I woke up to the sound of my alarm blaring in my ear. Another day, another dollar... or rather, another day, another dreaded encounter with the opposite sex. I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, already dreading the day ahead.
School. Ugh.
I tossed on my uniform, grabbed my backpack, and headed downstairs. My Father was already in the kitchen, making breakfast. he smiled at me, but I just grunted a greeting. I wasn't much of a morning person.
As I ate my breakfast, I couldn't help but think about the day ahead. Would I run into any girls? Would I be able to avoid them? I sighed, feeling a familiar sense of anxiety creeping in.
As I walked into my classroom, I scanned the room for any signs of... them. You know, the ones who made my heart skip a beat and my palms sweat. I spotted a few girls chatting in the corner, but I managed to avoid eye contact.
Just as I was about to breathe a sigh of relief, I saw her. Rui Katsuragi, the most energetic girl in our class, bouncing into the room like a rubber ball. Her bright smile and infectious laughter made my heart sink.
I quickly ducked behind a nearby pillar, holding my breath as she bounced past me. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, and her ponytail bobbed behind her like a metronome. I watched her, mesmerized, as she greeted our classmates with a chorus of 'good mornings'.
Who was this girl, and why did she have to be so... so... energetic? I peeked around the pillar, watching as she took her seat, still bubbling with enthusiasm.
As I watched Rui Katsuragi settle into her seat, I couldn't help but notice the way she commanded attention. Her bright smile and infectious laughter drew people to her like a magnet. She was an extrovert, always thriving in the spotlight.
But what really impressed me - and intimidated me, if I'm honest - was her academic prowess. Rui Katsuragi was one of the top students in our school, consistently acing exams and earning top grades. She was the kind of student who made it look effortless, like she was born to succeed.
I, on the other hand, was just trying to survive. My grades were decent, but I had to work hard to get them. The thought of competing with someone like Rui Katsuragi made my stomach twist into knots.
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. Why was I even thinking about competing with her? I just needed to focus on getting through the day without any... incidents.
The school day finally came to an end, and I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked out of the classroom. I didn't have any plans after school, so I headed home, looking forward to a quiet afternoon.
When I arrived home, the house was empty. My father was still at work, and I was alone. I dropped my backpack on the floor and headed to my room, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
I flopped down onto my bed and picked up the manga I'd been reading. It was a sci-fi series, and I was hooked. I spent the next few hours immersed in the story, forgetting about my worries and stresses.
As I read, I felt my mind start to unwind. It was nice to have some time to myself, without anyone bothering me. I could just relax and enjoy my manga."
"I was so absorbed in my manga that I didn't even notice when my father sent me a text. It wasn't until I put down my book and reached for my phone that I saw the message. 'Hey, kiddo, I'm going to be working late tonight. You'll have to eat dinner on your own. Sorry!'
I shrugged, not too bothered by the news. I was used to eating alone, and it was actually kind of nice to have some quiet time to myself.
I headed to the supermarket to pick up some instant ramen. I was too lazy to cook, and ramen was the perfect solution. As I wandered the aisles, I grabbed a pack of my favorite flavor and headed to the checkout.
Just as I was about to reach the cashier, I felt a sudden jolt. I had bumped into someone, and my ramen went flying out of my hands.
I stood there, frozen in surprise, as Rui Katsuragi smiled at me. 'That's fine, it's my fault anyway for not seeing you,' she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.
Before I could respond, she asked, 'Btw, are you only eating instant ramen tonight?' Her tone was teasing, and I felt my face heat up with embarrassment.
I muttered something under my breath, feeling flustered. Why was she talking to me like this? And why did I feel so nervous around her?
I quickly grabbed my ramen and made a hasty retreat to the cashier. 'I'll just... uh... pay for this,' I stuttered, trying to escape the awkwardness.
As I paid for my ramen, I could feel Rui's eyes on me, watching me with an amused expression. I felt like I was going to melt into the floor from embarrassment.
"I rushed home, eager to escape the awkwardness of the supermarket encounter. As soon as I walked in the door, I headed straight to the kitchen to cook my ramen. I wolfed it down, barely tasting the noodles as I replayed the encounter with Rui Katsuragi in my head.
What just happened? Why did I act so weird around her? And why did she seem so amused by my awkwardness?
I shook my head, trying to clear the thoughts. I didn't have time to think about it now. I had manga to read.
I headed to my bedroom, flopped down onto my bed, and picked up my manga. I spent the rest of the evening reading, the familiar stories and characters a comforting escape from the weirdness of the day.
As the hours passed, my eyelids began to droop. I yawned, feeling my body relax. The last thing I remembered was the sound of my own snores, and then everything went black."