I got to class five minutes early. This rarely happened—I like to sleep too much. But today I just woke up on my own. Without an alarm clock. Without Mom screaming from the kitchen. I just opened my eyes and realized it was going to be a strange day.
—Oh, you're an early riser," Takao chuckled as I sat down at a desk next to him.
"Don't start," I muttered, pulling a notebook out of my bag.
— They say that if you arrive at school on time, somewhere in the world one cat learns to play the piano. Do you want the cats to suffer?
I didn't say anything. Takao is a hurricane with a voice. He never stops talking, but it's impossible not to love him. At least because he knows how to notice when you just want to sit in silence.
We exchanged a few more jokes, and then our teacher, Inoue—sensei, came into the classroom. A girl appeared with him.
New.
She looked as if she had accidentally wandered in here from another planet —straight back, neat shape, bag clutched to her chest, eyes darting around the classroom as if looking for a way out. Her cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement.
—Class, this is Hirasawa Miyako. She transferred here from another school. I ask you to love and favor.
An awkward silence. Someone clapped listlessly. The girl bowed too sharply, almost dropping her bag.
— Nice to meet you, — barely audible.
Sensei looked around the classroom, and I was already worried.
— Sajo, your place is empty. We'll put her down with you.
I didn't have time to object. She came over and sat down carefully next to him. Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed her stealing a glance at me. And I... just nodded.
—Kurume,— I said.
—Miyako,— she replied softly.
While the lesson was going on, I tried not to look in her direction. But it's impossible not to notice how a person sits as if on pins and needles. How it holds the pen perfectly straight. Just five seconds before the test, he pulls out two pencils and a ruler, ready to fight.
Control. The first day, and she writes as if her life depends on it.
I glanced at my paper... and I realized that for the first time in my life I want to win against someone I don't even know.