"Ichi-nii! If you don't get up, you'll be late!"
My eyes opened, but it felt as if they were closed. I could see fine, but it just didn't seem… real. Almost as if I'm still dreaming, even though I'm awake. Ignoring the strange sensation, I got to my feet and began pulling on my clothes. Yuzu was right, I was running later than normal without the help of old goat-chin to give me my daily wakeup call. He said that he'd be gone this morning, since he had to talk with someone from the main hospital. With a sigh, I left my room and began to get ready for school.
My eyes opened again, but this time I wasn't in my room. Instead, I had my hand on the doorknob to Ishida's apartment. I barely backed up in time for when he opened it. A shocked look came across his face as his body reflexively took a defencive stance.
"What the hell are you doing here? I nearly shot an arrow through your chest!"
"I-I...:"
"I…?" I couldn't get my brain to process. What was I doing here? Ishida sighed and started walking around me. "You better tell me as we walk or else we'll both be late to school."
I forced my feet to move, even though something seemed to be keeping them grounded. He kept asking me questions, but my voice would never come out right.
"I don't really know-I mean it wasn't on purpose. I just kind of ended up there."
He raised an eyebrow, but my attention was more focused on the hand that was close-so close-to my own. If I wanted to, I could reach out and take it for myself. Walk into school and broadcast the fact that the teen standing next to me was mine and mine alone.
But I didn't.
I just stared at it until we arrived at the school's gate. Inoue and Keigo ran up to us, slowly followed by Chad and Mizuiro. I felt Tatsuki study me from the tree her and the other girls were sitting. Where Inoue used to be sitting. Keigo started whining at my feet before I could even say 'hey'.
"SO YOU'LL WALK TO SCHOOL WITH THE NERD, BUT NOT ME?!"
"Shut up, Asano-kun. It's too early for you to be that loud."
"Mizuiro! Why are you being so cold?!"
At my side, I swear I saw a laugh flash across his face, quickly changing back to the indifferent look he always had. I couldn't help but scowl, which he immediately noticed. The worried look in his eyes was kind of... weird.
Under his breath, he whispered to me, unheard to anyone else due to the screaming of Keigo.
"Are you alright, Kurosaki? You've been acting weird since last night. Did I do something?"
"N-no. It's not your fault, sorry."
He raised an eyebrow, but turned away from me. Chad made brief eye contact and Inoue kept her worried gaze glued to the floor. They hadn't heard us, but I wasn't the best at hiding my own feelings and shit like that. I tried a small smile, but they easily saw through it. The bell rung and I immediately started going. I forced my pace slow. So that they couldn't tell I was running away.
Chad said something as he walked a few steps behind me, but I could only hear his voice, unable to understand the words. Ishida said something back and their conversation ended. Inoue's arm was grabbed by Tatsuki as they skipped ahead of me. Neither of them skipping out of joy, but out of obligation. They were only doing it because it was what they were supposed to do, what they would've done less than a year ago.
I blinked and I was laying in the sun, next to the river.
I shot up, was on my feet before I could think. Wasn't I about to be in class? First period was about to start, so when had I gotten here? My school bag was on the ground, next to where I had been lying. I bent down and opened it, pulling out my phone and checking the time.
3:47
I had no recollection of almost seven hours of my life.
Sorry this chapter isn't very exciting, but the next one is something I really like. I wrote chapter 5 before I wrote chapter 1. I just had a strange idea and wrote a chapter, then changed somethings to make it into a story that made some sort of sense. That will be posted over the weekend as well. I hope you like this story so far and continue to enjoy it no matter what I torture Ichigo and Uryu with.
