As I rode the bus to school, looking out the window at the scenery, I couldn't help but try to imagine what kind of life I would live from now on before I glanced at the school's pamphlet in my hand.
Tokyo Metropolitan High School.
Apparently, this is an institute supported and funded by the Japanese government to nurture young students who will support the country in the future, with a 100% employment and university entry rate after graduation.
I have to admit that it is quite appealing, especially for people who already have their career and future in mind. That said, this doesn't seem like the kind of place I'd be able to slack off.
But I can understand why Sora's grandmother wanted him to enroll in this school. Since he no longer has a family, having only a meager inheritance left, in order to turn his life around, graduating from this school would offer him the chance of going to university or easily entering the workforce, possibly better paid than your usual job.
I have to say, he's completely different from me. When I was his age, I was never the diligent type since studies were never my strong point as a student because I had a hard time concentrating or learning subjects that didn't interest me.
Still, I still made an effort and tried to get good grades. Not because I had a planned future in mind or a goal to pursue a particular career, in fact, I never had such dreams or ambition when I was young. It's just that the pocket money I received from my parents was higher the better my grades were, and the more money I had, the more games and stuff I could buy and enjoy.
But now that I've taken Sora's place, I guess I have no choice but to make the effort to graduate from this place without any problems.
Honestly, I don't want to go to school at all, wanting to laze around all day on my bed.
That aside, I can admit that I'm a bit curious about the place as a whole.
According to the school's pamphlet and some information that we received from the administration in advance, the campus was located on an artificial island, in an area of about 600,000 square meters, isolated from the rest of Tokyo where all students must stay in on-campus housing and are forbidden to leave the place except for certain special occasions.
Now I understood why the alarm had been raised so early as the drive from the hotel I was staying at to the school was long, including the time we were stopped by security and our luggage was checked as we entered the island.
The reason being that the control is that any contact with outside people is prohibited, including family and guardians, a fact I quickly believed after they confiscated my phone. Well, it's not like I had anyone to contact, so it didn't bother me too much. If I had to say, it's the gaze of others that bothers me the most, but when I look at my reflection on the bus window, I'm not really surprised.
Since I found the weather a little too warm for my liking, despite it being only April, I rolled up my sleeves, my shirt was out of my pants with the buttons of my collar unbuttoned and my tie was extremely loose because I didn't like how stuffy it was. And to top it all off, I'm wearing a bunch of earrings which I believe, by Japanese standards, aren't really in line with the uniform dress code.
No matter how I look at it, I look like a delinquent. Well, I could have not worn the earrings, but having earlobes full of holes is a bit embarrassing in my opinion. Still, if it's really bad and I get reprimanded for it, I'll take them off.
[The next stop is Advanced Nurturing High School. The next stop is Advanced Nurturing High School.]
After hearing the announcement, I stuffed the brochure into my bag before getting off the bus when it stopped, along with many youngsters who wore the same red uniform as mine.
Glancing at them, I couldn't help but think that I was in an anime world, seeing people with different hair colors, whether it was blue, green, or even purple.
It's not like I have any say in the matter when I have gray hair and red eyes.
I then quickly followed the students as they walked in the same direction, going through a gate formed with natural rock and when I went through it, I widened my eyes with wonder as I saw a cluster of cherry blossoms, creating a beautiful scene before my eyes.
Now I regret that my phone was confiscated or even owning a camera because I'd love to take a picture. It's not like I have never seen a cherry blossom in my life, but never that many... It makes me want to say Senbonzakura Kageyoshi.
That said, it seems rather fitting to see so many cherry blossoms, given that this is the beginning of a new life for me... Oh!
"Kyah!"
I blinked in surprise when I suddenly felt someone hit me from behind, accompanied by a scream, making me turn around and see a pink haired girl sitting on the ground.
"Ouch..."
"Sorry, are you okay?" I said hastily, reaching out my hand to the girl on the ground. "I should have picked a better place to take in the scenery."
"No, I'm fine. Eh..." The girl started to say before she blinked up at me, her smile faltering for just a second. It was so quick, I almost missed it.
Is there something wrong with my fa... Right. My appearance didn't exactly scream "honor student", so I can't really blame her for being wary of me.
But unexpectedly, instead of pulling away, the girl smiled brighter and took my hand, making me pause for a moment before I helped her up, a bit surprised.
I guess she's not affected by my looks… She must be an open-minded child.
"It's also my fault for not looking where I was going, instead of admiring the flowers as I walked, so no worries there."
"I don't blame you. I mean, it's a beautiful view, so you have nothing to apologize for."
"In that case, it goes for you too and since neither of us is at fault, let's forget about this accident, okay?" She said as she gave me a kind smile, causing me to let out a chuckle before I nodded.
"Sure, if it pleases you."
"My name is Ichinose Honami, I'm a first-year student in Class B. What about you?"
"I'm... Sora, Kokonoe Sora." I said with the name still being unfamiliar in my mouth but I'm certain I'll get used to it soon, considering I'll be using that name from now on.
"I'm also a freshman in Class..." I started to say before I stopped, not remembering exactly which class I was assigned to. I quickly took out the admission paper, where the info was displayed, from my pocket and looked at it.
"B… Looks like we will be classmates." I said, causing Ichinose to smile widely as she let out a small breath.
"It's great. I was a little nervous because none of my friends went to this school so I know nobody among the freshmen, but I'm happy to know that the first person I'm talking to is a classmate."
"It should be fine. You seem like a friendly and approachable person, so I'm sure you'll be able to make a lot of friends in no time."
"I hope so. Say, Kokonoe-kun, why don't we go to the classroom together? Since we will be classmates from now on, I'd like to know more about you."
"I don't mind, even though there aren't many interesting things about me."
"That's for me to judge." She said with a kind smile, which I returned with a nod before we walked together to the school.