note-taking | SDR2

Prologue | Day One | June 18th | 9:27am

Day One

June 18th

9:27am

*****

Today was the day. The day in which my friends and I would leave home to go on a road trip to who-knows-where. I'd been packing and preparing for this trip for weeks, saving money, printing out maps and landmarks off of my laptop like my life counted on it. My mother, despite the constant remarks and telling me how ridiculous the idea was, was proud of the decision I made.

Ten days ago, my grade and I graduated high school at Kibougamine Academy, an impressive school with even more impressive students. My friends and I seemed like ladybugs in a meadow there, all of the students with such impressive talents, like having the ability to calculate any math problem or write an award-winning book in under a week. I felt ridiculous in the scenario, my mom signing me up as part of the prep school at the academy... Which was far less interesting. No incredible talents or anything.

But... I'd sort of adapted to seeming talentless, and became a human sponge. Not literally. I absorbed little things from everywhere around me and understood that having one ultimate talent was tricky, and that multiple things I was comfortable with would be a lot more fascinating. I learned that despite such high expectations for the "ultimate" students and such low expectations for the prep school students, I was able to blend in with the ultimates and the prep school students. My best friends were "ultimate" students.

Although, after graduating from the academy, none of that mattered. We were all put under one category- Human. My best friends had suggested we all get together and take a big trip around... Around. Anywhere. We would take two or three cars and travel together until we felt like stopping, and just live a little. I was ready to leave the years that planned out my path as an adult, just to have fun and do what I wanted with the people I cared for.

"Are you awake yet, Hajime? You have a big day ahead of you, you know!" My mother's voice echoed through the hallways of the second floor of my house. I groaned, rolling to my side and swinging my legs over the side of the bed, touching the floor and hoisting myself onto my two feet.

"Yeah, mom, I'm awake," I mumbled, not knowing if it was audible enough or not.

I could see my mother's dark brown hair sway around as she stopped in front of my doorway, an understanding smile on her face. "Good morning."

"This house smells like bacon," I yawned, and my mom chuckled.

"Probably because I made bacon. You need protein today. Long drive, right?"

I shook my head. "I don't even know."

"I moved all of your bags into the kitchen. Nagito stopped by and said he'd come back to pick you up at ten, which means you have half an hour to get ready..." Her voice trailed off. "I'm proud of you. This is a big chance."

"Moooom," I whined. "You don't have to be all parent-y today just because I'm leaving." She flung her hands up in the air as if to protest.

"But that's the thing! You're leaving, Hajime!" She walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. "My baby is leaving."

"I'll be back, Mom, you don't have to make such a big deal about it."

"Ew, you're like three inches taller than me." She released me from the hug and stepped back. "You look just like him, too. It's reminding me too much of when he left."

By "he", she meant "my dad". According to my mom, he was honestly an incredible guy with a great sense of humor and common sense like no one else. She still to this day, cannot figure out why he left. He had no reason, no personality change, nothing. He just... Left. Before I even turned two.