I mean, I'm...

Chapter one

"Dad..... He had seemed so normal, who would've thought-"

"Oi." A very monochrome voice broke through my thoughts. "H-Huh?" I blinked, looking around in confusion. A fist came and knocked my head. "Class is over. Time to go." I looked up to spot Shintaro, my classmate and friend. "O-Oh... Right..." I quickly packed my things and stood up, brushing off my skirt and smiling sheepishly at him. "I was just... thinking." "There's actually thoughts in there?" He raised an eyebrow "How come you don't use them on your tests then?" Shintaro tapped my head again with a finger this time, walking past me and heading towards the door.  "Let's go"

"H-Huh? O-Oh, right!" I quickly followed him out the door and down the hall. In the entrance way, I spotted Takane Enomoto and Haruka Kokonose, two upper classmen of ours, getting ready to leave. "Ah! Takane-san! Haruka-san!" I waved, standing up on my tiptoes to get their atenttion. Takane, a slim girl with black hair tied into two pigtails, turned to face me "Oh! Ayano-chan! And Shintaro..." She smiled at me, and Haruka waved at us both. "Are you guys heading home?" Takane asked, slinging her bag over her shoulder. "Yup!" I nodded "Would you like to head home together?" Haruka quickly answered "Yea sure!" 

After a bit of arguing between Shintaro and Takane, and scolding to Haruka, we ended up walking together anyways. We went to the arcade, and a cafe. I had so much fun with them... I always do. 

Later, Shintaro and I said goodbye to Takane and Haruka, and walked home. On the way back we ran into Dad. "Oh? Ayano? And this is.. Shintaro, right?" He smiled cheerfully, looking like he didn't have a care in the world, as usual. "Hm? Oh its the old man." Shintaro replied, looking extremely bored. "Excuse you, while I may not be as young as you-" "Were you heading home, Dad?" I interuppted his reply, carefully watching him. "Huh? No, I have some things to take care of, so I'll be home late, okay?" Dad waved and walked off. 

I got home and said bye to Shintaro, then slipped inside my house. "Oh, nobody's home, huh...." I murmured to myself. Everyone's shoes were gone. I went upstairs and attempted my homework, then changed into some casual clothes and started preparing dinner. While I was cooking, I heard the door open, and Shuuya's voice called out "We're home Onee-chan!" The three of them came into the dining room, Shuuya and Kousuke grinning, while Tsubomi was looking pleased with herself. "Onee-chan, guess what we did today!" Kousuke burst out, his eyes lit up. I smiled. I couldn't help it, not with their happy faces smiling at me. "Tell me at dinner okay?" I reached over to pat Kousuke on the head, then watched as they trooped into the living room to study. 

Ah... Why can't it always be like this.....