Komorebi: Sunlight Streaming Through the Leaves

Note to Reader: This story is set in Japan, where the naming system is slightly different: When general people or even friends address you, you will most likely be referred to by your last name, unless you are family or very close friends. Lets take the male protagonist of this story, Tomoya Okazaki. Throughout the course of this book he will mostly be referred to as just 'Okazaki' unless he asks them to call him Tomoya.

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Komorebi

Chapter 1

On The Hillside Path Where the Cherry Blossoms Flutter

Sakura Maichiru Sakamichi de

 桜舞い散る坂道で 

I hate this place. It’s full of the memories I’d much rather forget. I go to school every day, talk to my friends, and then go back to a home I don’t want, there is no place I hate more. How long will I have to wait until things start to change? Will such a day ever come?

*

I advance up the hill nonchalantly; cherry blossoms flutter peacefully around me, settling on the path leading up to the school. The sweet aroma settles my mind as I push unwanted thoughts from my head and the musky pink soothes my eyes.

“Anpan!” I turn to the source of the noise, a girl, with light auburn hair is standing at the edge of the path with her head bowed. She mutters “Do you like this school? I have to say I love this place… But things always have to change.” A girl I’ve never met. She isn’t speaking to me; she must be speaking to someone in her heart. “Fun things, happy things… but eventually they will all change. Even so, can you continue loving this place?” I walk towards the girl. I slowly I say “You just have to keep looking.” It feels awkward talking to someone I’ve never met, but my mind acted of its own accord, it seemed the right thing to do.

“Oh” she sighs and looks up at me, her eyes wide.

“Surely you can find new fun and happy things, it’s not so hard?” after a slight pause “Come on, let’s go.” I begin to walk up the winding hill. A moment’s hesitation whilst the girl glances back wistfully, then she turns and starts walking up the hill after me.

*

After school I usually go back to Sunohara’s place, I can’t face my own home, how pathetic. As I enter the boy’s dormitory complex, a sight seen frequently, Sunohara’s dignity getting kicked by the rugby team. I stand at the side lines, spectating the scene. Sunohara makes a strange strangled screeching sound. “Haven’t you learned your lesson yet Sunohara?”

“Yeah Sunohara!” another team member chips in “What do you think you’re doing playing music so loud every day?”

“I just can’t get going until I hear that song.” Sunohara answers weakly. The rugby player pinning him to the floor lets out a deafening battle cry as he throws Sunohara over his shoulders to another team member. “Do they ever get tired of doing this? I’m sure it happens every day.” I raise a quizzical eyebrow.

“Okazaki, don’t just stand there help me!” Sunohara yells as the beefiest player starts to swing him upside down suspended by one leg. Making a sighing noise I say “No way, I don’t want to turn into a lame brain like you.”

“You can be so cold hearted sometimes Okazaki! Help!” Sunohara gets thrown around the room a little more, he’s probably used to it now, and you never know, he might even get some sense knocked into him.

 “Quiet! QUIET!” A woman menacingly brandishing a broom comes running down the hallway waving her fist at the ruckus in the corridor “Will you guys please knock it off!” Noticing the woman, the rugby team members disperse, running out of the building, trampling Sunohara and potted plants as they exit. “Those stupid kids” she huffs as she brushes at her hair with her fingers “I’m the one all those darn neighbours complain to you know.”