Moonlight

Chapter 2

The bustle of a new day greeted me as I opened the store. My mother used to tell me that sunshine must be let in a room, no matter what it may be. I also remember hating it when I was younger. But now, seeing it in a different perspective, I appreciate the way the dust danced around the beams of lights. The colors are more vibrant and the promise of a good day smells crisp like the fallen leaves that we sweep at the backyard of our house.

"Good morning!" I greeted our first set of customers. They were wearing the same uniform as I am which reminds me that from today onwards, I have to make my own steps of moving on from my past.

I was greeted by Uncle Keishin a groggy morning as he made his way to the counter to punch in the products bought by the students. I finished arranging the new stocks of buns and was about to get some food for school when I heard the two schoolgirls whispering among themselves. I took a glance and when they noticed, they silenced themselves and timidly walked out.

Uncle sighed, "You okay? If things will bother you, I'll be here at the store, alright? Here's your lunch bag, help yourself with whatever snacks you want to bring."

I simply nodded and went to get my snacks. I couldn't really be bothered of any talks behind my back. I just wished they'd get the whole story first before making a scoop.

Eh, why would it matter anyway. Highschool is temporary.

"I'll be off, uncle!" I told uncle. The cranky man with a cigarette stick in his mouth just gave me a hum of approval. He never gets a morning with a good mood.

---

I am not quite sure of what's going on.

First, the vice-principal told me he would be right back and left me on school grounds. I've been receiving curious looks for almost an hour now. Could he have forgotten me?

Second, a certain Kiyoko Shimizu along with a long-haired guy, brown-haired guy, and a slightly gray-haired guy approached me.

"Excuse me, are you a first year?", Kiyoko kindly asked.

"Yes, I am." I answered with my eyes on the ground.

The other brown-haired shorter guy spoke up, "Why are you here? Are you lost?"

I looked up, fearful of what their eyes might tell me.

Boys always have a different story that their lips and eyes tell.

Surprisingly, he was as pure as he is with his question.

"The vice-principal told me he would come back for me. He said he had matters to attend to for a while."

The tall guy chuckled, "He's a chaotic ball, alright. We can bring you to your room instead? What class would you be in?"

I showed them my class schedule. It's strange how warm I feel around them. They're different from the boys I know.

"Ah, this is Hinata's class. We can just get you there. Class is going to start anyway, we can tell the vice-principal about this later."

I shook my head. I really wouldn't want an uproar on my first day.

"Thank you for your kindness but I would rather wait for him. I don't want him to worry where I might have gone off. Also, don't you have classes too?" I gave them a meek smile, "I'll be fine."