Chapter 1: The Mind Starts

1

"I choose…"

The tension in the classroom rises. Simultaneously, everyone redirects their attention to the teacher at the front of the class. Said teacher, who stood behind a podium, had his hand in a jar full of small papers with the name of his students. He moved his hand inside the jar, sometimes in a clockwise motion other times in a counterclockwise motion, while wiggling all of his fingers; trying to maximize the randomization of the possible chosen one.

Although, I was different.

Because while everyone had their eyes on our teacher, I had my eyes on the ceiling. I was thinking—thinking about what could possibly be for lunch today…curry rice, possibly. Sounds delicious.

I was different because I was left unaffected by the teacher's words. I was different because I knew that there is no way in hell that I would be the chosen one!

Teach takes his hand out of the jar and reads the name on the paper, and—

"...Sodachi."

"Huh?!"

I jumped out of my seat; no longer was there a casual look on my face, but a shocked one. The whole class was laughing.

"But that would be the third time I was on cleaning duty this week! I was on Monday and Tuesday!"

"Don't get mad at me. Get mad at destiny or fate or whatever. They're the ones at play."

"My ass they're the ones at play…"

"No language like that in my class unless you want detention, Sodachi."

"Right—sorry, sorry…"

Letting out a hefty sight, I sat back in my seat in defeat. The class's laughter went on until the teacher decided to speak again.

"Let's see who your partner will be…" Teach says, before putting his hand back into the jar. He plays with the papers inside for half a minute then takes his hand out with a name. "...Ninomae."

Ninomae?

I look over to my right and there I make eye contact with Ninomae, who is four desks away. It appears she was already looking my way. So, I wave at her. Ninomae waves back with a light smile on her face.

Cute.

"That's it for today. Stand up!"

Collectively, the class stood up—

"Bow!"

And bowed.

"Thank you, teacher!"

The bell rang.

If I have cleaning duty with Ninomae, then maybe it won't be bad at all, I thought.

2

"Hey, Sodachi."

Ninomae breaks the silence in the classroom.

It's been twenty minutes since class ended, fifteen since we started cleaning our classroom; the 5 minutes in between was spent gathering the supplies needed for cleaning. So far, Ninomae and I have finished cleaning the desks, windows, the floor inside and outside the class; in other words, almost everything. The only things left are the podium and to erase whatever is on the chalkboard.

Not once have we really said anything throughout. We simply tried to get our job done, so we could have an early leave.

Now that we're close to finishing, though, she starts a conversation. That's fine. In reality, I have wanted to start one too but I'm too shy for that.

"What?" I start a search for the chalkboard eraser. The search only lasted a few seconds; it was on the teacher's podium along with the chalk—which I also chose to take.

"Did you know? We have a volleyball game friday."

"Really? But we just got back from winter break."

"It is pretty soon, isn't it? Though, I don't mind it."

"You and your crazy love for volleyball." For fun, I write my name, "Sodachi", on the chalkboard before erasing everything on there.

She chuckles.

"'Crazy'? I'm not crazy about volleyball."

I also decided to write "Ninomae" on the side of my name, as well. Sadly, both names were soon erased.

"That's a lie! The great Ninomae might miss a day of school, but there is no way in hell she'll miss anything to do with volleyball." I start the erasing with horizontal swipes starting from left to right.

"'The great Ninomae'? Don't start calling random names, hehe."

To reason even unknown to myself, I embarrassingly dropped the eraser. I pick it back up shamefully.

"...Live under a rock? It's not random—everyone calls you that. You're one of our star volleyball players." I follow the horizontal swipes up with vertical ones, this time from right to left.

"Well, you're the only person I talk to at this school—I wouldn't really know anything about that… And 'star'? Sodachi, you're just—"

I swipe the corners of the board with the eraser, making sure not to miss the very corner of each one.

"I'm being serious. Everyone thinks so. Plus, I may not say it often, but I agree with them. You're definitely talented at the sport."

Once again, Ninomae chuckles—and I finish cleaning the chalkboard with one long final swipe across the middle of the board.

"...Thank you. That means a lot coming from you." Without even looking at her face, I could tell the words she said were said with a smile on her face.

For a short while, we returned to silence.

I put down the eraser.

"But…y'know…"

Turning around, I put my eyes on Ina—her face flushed with eyes looking towards the cleaned floor.

"I was thinking…if you would—you know—come by and…watch?"

"How many times have I told you, Ninomae? You don't have to ask me every time you guys play. I'll go even if you don't ask. Did you forget the promise we made in junior high, or something?"

That's right. We made a promise back in—junior high. A time that feels so long ago but in reality was no more than 3 years ago. And it was during that time that I met the woman in front of me.

Ninomae Ina'nis. A girl whose given name is phonetically spelled in kanji, and whose last name is a pun.

As I said before, I met Ninomae when I was in junior high—but that is only half the truth. Ever since kindergarten I've known of her. How could I not have known of her? I mean, when you're in the same class as somebody throughout all of your school years it's impossible not to (at first, I thought of Ninomae as a stalker, but later just accepted that it was a freaky coincidence). But even though I've known of her existence, not once did I have the thought of conversing with her.

Why? Because it doesn't take someone long to realize that the girl with short purple hair who always sits in the corner of the class—is a loner.

As far as I can remember, that's what I thought of her for the longest. A loner; someone that for most primary schoolers, was also synonymous with loser. Someone without any friends. Someone who didn't have anyone to talk to. But, seemingly, she didn't make an attempt to fix that. In fact, it looked like she put herself in the situation.

Then, more fittingly—she didn't want any friends. She didn't want anyone to talk to. She put walls around herself; not talking to others, so others didn't try to talk to her.

And, it worked.

Until that one day where we truly met. It was then that this idea of her having walls around herself—was nothing but a lie. Our promise was made then.

Now, our streak of sharing a class every year of our school lives successfully continues—no, that's a lie. The streak has ended. Not because we're not in a class anymore, but rather, because this is our final year of high school.

But if I had to say so myself, Ninomae and I have become really good friends, best friends even, since junior high.

"I could never forget," Ninomae says, shaking her head with her eyes closed. Once she opens them back up and directs her beautiful purple irises to my own, she makes a smug face. "But didn't you miss one of my most important games one time?"

"Hey!" Ninomae laughs seeing my immediate reaction. "I have my limits, you know? I caught a really bad case of the flu—I could barely walk! Didn't you say that you'd make an exception for that, or was that a lie?"

"But you still missed a game, didn't you?" she continued to joke with a smug face.

"That was back in junior high anyways. Let it go…"

"Fine, fine, haha…"

Again, silence struck the room. Ninomae and I awkwardly stared at each other, before I decided to finally make my exit.

But the moment I touch the door—

"See ya' tomo—"

"Sodachi."

I stop moving. I turn my body around—to see Ninomae's face fully red. She was blushing like crazy. That's weird? What is she blushing for?

"Y-you know, I was c-curious…" Ninomae starts, her hands behind her back and her body shaking intensely, "if you were interested in—"

All of a sudden, her body straightens up animatedly; she stops her shaking body and works up the courage to say the words stuck in her throat.

"I was curious about what you were interested in doing after high school is over!"

"..."

"..."

"After high school?"

"Yeah…"

Once high school is—over. Ninomae and I will go our separate ways.

This certainly is strange. I mean, we've never really had this sort of talk before. Not once has Ninomae, or even me for that matter, mentioned the future; despite it being out last year here. Of course, that's not to say we haven't had thoughts about the future.

Not that those thoughts get you anywhere.

"...You, Ninomae? What do you plan on doing?"

"Eh? Me? …Promise you won't laugh?"

"I promise."

"Well…I was thinking of going professional."

"Professional? You mean, like, in volleyball?"

"...That's right."

Ninomae wants to do professional volleyball…that's an amazing goal. And it's not one that's unreasonable for a woman like her. If there's one good thing about our school, it has to be our sports teams—and Ninomae happens to be the superstar of our volleyball team.

So if Ninomae puts in the work, then I'm sure she can accomplish it.

"What does your counselor think? Your parents and siblings?"

"They all support me! My counselor is even telling me that I'm likely to attain an athletic scholarship! So, I'm confident that I can do it!"

She innocently smiles. Everything she said—she said with conviction. Ninomae believes in herself—so I'll believe in her too.

Fully.

"…Haha, I see."

"Hey, you promised—"

"You've got it wrong, Ninomae. I'm not laughing 'cause I'm making fun of you. I just think…that it truly is amazing. Your goal, I mean." I give her a thumbs up paired with a smile to know I truly believe in my words too. "I'm with you, all the way."

"Th-thank you…"

"Well," I put my hands on the door again, "see you—"

"What about you?"

But, yet again, I am stopped.

"Me…?"

"Mm-hmm."

Me.

My future.

What do I want to do—after high school? My goals?

That's…

"College…probably."

"'Probably'? What have you told your counselor?"

"Nothing…"

"What?! But we're already in the final semester of this year!"

"I know, I know…I just—can't think, I guess…"

"You can't think? But Sodachi, you're the smartest person I know and you have so many opportunities! You can't simply not think!"

"..."

Ninomae is completely right. But, it's not like I'm lying. No matter how deep I enter my own mind, no answer awaits me. In other words, my mind is currently hollow.

"Sorry."

"Huh? N-no, no, that's no reason to apologize or feel sorry! I was just surprised, that's all… In fact, I should be the one apologizing. Sorry for my small outburst…"

"It's fine. I actually appreciate it. Shows that you care."

"...Of course I care about you, Sodachi."

…

After a long and deafening silence, I opened the door and left the room.

Naturally, I made sure to say goodbye to Ninomae before I exited.

3

"I'm home, mom, dad."

"Welcome back!" My mom greets me.

"How was school, Kagami?" My dad asks me.

"Just like any other day."

I ate food my mom made for us.

Afterwards, I went to my room and played some video games with my friends.

Once finished with that, I ended the day by doing homework.

All my time for the day has ended, so I go to bed.

I go to bed—thinking tomorrow would be just like any other day.

I would be right.

4

Riding my bike while music played into my ears, I went to school. I arrived after 10 minutes and headed to the bicycle parking to leave my bike there. Once accomplished with that, I used elementary school inventory magic to take care of my headphones and headed inside of the school building. I then went to my locker and put on my inside shoes, saying hello to any friends who pass.

Similar to going on autopilot, I let the day go by.

I go to my first class.

I go to my second class.

At break, I go and talk to my friends.

I go to my third class.

It's in my fourth class that something—strange happened.

I met her for the first time.

It was the end of the class, where we would be transitioning to lunch time. Today, I simply decided to make myself a bento instead of the usual "I'll just see what the school has to offer for lunch."

Hey, did you hear? Some girl transferred into our school!

You're kidding! Why would someone want to transfer into a shitty school like Nolar High? Especially in the middle of the year! That's just fucking stupid.

I heard whispers all around the classroom. Must be the new hot topic. Fortunately for me, I could care less. Right now, my mouth is begging for whatever's inside this bento.

At least it's a girl. Heard she's hot too.

What year is she in?

3rd.

What?! Don't tell me she's here right now, in our class?!

Of course not, dumbass! She's 2 classes over.

Hey, why don't we head over there right now and get a good look at her?

Alright. Let's g—

At once, everyone in the room goes quiet. A loud sound was made—someone opened the door just a little too hard. But, again, I could give a shit less about someone yanking the door open. 'Cause this sushi roll tastes like heaven. I might just start chewing with my mouth open so everyone knows how delicious this is.

Hey, hey, hey, that's her! The description matches up!

Holy shit, they were right! She is hot! Actually, no, she's more like…cute.

But, what's the new girl want in this class?

I don't know. Know someone here, maybe? Who she walkin' up to?

She's walking up to…Sodachi?

Just as I'm about to take a bite of the last sushi roll—

"Sodachi, I was wondering if you wanted to eat our bento's toge—"

"Hey."

A woman with our school's uniform appears in front of my desk. I look up. It's an unfamiliar person.

"...Hey. Who are you?"

"My name's Nanash—Wait, wrong name! I mean, my name is Sato Yumiko but my nickname is Sayu. I'm 18 years old, born August 4th in the 52nd year. I'm part owl! Some of my hobbies include gaining knowledge and drawing."

"Nice to meet you, Sato. My name's Aikawa Kagami and my nickname is Sodachi. I'm also 18. I, however, am just a regular human. One of my hobbies is…playing video games. But, is your birthday seriously on the 4th of August?"

"Yeah. What about it?"

"Nothing. Just a crazy coincidence. We share the same birthday."

This would be the first time I would talk to Nanashi Mumei—who knew her as Sato Yumiko then—and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

AN: I felt like I left you guys hanging with that last chapter not having any members, so I immediately got to work on this. And here I am! Yo.

Again, sorry to all my Gusha fans; that chapter will come soon enough! Talking about Gusha, let me talk about my schedule now that I have 2 fics. It's simple: I'll simply be switching on and off between fics. I'll work on a Gusha chapter, publish it, then work on one for this, publish, work on Gusha, publish, so on and so on.

Oh! I got 2 comments! Let's check out the first one... It's a hate comment... But, don't worry! I'll make sure to treasure it dearly regardless!

To the other comment: Thank you, Ya boi! I appreciate your support! Don't worry about the pacing being too fast, if anything worry about it being to slow. Because the whole point of the 1st arc is to show why he decided to go on a journey. But again, thank you!

But man... I thought because of Gusha and the small amount of followers that I have that this fic would be just a tiny bit more popular lmao. It's fine though. We all start somewhere...

Bye! See ya' in the next chapter.