Almost mine

Continue(chapter1)

Oh my goodness.

It was Tuesday already, and apparently, the week had decided to move at the speed of a sleepy turtle.

My alarm went off at six thirty in the morning.

I reached for my phone, blindly searching for the snooze button, when a familiar pain twisted through my lower stomach.

I froze.

No.

Please, no.

I slowly lifted my blanket and looked down.

My period.

Of course.

Because apparently, having a best friend who wouldn't speak to me and a boy whose kiss had ruined my peace wasn't enough. My body had decided to contribute to my suffering.

You know how it feels to have your period and still have to go to school? It feels like going straight to hell, except even Jesus might look at you and say, "Girl, you need to sit down." 😭

I pressed a hand against my stomach.

"Why me?"

I dragged myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom. The warm shower helped a little, but not enough to make me forget that I had an entire school day ahead of me.

When I came downstairs, I found Mom already in the kitchen.

It was her day off, but somehow, she had managed to wake up earlier than I did.

She stood beside the stove, preparing breakfast, with her hair loosely tied back.

"Good morning, Sakura."

I stared at her.

"How are you awake before me?"

She laughed. "It's my day off, not my death."

"That makes absolutely no sense."

"And yet, you're the one arguing with me before breakfast."

I dropped into a chair.

Mom placed a bowl of rice and miso soup in front of me, along with a small plate of grilled salmon.

"Eat something."

"I'm dying."

"You're hungry."

"I'm dying and hungry."

She shook her head, smiling.

Then she noticed the way I was sitting.

"Your period?"

I nodded miserably.

"Ah." She softened immediately. "Is it painful today?"

"Mom, I feel like my uterus is trying to remove itself from my body."

"Sakura!"

"What? It's the truth!"

She laughed so hard that she had to put down her spoon.

"Finish your breakfast. I'll get you a heat pack for later."

I loved my mother.

Even when she laughed at my suffering.

I glanced toward the clock.

"Have you seen Dad?"

"He's already at work."

Of course he was.

My father and I operated on completely different schedules. By the time he came home, I was usually asleep. When he left for work, I was still buried beneath my blankets.

Sometimes, I wondered whether we were actually living in the same house or simply sharing the same address.

Mom followed my gaze.

"You should spend some time with your father when you both have a free evening."

"I know."

"And don't forget to message him."

"I know, Mom."

She gave me a look.

I sighed.

"I'll message him."

Satisfied, she returned to the kitchen.

I finished my breakfast, packed my schoolbag, and slipped on my shoes near the entrance.

"Have a good day!" Mom called.

I looked back at her.

"Please pray for me."

"For what?"

"Math."

She burst out laughing.

I left before she could make it worse.

The walk to school was beautiful.

Which was honestly rude.

The sky was clear, the morning breeze was cool, and the cherry trees along the street looked peaceful beneath the early sunlight.

Meanwhile, I was walking like an elderly woman who had just discovered stairs.

By the time I reached school, students were gathering around the entrance. Some were changing into their indoor shoes, while others were rushing toward their classrooms with pieces of toast in their mouths.

I changed my shoes at the lockers and headed upstairs.

My first class was mathematics.

Mathematics.

First period.

On the day I had my period.

I stopped outside the classroom and stared at the door.

"Whoever created this timetable has something against me personally."

"Sakura?"

I turned.

Yuto was standing behind me, holding a carton of milk.

"Why are you talking to the door?"

"I'm asking it for strength."

He looked at the classroom, then back at me.

"Should I leave you alone?"

"Yes."

He nodded solemnly.

"Good luck in battle."

"Thank you."

He walked away.

At least someone understood my suffering.

Math class began with the teacher writing a series of equations across the board.

I stared at them.

They stared back.

Neither side was making progress.

"All right, everyone," our teacher announced. "Who can solve the next problem?"

I lowered my head.

Please don't choose me.

Please don't choose me.

Please don't—

"Sakura Fujimoto."

I closed my eyes.

Of course.

I stood slowly and walked toward the board, trying to remember the steps we'd learned the previous week.

The teacher pointed at the equation.

"Explain your reasoning."

My reasoning?

Sir, my reasoning is that I would rather be at home under three blankets with a hot water bottle.

Instead, I picked up the chalk and attempted to solve the problem.

I got halfway through before realizing I'd made a mistake.

A few students giggled.

I stared at the board.

Then I erased my work and started again.

When I finally returned to my seat, I let my forehead fall against my desk.

My classmate leaned toward me.

"Are you okay?"

"No."

"Do you need help?"

"I need a new life."

She pressed her lips together, trying not to laugh.

I lifted my head when the teacher began explaining the next problem.

"Sensei?"

He looked at me.

"Yes, Sakura?"

"When are we going to use this in real life?"

The classroom went quiet.

Someone behind me whispered, "She's actually asking."

Our teacher adjusted his glasses.

"Mathematics develops logical thinking and problem-solving skills."

I nodded slowly.

"Okay, but will it solve my problems?"

The class erupted in laughter.

Even the teacher smiled.

"Perhaps not all of them."

"Then I'll keep my expectations low."

"Sakura, please pay attention."

"Yes, Sensei."

I lowered my head and returned to my notebook.

One class down.

Several more to survive.

By the time psychology class approached, I had almost forgotten about my earlier suffering.

Almost.

I walked into the classroom, adjusting the strap of my bag on my shoulder.

"Okay," I muttered to myself. "Psychology. Something interesting. Something that doesn't involve numbers."

I stepped inside.

Then I stopped.

A beautiful girl was sitting beside my desk.

More specifically, she was sitting in the seat where Hina was supposed to sit.

My stomach tightened.

For a moment, I simply looked at the empty space between us.

Hina's seat.

Her usual place.

The girl looked up from her notebook and smiled politely.

"Hello."

I blinked.

"Oh. Hi."

She had long, dark hair that fell neatly over her shoulders and a calm expression that made her seem comfortable even in a room full of strangers. Her uniform was tidy, and her schoolbag rested beside her chair.

I wasn't sure what to say.

Before I could think of anything, Sōma entered the classroom carrying a stack of papers.

"Good morning, everyone."

The class answered together.

He placed the papers on his desk and glanced toward me.

"Sakura, I see you've met our new student."

I looked at the girl.

"Not exactly."

Sōma smiled.

"Then allow me to introduce her. This is Akari Shimizu. She recently transferred here."

Akari stood and gave the class a small bow.

"Nice to meet you. Please take care of me."

Several students greeted her warmly.

Sōma continued, "Akari has moved to Japan with her father. Her family recently relocated, so she'll be joining our class from today."

Akari sat down again.

I looked at her.

"Welcome to the class."

"Thank you."

There was a small pause.

Then she smiled at me.

"I'm guessing you're Sakura?"

I looked at Sōma.

He raised both hands innocently.

"I didn't tell her anything embarrassing."

"That wasn't my question."

Akari laughed.

"He mentioned that you would be helping me settle in."

I turned toward him.

"Did you?"

"I did."

"And did you mention that I am a perfectly normal person who doesn't threaten people before breakfast?"

Sōma pretended to think.

"That part slipped my mind."

I stared at him.

Akari covered her mouth to hide her laughter.

Wonderful.

My new seatmate had been here for approximately three minutes, and Sōma was already embarrassing me in front of her.

This was going to be a long semester.

When the lesson began, Sōma wrote our assignment on the board.

Psychology Assignment: How Do Social Relationships Influence Human Behavior and Decision-Making?

I read the title twice.

Then I leaned back in my chair.

Of course.

Of all the possible psychology topics in the world, we had been given one about relationships.

I was beginning to suspect that the universe was making fun of me.

Sōma turned toward the class.

"For this assignment, you'll work in pairs. I want you to discuss how friendships, family relationships, and peer pressure can influence a person's decisions. Use examples from everyday life, and explain how emotions can affect judgment."

He paused.

"At the end, each pair will submit a short written report and give a brief presentation."

Students began moving their chairs and forming pairs.

I automatically looked toward Hina's usual seat.

Then I remembered.

She wasn't sitting beside me anymore.

She wasn't sitting anywhere near me.

My chest tightened.

I looked down at my notebook, pretending to search for something.

"Sakura?"

Akari's voice brought me back.

I turned.

"Yes?"

"Would you like to work together?"

I blinked.

"Oh. Right. Yes, of course."

She smiled.

"Great."

I opened my notebook and wrote down the assignment title.

For a few minutesThe classroom filled with the sound of pens moving across paper and students quietly discussing their ideas.

Akari leaned toward me.

"So, what do you think?"

"About the assignment?"

She nodded.

I considered the question.

"I think relationships influence people more than they realize. Sometimes, we make decisions because we want someone to like us. Other times, we do things because we're afraid of losing someone."

Akari looked thoughtful.

"That's interesting."

"Is it?"

"Yes. Especially the part about being afraid of losing someone."

I glanced at her.

She was looking at the assignment sheet, but something about her expression had changed.

"Have you experienced that?" I asked.

Akari paused.

"Maybe."

I waited, but she didn't elaborate.

Instead, she pointed at my notebook.

"We should probably divide the work. I'll research how friendships influence decision-making, and you can write about peer pressure and emotions."

"That works."

"Then we can combine everything and prepare the presentation."

I nodded.

For the first time that morning, I felt slightly less miserable.

Akari was easy to talk to. She didn't ask too many questions, and she didn't seem bothered by my occasional sarcasm.

Perhaps having a new seatmate wouldn't be so terrible after all.

During the break, we stayed in the classroom to discuss our assignment.

Akari took a small notebook from her bag and began writing down possible ideas.

"So," I said, "where did you move from?"

"London."

I stared at her.

"London? As in England?"

She laughed.

"Yes, Sakura. The actual London."

"Sorry. I just wasn't expecting that."

"My father got married recently, and we moved here to live with my stepmother."

"Oh."

I hesitated.

"Do you like it here so far?"

Akari glanced toward the windows.

"It's beautiful. Different from what I'm used to, but beautiful."

"Have you made any friends yet?"

She looked at me.

"You're my first."

I blinked.

Then I felt a little guilty for how awkward I had been earlier.

"Well, congratulations. You've officially met the most exhausted girl in this school."

Akari laughed.

"I think I'll survive."

I smiled.

Then I noticed that she had gone quiet.

"Can I ask you something?" I said.

"Sure."

"Why did you transfer during the school year?"

Her fingers paused over the page.

For a moment, I thought she wouldn't answer.

Then she spoke.

"My mother died a while ago."

My smile faded.

"Oh. Akari, I'm sorry."

She nodded.

"Thank you."

There was a brief silence.

"She died in a house fire," Akari continued. "She was cooking when it happened."

I didn't know what to say.

The words seemed too small for something so terrible.

"I'm really sorry," I repeated.

Akari looked down at her notebook.

"It was difficult for my father, too. After some time, he decided we needed a fresh start. That's why we moved."

I swallowed.

"That must have been hard."

"It was."

She gave me a small smile, although it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"But I'm trying to adjust."

I nodded gently.

"If you ever need help with anything at school, you can ask me."

She looked at me in surprise.

"Really?"

"Of course. I might complain about it, but I'll still help."

That earned a genuine laugh from her.

"Thank you, Sakura."

"You're welcome."

The bell rang before either of us could say anything else.

We returned to our seats, and I opened my notebook again.

For some reason, I found myself thinking about how much could happen in someone's life without anyone else knowing.

Sometimes, a person could be smiling right beside you while carrying something you couldn't even imagine.

Maybe that was part of what psychology was supposed to teach us.

Not how to understand everyone perfectly.

But how to remember that we didn't know everything about them.

By the end of the school day, Akari and I had agreed to finish the assignment together.

"We should meet somewhere quiet," she said while we packed our things.

"My house is fine."

She looked at me.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. My mom will probably feed you before you even get through the front door."

Akari laughed.

"That sounds lovely."

"Trust me. You won't leave hungry."

We exchanged phone numbers so we could arrange the time.

Then we took a quick photo of our assignment notes and sent them to each other.

Akari checked her phone.

"Would tomorrow afternoon work?"

I thought about my schedule.

"Tomorrow should be fine. We can finish the research, write the report, and prepare the presentation."

"Perfect."

She slipped her phone into her bag.

"Thank you for helping me today."

I shrugged.

"We're partners. That's what partners do."

She smiled.

"Still. I'm glad I met you."

I looked away, pretending to adjust the strap of my bag.

"Don't get emotional. It's only Tuesday."

She laughed again.

And for a moment, the day felt a little lighter.

I was walking toward the school entrance when my phone vibrated.

I took it from my pocket.

An unknown number.

Unknown: Did you survive mathematics?

I frowned.

Then another message appeared.

Unknown: Or should I prepare a memorial service for your grades?

I stopped walking.

Excuse me?

I stared at the screen.

Who was this?

I checked the number again, hoping I had somehow received a message intended for someone else.

Then I typed a reply.

Me: Who is this?

The answer came almost immediately.

Unknown: That's a little hurtful, Sakura.

I narrowed my eyes.

No.

Absolutely not.

Me: Sōma?

Sōma: Congratulations. Your psychology lessons are working.

I stared at my phone.

How did he even have my number?

I typed furiously.

Me: WAIT. HOW DO YOU HAVE MY NUMBER???

Three dots appeared.

Disappeared.

Appeared again.

Sōma: Your class contact list.

I paused.

Then I remembered that our class contact list was shared with teachers for school announcements.

Of course.

I had completely forgotten about that.

Me: You could have started with that explanation.

Sōma: Where's the fun in that?

I rolled my eyes.

Me: Do you text all your students like this?

Sōma: Only the ones who interrogate me during class.

Me: I asked one question.

Sōma: And you threatened to throw someone's notebook out the window before lunch.

I stopped walking again.

HOW DID HE KNOW ABOUT THAT?

I looked around as if he might be standing behind a tree, spying on me.

Me: Were you secretly watching me all day?

Sōma: No. Your classmates have very loud conversations.

I pressed my lips together, trying not to smile.

Me: You're annoying.

Sōma: And yet, you're replying.

I gasped.

The audacity.

The absolute audacity.

Me: Goodbye,

Sōma: Good luck with your assignment, Sakura.

I slipped my phone into my pocket.

Then it vibrated one more time.

I pulled it out.

Sōma: And please try not to declare war on mathematics tomorrow.

I laughed before I could stop myself.

It was a small laugh, but it was real.

For the first time in days, I wasn't thinking about Ren's kiss or Hina walking away from me.

I was just a girl standing outside her school, arguing with her substitute psychology teacher over text messages.

A completely normal Tuesday.

Well.

Almost normal.

I started walking toward the station, the late-afternoon breeze brushing against my face.

Tomorrow, Akari would come over so we could finish our assignment.

Hina still wasn't speaking to me.

And Sōma Kurokawa apparently had too much free time.

I sighed.

My life was becoming complicated in ways I hadn't planned.