Monday, April 15, 2013

My first day of school was so uneventful, it was downright boring. Since I was from the future, not to mention already graduated, I knew everything already.

But I was enrolled in the same school that my parents had attended. Or, rather, were attending.

"Kuroshin-san!" A girl approached me after classes were done. Her long reddish-brown hair was tied back in two pigtails that followed her like ribbons. "Where did you go to school before coming here?"

"I was homeschooled." I recited the story Ginta and Kirino had helped me create. "I wanted to get some experience in a real school before college."

"Really? That's so cool!" She clapped her hands in amazement. "So, is it true you're actually a year older than everyone else?"

I smiled. "Well, I am two years older than the second years."

She laughed. "Hey, My friends and I are heading over to Junes. Wanna come?"

My ears pricked when I heard that name. So it even existed back then. I mused to myself. But to the girl, I said "Are you sure? I don't want to intrude."

"It's fine." She smiled and pulled me from my seat. "We're meeting up with some friends who graduated last year. I'll introduce you."


When the whole group was assembled, the girl, who told me her name was Kujikawa Rise, introduced me to the group.

"Sorry we couldn't exchange names back at school." The short boy who was in the class beside mine and Rise's said, passing me a drink.

"Yeah, Rise took forever meeting us, so we were late." The taller boy from the same class the other laughed, then stopped. "Not that it's your fault or anything."

Rise laughed. "Kanji, it's okay. I'm the one who talked so long."

I almost choked on my drink. Kanji? I thought he looked familiar, but I assumed that was just my mind wanting to belong. I know this boy in the future. Heck, I worked at his shop.

I glanced around the group. I recognised almost everyone. But I had no idea who the shorter boy or the boy with silver hair were.

Kanji's classmate caught my eye and smiled, extending his hand. "It's nice to meet you, Kuroshin-san. My name is Shirogane Naoto."

I resisted the urge to slap my forehead. That was why I didn't recognise him. He was a girl in the future. Or, maybe he was now, too, and just dressed like a boy. Even I preferred the male uniform.

"Tatsumi Kanji." The boy grunted, almost sounding embarrassed.

"I'm Satonaka Chie." The girl across from me chimed in. She waved her hand toward the girl beside her, who was in the middle of a laughing fit. "This is Amagi Yukiko."

"Hanamura Yosuke." The boy wearing an apron chimed in, placing snacks on the table.

I'd already known who all these people were. What I was waiting for was the name of the silver-haired boy.

He met my eyes and gave a small smile. "Narukami Yu."

A shiver went down my spine. The way he'd said his name was like he'd known that was what I'd wanted to know, not just an introduction. I felt like he could see right into my mind. If he finds out, the future could change.

"It's nice to meet you." I tried to smile convincingly. "So, um, what do you guys usually do when you get together?"

"Oh, usual stuff." Yosuke glanced around the group. "Mostly talk. Oh, hey, Chie, how's training coming?"

"Pretty good. I'll be in the ring in no time." She grinned, then turned to me. "I'm training to be a kick-boxer."

"Sounds tough. Good luck." I already knew that she would be known nationwide for her skills.

"What do you want to do after high school, Kuroshin-kun?" Yu asked me.

"Just Shiro's fine." I told them. Ginta had trained me to respond to that, rather than my new family name. "I'm planning to take over the business from my father."

"That's cool." Rise slapped my shoulder. "What business is it? My grandmother runs a tofu shop and Kanji's mom owns Tatsumi Textiles. Oh, and Yukiko's family runs an inn, but she's focusing on other things."

I started panicking. I'd told them the truth without thinking. I couldn't tell them what shop. They'd know something was up right away. "Oh, it's in another town. Just a small business, but I like it."

"Sounds like most of the shops in Inaba." Yosuke laughed. "You must feel right at home."

I hadn't realized it before, but he was right. When I wasn't worrying about revealing I was from the future, I felt at ease. Even without the things from my time I'd though I couldn't live without.

I nodded. "I like living here."


When I got back to Ginta's house, Kirino was in the kitchen making dinner. "I'm back."

"Shiro, how was school? I hope you weren't too bored."

"It's fine." I walked into the kitchen and found some milk tea in the fridge. "Can I have some of this?" She nodded and I grabbed a glass. "I made some friends."

She paused in her cooking. "Are you sure that's a good idea?"

I put the bottle back and turned to face her. "I'm being careful. Although, it would be easier if they knew, but that'd be too dangerous." I took a sip of tea.

"Did you meet your parents?" Kirino smiled when I half-choked on my drink. "It is a small town."

"I met a lot of people I knew… or, will know." I laughed. "That's annoying. I'm never gonna wish to travel back in time again."

"Dinner will be ready soon." She changed the subject. "Why don't you go get changed?"

"'Kay." I finished my drink, then went upstairs to the room I was using while I was there.

While I'd been at school, Kirino had gone shopping and gotten me some underwear and some shirts. I pulled on the jeans I'd been wearing the day before and a black sweater. Something on the tags caught my attention.

"Kirino, where did you get these clothes?" I asked, coming back down the stairs.

"At Junes." She called back. "Why? Are they the wrong size?"

"No, they're fine." I bit my lip. "It's just, they're all from the boy's section."

Kirino looked up from the stove. "When you came through the vortex, you were unconscious. I had to check that your heart was still beating. That involved removing your shirt."

I nodded, but said nothing further on the matter. "Do you want me to set the table?" I walked over to the cabinet and pulled out some plates.

"Shiro, are you alright?"

"It's just how I was born." I didn't look at her. "My mom dressed as a boy, so no one thought much of it. I didn't either."


As always, love to read comments. Just don't ask what's going on in that last scene. Cause, at this point, I don't even know.