[Kirihara Akaya] ?? Wonderful Days ??

On a bright afternoon, I open the window and feel the cool wind blow against my face. One of my feet lifted off the ground as I leaned farther out the classroom.

The spring wind made the adrenaline pump through my veins. Was this what they called spring fever? The feeling that just makes you jump up and run without reason on a shaded road.

A smile crept onto my face as I looked around the campus. Beautiful trees and such covered the ground from east to west. Such a beautiful place can hold such wonderful dreams. I take a breath using my shoulders and close my eyes, enjoying the feeling that ran through me.

Hesitantly, I pulled away from the window and walked back to my seat. A brand new spring always started my year. It was at this time that I started my new year's wish.

Slowly, I pulled out my journal, opened it to the next clean page, and picture a stage that starts from tomorrow. Before I started writing my wishes and dreams for the new year, I image a brand new page, clean and spotless. Marks from the previous pages weren't anywhere to be seen; a brand new page filled with new ambitions. Everything so clear in my head, I can paint it on a plain white canvas.

Suddenly, the feel of the cool air blowing towards my desk sent the papers flying away. I leaned over to pick them up, not noticing someone else helping. Reaching for the last one, I felt something that wasn't thin and flimsy. Instead, it was something warm and soft....something like a hand.

Looking up, I see a boy with greenish eyes, his hair resembled some type of seaweed.

“I'm...sorry...” I apologized as I retracted my hand. The boy nodded and picked up the final sheet. It was then I noticed the small stack in his arms.

“These yours?” He questioned as he handed them to me.

I nodded gratefully, taking them. “Thanks.”

He nodded with a small smile before walking away, leaving me staring at his back.

The headwind opens up without a care, showing me the direction in this endlessly continuing brand new story.

- - - -

“Ah, Wonderful Days.” My old friend sighed as she heard my story.

“Misa, I'm serious! It was like my heart was about to explode when I saw him!”

“I thought you didn't believe in love at first sight.”

“I don't.” I stated with a sigh.

“Well, I guess I would feel the same way if I touched some guy's hand.” She mused. “Anyways, isn't it spring?” She asked.

I nodded in response.

“Hm, is this a case of the spring fever for me?” She questioned, damn, did I hate her type of spring fever. Sighing, I noted that this was her way of letting me know that I shouldn't bother her, since she wanted to be lazy. “Well, anyways, I'm going to guess about your situation.” Closing her eyes, she started to think. “It's like...when you're at a zebra-striped intersection, what do you do?”

“I start running.” I answered, not entirely sure where the conversation was going.

A smile crossed her lips. “You're crossing the street while just stepping on white lines, just like a kid.”

“Less wisdom, more defining please.” I pouted. “It sounds like you're making fun of me.”

“Out of black and white, which is the good color, which is the bad?” She questioned as she used the salt and pepper containers as models.

“...Ohhh....” I mused stupidly, raising my head slightly to take a sip of my drink. “Can you pay?” I suddenly asked while standing.

She sighed. “You know I always do.”

“I love you, Misa-chan~” I sang, running out of the cafe.

I hummed a random tune while walking down the sidewalk, replaying Misa's words. “Just like a kid, huh?” I smiled as I arrive at the pre-described intersection.

As the lights turned green, I stood in my spot, watching the people cross.

I smiled once more as I jumped down the street, stepping only on white lines. My heart felt so light as I landed on the other side.

Moments later, I felt the wind caress my skin, also blowing something against the side of my shoe. Curiously, I looked down and picked up the tennis ball.

“Oh, hey! Can I have the back?” A familiar voice asked.

I raised my gaze to see the same boy from my class. A slight blush covered my face as he caught up to me. Why am I always being blown by the wind in this way?

“Here.” I smiled meekly, handing the ball to him.

“Eh, aren't you that girl from this afternoon?” He questioned as he tried to think. “Kiyori Mirai, right?”

I nodded. “Yeah.....Um...Thanks for helping me at the time.”

“That time?” He repeated, more in an unsure tone.

My heart pumped faster as I bit my lip. “You helped me pick up my papers.

“Oh yeah!” The light bulb went off. “No problem.”

“By the way...”

“What?” He asked as he started to walk away.

“Your name?”

“Kirihara Akaya.” He smirked with a proud, smug look on his face.

I watched again as he walked away. If I could just be as I had been before my heart felt this way, I'd turn towards the far away sky, stretch my hands as if to reach my thoughts, and let them all go. No conscientious thoughts about liking that boy. Having a clear mind, and free of all uncomfortable situations.

- - - -

The next morning, as I walked to school, I stared at the ground in deep thought. If I speed up my feet, or push the pedals, I could race up the slope, my problems, in one breath... if only there was a fast-forward button in my life.

It was now that I realized what the long run before jumping out was.

“Ah....” I flinched as I ran into someone. I slowly opened my eyes to see Kirihara staring down at me.

While feeling my heartbeat begin to race, I was sure, definitely. I didn't believe in love at first sight, so I refused to believe that my heart had harbored feelings for the boy in front of me.

“Watch where you're going.” He teased.

A blush covered my face again. “Sorry.” I apologized. Climbing up this hill, I'm not sure when I am finally able to see the summit.

I swore I could feel the south wind pass me, as if Notus was trying to alert me of the starting signal.

“Ah! Wonderful days!” Misa's voice replayed in my head. I felt an awkward air surround the two of us. “Ah!” I exclaimed as a piece of paper somehow fell out of my bag, gracefully drifting into the air.

I could tell Kirihara was watching me as I chased after it, though I couldn't tell if he was smiling in amusement. Soon, I grew tired, stopping to take a breath. In the background, I could hear the sound of paper crumpling softly, as though someone had caught it.

“Here.” He said as he handed the paper to me. Some sort of de ja vu?

My gaze lifted from the paper, to his hand, to his arm, to his face. A laugh broke through my sealed lips as I repeated the bit that was left over again. “Thank you.” I found myself stuttered between giggles.

“You really are hopeless.” I could hear a smirk in his voice.

“No I'm not!” I argued, standing up tall. Sadly, no matter what I did, he was always taller.

“Then prove it to me.” He smirked, walking through the school entrance.

I pouted while following him in, my head racing like crazy. Before I knew it, I had come this far. For God's sake, I was talking to him!

Even more than the light in the depths of my vision, I'll reach for the sky.

- - - -

In class, I sat in my seat, ignoring the curious stares directed at us. Why was he standing beside my desk? “What are you doing?” I whispered quietly.

Raising a brow, he avoided eye contact. “Waiting to save you, in case you become helpless again.” He stated, smirking.

My eyes widened slightly as I felt a mild source of anger in the pit of my stomach. “I told you I'm not helpless!” I lightly punched him in the back.

A slightly peeved expression appeared as shocked murmurs broke out.

A panicking sensation overwhelmed me as I listened to some of the murmurs. “Sorry.” I apologized as I turned my head away to hide the frustrated pout.

“You should be.” He muttered as he walked back to his seat.

Sighing, I squeezed my eyes shut. If I could never forget these thoughts shut away in my chest, no matter what time it was and what idiotic thing I did, I wanted him to be the one that will continue to warm them, my feelings.

As first class ended, I walked towards my second, home economics. The mistake that I made by hitting Akaya replayed in my mind. Why was he so upset? It wasn't a hard punch, not at all. Maybe because it had hurt his reputation of some sort?

Sighing, I opened my journal to read my new year's wish. I remembered thinking that for sure, one day I would, like a nameless bird, take off into this great sky and push forward to make it come true. If only I knew how hard it really was going to be.

- - - -

I trudged my way into my seat as I awaited for class to start. The future I searched for while fumbling is always a keyless door. Raising my pencil, I drew lightly onto the desk.

The light in front of my eyes represented Kirihara. He was part of the future I had imagined. I continued searching for a way to get myself closer to him, even though I couldn't find it, I still tried, and now I'm sitting here, screwed.

The doodle that's on my desk is a place I imagined some other day. It's a place nobody has walked, the even the sun doesn't know about. That place....I aim for it, the future.

- - - -

The next time I saw him was before lunch. I quickly ran up to him and blocked his way, a serious expression masked my face. Normally, I'd spread my arms out to make sure he didn't sneak away, but my hands were a little busy.

“Kirihara-kun, I'm really sorry about hitting you!”

“Like I said, you should be.” He sighed as he continued walking.

I let out a small, frustrated groan as I ran in front of him once more. “Sorry...” I murmured again, handing him a bag of cookies. “I just made them in home economics. Just please forgive me already!”

Even though I wasn't really looking at him, I could see a surprised expression as his hair was blown slightly by the wind, that entered through the open window in the classroom.

“I was never mad...at you at least...” He trailed off as he grabbed the bag and counted how many cookies were inside.

“Pardon?” I questioned, laughing as if I were on the edge.

“I just didn't get enough sleep last night.” He mused as he opened the bag. “Didn't eat breakfast either.”

I flinched in annoyance as I stared at the seaweed-haired boy. Why was I always being blown by the wind in this way? If I could be as I had been before I met him, I wouldn't be feeling this worn out.

“Akaya~” A red-haired senior popped out of nowhere, startling the two. “Are those cookies?” He asked excitedly, sticking his hand in the bag.

Before any words left my lips, or his, the senior had already stuffed one in his mouth, munching on it contently.

Laughing nervously, I watched as he suddenly stiffened, eyes snapping open. “About those cookies....” I mused as I watched the older boy spit it out. “...I sort of burnt them....”

“And you were going to give them to me?” Kirihara asked disbelievingly, yet, he was thankful he didn't eat one.

“Well, they were the only things I had to apologize with!” I exclaimed. My heart pumped faster as I continued to talk with him. A blush covered my face once more, once more in embarrassment, as I started thinking about how bad I was with keeping up with time.

If I could, at this moment, I'd turn towards the far away sky, stretch my hands as if to reach my thoughts, and let them all go.

Would conversations like the one we were having make my heart beat the way it was now? I hope not because, every time my heart is back to beating properly, I smile and remember how great it was.

- - - -

At the end of the day, I opened my journal once more to read my new year's wish.

'This year I wish that my friends and I have a happy, great year. Also I hope I get to meet a boy who cares for me as I do for him.'

“Kiyori, hurry up, I want to go to the arcade.” Kirihara called out. I looked up from the journal with a small smile.

“Hold on, Kirihara-kun.” I replied as I put the book in my bag, “Learn to be patient!” Giggling, I grabbed his wrist and ran down the halls, out of the campus, and towards the arcade.