One's Eden: Hanayuki Travel

Short story 1: The aspiring novelist (Part 1)

It was very unusual for me to do this, but right now. I am planning on going back to school. After preparing myself. I took a good look at my appearance in the mirror.

My name is Ren. I'm 19 years of age. Previously a shut-in.

Truthfully, I never expected that I'd see myself in a school uniform again. A white polo shirt under a black blazer. On the bottom were dark blue pants. It looks simple and I do like it.

It's been two years since I stopped going to school. I’m two years older than my classmates now. I don’t take much concern about little things. Living alone, I got used to being alone. They even cast me aside and I don’t make friends. I’m probably going to be fine.

I took a cup of coffee and drank it as fast as I could. It is already warm and easy to drink. Turning my glance at the wall clock. It was already 7:30 AM. The class would start at 8:00 AM.

“I have to go.”

I turned my head to my apartment before leaving. This apartment is new. I put all of the money left for me into renting this place. I don’t want to be left alone in the town where I previously resided.

Having a new start in a new place would be great for someone like me.

Two years ago, I lost everything. When I said everything, it was my little sister. We have never seen our parents, as far as I can remember. We don’t have that intention. My sister is not even blood-related to me. I wanted her wanted, wanted. That’s why I took her with me. I took care of her. But a tragedy happened to lead her to lose her life.

Losing my main purpose. I lost motivation to do anything. I became a shut-in. A person who doesn’t want to go outside. I hole myself in my apartment doing nothing and thinking about the past that would not come back.

Those days are depressing.

We only survive because of a kind relative who sends us money. I’m used to living a frugal life. Most of the money sent to us was saved. After my little sister’s death, the kind relative stopped sending money.

After two years of grieving and regretting it. At the same time, the savings are decreasing gradually.

I have finally decided to go back to school. I feel ashamed of the kind relative. I want to repay him for the kindness given to us. Also, I don’t want to die like this.

If my little sister was still alive.

I bet she’s going to scold me for being pathetic. I’m already pathetic because it takes me two years before I realize that single truth.

While thinking about my pathetic past, I turned to glance at the single picture hanging on the wall.

“I’m going out… Shina.”

I said and closed the door of my apartment.

The distance between my apartment and the school is just a throw of a rock. I’m glad that I’m able to find this apartment and it has a cheap price. It is not big, but it's fitting for one person to live in.

Walking in the street makes me nervous.

What is this feeling? I’m not used to a place with too many people. This is the side effect of being a shut-in for a long time. I have barely met people in the past two years. The only people I have had conversations with before. Was the landlord and the convenience store clerk.

There are many young girls and boys. They look fresh and have a bright future ahead of them.

“Is it really fine for me to be mixed up with them?”

I felt uneasy, but I had to continue walking.

I have to at least graduate to get a proper job. That’s why I went back to school. I have to get a proper job to repay the people who helped us all this time.

When I started walking, I got a faint feeling of a piercing gaze behind my back.

I immediately turned my back and looked around. I found no one as I turned around. Just students walking toward the school.

My imagination is playing fun at me.

I thought and put my hands on my head as if I had a headache.

The first day of school. I’m already in the 2nd year and, unlike the first year, I don’t have to attend the entrance ceremony. I walked straight to my class. I opened the sliding door. I keep my presence at an all-time low and just pick a seat.

I picked up the seat near the window.

Seating comfortably. A girl stood up in front of me. She had black hair that reached her shoulders and black pupils. Looking exactly like a typical cute Japanese student.

“That’s my seat.”

She said with a gentle voice.

“?”

Using her index finger, she pointed out the name on the upper right corner of the desk. It's said “Hanamori Suzune.”

I immediately stood up.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t notice.”

“It’s fine everyone made mistakes.”

She’s kind and gentle. I thought I was going to be immediately cast aside in the room.

When I left the seat, I sat down and started searching for my seat. Unexpectedly, it was just beside her seat.

The class started and everyone was called for a roll call. The new students who just enrolled were called. One of them was a western transfer. He has tall blonde hair and he is very popular with girls. My classmates looked at him like he was a prince. Lastly, my name was called to make an introduction.

I did make a normal introduction with a tone lacking energy.

“My name is Kirigaya Ren, 19 years old. Nice to meet you all.”

After introducing my name and age. Everyone was intrigued.

“19 years old?”

“What happened?”

“A Neet?”

The chatter continues.

The teacher in front of us claps her hands to get everyone’s attention.

“We should not judge anyone immediately. Everyone has a problem to deal with. Be nice to the transfer students. They might be the friend that will be close to you in your entire life.”

The chatter ended and the class started.

After hours of class, lunchtime arrived. Beside me, someone named Hanamori Suzune took a gaze at me.

“You’re already 19 years old… You don’t look that old though. You look younger than that thug over there. He looks like someone in his mid-twenties. Anyway, my name is Hanamori Suzune. We’re going to be neighbors for the entire year. Nice to meet you.”

She offered her hand.

I was happy that I can still make friends.

“What’s with that face? You look so happy.”

“N-Nothing, don’t think about it.”

I said and took her hand and shook them.

“Hmm… being able to touch a cute girl's hand makes you happy.”

“Don’t think about it.”

I replied to her teasing words.

At lunchtime, I go out to buy some food. I sat down on the side of the gym to eat. While sitting, I saw a western exchange student playing tennis. While playing, there is a bunch of girls around him cheering for him. One of them was Hanamori, who cheered him on the side.

Most girls like a tall man with strong physics. That man has all of it. Unlike me. I’m scrawny and have an average height. Looking in the mirror, I won’t say I’m handsome.

I took a sip of milk juice in my hand and went back to class. The class continues for hours. It ends with everyone going back home.

I’m left in the big room all by myself. I’m nervous about walking with lots of people. It looks weird, but I waited until everyone got home before I stood up to pick up my bag.

The loud school earlier was put silent. From the window, the orange light coming from the setting sun covers the schoolyard.

“It's the end… I took my first step toward going back to school. All I have to do is continue.”

There is no one around anymore. I can go now.

I walked toward the door and opened it. Opening the door, I saw something I didn’t expect.

A girl was standing in front of my classroom door.

She had golden silky hair. Milky white skin that looks so soft without touching. a nose with a great shape and big eyes, caramel eyes with long eyelashes.

So beautiful…

As if I’m looking at an angel. No, she must be an angel.

Her eyes turned toward mine and we stared at each other for a moment.

I averted my eyes away from her. Avoid myself getting drowned in her beauty. For an ordinary man like me. Staring at someone beautiful like her might be useless. If it's useless, there is no point in looking at her.

I closed the door and walked into the hallway.

While walking, I noticed a shadow walking behind me. It's a shadow of a girl, judging by the skirt.

There are only two of us in the hallway. That means this girl walking behind me must be the angel-looking girl earlier.

Is she following me? Don’t kid yourself, Ren. Why would a pretty girl like her follow you? It's just a coincidence. There is no way she is following me.

That’s what I thought for a while.

I go to the faculty to deliver something to the teacher. Exiting the faculty room, the girl is there waiting for someone. Of course, it's not me.

I continued my walk to the lower floor of the building.

For a brief moment, I stopped. At the same time, the steps behind me stopped.

“What is happening?”

I know this is pathetic but…

I took a deep breath and ran as fast as I could. There is not a single person in the hallway during this time. Running around would be fine.

Sprinting as fast as I could, I turned my gaze behind me for a bit. I was surprised by what I saw. The angel girl was chasing me with a fixed gaze on her face. Her face is angelic and pretty. Right now, I’m feeling something else. I felt frightened. Is there a demon inside this angel?

Her running speed was fast and in a few moments, I slowed down. The girl would catch up.

“What is this? Why is this happening? Why is this girl chasing me?”

I asked myself.

Surely, there is no way I have met her before. I don’t recognize her at all. I don’t even remember rejecting a girl like her or hurting a girl like her.

What exactly is her deal?

I turned and put my hands on the railing on the staircase going upward to the third floor.

In the third-floor hallway, I could see chairs placed on the side. In desperate to stop the girl from chasing me. I took the chairs and scattered them on the floor. Feeling guilty about the people responsible for lining the chairs.

Obstacles block her way and it gives us a long gap between each other. I never saw her behind my back and I turned inside the boy's restroom.

“There is no way she could catch up. I’ll stay in this toilet seat for ten minutes. After that, she will be gone.”

The girl won’t enter this part of the school.

It's my win.

Why is that girl chasing me? Is she in love with me? Did she want to get me? Earlier, she is waiting for me? I would love to have someone like her waiting for me, but her approach is a bit shocking… Why did I run away from her? I should’ve asked her instead. Something is wrong with me.

My thought wandered as time passed.

“Finally, I found you.”

“?!”

The angel appeared on top of the toilet door. I reacted by standing up and opening the door, but it was too late. She leaped down to my body. My body was pressed sitting on the toilet and the girl sitting on top of my body.

Her hands-on collar.

“Someone help me! Someone help me!”

I screamed for help.

The girl immediately slapped my face.

“You’re so noisy! Don’t get the wrong idea. I’m not going to hurt you. Anyway, our position is kinda lewd. Added, we're both inside the boy's restroom. If somebody saw us, they might get the wrong interpretation.”

“That’s right.”

“Before we move on… I’ll introduce myself. My name is Serizawa Shina. I’m an aspiring light novelist.”

Shina… She has the same name as my little sister.

“Then, why are you chasing me?”

“Because you ran away.”

Is it my fault?

“... I know you a little bit. I know you have a talent for drawing. I’m here to recruit you to become my illustrator in my future novel series.”

“I’m sorry, but I stopped drawing for a long time. I don’t even know if I can draw anymore. You’re wasting your time.”

A disappointed expression rose on her face. Her hands are on my collar. She started shaking my head.

“Why are you refusing?!”

“Stop shaking me!”

“I won’t give up… I’ll make you mine! You’re going to be mine!”

She continues to shake my head while her body is sitting on top of me.

All of a sudden, someone arrived.

“I heard someone asking for help! What is happening here?”

The guy with a mop in his hand arrived. He's the janitor. At first, he was worried, but after seeing our position, the angel-looking girl sat on my body and my face close to her. The janitor's face becomes red as a tomato.

“ Kids these days want to grow old early… I won’t report this to school. Please do it in your boyfriend's room or somewhere.” He said and averted his head with a big sigh.

Shina and I immediately protested back.

“T-That’s not it!” 2x