Heartstrings & Homework: Hanae's Story

Chapter 1: Back To School📑🫧

"Hmm... what time is it?"

I get up groggily and slowly walk my way to the curtains, then check outside. The sun shines brightly from outside, hurting my eyeballs. Ah, crap. I'm late. I look at my old alarm clock. "Oh... It's broken."

The time is practically 8:00 a.m. My first class period is probably starting by now.
"Meh, I'll just not go to school today."

After taking a bath, I walk downstairs to eat breakfast. As I arrive, my heart immediately drops when my mom suddenly shouts.
"HANAE?! WHY AREN'T YOU AT SCHOOL YET? I thought you were already away while I was sleeping!"

"Uh...Sorry, my alarm clock was broken again."
I look at the ground a bit, not wanting to look at her angry face.
"Hm... Really? Why didn't you say that earlier? I wouldn't have shouted at you."

"But you're not sick, right?" my mom asks.
"Yea, I guess," I reply

"Then, you're going to school."

"What? But mom, the class must have started already by now. It'd be embarrassing if I just walked in the middle of the lesson. I'll get scolded!"

"Hanae, your grades and sports are already disappointing. At least be good at school attendance!"

"But-"

"NO BUT'S! You're going to school and that's final."

I sigh and reluctantly comply. What a great way to start the day.

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The hallways are empty as expected except for some delinquents wandering around, obviously they're skipping class. I head closer to my class and feel a bit of anxiety.

I slowly slide the classroom door open. The teacher and most of the students turn their heads to me. It is dead silent.

"Hanae? Why are you late?"
My social studies teacher asked. Noticing my friends giving me a worried look.
"Sorry, sir. My alarm clock broke soo... yeah."

"It's alright. I'll let it slide since you're rarely late. Go to your seat and open page 68, okay?"
I nod and go to my seat while ignoring the annoying snickering from a certain girl group. Their gyaru ass laughing like them car engines.

The bell chimes after half an hour and we all wait for the next teacher to come.

In the meantime, a girl came up to me. "Um... H-Hey.. Are you okay? I saw those girls bullying you again.."
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This girl is my friend, Nao Aikawa. One perfect gal. Her beautiful, kind looks and is incredibly great in academics (but not active in sports). Plus, she's the school librarian. If my mathematics grades were like hers, I would never complain again, to be honest.
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"Haha, yea yea, I'm okay. Just ignore them," I reply.
Then, the student council's daily announcement from the PA system interrupts our conversation.

"Good morning. Attention. Attention to the students who are involved with the upcoming public speaking tournament. Please meet Mr. Gou after recess. I repeat: Attention to the students who are involved with the upcoming public speaking tournament. Please meet Mr. Gou after recess.
Thank you."

After the announcement, I look at Nao to continue the conversation but she seems pretty distracted as well as other girls in the class.
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Katashi Akagi. Class 2-A while I'm class 2-E. A determined and stern student council, who patrols the school hallways, does the daily announcements and is still somehow great in academics and good in sports.

Plus, he's REALLY handsome.

Bro, I'm way far from anyone's level at this point. But makes sense why everyone admires him a lot, including me. Though, he's kinda scary or somewhat intimidating.

Our teacher arrived. Nao and the other students go back to their seats and everybody stands up to greet the teacher like usual.

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The bell finally chimes again, indicating that it's recess time. I take out my bento while Nao and Katsumi adjust their tables to sit and eat with me.

Katsumi... Another friend of mine. She's an interesting one.