18 Days Until 18 Years

18 days. That's how long it will take. In only 18 days, I will finally graduate from being a kid and becoming an adult. In 18 days I will finally enter the age of what many consider adulthood. In just 18 days I can do way more than I was able to do before but will leave behind more. Something that no one could ever prepare you for is coming to me quickly, but everyone has to live through it. The people I will meet, the experiences I will have are so unknown, but so close. In 18 days I will become 18.

18 years ago I was born and in 18 years I will be even older. It's crazy to think about almost, what have I even accomplished? I'm no super genius, and I don't have that many skills to show. I just seem to live my life as normal as everyone else. My life was always depressing. Even as I walk down these cold streets in the morning, the snow reminds me of how chilling this world is. I used to look at the world as just one simulated step. Until I met her. I haven't talked to her in months, just visited. Quickly my thoughts were stopped by a call from across the street.

"Hey! Hey! Why am I not surprised you're up this morning", The voice said

"Haha I guess you caught me", I said as I rubbed the back of my head.

Standing across the street was my friend Kazuya. He rushed up to me with a lot of energy. Which is surprising because he usually is not a morning person at all. He had short brown hair and a little bit of a tan to him, only because he just came back from vacation.

"Long time no see, all the school you've been skipping it might be hard to catch up." I said to him

"C'mon man, you know me. I really neve put any effort into school anyways.", he replied

Which makes sense coming from him since he was the son of a very famous hotel tycoon in Japan. The company will go to him so highschool is probably one of the least of his worries. Despite his certain future, he is a humble guy and one of my first friends since moving here.

"So, why are you up so early?" I questioned him. It must be something important considering its him.

"Dude you wouldn't believe it! The convenience store had a 50% off morning sale on all sandwiches and bread. You know I had to get some bean paste bread and an Egg Sandwich." He said as if he found gold.

He's the only person that could think like that. The money he has and he's worried so much about 50% off convenience store food. I guess life is that important for him to live.

"What else did I expect from you?" I said as I laughed a bit.

"Anyways, we should get to school the earliest. I have never been there this early and wonder what it's like!" He said

"Well the only difference is that half way through the day you will get exhausted." I said, shutting down his eagerness.

"Oh I almost forgot." Kazuya quickly said as he took out something from his bag.

"Have you eaten Breakfast yet? Here take some." Kazuya offered.

He took out some sweet bean paste bread. I never really had a pallet for it, but this was the first time someone offered me food like this. I guess I really do have friends. At the same time a yen coin fell out of his hand. I picked it up for him to give back. But, he waved his hand and gave me the bread.

"Keep that coin. But, you can't spend it, that's the only thing. Remember it as the moment I woke up early." He said smiling.

Of Course Kazuya would say something cheesy, but I guess I understood and felt the same as I put the coin into my pocket.

"We better hurry up or else we will be late instead." I said and he nodded his head and we headed to school.

During school I usually get a lot of looks, but I guess people have started to get used to me. Me being half Japanese and half foreigner stands out. My hair, my skin color, my height and body shape. Didn't always look normal amongst my peers. It was hard at first, but despite the kids who are rude just to be rude, everyone is friendly. Especially as a 3rd year, I have come to know mostly everyone personally.

It was already the middle of the school day and Kazuya was sleeping on top of his desk. The teacher walked over to his desk to start yelling at him in front of the class and they started to laugh. I smiled, he had the teacher stressed the most of the class period. When the bell rang the class president walked towards me. Her name was Yuki Nakayama. She was pretty popular in the school. I mean, in the 'highschool beauty rankings' she was ranked 2nd amongst the boys. I never really paid attention to that stuff anyways it just never seemed right. She was in fact good looking though, but not really my type. Her face was smooth and she had nice long brown hair..

"You look more tired than Kazuya." she said.

"I mean I didn't get much sleep last night." I replied.

"Hmm. that does sound like something you would do."

"Oh really?" I turn towards the window.

"Are you going to do that today?", she said to me.

"I mean, have I ever not?" I said in a playful tone.

"You're right, you're right. Also, I feel like you should give yourself a break. I don't know what you are going through, but everyone here worries about you and notices your decline in health. Also I.."

"You what?", I said confused.

"Uh, Uh, Nevermind!" She was speaking very fast and started to turn red.

"I'll be sure to look out for myself Yuki and thank you for worrying."

She nodded and smiled and I grabbed my things and started to head out the door. It's been a particularly cold and long winter this year. As I walk out the school building. I noticed that Kazuya was already gone. Knowing him he was most likely chasing after his school crush. I begin to walk and think about how over the past few months I was able to make a lot of friends. I kept walking until I finally made it to my destination. The hospital, a place I know way too much as of late. I walked inside and instantly noticed how busy it was today. But I already knew my destination, to the room I've been visiting for the past few months now. To the room where my hero resides.

I walk into room 718 to find a whole different atmosphere. Behind the curtains my hero resides asleep for a long time now. She's been sleeping for almost a year now, and I have been waiting patiently for her to awake. When I walked behind the curtains with my flowers to greet her sleeping body. I noticed that she wasn't asleep this time. Awake sitting in her bed. I dropped the flowers that I've been holding, and my body became weak instantly. I noticed that I formed a face of surprise that I've never felt before. That feeling combined with the feeling of warm tears streaming down my eyes. I muttered.

"You're awake Maya?" in a choppy voice.

"You know, I only have 18 days to live. But, I'm happy it's a result of saving you.", she said.

"What… What are you talking about", I said quietly.

"It's been a while, Rui."