, I grasped my sword before doing some basic drills in my training ground somewhere hidden from the world. But, in the middle of the training, I could sense an immense darkness emerging from behind me.
So I turned back and thrusted my sword and much to my horror, it was a girl who was groaning in an agonizing pain while blood spilled from her torso, and to make matters worse, I knew her. She even uttered my name.
"Iru.."
All of a sudden, I lost grip of my sword and couldn't get a hold of myself, couldn't even stand on my feet. The sight was frightening enough to stun even myself.
The girl then shooted a dark beam towards me, intending to incinerate me. Fortunately, my instinct guided me to grab my sword again and reflected the beam, causing a small explosion.
When the smoke from the explosion vanished, the girl was nowhere to be found, as if I wasn't fighting anything. I didn't think it was delusion, or it might be, I had no idea.
This wasn't the first time, though. Ever since that fateful day, the figure will haunt me in the daylight, and the worst nightmare will haunt me at night.
Whether it was because her spirit resented me for not saving her, or it was me who was imagining things, I couldn't really tell which one was the truth.
All I knew was that if I were the one to blame, I didn't even deny it. It was true after all.
Despite the whole ordeal, I decided to continue my practice before calling it a day in the evening. After that, it was time for me to retreat to my peaceful spot, which was the rooftop of my room.
As soon as I climbed my way to the rooftop, the sun wasn't setting yet almost reaching the horizon. Fortunately, I didn't miss the time before it will eventually set. The moment the sun slowly descended in the horizon, the skies turned orange, and I couldn't get my gaze off it. It was mesmerizing enough that I could feel the pain in my heart healed in an instant.
I guessed that this moment was the only time I could heal my soul from the burden of this world, this fleeting but peaceful moment. Despite how short the moment was, at the very least I could breathe a fresh air again to face another coming day, and prepared for what might come.