CotE: Dearest

Chapter 1 - Future

"Some memories are meant to fade, but hers never did."

The future was a blank page, a canvas I never imagined I'd be allowed to paint on.

Hence, I had never given much thought to my future.

My life, as I knew it, was supposed to be confined within the sterile, austere walls of the White Room.

That was my father's ideal.

Now, however, I was given the opportunity to choose my future; it's in my own hands.

Yet, I remained indifferent, or so I tried to convince myself.

Whether I ended up back in the White Room, in a nine-to-five job, or seated in a college lecture hall, it all seemed the same—an endless series of events with no real meaning.

None of these possibilities stirred any excitement within me.

They were just different shades of the same color, different variations of a life that felt predestined to be empty.

The rattling of the train warped me back to reality and through the frosted window, I beheld the landscape of the countryside of Japan while periodically bouncing in sync with the train.

Snowflakes, delicate and intricate, danced lazily through the air before settling softly on the earth, creating a pristine blanket that sparkled in the pale light.

The snow draped over the countryside like a silken quilt, each flake a tiny masterpiece of crystalline artistry.

As the train neared closer to its destination, the landscape subtly transformed.

The snow's blanket began to recede, giving way to the first hints of spring. The stark whiteness was replaced by a delicate palette of greens and pinks, as the buds of sakura trees began to unfurl their petals timidly.

"Next stop is Tōkyō Station. Please disembark on the right-hand side."

I wonder if there'll be snow in Tokyo, too?

"Are you ready, Kiyotaka?" Manabu asked as the train stopped and the doors opened to our destination.

"I am," I replied and disembarked, "you mentioned that this college was popular?"

The city air, charged with Tokyo's ceaseless energy, enveloped me immediately.

"Yes, compared to ANHS, this is a regular school but many students decide to come here after ANHS. You'll be surprised by how many people you'll recognize."

Tōyō University, nestled in the heart of Tokyo, is apparently a popular destination for students of ANHS after successfully graduating.

While ANHS guarantees you any job in the lower and middle classes, if you are aspiring to higher-class careers, attending this university is a crucial step.

"I assume Tachibana is attending there, too?"

Manabu glanced at me, a trace of curiosity in his eyes. "Why do you assume that?"

"Just a hunch," I replied, "Call it intuition."

"Yes, she's in my class," he admitted.

"Wow. I didn't expect that."

Manabu sighed, recognizing the sarcasm in my voice, and adjusted his glasses.

"Stop it."

After that, we left the train station and entered the city.

I followed him, but it was hard to communicate among the many people around us. If we tried to talk to each other, we would have to shout to make ourselves understood.