Summer, 2011 | Osaka Prefectural Kozu High School, Japan
Another vibrant day, another brighter sun. There were many students around the campus, filling the atmosphere with festive and liberty. And then there's me, in a classroom during recess hour watching over other students from the glass window on the third floor.
The entrance exam is nearing, and the senior year will also come to a close. The time I've spent here will finally pay off once I get into college. It also marks the end of my childhood, whether that's true or not. Everyone changed, and perhaps one day I will too.
But sometimes, there are wonders that aren't meant to change.
The classroom door suddenly slid open, revealing a familiar silhouette in its wake. She walked up to me, invading my privacy. Too close. But too intertwined.
"Fumiko! Hey hey! Wanna go to the water park this weekend? I heard Kozuma will also be there!"
Of course, it's no one else than Maki herself, the one whose obsession with teenage love life and romance stories are unmatched by any other. The most lousy girl I've ever met, and my constant emotional support whenever I need them. Wherever I reside.
"Kozuma? Didn't you say you like Sato a week ago? Something changed in you huh. No, I don't think I'm going, I still need to catch up with my studies."
Maki pouted in response, grabbing the palm of my hand with a strong squeeze.
"You're always like that, always the busy one, come on! It's our last semester of high school, are you really going to waste your teenage hood just like that? Also, for your information, my love life has got nothing to do with anyone!" she huffed.
A small smirk was displayed on my face without me noticing, and I reached for her cheeks, squeezing them teasingly as Maki struggled to remove my hands from her face.
"Ngn! Fumiko! You tease!"
Despite her words, she couldn't hold back her giggles — making no actual move to swat my fingers away. I gradually released her face as she stood up properly and sat on the edge of my table, childish… but never annoying. I guess the one who always gets on my nerves has always been the closest to me.
"Sigh.. you're such a tease sometimes, senpai. You play too much. But that's what I like about you, you're always nice to me." She nudged at my shoulder playfully.
Nice… only her, only you Maki would call me nice when others distance themselves from me. I never blamed anyone for doing so, even though I wouldn't want to talk to myself because of my personality. When you become untouchable you're unable to touch.
"So, what do I want to do after all of this? Do you have a dream job? Somewhere you wanted to be?"
Dream, it's a simple concept really, but I haven't dreamed for a long time now, but I guess it's never too late to keep on dreaming.
"I wanted to see the world someday, beyond this border of our culture. I wanted to see the bad side of our world, so I can come back to appreciate what I had here. *I snort* But honestly, I think I might just end up as an office worker."
"Always so serious, you need to cheer up a bit. Oh! I know! How about we go to that game parlor that just opened downtown? I heard there are a lot of new arcades there. Kozuma will also be there…"
Maki twiddled her fingers together as her face glows a light shade of pink. Knowing her, it's no surprise that she always has a contingency plan that always favors her back. Maybe that's life after all, you only get further by manipulating the environment around you, no matter how innocent you are.
....
'Beep-beep-beep-beep'
"Ugh… is it morning already..?"
I looked at the digital clock on the nightstand of my bed. It's 6:30 AM, this is probably one of the earliest hours I had ever been woken up ever since high school. On the bright side, it seems that I'm still capable of dreaming the sweetest and bitterest of memory. I'm not sure that's a good thing though.
"Good morning, Archivist. It's time for you to get dressed. Your train will arrive in the Allied Station at approximately 7:45 AM central time. I advise that you manage your time accordingly and take the necessary nutrition before departing."
I sit up straight on the edge of the bed, scratching my itchy face. It seems someone really did have a proper sleep last night.
"I know Genesis.. I'm waking up now.. also, please set up a GPS system to do the station, I don't think I'm familiar with this city yet."
"Understood."
I let out a long sigh while stretching my back and stood up from the bed — walking over to the nearest wardrobe inside the Sanctum Tower's dormitory. When I opened it, there were… some interesting design of clothing inside. Most of them were relatively the same boring office design among other few casual wear.
"Say no more, I know which one to wear."
I picked the casual shirt and jeans from the hanger, sizing them on my figure. But as I was preparing to change into it, Genesis suddenly interrupted.
"Archivist, might I remind you that this is a formal meeting, standard issued attire is highly advised."
I looked up at the installed flat screen on top of the entranceway with tired eyes. Reluctantly, I put the casual wear back inside the wardrobe and picked up the formal one beside it.
"You really have a bad taste in fashion," I said while undressing my upper body.
"As if you have any," Genesis replied curtly.
"What was THAT supposed to mean?!"
I shoot a glare at the screen while pointing my index finger accusingly towards it. This damn clanker, who do you think you are?! I swear I'll pull your plug you RAM eating moron!
"I believe you're mistaken, I have not said anything to respond to your accusation, please clarify."
"Wha- what do you mean?! You just said- I-I… you can't just gaslighting people like that!"
I shook my head frantically, trying to regain some resemblance of composure while staring at the empty screen with annoyance. This thing… oh the audacity!
"I could not pinpoint the source of your stress, but I am not trying to evade your question or gaslight you for my own personal benefits."
I stammered on my words, trying to logic this out but ended up letting out another long sigh. I decided to forget this pointless exchange and continue my morning routine — changing into the appropriate attire before leaving the dormitory.
On my way to the kitchen, I saw the scenery of the world below the tower. The once scorching earth that once set the heart of the district ablazed has now ceased as the people of the Hereafter came together as a community to clean up the remaining mess. The central government has also dispatched related bureaus to replace and repair damaged infrastructures early in the morning. I guess people don't really wait to do good deeds for the mutual benefits of everyone.
Once I reached the kitchen, I opened the drawer only to find out that they're packed with energy bars and protein bars. Where are the foods? Like actual foods! Not… this!
But I guess, you really don't have many options in dire times. After all, survival is the essential priority in a human life, even if it means depending on these bars as livestock. I picked up one of the bars from the drawer and ripped it open using my teeth.
It… doesn't taste as bad as I expected.
"Archivist, before you depart, it is essential that you wear this."
Suddenly, a digital watch ascended from beneath the counter as the top of the counter shifted slightly. The watch looks like any other ordinary watch where I came from. Perhaps even in the afterlife, our worlds weren't so different.
"Is it a gift?"
"Sort of, this watch serves as a tracker that gives me the permission to track your location in real time during an emergency, it also enables me to communicate with you from a distance where the Global Communication Satellites were already established."
A tracker huh… neat. I stuffed the bar into my mouth and picked up the watch from the counter. It's not really my cup of tea but I guess it serves its purpose.
"Well, I'm off to the station now. If anyone comes searching for me, tell them I'm unavailable for… a few days."
With that last command, I took the lift and descended to the ground level. As I stepped out of the tower, the large-scale cleaning activity was already being wrapped up. The people had already resumed their daily life as usual like it was Tuesday.
This is the life that I had to adapt from now on, the life that I was forced to accept. But either way, one will always be powerless against fate. And this train will lead me into another uncertain district, far away from home that I once knew.
Far away… from the family I had.