My name is Tadano Hitohito, I am 15 years old, and I recently managed to get into a respected private high school.
Today is my first day, and even though I'm excited I don't plan on breaking my life rule; read the situation and stay away from trouble! This is the key to having a peaceful and successful life!
Yes, peace and success are all an average guy like me can strive for.
...by the way, it's not like I tried to stand out when I was younger or anything... nope, nothing like that happened at all.
I was just storing my shoes in my locker when I saw a girl standing next to me. I assumed we must be in the same class, and if I want to get through school without any trouble, I have to make sure to get along with my classmates.
I greeted her kindly.
-"Oh hey, your locker is close to mine, we must be in the same class"
The girl looked in my direction.
-"... Yeah, we must be, what's your name?"
-"Tadano Hitohito! And you are..."
I tried looking into her locker's label, but it looked blurred out.
-"Oh, that old locker has seen better days!"
She jiggled.
"They'll fix it eventually, nothing to worry about"
-"Yeah"
Even though it looked old, I could see something carved into it, but I couldn't tell what it was, I could only distinguish one letter.
" 'K' "
That letter... a 'K', it awakened something in me, like a nostalgic feeling I couldn't quite describe.
The girl also looked into the label.
-"I wonder if mister 'K' had a good school year"
-"Do you think it's been there for long?"
-"Maybe, maybe mister K was such a good student they didn't want to get his name off this locker"
-"Maybe"
She put her shoes on and stepped away into the crowd.
-"Anyway, see you around!"
I reached my hand out to her on impulse.
-"Wait, I didn't get your name!"
She turned around and smiled at me.
-"I'm Ren. Yamai Ren"
And then she walked off sight.
Before I noticed, I was the only one left at the lockers, so I picked up my bag and made my way to my classroom, not before looking at Yamai's locker once more.
A 'K'... I tried to remember if I knew anyone with a surname that started with 'K'... and it almost feels as if I did, but I just won't remember.
~~~~~•~~~~~
Thankfully I arrived in time for everyone's presentations. It would be troublesome for someone like me to have to ask someone their name twice, so I try to memorize the names of my classmates. Agari... Yadano... Najimi is also here... Kometani... Inaka... and now...
... The seat next to me is empty, the teacher is calling Yamai's name.
Why isn't she here? Didn't she leave before me? Did she stay behind for some reason? But the more I stare at the empty seat, the more I begin to remember something... Maybe something or someone related to the 'K' I saw in Yamai's locker...
I blink to snap out of this trance, but when my eyes were closed I saw a face. A beautiful girl with long purple hair and covered eyes. Her name was...
Wait a second... this... this has all happened before!
-"Sorry I'm late! I overslept!"
Yamai rushes into the classroom and sits on the desk next to me.
-"Oh, it's you. Well, now that you're here you might as well introduce yourself"
Yamai nods.
-"My name is Yamai Ren, and I'm pleased to meet all of you. I like romance stories and I currently do not have a boyfriend or crush. I hope I can be friends with most of you and have a nice school year!"
-"Hey, I can be your boyfriend!"
A guy behind me jokingly says, followed by the laughter of many of my classmates.
Yamai looks pissed. She sits down.
-"And now, Tadano Hitohito!"
I got up.
-"My name is Tadano Hitohito, nice to meet all of you! I am very good at reading the atmosphere"
No reaction at all...
"Just kidding... Hehe"
Everyone's looking at me with no signs of friendship or hatred. It's better if I just sit down.
The rest of the introductions went by normally, and so did the first lesson.
But I noticed it. Something is horribly wrong. Why am I back in first year? And now I remember it clearly. Komi-san is gone, Yamai says she doesn't like anyone, so I don't think she did anything to her.
What is going on?!
~~~~~•~~~~~
My mind can't stop wondering. I am sure this isn't a dream, but if it isn't, what happened to Komi-san?
The first recess starts. I have to ask if anyone knows what happened, but I don't want to look like a madman, as I said I'm good at reading the atmosphere, so if no one else has noticed someone missing... no, Komi-san isn't just someone, she was worshipped and admired by so many people... why has no one noticed it?! I can feel my heart beating faster, my breath is speeding up... I calm myself down and try to peacefully make my way to Najimi, just a few desks away from me.
-"Oh, Tadano-kun, can I help you with something?"
I grab Najimi's wrist and look at them directly in the eyes.
-"Please come with me for a second"
We walk outside the classroom, where we crouch to talk in a toned-down voice.
-"Najimi, do you not notice anything weird?"
Najimi looks confused, afraid in some way.
-"Weird? Weird how?"
-"We're back in first year, Najimi, we were starting third year just yesterday!"
Najimi looks relieved, as if they understand everything.
-"Oh, is that it? Are you excited about studying in this high school? I guess time really flies!"
-"No, Najimi, I meant third year of high school"
-"Huh?"
They look even more confused than before. I know I sound crazy. I didn't remember at first either, but I know Najimi has to remember, they have to.
-"Komi-san, her goal of making one hundred friends..."
I tried to remember our memories together.
"The times we made a maid cafe and a theater for the school festival? When we hung out together in the summer holidays? The school trip? The battle royale at the beginning of our third year? You can't tell me you don't remember any of it!"
Najimi looked at me as if they were concerned over a total stranger.
-"Tadano... battle royale? What are you even talking about?"
They can't be serious. I don't want to believe it.
I grasp Najimi's shoulders.
-"Najimi! You don't remember Komi-san? Not in the slightest?"
-"Tadano!"
Najimi got my hands off themselves.
"Stop it, alright?! This isn't funny, I don't know any Komi-san, or any battle royale, or any school festival!"
Najimi stood up.
"Relax, Tadano, this is only our first day here, don't go all crazy on me, please"
I stood up as well.
-"But-"
-"Tadano! Listen, I know it's been harsh to blend in ever since "Operation L", but you have to sort these things out with a professional, not with me"
They reached for my shoulder.
"Please get help, for me, alright?"
And they walked away.
"I'll see ya around"
I stood in the exact same spot for the rest of the recess.
This has to be a dream. All that hard work... All that time spent with Komi-san, with the others... It's all gone. It can't be gone. This is a dream.
I know this is a dream. So I'll wake up eventually. I'll wake up, and be with my friends, with Komi-san.
I know I will.