That Last Season

1: Spring

It's the start of the school year. The start of my very last year in senior. I checked my clock and I'm a bit early. Well, I'm actually walking already to school but sometimes I ride my bike.

I might consider myself as a nobody for I don't feel like talking with other people. Well, that does not matter to me at all because I only care for few people.

"Seiichiiiiiiiii!" and that includes my best friend who just called out my name.

I stopped walking and waited for him to reach my direction without even looking at him. I know he's running. I can hear footsteps running towards me and that's really him.

He's panting when he reached my direction.

"Hooh! You really walk fast!" he said.

"Yo, good morning," I just said and we started walking.

"Time flies so fast," he said opening up a conversation.

"Yeah, I guess so," I just shrugged.

"Do you have plans already after we graduated?" he asked.

I look up and watched the falling flowers of cherry blossoms and said, "I might pursue my college. How about you?"

"Well, I actually plan to find a regular job. You know, I really want my little sister to continue her studies," he said and silence began to eat us.

Yuji and I have the same situation. We, two, became breadwinners. He may be popular with girls but he's been sustaining his sister ever since we reached first year in senior high. Five years ago, his parents died in a car accident. His uncle took care of them but, after two years, his uncle died because of an illness.

We searched for a part-time job and ended up in bookstore and worked as a cashiers.

Going back, without noticing, we have reached the school.

"Attention to all students, the opening ceremony will commence in ten minutes. Please be at the auditorium immediately." It's the school intercom.
"Let's go Sei. We should hurry," Yuji said as we run to the auditorium.

When we reached the auditorium, someone shouted.

"EXCUSE MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!" Yuji and I looked at the direction where it came from. A girl is running very fast towards our direction. I can't move. What's happening to me?

And with just a snap, she bumped onto me and so I fell on the ground. A few seconds later, I realized something's heavy on my body and touching my lips.

She opened her eyes with surprise and distanced herself from me, covering her mouth.

I stood up and offered her a hand to help her stand but she slapped my hands, telling that she's refusing it.

"Waaaaahh! P-pervert!" she screamed while blushing and I suddenly realized what was touching my lips is that we accidentally kissed each other due to that fall.

"Oh, sorry," I said looking away with plain voice.

"P-pervert!" she shouted.

"It wouldn't happen if you didn't run." I said.

"What?! You... It's your fault!" she shouted pointing at me. And for the first time, I felt being pissed. I sighed to calm myself but...

"No, it's your stupidity. And I already said sorry eventhough I was not the one who's at fault here!" and that's how my temper reached it's limit.

"Now, now. That's enough, Sei," Yuji interrupted. I sighed out of disappointment and faced him.

"Yeah, let's go. We'll be late for the ceremony," I said and ignored that annoying girl. I turned my back and we went inside the auditorium.

After a few minutes, the ceremony had ended.

"Maaaan! That girl earlier is a real deal!" Yuji naughtily exclaimed.

"She's not my type," I said while staring outside the window where I am sitting. Yuji's table is beside me.

It seems like he had found an interest on what I said that's why I can feel that he is smirking at me.

"So, what's your type?" he asked in naughty tone.

I faced him plainly and said, "a simple yet beautiful lady."

"What the hell, man. I did not expect such words will come from you, pfft!" he snorted.

"Shut up, Yuji!" I said and he just laughed like a madman though. Girls are flirting with him, actually. Saying that they missed Yuji and so on. Who cares anyway?

"Goodmorning class!" our homeroom teacher came so we greeted her back.

"Before anything else, I want to introduce your new classmate. She just transferred here so she's not familiar with our school. Miss, you may come in," the teacher said. I just stared outside the window.

"Uhh... H-hi everyone! I'm Miyazawa Aika. Nice to meet you!"

That voice. I look in front of the class and I saw the girl whom I just fought with earlier. We met gazes. And what do you expect? We just argued.

Her seat was infront of my best friend's table. And from then on, I can see her face, cheerful and lively whenever I stare at her unknowingly.

It's a late May. Just exactly a month and five days after the first day of classes. Ever since that day, whenever Miyazawa and I will meet gazes or bump with each other, her expression will just suddenly change into monster.

"Yo, Sei!" Yuji cheerfully said right after he came in.

"Good morning. Your cheerfulness today is different. What's with it?" I plainly asked.

"You know, I am actually crushing on someone. She's also in third year at class three," he started. I just listened.

"Her name is Shimizu Michiko," his eyes are starting to get dreamy.

"She's so cute and we started being close. She's so gentle like a traditional japanese woman. Kyaaahh!" and that's how it is. His eyes is heart shape already. Tsk. This poor guy.

Class hour has begun. As usual, I'm staring at the window but there's something wrong, Miyazawa is absent.

*bell rings*

I'm actually fixing my things to prepare my lunch. After that, I walked with Yuji to eat in the rooftop.

"Hey Sei, I've got something to tell you," Yuji said as we reach te rooftop.

"Hmm? What is it?" I asked while munching my food.

"Michiko told me earlier that she won a three days and two nights tickets for four at the beach in Okinawa," he said.

"And so?" I asked.

"She told me I can invite one friend and she will also invite her friend. And so I decided to invite you. So, would you mind going with us or nah?" he asked. Well, you can say that I am not that type of person who likes to go anywhere else.

"And oh, I forgot. Resistance is futile, my friend," he added and winked at me then he continued eating his sandwich.

"Seriously, I might kill you for giving me choices when I really don't have any choices at all," I said in uprising tone.

He just laughed so I asked, "When is that?"

"It will be right after the start of summer vacation next month," he said.

"Oh, I see," I said.

***