The Reve - Part 1

Chapter 8: Don't You Wait No More

Early on a January morning, the breakfast doorbell woke Hyori up. Stretching awake, she mourned the end of the winter break. Walking down the hall, the closed doors of her roommates were nagging her. The older hosts could rest some more as if they didn't already have it easier during the night! She was the only one staying on the clock for eight hours.

She was arranging her desk when the class representative approached her. Sadako was a slim girl, taller than average and with perfectly flat-ironed hair.

"Good morning, Shinsou. I wanted to contact you for the class's Christmas meet-up but forgot to ask your phone number."

When Hyori enrolled after the summer break, her classmates were busy catching up. By the time they registered a new pupil was part of the class, too much time had passed to get to know each other.

"I'm not allowed to go out without my family."

The excuse wasn't far from the truth as Bliss told her not to follow strangers.

"Really? You have a strict family! Sorry."

The class representative turned around before remembering something else.

"Congratulations, by the way. You scored the highest mark last semester."

"Thank you, Sadako."

Some peers took the opportunity to make fun of her with back-handed compliments.

"Man, aren't you almost a teacher's pet? You would be the perfect pupil if you didn't sleep in class. How does your strict family feel about you sleeping in class?"

She didn't react to the stunt but memories of Miss Sako's tutelage filled her mind. The woman told her how she had to correct Hyori's posture during classes as a toddler. She said that if left uncorrected, she would gradually fall asleep on the desk. It seemed she wasn't new to being sleepy during classes.

Resuming unloading her backpack, the kitten charm dangling on her backpack caught Hanabi's attention, her nearby classmate.

"You have a kitten charm, Shinsou. Are you trying to be cute? I thought you weren't interested."

"It's a Christmas gift."

"It's cute! Do you have a boyfriend?"

Kiku, the boy on Hyori's left, had been the one to answer the question. Her two classmates were childhood friends and tended to invite themselves into the other's conversations.

"Of course she doesn't !"

Kiku was the only pupil in the class taller than her. Thanks to him, the school placed second in the Prefecture's Kendo Championships last October. He was also Hyori's recurrent physical education partner for duo activities like three-legged races.

"Why not?" Protested Hanabi.

The boy didn't answer and turned the other way.

The hazel girl's attention was back on Hyori and she asked.

"Is your boyfriend in the school?"

The teacher's entrance spared Hyori from answering. After the first period, she arranged her bag to rush back to the basement. She was interrupted in her tracks by Hanabi who questioned her.

"Don't you ever eat at school? I don't remember ever seeing you in the cafeteria."

"I don't. I live nearby and go home for lunch."

"Are you on a specific diet?"

"More or less."

With that, the violet speed-walked towards the school's gates.