For a month and a half since she last saw of the boy, not once had Sawako forgotten about him and their little encounter. A month and a half, of thinking about him led her to use him as a medium of her inspiration. Now those days had passed, she's now a third-year and graduating. It was then Sawako realized that it was in her last year of high school is when she'll see more of the lad during his first year. How saddening such thought could be? She only has one spring left, one summer, one autumn, and one winter to get to know him.
Sawako blinked at herself through the reflection on the mirror before blushing at the thought. She frantically shook her head upon realizing the interpretation of her thoughts.
No, that won't do.
She combed her long hair before pulling it into a low ponytail. She huffed when done and turned on her heels to leave the room. Sawako glanced at her wall clock before she shut the door closed.
It was past four in the morning and the sun wasn't up at the moment. Silence illuminated throughout their traditional Japanese-style house. Save for the faint tweeting of the awoken birds, the other people in the family were kept in their own rooms, still sleeping. Sawako entered the kitchen and took the apron off from the hook to wrap the cloth around her figure before smiling to herself after stretching her fingers.
With breakfast in mind, Sawako opened the cupboard hidden by the wooden floor. A hand holds the handle while the other took ingredients for her to prepare. And when all of them out, she started with cooking the soaked rice she prepared the night before, before cutting the other ingredients she took from the cupboard.
Every morning in the hour when people have yet to wake, aside from the faint tweeting and natural noises, the sound of an incessant cutting on the cutting board could be heard in the homey house of the Harukaze.
When Sawako finished cooking breakfast, she started hearing footsteps from above. Slow yet heavy, she can tell it was Suzaku moving. Light and fast, no doubt, it was Kirin. Sawako untied the knot on her apron when two blondes showed up wearing the prescribed uniform of Karasuno High.
"Good morning, Sawa-nee."
She smiled at the sight. "Good morning to you two." She approached the two after hanging her apron and gave each a pinch on the cheeks before she went back to her kitchen duties.
The male blonde rubbed the spot where she pinched and glanced at the ceiling that was shaking lightly with fast and heavy footsteps. Kirin, on the other hand, took the liberty of setting the plates on the table while Sawako divided their breakfast for their bento. Both Kirin and Sawako looked up for a moment before resuming what they were doing.
Suzaku turned. "I'll call mother."
Sawako just hummed a response. The disappearance of Suzaku made an appearance for the newly-waked Hitori.
"G-GOOD MORNING!" The blonde greeted with flushed cheeks
Kirin winced at the volume of her voice as she sent her twin a narrowed eye. Hitori immediately slapped her mouth with a hand, muffling a "S-sorry." before approaching Sawako. "Let me help you with that, Sawa-nee."
Kirin went back to her post after heaving a sigh. The sound of the ceramics hitting one another echoed in the sweetly-smelled kitchen filled with three pairs of blue-green eyes. The kettle made a noise, Sawako pausing on the bento partitions to take the kettle and started pouring the boiled water into the tea set. In return, Kirin prepared the tea set on the table just in time for a dark-haired woman to emerge with Suzaku.
"Good morning, okaa-san." Greeted the three young ladies in the kitchen.
"Good morning." The mother, Miki, replied with a gentle smile.
Miki settled herself in the middle, her dark eyes glancing from Kirin's uniform to Hitori's before comparing them to the uniform worn by her eldest daughter, Sawako. The smile never wavered on her lips. Suzaku sat on her left side, as the only man living in their household, and offered her a tea that Kirin placed on the dining table.
"Thank you, Succhan." She watched the young lad pour for her, and offered a smile at his way when he was done. Miki casually took a sip from the cup and closed her eyes, slowly placing the teacup back on the saucer.
It didn't take that long for her daughters to settle down and finished preparing their breakfast. Kirin sat on the left of Suzaku's while Hitori sat on the chair across her. After fixing her skirt while sitting on Miki's right side, Sawako glanced up to their mother. Miki, in return, glanced to her four children with a smile.
"Please help yourselves." She announced.
A synchronized sound of hands clapping was heard a second later, followed by a synchronized murmur of, "Thank you for the food." The triplets split their chopsticks into halves, digging the breakfast for themselves and each started eating different dishes that their eldest sibling prepared. Sawako mumbled her gratitude, later on, splitting her own chopstick in half, and began to eat.
The mother watched her children eating together, wearing the same school uniform, with a gentle smile on her face. Her head tilted to the side, glancing at the framed photo hanging on the hall. One glance for the past and one smile for the present. Miki glanced back at the dining table and mumbled her own gratitude.
The shoe locker was packed with bodies of black and grey, Sawako noted. Too many first years lingered in front of the board, checking and gushing about their class and rooms, as to who's with who and how their year will turn out because of the arrangement. It was normal as a senior and it made Sawako shook her head in amusement with a smile.
"Heh, let's see what class we are in, too!"
A giggle beside Sawako was heard. "Sure!" Which was later on followed by a grunt.
This is going to be a part of normality, too.
The smile never left her face as she watched the blonde triplets checking, too. Hitori has been the energetic and loudest of the bunch as she is also the initiator of all the troubles made by the Harukaze triplets whereas Kirin has been told by a lot of people that she's like Sawako – the always calm and composed but knows when and how to have fun. Meanwhile, the only lad and the youngest of the siblings, Suzaku, has the face of nonchalance. He's always on his own and dependent for such a young age. Sawako often wondered if it was because of gender why Suzaku's growth is so different compared to Hitori and Kirin. Nevertheless, the triplets' unique personalities reflected on how they check in on their class in the middle of swarming bodies.
"EXCUSE US! EXCUSE US!"
Sawako can hear Hitori's loud voice as she tried and forced herself to the bodies on the front.
"Please, excuse us." Kirin tried to pass through the bodies while dragging the silent and irritated Suzaku.
Such behavior would cause an uproar and complaint normally, but because of their height, the ones that should be complaining left the area and forget what had happened. Even from afar, Sawako can distinguish the three mops of yellow. It has been in their blood for being tall as their father came from a family of tall people. He was Russian in the first place, it was no wonder despite the triplets' not being able to know the man who gave them such gift.
From the corner of her eye, she saw a bob of ginger.
A freshman?
It appears as Sawako had not known anyone from her batch and the ones under them by owning such hair color. The smile almost left her face as she saw how the lad was struggling to check for his class until Suzaku noticed his presence from behind. The nonchalant Harukaze moved to give space, in which the ginger-haired was thankful.
Sawako shook her head once more, amused, before joining the triplets. Her bluish-green eyes fell on a tall lad with short-dark hair.
What a clean nape.
She thought. She blinked.
"What class are you in, Succhan?" Kirin asked the younger brother.
"… Class 5."
"I'm in Class 4. Let's do our best together, okay?"
Suzaku just hummed in response with a nod.
"How about you, Torin?"
"... Class… 1..." Hitori answered in a depressed manner.
"Ah, let's do our best together, okay?" Suzaku mocked with a blank face. This made the hyperactive Harukaze clutch in Kirin with despair.
"WHY IS IT THAT OUR ROOMS ARE FAR AWAY?!"
"Your room is just far from us." Suzaku piped.
Kirin, as the middle man, patted Hitori's head affectionately. Just like how their eldest sister does when she comforts them, Kirin gently smiled at her. "Let's do our best together, okay?"
And for some reason, it didn't help Hitori's situation. Sawako just sighed and looked at the list for her name. It didn't take long for her to found hers. Class 3-4. She scanned for names she might be familiar with and found two: Sawamura Daichi. Sugawara Koushi. Sawako couldn't stop herself from smiling.
When the lad in front of her turned to leave, Sawako quickly gave him a glance. To her surprise, she was met with a familiar baby face and blue eyes that never left her mind since winter. Her smile faded in instant, her mouth slightly agape and everything seemed to be in slow motion when his eyes turned in her direction. For a second, she could see the flicker of recognition, and up-close, Sawako can see his face. Properly, this time.
He's lovely. She hadn't noticed it before when she first saw him by the vending machine when the snow fell but the lad was truly… enchanting.
"Ne, Sawa-nee, what class are you in? Can we visit during lunch? Can I talk to some of your classmates? Who are you with? Are you in the same class as Mizu-nee? Kou-nii? Ichi-nii? Ne, ne, Sawa-neeee, tell me~"
This will be part of normality, alright.
"Don't be such a baby, Hitori." Suzaku told the eldest triplet.
Sawako sighed and patted Hitori's head. "Let's calm ourselves down, okay?"
Hitori nodded and leaned closer to her hand, snuggling and snaking the slender arms to Sawako's small waist. Suzaku rolled his eyes at the gesture. Kirin just giggled and joined the patting. Sawako could only shake her head at her sister's habit of being clingy, her bluish-green eyes trying to look for the enchanting raven-haired lad that disappeared before her when Hitori appeared.
"Com'n, let's start walking to our classes."
Sawako did her best not to appear disappointed. Deep inside her, she knew, that there's this feeling that desires to know more of the lad and she has yet to know his name. Karasuno isn't that big. It only accommodates five classes for each year with an estimation of 25-30 students each class. Besides, Sawako already knew that he is a first-year. However, she couldn't just waltz in through the first years' hallway to look for his face. That will rub off as first-year hunting – which is really weird in her opinion. Her friend, Satsuki, only does that.
Another part of her wants to leave it be. She has this feeling that this won't be the only time she'll come across the lad. They already met once, and now, they crossed paths once more, attending the same school. Sooner or later, she'll learn of his name, and he may learn of her, if possible.
Sawako parted ways with the triplets on the stairs. She bid them behave well, and once assured that they (Hitori) will, she began her stride towards her class.
Class 3-4
That's what the placard says.
My last year in high school.
She only has a few months left before she can step down from her position on the club, and the rest would be allotted for college preparation – college tours, college admissions, and exams. Since she has plans to study in Kyoto, she has to look for an apartment to rent as well. That – is how far she has planned for herself so far.
"It's Sawa!"
Her eyes snapped to the source and entered the class and greeted by two towering males that contrast each other but compliments well.
"It appears that we'll be in your care once more this time, Sawako." Sawamura Daichi placed a hand on the top of her head, not ruffling it but patted it thrice with a carefree smile on his face that mirrors Sugawara's.
"Koushi, Daichi." Sawako looked at the two well. Her lips itched and curved a smile at the two. "Of course, I'll give my all to nag you two as usual."
Sugawara Koshi chuckled. "Nag? Sounds like you, Sawako-okaa-san."
She just shook her head. The smile on her lips remained. Her friendship with these two lads is truly precious. She grew up attending the same grade school with Sawamura and attended the same middle school with Sugawara. The two lads have not crossed paths yet at that time but when they met in their high school year, it was like fate. She could still remember the shock lock on their faces then that turned into genuine happiness at the coincidence. They shared the same class from their first year, and now that they're on their last year before taking their last path for adulthood, they are sharing the same class once again.
The two are her best friends. The big brothers she has always wanted. Perhaps, big brothers from different mothers.
Nevertheless, their last year in high school will be the last year she'll be able to share with the two. They have not talked about their careers yet, for they have not brought up the topic yet. However, things will be different in college. She'll be taking her college in Kyoto and she's sure that the two will stay and attend somewhere in Miyagi.
Her last year with them, I'll treasure it.
Their moment was broken when the rest of the class of 3-4 entered in a light rush. The known and loved literature teacher named Takeda Ittetsu followed. As usual, he sported the same messy mop of black hair and thick glasses. A warm smile was plastered on his face as he looked at his students proudly.
"Settle down, please." The teacher announced.
She shared a look with the two, a knowing smile being shared between them before following the instruction of their new class adviser. Sawako took her seat in the middle of the room – the third row on the third column and faced the gentle man before them.
"Now that everyone is settled, I'd like to properly introduce myself. I am Takeda Ittetsu and I will be handling your class this year. Let's do our best together from now on." He took a bow in front and is followed by a chorus of Yes. "Now that you are in your third year…"
And there it is again.
Third-year.
It became a reminder for Sawako that she's approaching adulthood slowly. She listened to Takeda's words yet her mind wandered. Despite being asked to stand up as the class' representative, there's only a thought that is constant in her mind.
I wonder how my third year will fare?
