I got up extra early as I had several hours of driving ahead of me. I was going back to my birthplace, Cloud City.
Waking up in my apartment after everything gave me a weird sensation, like it was all a dream.
I quickly washed up and put on a new pair of clothes. I looked to the corner and saw my laundry pile but ignored it since I was replacing them soon.
I had a small meal and went out the door at 5am.
Relieved, my car downstairs wasn't the one I was taking on the trip, so I had to drive back to the house and get my suv.
It took about 10 minutes as there was minimal traffic, I just transferred my bags into the suv and left from there.
The gps said I'd arrive at around 5pm. The house was about 12 hours away so I'm glad I left early.
It's my first time ever driving so far and I'm excited for the trip. I had a few stops planned so I could refuel and rest.
I spent majority of the drive listening to music, singing along to it freely because my [Parallel Thought] allowed me to focus one part on driving while I also had some fun.
Before I knew it I arrived at a small neighborhood I was very familiar with.
Even though I was quite young when I was last here I still remember it vividly.
I drove in, no longer needing the gps as I knew what house to look for.
A little way up the street I saw it, a house with white walls and a red roof.
It seems to have gotten a fresh coat of paint but it didn't change colors.
I pulled in to the driveway and parked, sitting in silence as I thought of all the memories here, good and bad.
I shook my head and got out of the car, stretching a little before heading to the front door.
*Ding Dong*
I rang the doorbell and waited.
*Click*
A few seconds passed and I heard the door unlock and quickly swing open.
"Akashic!" I was immediately engulfed in a hug.
"Haha, hey Aunt Karin." I hugged her back for a little before she pulled me inside.
"Wow, look at you all grown up! It's been so long since last I seen you." She looked at me with mock anger.
"Yeah, sorry for not visiting in so long. Being here again feels like home." She smiled at my words before looking around.
"Where are your bags? I already have your room set up, we made the bed bigger but everything else is the same." I looked down the hall, the closed door of the room I used to stay in. I don't know why I was nervous now all of a sudden.
"Thank you, I left my bags in the car I'll go get them now." I turned around and went out the door.
I only had two small bags, I planned on getting more clothes and stuff here so I only brought certain items.
I went back into the house but didn't see Aunt, I looked around and heard her in the living room on the phone, probably making sure everything is alright for tomorrow.
On my way to my room I saw some photos hanging on the wall. One was an old picture of all of us together.
Looking at myself I had short hair and it was darker than it is now. Its color didn't start to lighten until I was in my teens.
I moved my attention to the picture next to it, it was clearly more recent and it featured Aunt Karin next to another woman.
Though she was much older I could tell it was Naomi. While she changed a lot from her younger self I could still see her prominent features.
I stopped looking at the photos and walked to my room, opening the door slowly. I flipped the light switch and tons of nostalgia hit me at once.
The bed was bigger but it was in the same spot. The desk was the same, it even had my name carved into it that I made.
Everything about the room made memories flash through my mind again.
I set my bags down, sat on the bed and just relaxed while looking around the place.
[+40 Satisfaction Points]
I got a little tired so I decided to lay down.
Not sleeping, just resting my eyes.
~
/3rd Person POV\
-Cloud City-
"I'm sooo tired! The flight was three hours long!" A short girl with pink hair ran into the room and flopped on the couch.
"I'm surprised you managed to sit still that long."Another girl with black hair responded as she followed in, carrying bags.
"she barely made it; spent the entire time on her phone complaining." A third girl came walking in. She looked like the first girl but had blonde hair instead.
"It was our group chat! There was a big commotion because an expensive car was outside of our school and apparently the driver was very good looking. If one of us got a chance to meet him it'd make for a great video!." The pink haired girl explained while face down on the sofa.
"Why would your audience want to see that?" Was the only response she received.
"I mostly make content for people like me and I appreciate nice things so I like to make videos on them. So, a luxury vehicle, and a good looking man? It's perfect!" A giant smile appeared on her face as she answered the question.
"I've never seen you act like this after seeing someone before…" Both girls looked at pink hair in confusion.
"Stop looking at me like that! Oh yeah, you haven't seen him yet— Look at this." Pinky shot upright and sported a cheeky smile, flipping her phone to show the others.
The photo was taken secretly while the subject was getting in the car. The man had long light blue hair. The image wasn't close up and was taken in motion so it's made finding him difficult as none of the sophomores recognized him.
"Oh wow. The picture quality is pretty bad but it doesn't take away from him that much." The black haired girl examined the photo and nodded her head in approval.
"w-what? they're looking for him?!" The blonde girl raised her voice a little, causing the others to look at her in surprise.
"Luna! You know him?! Please tell me who he is! You'll make your sister so happy!!" Pink hair stood up in excitement and ran to Luna, shaking her.
"so you can have a search for him? no. he's very nice and a good student." Luna shook her head, rejecting her sisters pleas.
"Who says I wanted to do that? Maybe I want to ask him out." She smiled innocently.
"you? you don't even like when men approach you, Lena. anyway i think he has a girlfriend. but um, yes. i actually have a better image." She squeezed out of her sisters embrace and pulled out her phone, looking through her gallery and clicking on a recent image.
It was the same man, this time looking at the camera with a slight smile.
This photo was much clearer and his features much more visible.
"Ahh! Look at him! How long have you hidden this from me?! His eyebrows, his lips! His nose, his jawline, his everything!!" There were practically hearts in Lena's eyes as she looked at the picture.
"This is the first time I've seen you freak out this much." The other girl stood a little further away and looked at the image, a blush creeping on her cheeks as she felt a familiar feeling from him.
She shook it off and turned around, prepared to put the bags closer to the rooms.
"His ID has all his information! Let me zoom in!…Akashic Torre? That's a weird name but Lena Torre has a nice ring to it~! He's in your class as well?! Now I can't wait to get back home!"
*Thud*
The sound of something hitting the ground made the excited Lena and the quiet Luna turn around and look at their friend.
"Naomi? What's wrong?" Lena calmed down and walked to her friend.
"Akashic…?" Naomi dropped the bags and sprinted towards Luna, staring intently at the ID in the picture.
*Name: Akashic Torre
DOB: December 14th
Class: Freshman
*
"It's really him…?" Tears formed in her eyes as she looked at the photo. The name and birthday matched so she was 100% sure.
"huh? how do you know him?" Luna asked.
"He's my cousin, I haven't seen him in years." Naomi continued to stare at the photo, thinking of the face firmly etched in her memories and comparing it to the picture she sees now.
"Ohhh, is he that cousin?" Naomi blushed at Lena's teasing. She told her those things a long time ago.
There was a smile on Naomi's face. She planned on visiting her grandparents soon so maybe she'd see him then.