Hisashiburi Happiness [Long Time No See, Happiness] - Yasuki Aiji

Hisashiburi Happiness [Long Time No See, Happiness] - Yasuki Aiji Prologue

Last summer, I went to a summer trip with my parents to a hot spring. It was really good trip, I was so glad my dad planned it for us. It had been a while since the last time we went on a trip because my parents are busy working in town.

We lived in a village in Kyoto back then. My parents always got home late because of their work. They really were the greatest parents. They worked so hard for me, for my studies until now I’m second year of high-school. They had been saving money for that trip, it’s all for me, their only daughter.

But then I really wish that I had never gone to that trip. It was the worst nightmare in my life. On our way back from the hot spring, it was raining really hard and our bus got into an accident. It went to the other way and hit a truck. The truck and our bus exploded there. Some passengers were saved. I was saved but not my parents. They both died there protecting me from the fire. They burnt.

Their bodies weren’t became ashes yet. My relatives came and buried them. I was so sad, I lost my parents. I haven’t done anything for them and they left already. Since their death, I rarely talk to other people. I don’t know why but it’s just hurt to talk since then. I’m not the old me anymore. I spent the rest of my summer holiday alone, lock myself in my house and only get out if I needed to do some groceries shopping.

Until the end of my summer holiday, Mrs. Shiori –a friend of my mother– called me. I remember my mother said she is her best friend. She said she is a teacher in a school in Tokyo. She said she wants me to move to Tokyo and live with her and her family and pay for my school until I graduated from university and ready to get a job. I know she is pretty rich, that’s what my mother said. I’ve met her in my parent’s funeral and I think I’ve met her somewhere else once. Her face is familiar for me.

She signed me in one school, different school from where she teaches. A few days after she called me, I went to Tokyo, brought all my clothes and everything I need. Bringing many of big suitcases is not easy. Luckily Mrs. Shiori and her husband came to Kyoto to help me.

Once I arrived in their house, I put everything in my belongings in the room they’ve chosen for me. My hands were all so tired and I throw myself on a really soft bed in there. My room is so much bigger than my old one. It has a study table, a small bookshelf, a wardrobe, and a dressing table. There’s also a nice bathroom in my room. This family is really wealthy.

And finally it’s the beginning of the second term in second year of high school. It’s autumn already and the leaves are getting orange and start falling to the ground. And here I am in the main gate of my new school, new uniform, and will getting along well (I hope) with new schoolmates.

I’m walking in to the building, I’m so nervous. Everyone’s eyes are on me. It’s pretty normal; I’m a new student, entered in the middle of the school term like this. I decided to just ignore them and keep walking.

I enter the school building and change my shoes to my indoor shoes and walk to the principal room. This school is surely big. I might get lost here. Luckily I meet a worker in the hallway and he walks me to the principal room.

I talked a bit with the principal and he walks me to the teacher’s room and introduces me to my homeroom teacher. Her name is Mr. Nishimura, he seems to be a good teacher. Not long after that the bell rings loudly and I walk to my class with Mr. Nishimura. “Class 2-A”, that’s what it says in the front door of my class. Mr. Nishimura comes in first and I wait until he tells me to come in.

Student                : “Stand. Bow”

Students               : “Good Morning, Mr. Nishimura”

Mr. Nishimura     : “Good Morning everyone. As you know, today we have a new student. Please come in”

I slide open the door and everyone’s eyes are instantly staring direct to me. I feel so awkward.