Last day

I woke up, even though I really didn't want to. It was the ungodly hour of five in the morning—a time when even the damned birds weren't awake yet. My bed was calling me back, and both my mind and body were begging to answer that call. But alas, my slightly more responsible side wouldn't let me.

As soon as I got up, a pounding headache began to linger, but I ignored it as usual and threw on some clothes that were considered more socially acceptable than pajamas—such a shame society doesn't recognize the comfort of loungewear as proper attire.

After washing my face, I found myself staring at my reflection in the mirror. I looked like a wreck. The thought of trying to style my curly, messy hair crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it, knowing it would take a complete overhaul to look halfway decent.

Breakfast time! I had about seven minutes to prepare and eat something, or I'd be starving for the next twelve hours. The dilemma was real: toasting the remaining bread would take at least five minutes, leaving me no time to actually eat it.

Eggs were out of the question due to the cooking time. Were there any leftovers from yesterday? Oh right—there wasn't anything yesterday to begin with.

And just like that, my time was up. Looks like I was in for a day of hunger.

I put on my coat and one glove. I lost the right one a month ago but didn't bother buying a new pair since half a pair would be unnecessary. I figured I could just keep my right hand tucked in my pocket.

Stepping outside, I was greeted by air so cold it felt like it would freeze my lungs with every breath. I wouldn't complain if the weather stayed consistent, but no—the earth couldn't decide if it was summer or winter. I bet I'd end up carrying my jacket on the way back because it would be too warm.

After a twenty-minute walk, I finally reached the bus stop. A few others my age were standing there, probably headed to school too. Yet, I still couldn't figure out why they laughed like a bunch of chimpanzees every few minutes.

The bus arrived right on time. As usual, it was crowded enough to make a chicken's life in a factory seem comfortable. But there was no other bus to take me to school.

I quietly squeezed in with the others, who pushed their way in as if they could magically create space by forcing everyone to move.

I couldn't find anywhere to hold on to, but it didn't matter; there wasn't enough room for me to fall anyway.

Unwanted physical contact with countless strangers. Disgusting.

I spent the one-hour ride in that uncomfortable situation, distracting myself by imagining various scenarios where everyone on the bus met gruesome ends.

Fortunately, the last fifteen minutes were a bit more bearable, as I was the only passenger going to the final stop. The driver turned around to look at me multiple times, probably cursing me for making him drive all the way here and not letting him end his shift thirty minutes early. Like that was my fault.

Finally, the bus ride came to an end, and I was just a ten-minute walk away from school. I walked in, trying not to think about what lay ahead. As expected, no one was there yet. Who in their right mind would show up at school thirty minutes early?

Unless, of course, they had no choice because their bus dropped them off thirty minutes before school started.

I settled into my usual spot at the back of the class, out of anyone's line of sight. It was the perfect place for someone like me—someone nobody wanted to see.

(••)

Yeah, I think I'll use this opportunity to catch up on some sleep.

---

"—You seem to know the subject well. Would you solve this question?"

My sweet nap was abruptly interrupted by our math teacher—whose ego is almost as big as her mass—slamming her hand on my desk and demanding I solve the problem on the board.

I looked up at the question and noticed two major issues: it was far above what a high schooler could solve, and answering it required knowledge of three different topics we hadn't covered in class yet.

The giggles of my classmates and the smug look on her face confirmed my suspicion— that Land dwelling whale had written a question she knew I couldn't solve just to humiliate me in front of everyone.

I walked up to the board and, without hesitation, wrote down the answer.

Some classmates probably thought I had made it up, but the teacher's smug expression vanished.

"How? Explain!" she shouted.

So, you ask a question and get mad because I answered? Talking was a pain, but fine.

"Teaching is your job, not mine. And since I know this subject well, I'll be going back to sleep now."

I returned to my desk, ready to continue my nap under the hateful gazes of several classmates. I expected at least one or two laughs, but I guess I still don't understand humor. The math teacher looked like a mutated tomato, and I anticipated she would send me out of class. But she merely erased the board and continued with the planned lesson.

Despite my attitude, I had perfect marks in every class, holding the top spot in the entire school. Some teachers overlooked my attitude because of that, but others hated me even more because of it. I guess they wanted someone they could showcase as an example, not… me.

There was no way I could go back to sleep now, so I pulled out my sketchbook to pass the time. I was relatively good at drawing and didn't mind doing it. I looked out the window at the sky for inspiration.

They were up there, as always—floating above the earth, watching everything without interfering. Their enormous figures made the hairs on my arms stand up just by looking at them.

I called them the "Rules."

I had seen them for as long as I could remember, always decorating the empty, boring sky with their presence.

They watched the world beneath them, each focusing on something different at all times. Some looked at specific events, while others scanned everything they could.

Those ones hovered high above, making them difficult to see. I liked to think that they didn't merely observe events; rather, those events unfolded because the Rules were watching them.

(••)

Although all of that was just my imagination. None of it was real, of course.

Now, I consider myself a sensible person, and I know that seeing things that aren't real isn't a good sign, but hey—I don't want to end up locked away as a crazy person or get rid of something interesting that I can see.

(••)

People often think that seeing non-existent things is a bad thing, but it's the sole reason I'm still alive. Without it, there would be nothing else worth enduring this endless boredom of life for me.

Seeing fascinating things and drawing them is one of my very few ways of having some fun.

(••)

Okay, allright! I should mention you too!

The Rules aren't the only things I see. There's also this blob of darkness with big white hollow eyes and no other distinguishing features. It's been around me forever, following me and occasionally making a weird but somewhat cute purring noise. I named it Kos. It can be distracting when I'm trying to concentrate and a pair of eyes is just watching me from the corner of the room, but it provides emotional support from time to time.

(••)

Kos seems happy to be mentioned. Such an attention seeker.

(••)

Heh, it's fun to mess with too.

"Look, he's smiling to himself," the boy in the seat next to me said to someone else.

"Weirdo, probably thinking about something strange."

Tsk. Not even allowed to talk to my imaginary pet. There's truly no freedom left.

I spent the remaining classes doodling some of the Rules and Kos. Thankfully, no one interrupted me this time.

Soon, lunch break arrived—the time we were given to either eat something we brought from home or buy food from the cafeteria. Since I had missed breakfast, I had to pay an unreasonable price for whatever they were serving as "food." I walked down the stairs to the cafeteria, the steps dirty from various spilled drinks. Multiple students bumped into me as they ran aimlessly down the stairs. I looked around and saw food remnants scattered on the ground, indicating they were serving rice and pudding that day. Watching a kid mix the two and eat it like it was delicious was enough to kill my already small appetite. I decided to head back to the classroom; waiting for the day to end there seemed like a better option.

As I approached the classroom door, I heard people arguing inside.

"Ew, what are these? Is his head full of stuff like this?"

"Why is there only this useless sketchbook here? How is he getting those grades without taking any notes?!"

"He's obviously cheating."

"Yeah, the teachers know it too; they just can't catch him. There's no way someone like him could get perfect scores on every test!"

Nothing new. I'll just ignore them and come back when they're done—

"Can you guys just accept that he's smart? Even if he doesn't show it, he must be working hard," a girl's voice interrupted them.

"Oh, come on, Lyra. Not like he cares."

"Just because he's unresponsive doesn't mean he doesn't care. You don't get to decide that."

What's up with this girl now? I remembered her name. Lyra—the new student who'd been here since the beginning of the year. This school had an odd tradition of keeping the same classes together every year until graduation, so new students usually had a hard time fitting in. Not her, though. She made friends with almost everyone within a week, which was no surprise. Long black hair, striking red eyes, and a figure that conformed to society's beauty standards. She was beautiful, hardworking, and kind. Too kind for her own good, if you ask me.

"Then what? You know how he acts—all high and mighty, like he's better than us even though he's nothing special. He doesn't even bother talking to anyone."

…Do I really seem that way from the outside? I mean, I was vaguely aware, but hearing it out loud still stung.

(••)

Yeah, exactly the emotional support I needed.

"Have you even tried talking to him?" Lyra challenged. "Despite everything you said, I've never seen him cause trouble for anyone. He turns in every assignment on time and participates in group activities, even if it's obvious he doesn't enjoy it."

I clenched my jaw without realizing it. How could she say all that? What did she even know about me?

Not wanting to hear more, I walked into the classroom and went straight to my seat. A boy with styled black hair—I couldn't be bothered to remember his name—was sitting there, and two others were standing by him, flipping through my sketchbook.

"Can I have my seat back?" I asked, my voice drained of emotion, just tired.

Annoyance flashed across his face, but one look from Lyra, who was standing behind me, made them leave without complaint. They exited the room without looking back.

With them gone, we were the only ones left in the classroom.

I sat down, and Kos settled on my lap like a cat.

"Thanks, but you really didn't need to get involved," I said to Lyra.

"You heard it?" she asked.

"It was a coincidence. I just happened to overhear while passing by."

She turned the chair in front of me around and sat, leaning her chin on her hand as she faced me.

"No way you're okay with being treated like that. It bothers me to see it too."

"It's not about liking it or not. I'm used to it."

"But—!" she started to argue.

"I really don't mind. They're just talking, after all."

"Still, it's not fair for them to treat you like that. No one is even telling me why. At least tell me the reason."

"You started here this year, right?" I asked to confirm. "I actually came here from another country with my family three years ago. I couldn't even understand the simplest questions because of the language barrier."

"Eh? Really? I never would have guessed…"

"I worked hard at it and got to where I am now after a year. But that year was full of people treating me like an idiot because I couldn't understand them or answer their questions. It was enough for them to label me 'stupid' in their minds."

"So, they started to treat you like that...? Why?"

"People are like that—when they can't defeat you, they'll openly badmouth you to hurt you emotionally. Normally that results in said person losing their friends, their grades dropping, and depression due to being left out. Unfortunately for them, I was already living like that. Their silent treatment was the norm for me."

"That sounds… lonely. Very lonely."

"Well… I'm not good with people anyway. You can't miss what you've never had. I don't feel lonely because of that. I would rather have real friends than people pretending to be my friends just to use me anyway."

"I see what you mean," she said thoughtfully. "But not everyone is like that. I'm sure you can have some friends if you just try."

"…but I don't want to. I'm fine as I am. So, please leave me alone."

I didn't understand why she was pressing on this so much. Why did she care about me, a thorn in everyone's side?

"Okay, I will. But before that, can you show me some of your drawings? They look really interesting."

Hoping she would leave me alone, I accepted.

"Sure, though there isn't much to see." I said while flipping through the pages.

"You're drawing them from your imagination, right? It's incredible."

Receiving compliments wasn't something I was used to, and it felt weird.

"…Thanks."

She kept asking questions as I turned the pages, until my clothes accidentally got caught on the railings under the desk, revealing my wrist. I quickly tried to cover it back up, but she still noticed, her eyes went wide when she saw the scars.

Dammit, I should have been more careful.

"…you lied. You aren't okay at all."

I averted my gaze, trying to escape her stare.

She sighed and stood up. I thought she was leaving, but instead, she stepped closer, her face only inches from mine.

"You have beautiful eyes," she whispered.

"?!"

What the hell was that?

"You always look bored and tired, so I was curious about what kind of person you are. But if you think there's nothing worth living for, let me show you that life isn't as boring or empty as you think."

"Why would you do something like that?"

"I have my own selfish reasons, and I'm only asking out of courtesy. I'm going to show you that life isn't as dull as you think."

She's really something…

"Fine. I won't resist. I don't think you can, but I hope you're right."

She gave me a satisfied smile before going back to her seat. The bell signaling the end of lunch rang shortly after.

I didn't know why she was wasting her time on me, but I didn't have any reason to turn her down.

Still, someone like me… I don't think I could suddenly see the 'positivity of life' the way someone like her does.

Whose fault is that?

No, it's completely on me. I'm just… wrong. Incapable of comprehending how society works. I don't know or understand what friendship is or how any kind of relationship works. I appreciate her offer, but it's hopeless. I accepted just to escape that situation.

Does someone like me even deserve all this attention? When all I can give her in return is disappointment?

(••)

Oh, right. I got lost in thought. Thanks, Kos.

Despite everything, I was curious about what she was going to show me, what she thought made life worth living.

---

This was the last class of the day, and we were free to go afterward. I packed up my things—just a sketchbook and a single pen—but Lyra stopped me as I was about to leave.

"Do you have time?"

Her approaching me drew a lot of attention from the class, though no one said anything directly.

"Yes, I do."

"Then you're coming with me. I'll show you the first thing we talked about."

Whoa, I didn't expect her to take action this quickly.

I could feel my classmates' stares, but I ignored them and followed her out of the school. We walked down the streets in silence, with Kos trailing a few steps behind. As we walked, she began humming a tune.

Ah, yes, I was carrying my jacket over my arm because it was too warm outside.

"Isn't that the opening to that new anime?"

"Hm?" She looked confused.

"I mean the song you were humming," I clarified.

"Oh—I didn't realize I was singing…" She looked a little embarrassed.

"Yeah, well, I like the series. The opening has been stuck in my head for days. Did you watch it too?" she asked, sounding pleasantly surprised.

"Yes, though I'm a bit surprised you're into something like that. It's pretty… dark."

"Hehe, what did you expect me to like?" she asked, amused by my reaction.

"I'm not sure, but probably not an anime about a depressed guy with a huge sword hunting demons in a medieval world."

"The writing's just too good to miss out on! You can feel the emotions—loss, betrayal, how the main character thinks and reasons. Plus, it's cool."

"Fair enough. I agree on both counts, though the ending was a bit…"

"I know what you mean. The ending felt incomplete, like the writer didn't quite know how to finish it. It was emotional, yes, but a lot of things were left unresolved."

"Exactly. It wasn't a bad ending, but it didn't live up to my expectations after how great the series was."

"I don't think any ending would have been satisfactory. No one wants to see the end of great things."

She looked at me thoughtfully before saying, "Hmm, so you do enjoy things like watching anime. Isn't that something to look forward to?"

"I do enjoy reading and watching things, but only because they aren't real. They're a way to escape reality and find some fun. They are not a purpose for me."

"Ugh… Here I thought I'd found something." She let out an exaggerated sigh. "Still, fiction's part of life, and it's something you enjoy. So, it's good that you're not completely out of touch."

"That's not what you were planning to show me, right?" I asked, still unsure of her purpose in inviting me out.

"Nope! That was just a bonus. We're almost there—don't worry!" she replied with a grin.

Such energy...

I sighed inwardly and continued to follow her. We ended up talking more about anime and manga, mostly her starting and ending topics. She was surprisingly good at keeping a conversation going and listened closely to my answers.

"Ta-da! Here we are, the number one reason to keep living!" she announced with a flourish as we stopped in front of a cat café.

"A cat café…? Really?"

"What, don't you like cats?" she asked, sounding almost disappointed.

In truth, I did like cats—a lot. The problem was, they didn't like me. Every cat I'd tried to pet so far either scratched me or ran away.

"No, no. I like cats; it's just—"

"Then there's no excuse! This place is great; I come here every now and then. I'm sure you'll like it too."

"…Alright, let's go in."

I mean, what's the worst that could happen?

(••)

Oh, shut up, Kos.

The café door chimed softly as we entered, and the warmth inside immediately enveloped us. The scent of coffee and something faintly floral lingered in the air. A cozy, soft-lit space filled with plush cushions and cat towers greeted us, along with a few feline residents lounging lazily on window sills or curled up in beds.

"Lyra! You're back," called out a middle-aged woman with a bright smile. Her apron was dusted with flour, probably from baking some fresh treats. "And I see you've brought a friend!"

Lyra beamed and waved. "Hi, Mia! Yeah, he's a bit new to this."

Mia's gaze softened as she looked at me, her eyes crinkling with kindness. "Welcome! Make yourself at home. The cats might be a bit lazy today, but I'm sure they'll warm up to you." She shot Lyra a knowing look, which Lyra answered with a nod and a quick grin.

We settled down at a cozy low table tucked into the corner of the café, and Mia soon appeared, balancing two steaming cups of coffee and a plate of adorable little cookies shaped like paws. The moment the cats caught sight of the goodies, they stirred, with a couple stretching lazily and making their way over to Lyra, who practically radiated joy.

"Oh, hey there, Fluffy!" she exclaimed, gently stroking a black-and-white cat that had taken up residence on her lap. The cat purred with satisfaction, nuzzling its head into her hand like it was the comfiest pillow around.

I looked around, feeling a flicker of hope, but the other cats either snoozed peacefully or completely ignored me. One gray tabby, lounging nearby, lazily opened an eye, yawned, and rolled over, turning its back to me as if to say, "Not interested." Well, so much for my hopes of making furry friends.

"They seem to like you a lot," I remarked, nodding toward the black-and-white cat and a little orange kitten that had decided to join the fun, circling Lyra's lap and batting playfully at her sleeve.

Lyra chuckled, scratching under the kitten's chin. "It's because I bribed them with treats during my last visit. They're smart little creatures; they remember those goodies."

I took a sip of my coffee, watching her as she showered affection on one cat after another, each feline seemingly drawn to her like she was some kind of cat whisperer. Meanwhile, the gray tabby, now fully awake, stretched and eyed me with a look of mild disinterest before padding over to a sunbeam on the other side of the room and curling up again for a nap.

"Hmm, maybe they're just a bit shy around newcomers," Lyra suggested gently, catching my eye. "Or perhaps they can sense that you're still warming up to this whole scene."

"It's fine. I'm used to animals not taking to me," I replied, placing my cup down.

"You know, that just makes you a challenge. I'm sure they'll come around eventually."

(••)

Suddenly, Kos, my imaginary companion, took the form of a cat and leaped into my lap. The action felt like a small balm on my fractured heart. I wished he had a physical form to offer me comfort, but this would have to do.

Lyra's amused grin made me feel a tad disgruntled as I sat there, feeling like a total outsider while she basked in the attention of her feline fans. Yet, something about her calm demeanor and the trust the cats placed in her was oddly soothing. Watching her laugh as the little kitten playfully swatted at her finger, it became clear she was truly in her element, as if the café and everything in it was her sanctuary.

After a while, she nudged the plate of paw-shaped cookies toward me. "Try one! Mia's baking is out of this world."

I hesitated but eventually grabbed one, though I sadly couldn't taste anything. I assumed it was delicious. The café was filled with a warm ambiance, punctuated only by Lyra's soft laughter every time one of the cats did something irresistibly cute.

"So? Are you starting to see the appeal?" she asked, petting yet another cat that had jumped up beside her.

I surveyed the room—the cozy vibe, the way every patron seemed to have their own peaceful corner, the relaxed expressions on their faces.

"It's… nice. Peaceful," I admitted.

"See? I told you I could show you something worth living for," she teased, a victorious sparkle lighting up her eyes.

"Well, you still have a long way to go. But maybe you're onto something," I said, attempting to sound more upbeat, even though I couldn't muster more than a faint smile.

"You seem to know the owner pretty well. Is she a relative or something?" I asked, trying to shift the focus.

"Nope, not at all. This place serves as both a cat café and an animal shelter. The profits from the café support the shelter, and everyone here is a volunteer. My brother used to work here, and he'd bring me along. Eventually, it became a habit for me to pop in once or twice a week."

There was a softness in her voice when she mentioned her brother, and I chose not to pry further, not wanting to make her uncomfortable. Her demeanor shifted slightly after that.

As we finished our drinks, Lyra reluctantly gave the cats one last stroke before we stood up to leave. Mia waved us off warmly, and I followed Lyra outside, feeling an unexpected warmth in my chest. Maybe it was the coffee, or perhaps it was just her—how she seemed to shift my perspective on the world, if only for a moment.

Outside, the chill in the air reminded me I should've worn my jacket. Carrying it around wasn't such a bad idea after all.

We walked in silence for a bit until Lyra broke the quiet, glancing up at the sky. "Isn't it beautiful out?"

I looked up, but all I could see were the Rules looming overhead, watching over everything.

"Yeah, I guess," I replied, uncertain since I couldn't really see the sky at all.

She fell into her thoughts for a moment before asking, "Can you promise me something?"

I couldn't see her face since she was a few steps ahead, but her tone lacked its usual vibrancy.

Reluctantly, I asked, "What is it?"

"Promise me you won't give up on living—at least until I finish showing you everything I want to."

"Why do you care so much? We literally just met like six hours ago," I said, still puzzled by her concern.

"As I said, for very selfish reasons. So, are you going to promise me or not?" Her voice hinted at something deeper, something emotional.

I sighed. "Fine, I promise I won't give up on life until you're done with your selfish reasons. Happy now?"

She turned to me, her eyes glistening as if she might cry. "Yes, thank you." A small, grateful smile broke through.

I gulped quietly, surprised by how seriously she was taking this. I didn't press her for more details, and we walked in silence for a while longer.

"My house is just up ahead. Thanks for keeping me company," she said, finally breaking the silence. "And sorry for keeping you out so late, and for… that."

"Don't worry about it. It's fine."

"See you tomorrow, then."

"Bye."

"No, say it properly," she insisted, her tone suddenly serious.

"Huh?"

"Say 'see you tomorrow,' too."

"Okay… See you tomorrow, Lyra."

She flashed me a warm smile before turning and walking toward her home.

What a strange girl. So many things about her were different from what I expected, and she had this uncanny ability to make me open up. I thought she wasn't serious at first, but it seemed I had underestimated her reasons—and her determination. Who knows? She might actually convince me that there's something worth living for.

(••)

Yeah, I'll give it a shot. I hadn't been able to do it before, so there had to be some hope left for me.

I was pretty far from home, and it was getting late. I hadn't realized how far we'd walked or how quickly time had slipped away. Thankfully, there were still buses running. I made my way to a bus stop and waited for the next one, passing the time by watching Kos, who was gazing up at the sky.

"You see something interesting up there?"

Kos didn't respond, just continued staring.

There was probably nothing, but for some reason, I felt compelled to look. I trusted this imaginary creature.

I turned to where Kos was looking, and there it was—a Rule I hadn't seen in ages. It resembled two humanoid figures fused together, one decayed and skull-like, while the other pulsed with vibrant life.

The Rule of Life and Death.

The decayed head always loomed over someone nearing the end, while the living one focused on the youngest presence nearby.

The unsettling part? The dying head was staring directly at me.

Well, that's creepy. But it didn't mean anything, of course—just a figment of my imagination. Still, I'd never had a Rule look straight at me before. Maybe it was my mind signaling my new resolve.

As the lights of the approaching bus came into view, I decided not to overthink it.

Wait… is the bus coming a little too fast?

It's not slowing down. Why is it heading straight for me?

When I realized, it was too late. The bus crashed into the stop at full speed while I was still there.

I died.