CH1 1: Hide and Seek

"Memory is more indelible than ink."

― Anita Loos

**********

Would it be possible if I just lay down and not do anything?

I swear if laziness is a job, I would have been a billionaire to this day. Even richer than the richest man in the world.

Today is a perfect day to laze around, perfect temperature, a perfect position in the bed along with the perfect softness of the mattress, Ah! this is it―

"Ugly! Wake up! Time for school!"

―If only it weren't Monday.

"Hurry up! I'm gonna leave you behind if you won't step out!" My sister nag on the door at the same time banging it so hard it might break any second.

"I'm...coming~" I lazily said, using the last amount of energy I have to open my eyes. Why do I have to wake up so early? The sun's not even rising yet....

"You know, If we keep repeating this routine, I'm gonna miss school! I still have things to do you know!" The loud bang on the door increased, and so is my will to sleep. But my sister was not in for my laziness and called mom for the keys. I closed my eyes once more.

First of all, yes, I do lock my door and it's very normal. You might say, 'oh, what about your parents?' 'Are they alright with it?' I say, yes. They are very alright with it. We all have secrets we want to hide and they should not know all of them, that's why there's a thing called privacy.

I respect my parents' privacy so they should also respect mine.

When I finally got the strength to open my eyes, my sister walks in―or should I say, trespassed my room and when she saw me finally awake, she threw a pillow at my face.

"Did that wake you up?" She asked.

"I was already awake, thanks."

"Come down stairs already, mom already made breakfast." Chizuru left the room afterwards, and didn't even bother closing the door.

I rubbed my eye and went to the bathroom to start on my daily routine. I washed my face, brushed by teeth, fixed by bed hair, and done. I grabbed my bag and head out to the dining table where the others are already eating. I sat next to my sister who was busy having a conversation with mom.

"You're usually early. Did you slept late again?" Mom asked, handing me a bowl of rice

"I was studying. Exams are next week."

"Why bother? You'll remember everything anyway." Chizuru said. Mom proceeds to my direction, grabs my glass and starts pouring the juice.

"Now, now, you two finish your meal and get going. It's already 7:30."

"It's still early mom, relax."―Chizuru

"I'm done." I said as I stood up from the table. I head towards the door when Chizuru instantly approached me.

"You're leaving so soon? It's not Wednesday, you're not on duty."

"Sosuke told me to go early. He has something tp give to me." I put on my shoes and head out. "I'm leaving now."

"HEY WAIT!!" Chizuru immediately fastened her meal and swiftly made it out of the house, still making time to say goodbye to mom. To her disdain, I was already far from the house, using my bike to move to the corner before I could hear her cursing at me.

That'll teach her to mess with me.

- - - - - - - - - - -

There is about half an hour left till the first bell rings and I have just arrived at the school gates where Sosuke is waiting.

"That's unlike of you to be late, you would usually come first." Sosuke said as he welcomed me when I got off the bike.

"I overslept." Was all I said before parking my bike to my usual spot. "Gin?"

"By the teacher's room. He's being scolded for yesterday."

"It's his fault for ditching class, he deserved to be scolded."

By the time we reached the teacher's room, Gin was already outside, squatting down.

"Hey, stand up." Sosuke softly kicked Gin's leg which cause the lad to look up to us.

Gin stared at us for a long time before he could manage to stand and placed his arm from our shoulders. "...I think I'm gonna be suspended."

"You think?" I repeat.

"Look I had a reason okay?! I had to buy that or else my brother will kill me!"

"Couldn't you at least wait till class ends? As if that thing your buying was that limited that you have to rush off." Sosuke replied to which made Gin awfully quiet.

"Did it hit a nerve?"

"Shut up."

First period ended very well since there was not much activities to do. When lunch time finally came, I went to the cafeteria first since the two have business to finish. Sosuke will most likely go to his club while Gin has soccer practice.

I don't do sports nor I joined any club, so my schedule is completely wide. Although, I do go to the library and assist the librarian.

When I got my food, I sat to an empty table and started eating. It's best to finish this fast so that I can help the librarian with her work. Today, she has a lot of books to collect and in those cases, I was usually the one who collects them from rooms and other buildings.

As I continue munching down, I heard noises coming not far from me, I can already predict what will happen next.

"Hello, Akeru-san!" Otoha greeted as she sat down opposite to me. "If you don't mind, can I eat with you? There was no more vacant seats left for me when I got here. I was very lucky that I spotted you otherwise I would have eaten while standing up. That's not good isn't it?"

"Yes, it isn't." I replied and went back to eating.

After finishing my meal, I excused myself to Otoha and headed quickly to the library where I saw the librarian talking to someone, it looks like she was assisting the girl.

"Akeru, you're here already." The librarian greeted me. I walked to their direction and proceed to ask the problem.

"She was looking for this book but when I looked at the list, it was missing. No one borrowed it so we were in a bit of a dilemma." The librarian explained while the girl stands next to her, books covering most of her.

"I'll try to look for it, someone might have took it without permission and left the book somewhere."

"Alright. Dear, Akeru-san will assist you in finding the book, okay?" The girl faintly nodded and proceeds to tail behind me when we left the library.

The first place I thought of was the lost and found but when we checked, the book was not there. We have to move to different places but found nothing. I was on the verge of giving up but remembered that the girl was the one who needed it, not me. I volunteered to help, so it is my responsibility to find that book.

"May I ask a question?" I turned to the girl who quickly stopped her tracks to stare at me. After a few seconds, she gave me a slight nod. "Have you possibly used the book before this?"

Just then, she rummaged through her books and opened one notebook. She starts flipping the page until she had found the one she was looking for. she scanned the page and stopped halfway. After reading, she went back to me and nodded.

It was odd, but dare not judge.

"Did you bring it back to the library after that?"

Her eyes went back to the notebook and nodded again.

"Do you have anybody you know who might have borrowed the same book."

She looked down and shook her head. Now how are we going to find that book?

But when I was about to tell her something, the bell rang. Lunch break is over.

"I apologize for not finding the book, it was the first time this happened." She waved her hand, gesturing me that it was okay.

"if you don't mind after classes, we'll continue the search for the book...that is, if it's alright with you."

It had seem that she was having a hard time deciding, but after a lot of thought, she agreed with my suggestion. I bid goodbye to her and went back to my classroom.

- - - - - - - - - - -

After classes, I went back to the library and waited for her to come. I told her that we should meet up at the library after school and then continue the search. It was bad that I did not ask her name, but I remember what she look like, it will be easy to spot her anytime.

5 minutes passed and she's still not here, is she busy of something? She must be cleaning her room today, it's a possible reason why she's far behind the schedule.

"Aki!" Gin and Sosuke appeared in front of me, apologizing for not joining me at lunch.

"I don't mind, I got busy as well."

"Why are you standing right there, the library's closed already." Sosuke asked.

"I was―"

"Do you have a girlfriend you didn't tell us? And you waiting for her here?!" Gin butted in, making me a bit annoyed.

"As if Akeru will be willing to do that." Sosuke answered Gin's accusations. "Remember how many letters this guy rejected since 1st year, and your telling me he has a girlfriend?"

"Exactly." I said, agreeing with Sosuke's defense.

Not like I hate having one, it's just I don't feel like having one. I mean, it is not a necessary requirement to have a girlfriend/boyfriend, right? So why would I waste my time in finding one? I can abide by my own, I've lived for 17 years without one.

"But let's go back to my question, what are you doing here?"

"I was for someone. She needs help in something."

"Help in w―"

"You? Helping someone? And it's a she?!" Sosuke smacked Gin's head before he could add another question.

"That hurts you Jerk!"

"Just shut up will you? I was about to say something and you just butted in!"

They grabbed each other's collar and started shouting at each other like maniacs. I stepped away to avoid being included to their argument. In worse cases, the three of us might end up in the teacher's room, for the nth time.

Just as they were still fighting, I noticed a certain item on Sosuke's bag.

"Sosuke." I called that lead their fight to a quick pause.

"Later Akeru, I'll just beat the sh*t out of this person!"

"As if I'll let you, you jerk!"

They continued once more but that did not stop me from grabbing his bag and rummaging inside.

"Hey! What are you doing?" When I found it, I gave the bag back to Sosuke and observed the item.

This was the book the girl was looking for!

"Ah that...I was just about to return it." Sosuke explains, scratching the back of his head. "I accidentally took it home two days ago. I didn't realize until I was looking for my English textbook."

I nodded and checked the time. 15 minutes late. Where could have that girl be right now? did she already left the school?

"You guys can go home first, I have stuff I have to do."

"Are you sure? We could join you." Gin offered but I decline. Eventually, we said our goodbye to each other and quickly run off to each room, seeing if I could at least find her.

30 minutes left till 6. There is still time left to look around. However, it seems like I was in a bit of a bad luck. I've checked rooms on the first to fourth floor, but there was no one. The only thing I haven't checked was the rooftop.

I opened the door and checked every corner a person could possibly hide, but to my defeat, there was no one.

I gave up at this point, finding no more determination to find this person. I exit the building and headed to where my bike is where I notice something odd.

That window shouldn't be opened.

I went closer to the room where the opened window was and looked around. It was empty, someone must've forgot to close it. I grabbed the end of the window and was about to slide in close when I heard a thud coming from below. I slowly looked down a person sitting on the floor. From it's looks, she was sleeping soundly.

Looking at her hair, I found it very familiar...Oh! It was the person I'm looking for.

I didn't want to startle her by accidentally waking her, I have to think of something to do. But to my demise, when my head peeked inside, the book inside the bag accidentally slipped and fell on the floor, startling the sleeping maiden.

"I-I'm Sorry!" I quickly said, backing down the window.

I saw how her eyes widen in shock, but then recover and stands up. She grabbed the book on the floor and wiped the covers, then proceed to give it to me.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"This...is yours." It was my first time hearing her speak. Earlier at lunch, she would either nod or shake her head. To be honest, I was a bit uneasy.

"What are you talking about? You were the one who asked me to find it."

She stared at the book then back to me and shook her head. "I-I don't..."

"Are you serious right now? Earlier at lunch, you went to the library and asked the librarian for this book but she can't find it. I walked in and provided help to find this, we clearly just discussed it hours ago. Do you at least remember me? I was the one who assisted you back then." I explained calmly, trying not to overact for no reason. I don't understand her, it was just back at lunch, how could she forgot so easily?

But what she said next surprised me entirely.

"I...don't know you."

-AR PHANTOM