"Amazing!"
I gawk at the high school building, struck by how much the Japanese government has invested in order to breed the next generation of taxpayers.
The building itself has a modern and minimalistic design. Its wide entrance is flanked by a sleek beige concrete arch that reflects sunlight, casting a warm, inviting glow.
On either side of the corridor, smooth walls draw my attention inward. As I walk closer, I notice how the layout opens up into a large courtyard that leads to the main building, which is a big, rectangular block stretching back several floors.
Expansive windows dominate the facade, allowing natural light to pour into the interior and give the space an air of openness.
Forget the architecture, what really steals my attention (besides those short skirts that could give a nun a heart attack) are the sakura petals dancing in the air, falling gracefully from the cherry trees lining the main path.
"Whoa!" I let out gasp, leaping to snatch a daring Sakura petal hovering just shy of my nostrils.
"Even flowers fall for me! Must be my tragic hero aura or something." I chuckle as I manage to catch the fluttering petal between my fingers. The delicate petal is so light that it almost vanishes in my palm, leaving a velvety trace on my fingertips.
"Aha!" I exclaim, holding it up like a trophy.
Any second now... (Universe, you owe me this much). A gorgeous and aloof tsun~tsun waifu will appear, and we'll trade witty banter under these cascading cherry blossoms, just like in every classic tale. Right? ...Right?
I pause for a moment, my mind racing as I try to figure out what to say to the girl who stole my seat on the bus. Perhaps a dramatic accusation? Anyway, before I can decide, my mouth goes full rogue protagonist autopilot.
I spin around like a disco ball mid-party, nearly tripping over my own feet, arms wide and grinning from ear to ear, expecting her to magically appear.
"GIRL WHO STOLE MY SEAT! YOUR DEBT WILL BE PAID IN DATES!" I shout, my arms spread wide like the Christ the Redeemer statue, and my voice booming like a preacher in a grand cathedral.
But she never shows up. All I get is the sound of the wind rustling the petals and the distant murmur of students heading through the gate, all of them looking at me.
Welp, no waifu for me.
Congratulations! You unlocked a new achievement: Public Humiliation.
Before I can track their faces, the whispers ambush me. Two students pause nearby and murmur:
"What's with that crazy guy?" asks one of them, a tall boy wearing glasses.
"Dunno, but I'm keeping my distance," responds the other, a girl with short hair and a book in her arm.
As they finish talking, the students quicken their pace, their footsteps evaporating faster than my dignity... and my will to live.
I smile crookedly as I catch their looks and then confidently go toward the school entrance.
The fragile petal I was clutching falls out of my hand as I walk. I watch it drift down, caught in a gust of wind that carries it towards God knows where, a silent reminder that even the most beautiful things are destined to fade.
I clench my fist, a strange sense of loss washing over me as I continue walking towards the school, leaving the fallen petal behind.