Author's Note
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Happy reading!
Spring.
A state where the world calmed after its vicious roaring fit known as winter, and at last blossomed into a beautiful landscape.
I stood atop that landscape, embracing the sounds of the surrounding cherry blossom trees getting beaten back and forth by the wind. The cherry blossoms floated and swayed with the bullying wind; I hoped none entered my hung jaw which sucked back the escaping oxygen. I felt a twitching urge in it. A part of my consciousness might have been trying to re-close my jaw, but alas, that building - shined under the warm sunlight - distracted the rest. A pillar of light destined to save our world! Heh, exaggerated much, I admit. But I couldn't help it. This place just felt... unreal.
"Is this really a sco-" before I could finish my mumble, my back suddenly slanted; tilting me over a bit, and I felt a swift brush against my shoulder. A person - who stepped twice forward before balancing themselves - appeared in front of me and spun around. Her pastel purple eyes widened as she released a gasp; the wind immediately carried her pretty purple hair's waist-length locks in its humming flight.
"Sorry!" the girl's head bounced, before scurrying along once again. She transitioned her sprint into a walk after joining up next to a guy whose back looked more so an adult's than a student's.
I blinked once and ended up losing them inside the colorful student wave ahead, who were heading toward the magnificent pale green building that mesmerized me prior. I had better start walking, too. Didn't want a reputation of a roadblock on the first day of school! Taking my entire consciousness within my grasp once more, I finally moved a leg forward and blended into the student wave.
A cherry blossom fluttered over my face, catching me in a brief surprise. I saw it land and floated onto the glistening waters inside a spewing porcelain white fountain stationed in the center of what looked to be a courtyard. My attention, though, kept getting insistently pulled everywhere. I couldn't take just a single thing in without darting at the multiple buildings surrounding the school; how many facilities were available here?!
What ultimately took my entire attention away above all else though were the school's very own clean, dark beige front doors. Placing my foot down upon the steps before them instantly kicked my heart into overdrive! It... It shocked me how excited I was. I never thought much about this school, despite its sterling reputation. Now, it'd be difficult to envision the next 3 years as nothing less than… an experience!
... I hated it.
Prologue: The Beginning of the End
...
"Yo-"
...
"H..ey!"
...
"Wake up already!"
A concise sensation crackled my ears to life, and in tandem with the shout, sprung my eyes open. What met the latter was an overwhelming sea blue view, likely from the arm sleeves of my uniform which rested atop a desk.
I picked my head up off the desk and turned it to discover him near me. While my eyes steadied themselves to ease the remaining blurriness, I noticed something wrapped around his finger. 'What is that?' I thought. It wasn't too long before the sluggish brain up here clicked and realized what I was looking at. The acknowledgement of said revelation stopped my heart for a moment.
The item in question was a cord derived from a pair of earbuds — the same earbuds I practically religiously wore! He twirled it in the air, treating it as some ribbon; and the more it twirled, the tighter the cord swathed his finger. I swiftly stood up and pulled the cord clean off his finger — untangling it after.
"What do you want, Sho? This isn't your class," I sighed, plopping back down in my seat.
Sho, who stood in stark surprise at my recent action, immediately curled his lips sideways into a grin. "Right now's our lunch period, so I figured I should visit my favorite runt in the world!" the front of Sho's prominent black mohawk — dyed a striking bright red — bounced vigorously; coinciding with his energetic cackle.
"Right. You usually don't come to me without a reason, though."
"What? Y-You still awake, man?! I come over and hang with you all the time!"
If "all the time" meant once or twice a month, it might be a good idea to look up the definition again. After Sho fed me his lie, I noticed the overbearing grin on his face lowered. He then bit it and zipped his head around back and forth for reasons unknown. He seemed to be scanning the classroom, specifically at the now oncoming students, included among them were those who also wore sea blue uniforms — blazer uniforms for males and a dress shirt plus a wavy skirt for females — sat down to either chatter or prepare for their upcoming class.
"By the way, where's Lars?" I asked. "It's rare seeing you two apart. Did something happen?"
"Oh! Him? He's downstairs... He's gathering up his things."
Huh? Oh yeah! I heard ramblings lately that Lars was moving by the end of the week. I probably shouldn't say that near Sho, though. He and Lars were always inseparable since childhood. Sho seemed fine about it, but judging by how he-
"Anyway, you know the student council presidential election is coming up, right?" Sho continued.
"Yeah. Are you planning on entering or something?"
"Well, would you look at that! I love it when even guys like you can catch on quick," the overbearing grin made its way back onto Sho's face.
"Ha, ha. I've known you long enough to figure out how determined you are to prove yourself," I answered, mustering a grin myself.
"Nice! I don't get to waste time explaining, then. You're voting for me, right?" Sho leaned, his maroon eyes staring me down.
"Uh, I actually wasn't ever planning on voting. I don't care about the election."
"Oh? I think you should. Really think you should! Don't you want to help a friend out?"
"Sure, but it wouldn't feel fair, would it?" I replied, rubbing the back of my neck. "Even if I intended on voting, I'd want to review what the other candidates are offering, at least. Make a more informed decision, you know?"
"That's so unnecessary, dude! You already know I'm a suitable enough leader, right?!" Sho declared, pounding his own chest, and consequently the lime green, cocky gooey faced person sporting shades design on his black T-shirt, who oddly resembled Sho himself.
"I-I know, but-"
Suddenly, a sharp and immense sting traveled across my shoulder, promptly squashing out my words. The reason it stung... led back to Sho. He had slammed his hand down - a hand covered within a strapped on black fingerless leather glove - on my shoulder and was already gripping it tightly, increasing the pain exponentially. When I opened my flinched eye and stared up, his maroon eyes sent out a different energy than the one he played before, one that left me in a similar heart stopping condition prior.
"But you already know how great my leadership skills are. You've seen me be the head of many groups in the past, right? So choosing me would be the most obvious, simple answer... Wouldn't it?"
Sho's grip on my shoulder strengthened; the stung evolved into an aching pain that might crush the bones inside my shoulder anytime now! I gazed into his eyes again. They looked even more anxiety inducing, partly thanks to the addition of a crinkled mouth heading toward those eyes; nothing short of a fiend's. I...
"You're right," I answered, averting my gaze. "Sorry; you've got my vote. I'm confident you can... You'll be the best president the student council could ever ask for, Sho."
"Aha ha! Glad you see things my way, buddy!" Sho praised, lightly punching my ached shoulder. Subsequently, he started roughly rubbing a strand in my hair in between his fingers. "Geez, emo much? You should cut off this moss ball on your head. Ain't no way you're supporting me without being in proper style first."
"Trust me, I've already made plans for a haircut. You should see me with a whole new style the next time we meet."
"I'll take your word on that, then. Better not forget, ha ha!" Sho warned and rustled my head as though I were some pet.
Finally, with outstanding timing, the school bell rang.
"Hmph. That's my cue. I seriously appreciate your devoted support, runt. See you around!" Sho spun his back to me and fixed the cuffs on his dark leather biker jacket. Leaving behind a short cackle as his last words, he swaggered out the classroom door. Sho's oppressive size and presence put a few pasting students on edge as they verbally questioned why they found a second year like him inside a first-year classroom.
I sighed heavily; one signifying relief, but leaned more toward exhaustion. "Did I sold my soul off to the devil just now?"
10 Minutes Later
I stared.
Stared at the teacher in front of the classroom, perfectly performing their job; education. The lesson itself... Honestly, I couldn't care less about it. My mind already scattered off some place else a long time ago.
You know, I realized I struck gold getting seated at the very back of the classroom. Nobody ever noticed me not paying attention, so I usually used this time for some contemplation or simply daydream, all while I admired the astonishingly more enthralling soulless schoolyard out a nearby window.
The current hot thought regarded the presidential election - no thanks to Sho, who pretty much forced it on me; took my steadfast loyalty with him too, no less! But... I wasn't surprised things turned out that way. It... It was always how things worked between us, considering our backgrounds. I, took the follower role, and him, the leader...
I desperately shook my head vigorously; a new, much needed thought was in order. As I stared down out the window, I pondered the afternoon Spring day's beauty. Clear blue skies, animals that roamed the empty schoolyard, a quiet wind brushed against the trees. Everything was peaceful. My eyes then shifted toward the sidewalk behind the school gates. The sight itself pulled a soft sigh from my mouth.
"When will this school day end?" I whispered.
When? When would it end? When would it end so I could be on that sidewalk, walking home to do whatever I wanted? As I wished this, the surrounding sounds dulled, and I felt my eyelids' weight becoming no different from a boulder's. Slowly, I lowered my head onto my arms, which once more laid facedown on the desk. When I unconsciously turned away from the window, I witnessed many students who contrasted me:
Those who devotedly paid attention, quietly talked, took notes, or secretly on their electronic devices. I seemed to be the only unproductive one; the only one inflicted with tiredness. I turned back toward the window and felt the strain on my eyelids grew even heavier, as though they were window shades being rolled down. Oh yeah, the inevitable was so obvious now. Had zero resistance in mind, though.
"Take me away from this boring lesson, please. Wake me up when something interesting happens."
With that, my eyes descended. During my final, conscious moments, however... I saw something strange. I nodded it off in the end. But I could have sworn I spotted a large flash outside.
And so, I went into my deep, deep sleep...
A sleep that would eventually lead me into a NIGHTMARE.
