Tenkei Hatsuhinode woke up to the sound of his alarm ringing beside his bed. He turned it off slowly and stared at the ceiling for a few seconds before sitting up. Morning always felt heavy to him. The room was quiet, just like every day since his parents passed away.
He looked at the framed photo on his desk. His mother and father were smiling in it, with him standing between them. He whispered a soft "Good morning" and got ready for school.
After eating a simple breakfast, he left the house and walked to the usual corner near his street. A few minutes later, Miko came running toward him, slightly out of breath.
"Sorry, I'm late!" she said.
"It's okay," Tenkei replied quietly.
They walked to school together. Students greeted Miko cheerfully, while most of them barely noticed Tenkei. Some whispered when they saw them together, and he pretended not to hear. He had learned long ago that reacting only made things worse.
In the classroom, Tenkei sat near the window, with Miko beside him. During lessons, he tried his best to concentrate, but anxiety always made it difficult. When the teacher asked him a question, he couldn't answer properly. Laughter spread through the room, and his face turned red with embarrassment. Miko quickly passed him her notebook to help, but he still felt useless.
At lunch, they ate together as usual. Miko talked about her day, and Tenkei listened. Being with her was the only time he felt calm. Still, he never told her about the things he heard from others or how lonely he felt. He didn't want to become a burden.
After school, they walked home under the same umbrella. Tenkei wanted to tell her so many things, but the words stayed trapped in his throat. He only smiled and said goodbye when they reached her house.
That night, alone in his room, his memories returned. The accident. The voices. The fear. His heart began to race, and he curled up on his bed, whispering her name again and again until he finally fell asleep.
He believed that as long as Miko stayed by his side, he would be able to survive.
He didn't know that soon, everything would change.