Perfect Akari

Chapter One~ My Story Begins

Spring blossomed as I came into this world. My parents gave me the name Akari because I was the light of their world. Two years passed in a blink of an eye. I was able to walk, speak, and solve puzzles in a matter of seconds. Mom and Dad were proud, thinking I was gifted. Later on, I learned to write. What I have written were formulas in math and chemistry that were way advance for even a three year old.

My parents decided to place me in school early. In school all the kids were in the playground, running around and chasing each other. I was sitting on the soft grass under a shaded tree, reading books I loaned from my nearby library. The teachers weren't sure what to make of it, thinking I should play with the other kids. I tried to play with them, but I didn't get what the point was in the games they played like hide and seek or tag.

There was no sense of accomplishment.

The kids thought I wasn't much fun and stopped playing with me. My parents worried about my social behavior so they took me to a therapist. The therapist asked me questions and gave me simple tests. The results surprised him as I was able to understand and learn things faster than the average child. He confided with my parents and reassured them, I'm somewhat a special case, he says.

Presently...

Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Beep. Click.

I get up on my bed and look out the window while listening to the heavy wind pounding against it. I rub my head feeling the messy strands dangle over my face then look over my right shoulder, it's 6:30 AM. Heaving a sigh I push myself up and walk towards my closet to grab my school uniform and its matching skirt, placing them on the bed before heading into the bathroom.

After about twenty-five minutes I came downstairs with my bag. The smell of miso soup made me perk up a bit. I can only guess we are having steamed rice, pickled radishes, and grilled fish. Dad warmly greets me with his normal gruff voice while grabbing his black coffee, then takes several sips as he reads today's newspaper. I sat right next to him overhearing Mom's footsteps entering the room.

"How'd you do in the exam," Mom asks, handing me a bowl of steamed rice.

"Fine," I briefly answer.

Dad looks up from his newspaper, "I'm sure she scored top marks again."

"Of course, she's always been smart no matter what subject it is. I don't know where she gets it from."

"She gets it from me. I mean back in my day I'd score top marks in all of my classes," Dad happily boasted.

"Oh really...last I remember your scores were barely at the borderline of average."

"Ahh, I was probably sick haha..."

Mom nonchalantly rolls her eyes ignoring his remark and turns to me.

"Have you made any friends?"

This again.

"I have to get to school and I'll be home late," I said quickly setting down my rice bowl and standing up to leave, "don't wait up."

Mom was about to stop me but I was already out the door.

Everyone is keeping their distance from me as usual, girls gossip and boys being boys. I walk up the stairs to the third floor and enter my classroom. All the chatter stops and they turn to my direction. I head towards my seat slowly hearing the whispers of my classmates. I take my seat and unzip my bag to pull out my textbook and writing utensils. I look up at the classroom clock before taking out a book to pass the time.