Who Are You?

"Hey... Hey... Get up... ONii...

You're going to be late... It's almost 8:30... There's a meeting at 9."

"Huh... Damn it, Parker... I told you to wake me up..."

"I thought you were already awake, so I didn't bother."

"Alright, alright. I'll get ready quickly and head down."

"Okay, bro."

"Phew... I really stayed up too late watching anime last night."

I better hurry... or I'll get scolded by the Head Trainer...

So I quickly showered, changed into my uniform, and ran off to the meeting.

But when I got there, there was no meeting today... Just like yesterday... So I headed back upstairs.

As I was going back up, I started to smell that familiar scent again...

"Man, am I going crazy, or what?"

Why do I keep smelling this early in the morning... This scent... It's not normal...

I felt the scent getting stronger as I passed by Room 3.

The trainers' rooms are right next to Room 3... And since there was no meeting, I thought I'd sneak back into my room for a quick nap.

But when I entered the room, it was hot because I hadn't turned on the air conditioning.

"Alright, enough of this... I'm going into Room 3 early today... That scent is back again... What is going on?"

Mumbling to myself, I opened the door to the room...

And there, standing by the window with her face towards the sunlight, was a girl...

Her long black hair falling down,

her pale skin glowing in the sunlight, and

her delicate fragrance gently pulling at my

breath with every breeze...

I stood there, mesmerized by the sight, not even realizing how long I'd been staring.

Ah... So you're the one responsible... The one who has been haunting my thoughts since this morning...

Who are you? and how can you even quietly call to me even from afar with the silence?

"Hey there, Ms. Rin... Don't even think about jumping out of the window now," I called out to her.

"Oh, I'm not going to jump... I'm just enjoying the morning sunlight. They say it's good for you, so I'm soaking it in."

She replied with her usual lively demeanor.

"Is that so... Rin, that might have been true in the past, but things aren't the same now... Since the ozone layer has been depleted, UV rays have become harmful, you know."

I was just bluffing, trying to mess with her a bit.

Suddenly, she quickly shut the window and started laughing to herself.

"Haha, you're right... That was probably true 10 years ago. Maybe the sunlight isn't so great now."

And then she started laughing again...

"Damn, did this little girl really believe what I said?"

I couldn't help but laugh a little inside. She's really something...

"What are you smiling about... I didn't know, that's why it happened... Come on now..."

"No, it's nothing... Just something else on my mind."

"Fine, fine... By the way, did you catch the new episode last night?"

She asked, and I couldn't help but smile again. At the same time, I could see her getting frustrated, wanting to know something without directly asking.

"Yeah, I watched it last night. The main character was amazing in the latest episode."

"Totally! That one was awesome... What about the next series?"

We started talking like old friends who hadn't seen each other in a while, the teacher-student dynamic completely gone.

As time passed, more students began to arrive, and the school bell rang, signaling the start of class.

Soon, it was time for lunch break.

"Yoo, ONii, are you done? Ready to grab some lunch?"

"Yeah, Parker. Are you finished?"

"Not yet... But the school canteen is open today, so let's grab something there."

"Sure, let's go grab something."

Some students approached me with their lunch boxes, offering me food.

Some kids buy their lunch, and others bring it from home. Many of them like to say, "Please eat," and offer their food to me.

At that moment, I spotted Rin sitting alone,

sipping an iced coffee with a smile.

I walked over to her.

"Rin... Aren't you eating anything?" I asked.

"I already ate at home, Teacher," she replied.

"Okay, okay... So, what are you drinking all alone?"

"Hmm... Just coffee," she said, turning her face away with a pout.

I knew right away... She didn't want to share her coffee.

"Hey, hey..." I teased, reaching for her coffee.

"Hey! Give that back! That's mine!"

"No way... Now that you don't want to share, I want it even more."

I'm always like this... When someone doesn't want to share, I want it even more.

"Just one sip, I promise."

"Alright, alright... But just one sip, okay?"

"Haha... Just kidding... I wouldn't really drink it. You might cry if I did."

"Who's going to cry? Just drink it already."

"Alright, here goes..." I said, taking a sip from the straw.

Coffee is one of my worst enemies... I can't stand the bitterness.

Seeing my face scrunch up from the bitterness made her burst into laughter.

"Haha! For someone who's supposed to be an adult, you sure can't handle a bit of bitterness. Blah, blah, blah."

She teased me mercilessly.

This little girl never misses a chance to make fun of me...

"Here, have another sip."

"No, thanks... That was enough."

Just then, she took another sip from the straw I'd just used.

"Hey, I was going to get a new straw... You just used the one I drank from."

"Oh, it's fine... No big deal."

"Alright then, if you say so."

I finished my lunch and left the table.

The afternoon classes started again after that.

When the day finally ended...

"Alright, that's it for today... I wonder if that girl is still around..."

I went to check, but no one was in front of the school.

Oh well, she must have gone home already.

"Mr. ONii, there's an evening meeting for trainers today," a young girl at the reception desk reminded me.

"Ah, alright. I'll be there in a bit."

As soon as I heard there was a meeting, I rushed over.

I didn't even have time to change out of my uniform. I just ran.

After a while, I finally made it... Phew, barely in time...

"Cling Cling Cling"

Wait, someone's calling me... The number is unfamiliar... It's probably for me.

Hello, Hello... Please don't make me come to the meeting...

"Hello... Teacher..."

"Huh... Who is this?"

"Hello, it's Rin."

"Oh, Rin... What's up?"

"Hey, sensei, I heard there's a meeting at the school, so I'm waiting at a nearby café... Just wanted to know if it's over yet... I want to go back to school with you."

"Oh, it's almost over... Just a little longer."

"That's okay... I'll wait... Onii is already outside, so we can head back together."

"Alright, I'll be there soon."

We walked back to the school together. When we arrived, she sat down on her usual bench.

"What are you buying, Rin?"

"Some fried chicken for Kii-Kii."

"Kii-Kii?"

"My little dog at home...he only eats fried chicken."

"Oh, I see... You really love dogs, huh?"

"Of course! Not just dogs... I used to have a bunny too, but it died because I played with it too much... I felt so bad... I haven't kept a bunny since then."

"Oh, really? Bunnies are delicate... You have to be gentle with them."

"Yeah, that's true."

"Well, it's in a better place now, right?"

"Yeah, that's right."

We started talking about anime, then about stories...

Before I knew it, this little girl and I had become really close friends.

A while later...

"Oh, there's my mom... I have to go, sensei."

"Alright, take care, little one."

"Don't start with me... See you later, old man."

She teased me one last time before leaving.

This girl... She's always so lively...

Who is she, really...

Who are you, Rin! ✨

Why is it that whenever I'm with you...

I feel so excited and... happy... 🦋