𝒦𝑜𝓃𝑜𝒽𝒶 𝐻𝒾𝑔𝒽

𝓜𝓸𝓻𝓷𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓜𝓸𝓶𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓼 & 𝓜𝓲𝓼𝓼𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓟𝓲𝓮𝓬𝓮𝓼

                      ⸻⸻⋅☾ 🍡 ☽⋅⸻⸻             

The alarm clock blaring beside me shook me from my thoughts. Haven't been able to sleep— I've just been lying there for hours. My sleep schedule has been pretty fucked up lately, due to the holidays, but finally, I had a reason to get up.

Not that I was exactly excited about it.

Today was the first day of 11th grade. I used to take school pretty seriously, still do, but I've definitely outgrown the whole teacher's pet thing. School's just turned into its own kind of hell over the years. Summer was okay, though; Dad visited a few times at least. Not that it helped me much, but maybe he's trying to make up for being a crappy husband to Mom.

...

As I walked downstairs, I saw Mom in the kitchen, attempting to eat breakfast while struggling into her hospital coat. When she noticed me, she forced a smile and waved.

She looked exhausted.

"Here, let me help," I offered, reaching for her hospital ID on the counter to clip it to her coat.

After swallowing her food, she brushed a stray hair from my face. "Good morning," she said in her usual cheerful tone. "I made breakfast, but I didn't have time to pack your lunch. Here's some money." She looked apologetic as she fished a few yen out of her bag.

"It's okay, Mom. I know you're busy. Don't worry about it," I said, taking the money with a smile.

She still looked upset. "This can't keep happening, though—"

I cut her off. "Mom, it's fine. Don't act like you committed some world class crime or something. I get it; you were tired."

She stared at me for a second, then chuckled softly. "That attitude of yours... reminds me so much of your father."

...

I froze for a moment.

...

She leaned forward and kissed my forehead. "I have a shift to get to, but I'll bring you back a box of green tea mochi afterward, okay? Your favorite."

I snapped out of my thoughts. " Don't waste your money."

She just laughed. "Have a good first day at school," she said, grabbing her car keys.

...

After convincing her I had everything under control, I managed to get her out the door. She's always late for her shifts, wasting time worrying over me