Prologue: April 14

This town was boring. Everyday, I lived the routine, over and over, day by day. Nothing exciting ever happened. I woke up, went to school, leave and go to my friend's place. Then go around the town until late, and went home and slept. I hated this town you could say, would you be right? Absolutely. As I said before, nothing exciting ever happened. This was all true until yesterday that is.

As I walked to school, I saw no students walking along the usually crowded street. Normally a plentiful of students would walk along this street to get to school, but today there was no one.

That must mean I'm late. Again.

This was fairly common for me, I stayed up til late, and never got home until dark, then waking at noon, making me chronically late almost every day. Due to this, I was labelled as a delinquent, along with my friend Sunohara Youhei. We both didn't care and continued to be late regardless of what the teachers tried to do. I should also mention why I stay out late. It was because of my good for nothing father. Ever since my mum had died, he had been in a sorry state. She had died when she was young and even after all of these years, he still hasn't improved. He constantly gets drunk and passes out in the living room every day, so I make sure I leave home as soon as I can after I get changed so I don't see him. To top it all off, he no longer calls me Tomoya. Instead it's Tomoya-kun, like we're roommates, and not father and son. I hated him. He never did anything for me, and if he tried now, I think I'd just resent him for taking so long to come to his senses. Now at the foot of the hill that leads to the school, I saw a girl with long silver-grey hair. She was looking around at the Sakura trees leading up to the school gates on either side of the path.

Doesn't she know she's going to be late?

Also, who puts a school at the top of a hill? Poor design choice if you were to ask me. I continued to walk up the hill and towards the girl.

"Yo, you do know that you're late right?"

She turned around to face me, probably wondering who would be talking to her, especially at this time. "Oh, yes, I'm well aware. I came in late, so I decided to view these trees along the way." She lightly sighed. "Also, you are also late, we should get moving. May I ask who you are?"

"Sorry, I'm Tomoya, Tomoya Okazaki."

"Tomoyo."

Huh? Tomoyo? "No, Tomoya-"

"My name is Tomoyo. Tomoyo Sakagami. Let's head off now, Tomoya."

"Uh, yeah."

I continued up the hill, following her to school. This girl didn't seem to care with the formalities, well, it's not like I care. The violent one didn't care for them either. Now seeing the main building, I wondered if Sunohara would be here at all.

Morning break had started soon after I walked into class during second period. Looking to the seat next to me, I noticed that lousy blonde wasn't here. Oh, sorry, I mean Sunohara. Head on the desk, I tried to get at least some rest before the beginning of third period. The classroom was noisy, but I didn't mind. I could sleep through louder on good days.

"Okazaki-kun?"

I heard a familiar female voice. Knowing who it was, I ignored her.

"Okazaki-kun!"

She's a persistent one isn't she? Raising my head to her, I finally gave my response.

"Ah, Fujibayashi. I'm trying to sleep here, sorry."

"Eh? But third period is almost starting!"

I put my head back on the table, once again beginning to ignore Fujibayashi. Third period is exactly why I'm sleeping.

"Okazaki-kun, um… take these."

Raising my head, again, I saw that she had paper in her hands.

"Oh, declaring your love to me are you? Pretty brave aren't you?"

I saw her face going red, she always went like this with this subject.

"I-it's not a l-love letter."

I decided that if I can't sleep, I might as well make the most of the situation. "Oh, a letter of challenge?"

"No…"

"A chain letter? Pretty mean for you to pass it on to me."

"No! It's the morning notices given out."

So, it was the stuff I don't care about, well, my fun was over.

"Boring."

I took the papers from her hands and shoved them into my desk. I could tell that she was surprised and frowning at me, nothing unusual.

"Also, Okazaki-kun, I don't think you should come to school late anymore." She looked down at my once again lowered head.

If only she knew why I came late, we wouldn't have this conversation constantly. Although, I'm not going to tell someone I barely know my life story. Not even useless boy knows.

"You sound like the class president or something."

She really is trying her best as the class president, I know. It seems she's always under constant pressure to be as good as her sister.

"It's not 'or something'. I am the class president." Adamantly pushing the fact that she was indeed, the class president.

"Yeah, yeah, class president. Gotcha. Please, let me sleep now."

I looked up at the clock at the front of the class, only five minutes left now, doesn't seem worth it anymore. Putting my head back on the desk, I heard a shuffling sound, only to be followed by a sound of something dropping.

"Ah!"

Looking at Fujibayashi, I found the source of the noises, she had dropped her pack of cards.

"Okazaki-kun, your fortune shows that you're going to be late tomorrow."

Eh…

"You trying to make me mad?! You just said to stop being late dammit."

"Well, the cards say that you'll be late helping an old lady crossing the road, and you'll also get a reward."

I sighed. "What the heck, class is almost starting."

*Rattle*

I heard the door open, hoping it was a late Sunohara, I turned my head to it.

"Tomoya!"

Not Sunohara. It was HER. Kyou Fujibayashi, the sister of Ryou Fujibayashi. She was quick to violence, often throwing a dictionary which she always had on her for some reason.

*Whoosh*

Yep! It was thrown. Unlike Kyou, Fujibayashi was sweet and gentle, a klutz as well as I was just demonstrated.

"Don't make Ryou cry!"

A bit angry towards me for not doing anything.

"You alright Ryou?"

Now she's calm towards Fujibayashi… This girl.

"I'm fine sis, I'm not crying! I just spilt my cards…"

"Oho, Ryou's telling you your fortune? Hahaha, good luck!"

"Sis…"

Fujibayashi looked distraught, and Kyou as crazy as usual… nothing exciting.

*Ding dong*

Oh, the signal for class went off, I guess I could just sleep through class. What class is it anyway? Looking around the room I saw my least favourite book. Great, English literature. Guess I can skip. Getting out of my seat, I was called by Fujibayashi.

"Okazaki-kun, where are you going?"

"Oh, bathroom, you guys got in my way a bit."

Without waiting for a response, I rushed out of the door.

I walked around the old school building, hoping to find a spot to sleep. I already knew of one, but I might get caught. It was the old library, now reference room. A teacher or student may need to get something for class there. I would go to the library if there wasn't a higher chance of being caught. I chose to head to the reference room, and if a teacher was there and asked what I was doing, I could just say I was looking for something, exclaim it wasn't here, and then head off. Flawless. Opening the door, I looked around for anyone who might be in here, noticing that no one was here, I continued walking in, sat at the table in the middle of the room and put my head on my arms. What an exhausting morning, dealing with Kyou is never going to change…

…

…

…

"Good afternoon."

It was a female voice I had never heard before. Crap, was it a teacher?

"Welcome to the reference room, may I help you with anything?"

I was tired, maybe I could joke around with her.

"A coffee would be nice."

"Sure, coming right up." The girl smiled as she went to make the coffee.

Huh? Really? If so, this couldn't be real, I guess I fell asleep and now I'm dreaming.

"Here."

A heard the cup hit the table, I rose my head and saw a female student younger than me sitting across the table.

"Ah, thank you."

Taking the coffee, I brought it to my lips and took a sip of it. It was delicious.

"So, do you usually serve boys a beverage before asking them out?"

I asked it jokingly, a smile was on my face, she seemed to get it and made a small giggle.

"No, I don't get many visitors. Sometimes I do get some odd ones."

With a school of this size, I couldn't doubt her, Sunohara was probably the weirdest of the bunch though.

"This coffee is good. Why does the reference serve coffee now? Is it a café?"

"Ah, no. I care after this room, in case people need help with something or want to relax. Like you. Lunch break will be over soon, so I would recommend you head back to class soon. I'm Yukine Miyazawa. Second year."

"Mm, I'll do that. I'm Tomoyo Okazaki."

"See you around then Okazaki." Yukine was still smiling with a bright cheery smile. She probably enjoyed having the odd person here.

Nodding back to her in response, I continued to drink the coffee. Sunohara probably hadn't come to school, no point now. I'll go visit him in the dorm later anyway. Finishing the coffee and laying the empty cup on the bench, I started to go back to class.

Upon getting to class, I found a worried Fujibayashi, and an annoyed Kyou.

"Yo."

I said that as I entered, grabbing the attention of the two sisters.

"Okazaki-kun, you said you were just going to the bathroom."

"Ah, I found other business elsewhere." It wasn't exactly a lie.

Kyou spoke up. "You mean like sleeping being useless."

She was sharp.

"Eh? Is this true Okazaki-kun?"

"Huh? Of course it's true Ryou! It's Tomoya, just how many times DOESN'T he leave the classroom?"

I don't leave the classroom as much as you think Kyou…

"No, I usually sleep in class, I skipped because of English literature."

That teacher really loves to call on me during the class.

"I think, Okazaki-kun, you should attend class more often."

The signal for class went off, meaning Kyou would have to leave.

"Time for you two class presidents to get along and organize things right?"

"Yes, Tomoya, which means you will stay here. Right Ryou?"

"Heeh? Oh, uh… Yes!"

"She hesitated, I'm going."

Kyou grabbed my arm as I jokingly walked away from my seat.

"You want to end up like Sunohara?"

Hahaha, I'm fine with living. Thanks for the offer.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm sitting down."

Kyou gladly left after I had been seated, and Fujibayashi had headed over to hers at the front of the class. This is going to be a fun hour, not.

The final class had finally ended, I rushed off and out of the class, not wanting to be here as long as I needed to be. Running down the hall, I ran into another third year.

"Sorry!"

She yelled out, I didn't bother replying, I just went on my way. If it was school time I'd be a bit more polite. Maybe I'll run into her tomorrow. I looked back, hoping to catch her face, or something at least. She was still standing there, saying something I couldn't hear. She had a medium length head of brown hair, a strand poking out from the top like an antennae. I'll be able to find her tomorrow. Running off again I quickly ended up the school gates and onto the long, now downhill, road. Ah, this is where I met that girl from this morning, Tomoyo, doesn't seem like she's around. I wonder how she was when she got to class, since she was quite late.

I came to the road where the dorms are, I pondered whether I should go in first, or go and get some food. Eh, I'll let him suffer some more alone. Walking over to the shopping centre, I saw a familiar colour of hair, it was Tomoyo.

"Hey, Tomoyo!"

She turned around to face me as I walked towards her.

"Oh, Tomoya, hi."

"How did being late end up going?"

"I can only imagine it was better than your outcome, sleeping in the reference room a thing most third years do?"

So she saw me… I didn't expect anyone to see during class, Yukine came in at lunch break after all.

"I can't believe you saw that… What are you doing anyway?"

Tomoyo looked over to me, then looking back at the trees around us.

"Reminiscing in this area, it's important to me, just like the Sakura trees on the school road."

So that's why she had stopped in the road, I couldn't blame her.

"Ah, seems nice to have something to reminisce about, I'll see you tomorrow, got to get food."

"See ya."

We exchanged our goodbyes and I continued on, it seemed like it would start to get dark soon. Not that I minded, I would just want to be at the dorms before dark. Grabbing some ramen and tea from the convenience store, I headed back to the dorms. I've got to stop buying ramen so often, although, home isn't any better. I came to the place I had talked to Tomoyo a while ago and looked around. Given the time, she would have gone home. The dorms are now in my view, maybe I can get some more boring peace while there. The tea should at least lighten him up from his sleep filled day. Sunohara really needs to buy his own tea shouldn't he? High pitched screams were coming from inside the dorms. This was the male dorm though. Were the girls inside? Making my way inside, I found out the source of the screaming. Sunohara was being held by the collar by a rugby team member, yelling at him about turning down his music or whatever. It was an interesting scene at least.

"Hey, girl!"

"Oh, Okazaki. Wait, WHO ARE YOU CALLING A GIRL?"

"You weren't the one with the high pitched screaming? My apologies."

"Eh…"

Thought so, I want in now, I'm hungry.

"Come on Sunohara, let's turn off this trash of yours and drink tea already. Also, I'm hungry."

"I DON'T HAVE ANY FOOD!"

I held up the bag in my hand for him to see, his eyes narrowed at me, like it was MY fault I made him yell like a girl again. Oh, I forgot to mention he was still being held up by the rugby player, so he was yelling straight into his face. Nice going!

"How many times are you going to YELL IN MY FACE?!"

The rugby player dropped him on the floor and walked off down the hall. Sunohara mumbled something. "Stupid rugby players."

Heading to his room behind him, I decided I'd shout what he said.

"STUPID RUGBY PLAYERS!"

He pulled me into his room, I could hear the rugby players burst their doors open, only to yell out of them.

"WHO WAS THAT?!"

"Are you trying to get me killed here?"

Weakling, it was only the rugby team.

"You weak or something?"

"Of course not! I'd easily take them down if it was one on one, but this dorm has the whole team, I can't take them on!"

Of course he can't, no one could. Oh well, it's always fun getting reactions out of him.

"You gonna do something crazy at the end of the year?"

"Ohh yeah. They'll never see me coming."

"I'll get you!" I gave him a thumbs up and a smile.

"Since when were you on THEIR side?!"

"That day only."

He gave me the most displeased look I've seen from him. It was always worth seeing him in pain, what a sadist I am towards him.

"SHUT UP OVER THERE!"

Well, I guess Sunohara angered the rugby players, again. Let's provoke him.

"You want me to kick the wall?"

"Please don't…" His face filled with terror as my foot got closer to the wall. I put my foot down after he continued to plead for me not to. I think this was enough of teasing him.

Before I knew it, it was 10pm. Time had flown by quickly here. Same thing everyday, and I'm still not sick of it. Maybe just Sunohara.

"You staying? I'm going to take a shower now."

I got up from reading manga, there was no way I was going to be here to greet that face when he came back.

"Nah, see you tomorrow."

"See ya."

I had gotten out of the dorms and begun to walk the road to home.

Considering it was only now 10:20, I took a detour on the way back home. Dad usually wouldn't have left by now, maybe by 11. My current route would only give me an extra 20 minutes at my normal pace. Knowing this I stopped by the park close by and sat across from a local bakery. Furukawa bakery. Was this always here? I never noticed. It was two stories high, and the lights on the second floor were on. I guess being a local bakery it's also the owner's' home. It was now 10:30. A light came from the side of the bakery. A girl with medium length brown hair came out. Under normal circumstances I would pay no mind, but her hair… She had the same antennae! I got up from my seat and walked towards her.

"Excuse me. You're a third year right?"

"Ah!" I seemed to have startled her coming from the dark unexpectedly. Not much of a surprise. I held my hand up flat showing that I meant no harm. "Yes, I'm a third year. Why do you ask?"

"I'm sorry for bumping into you today. I was in a rush!" I bowed slightly. After no response from her I looked up at her. She was startled, probably not expecting me to bow with my apology. Or even apologize at all. Judging by her facial expressions she seemed like a shy girl. As I paid more attention to her, the way the light illuminated her made her look… Beautiful? No, she probably was just naturally like that. "Wow…"

"Eh? Um… What do you mean?"

"Oh, nothing." I straightened up from by bow. "Sorry again for bumping into you after school. I'm Tomoya Okazaki."

"I'm Nagisa Furukawa. Nice to meet you Okazaki-san!" Nagisa beamed as we exchanged names. "Don't worry about running into me, you said you were in a rush?"

"Ah, yeah."

"Also if you don't mind me asking. What are you doing out this late?"

I couldn't tell her my actual reasons why, I just met her. "Was staying out with a friend."

She looked happier, but her eyes showed a slight sign of sadness. "I wish I could do that."

Huh? "Do you not have any friends?"

"No," Nagisa looked down before looking back up to me. "They all graduated. I'm a repeat."

Before I could ask about her being a repeat, a voice called out to her. "Nagisa! You alright out there?" The sound of footsteps came closer to the door and her – what I assumed to be her sister – popped into my vision. "Oh? Talking with a friend? A boy no less."

"Mum!" Mum? Not her sister? "He was here to apologize to me for bumping into me at school."

Her mum smiled and clapped her hands together. "That's great! But at this time? What is your name I might ask? You can call me Sanae."

"He's Tomoya Okazaki. Okazaki-san said he was out this late because he was at a friends" Nagisa injected. Well I won't complain that I have to repeat myself.

"How nice! Would you like to come inside Okazaki-san?"

It was late and if I started to head back now I'd be home after my dad left. "No, it's okay. If you wouldn't mind, maybe another time?"

Sanae smiled. "You're welcome any time Okazaki-san! I'm sure Nagisa would love the company!"

I said my goodbyes to Nagisa and Sanae. They seemed like a close family. I wonder if we could have been like that if mum was still alive.