"Hey, Ichi-nii, whatcha doing?" I turned around, after finishing tying my shoes, to see my little sister, Yuzu, looking at me. Her brown eyes filled with curiosity. I laughed.
"I'm just walking to the clinic to check on Dad." My father runs a medical clinic for the poor. However, he didn't come home last night and seeing as it is the first day of school, I'm sure he wouldn't want to miss seeing Karin and Yuzu off. In all likelihood, he probably fell asleep while doing paperwork after his patients had left.
"Okay, but be sure to hurry back, okay? You don't need to be late to your first day of senior year."
"Alright, Yuzu. Make sure that you and Karin are ready to go, by the time I get back with Dad." I turned around and walked outside.
The clinic was only a block from our house. I began to jog, so that the trip would be faster. Once I reached the clinic, I saw my father locking up the door.
"Yo, Goatface, you want to be late for your daughters' first day of school?" I teased. Unfortunately, my father took that as a challenge and tried to kick me in the face.
" Oi, what the hell are you doing?" I yelled as I dodged his attack.
"Well, I have to prepare my son for adulthood and ,considering that this is your last, first day of school, I have to double check that all my training has been solidified in your brain."
"Dad, I'm fine. You already know how capable of a person I am." I roll my eyes at how ridiculous my father is being.
"I know. I just don't want to let my son grow up." His eyes started to tear up.
"Dad, come on, we have to get back home." I turned around and began to walk back. I didn't need to look back to know that my father had started to follow.
"Ichigo, why are you acting so nonchalant about this? You should be crying too!" I chuckled at how sentimental my father had decided to be.
"Dad, I'm trying to be manly. I'm not going to cry just because it's the first day of senior year." By now, we were halfway back to our house.
"Ichigo," My father grabbed my shoulders and turned me to face him, "There is nothing wrong with crying. I thought you'd know that considering how much you cried as a boy. But I suppose that's a lesson you learned as you grew up. But, please, never be afraid to show how you feel. Telling your partner how you feel can actually save a relationship. Lord knows it did with your mother and me."
"Dad, are you really giving me relationship advice? We really don't have time for this. Come on, let's head back home." My father looked crestfallen at my harsh words, but we needed to get back before the girls were late. That and I didn't want to think about Mom. The rest of our walk was short and filled with an awkward silence.
As our home came into view, we could see Karin and Yuzu walking out the door, ready for school.
"Ichi-nii, you got Dad here just in time." Yuzu smiled up at me. She looked adorable in her school uniform.
"You're lucky you weren't late, Ichigo." Karin quipped.
"Whatever, Karin." I rolled my eyes.
"Okay, everyone, bunch up together and act like we're a perfect family for the photo." My father pulled out his phone to take our annual sibling photo. Our mother began the tradition when I entered first grade. We've continued the tradition, even though she had passed.
"Okay, say cheese, on the count of three," We all looked at the camera and smiled.
"One..Two...Three!"
"Cheese!" Yuzu shouted, knowing Karin and I would act too cool to actually say it.
My father checked the photo to make sure that it looked perfect. After he approved the photo he said, "Alright, off to school you two and Ichigo you need to get changed and hurry to school off to school if you don't want to be late." My father turned around and began to walk back to the clinic. The workaholic had to open it for patients at eight o'clock.
"Bye, Ichi-nii, see you tonight."
"Later Ichigo."
"Goodbye, Yuzu and Karin"." Karin and began their walk to school while I went inside to change into my uniform.
I let my mind wander as I walked to school. Honestly, I had no idea what to expect this year. I could have graduated early; all of my credits were fulfilled. But for some reason, I decided to stay for my last year. I had no reason to. I mean, my friends are great and all, but even they were confused as to why I decided to stay as a student. Hopefully, I won't regret that decision.
Without even noticing I had already made my way into the school grounds. Man, I'm really oblivious today.
"Hey, Ichigo. Ready to build our schedules today?"
"What?" My mind was pulled back to reality when one of my friends Rukia began talking to me.
"You really need to pay attention better. I asked if you knew what classes you wanted to take?" She glared at me with her brown eyes. I rolled my eyes at her.
"No. I'll probably just take fun elective classes."
"Why not take advantage of the classes that relate to what you want to major in at university?"
"That's what I did last year, Rukia. Most of those classes counted for multiple credits, which is how I met all my credits."
"Then why the hell did you stay here? Why not move on to university?" She asked, completely confused.
"I wanted to stay as close to home as I possibly could. What would Yuzu and Karin do without me? Our dad means well and all, but he's a workaholic. He'd forget about Yuzu and Karin because he was so absorbed in his work. When he did remember them, he'd feel guilty about it." Even to my own eyes my reasoning sounded fake. It was true, but from the look Rukia was giving me she knew that wasn't the real reason as to why I stayed behind. Karin would take care of Yuzu and Dad when I moved away.
"Whatever, Ichigo. Let's just get to our classroom and save everyone's seats." As we walked to our classroom I tried to keep talking to Rukia, but she was giving me the silent treatment.
Soon, we both arrived at our classroom, 3-A. We looked inside and found that no one was there.
"What good luck for us! Where should we sit Ichigo?" Rukia's mood swing took me by surprise. It shouldn't have, considering we've been friend since we were 10, and she's always been like that. It's most likely has something to do with how her family treated her. I looked around the classroom, looking for the best possible seats. There was only twenty seats in this classroom, which wasn't surprising. Our homeroom was reserved for honor students. Rukia was the perfect student. She'll probably be our class representative considering that she has earned exemplary marks throughout all of her schooling. Not only that, but she is also president of the kendo club. She applies herself outside of academics. Unlike me, although I have completed all the required credits, Ive never been in a club. As I finished my observation of the classroom, I found the perfect spot for our friend group.
"We should take the window seats in that back left corner. Chad and Orihime can sit in the seats next to us. " We both traveled to the back of the room into our newly claimed seats. As we finished getting settled, the bell rang which signaled students to begin making their way to their homeroom.
"How much you wanna bet that Chad and Orihime are going to be late?"
"There isn't any point in taking part with that bet. Chad took her out for a breakfast date today, so they'll probably miss homeroom entirely. "
Rukia laughed at that. "Oh well, I guess they might not get to keep these seats then."
"Rukia, you know as well as I do that we repel everyone else in our classroom. They wouldn't dare try and sit next to us. I look angry in school and your reputation is too intimidating for most of the others to try and talk to you."
"People talk to me!" She huffed.
"Only if you're doing work together and usually it's to answer a question that you asked." Whilst we were arguing our classmates began to enter the classroom.
"Well, at least people will approach me! You glare at anyone who dares to look at you!" The bell rang signaling the start of class, but Rukia and I were still wrapped up in our argument.
"Well, at least my family..." I stopped myself from finishing that sentence because I knew that would have been too far.
"Go on. Say it, Ichigo!" I refused to say it.
"Ichigo Kurosaki, finish that sentence." Rukia said. At this point, our professor had entered the classroom. We, also, had everyone's attention, but we didn't notice the awkwardness in the room.
"Rukia, I'm so-," Rukia cut me off.
"Goddammit, Ichigo finish your fucking sentence!" Rukia screamed.
"Fine! At least my family didn't abandon me when I was ten!" My stomach was doing flips. I wanted to die from the guilt I was feeling.
"Well, that was an excellent start to the beginning of our class!" Our professor chirped cheerfully.
