Shin Takamiya.
The boy who sits beside me.
His hair is always messy. Tousled, uneven — like he just ran through the wind and didn't care to fix it. It's short, but wild, and when the sunlight hits just right, I notice the tips glint bronze.
Like the sun liked him so much, it decided to leave a mark.
His skin is a little darker than mine — not dirty, just… sun-kissed. Like he belongs outside. Like he runs faster than the breeze and climbs higher than the trees.
And maybe he does.
His face is kind of sharp. Not scary-sharp, but like the edges of a paper crane — folded just right, clean and quick.
His eyes?
Narrow. Bright.
They're dark brown, almost black — like pieces of midnight sky that never stop shining.
When he looks at something, he really looks.
And when he looks at you…
you feel it.
He smiles fast — like his face is always ready for fun.
His mouth moves like it's hiding a hundred ideas, most of them a little crazy, all of them exciting.
And when he laughs, it's loud.
Not rude-loud. Just real.
Like he's not afraid to show the world he's alive.
He's a little taller than me.
Thinner too, but strong in a way I don't understand yet.
Not big muscles or anything.
Just… wired with energy.
Even when he's sitting, something's moving — his fingers tapping the desk, his feet bouncing softly under the chair.
Like there's a drum inside him that never stops beating.
And his vibe?
Shin feels like the kind of boy who would throw a paper airplane into a thunderstorm just to see how far it flies.
But if the rain started falling hard on me —
he'd stand there, arms wide, shielding me from every drop.
No questions asked.
Just because.
That's Shin Takamiya.
And he sat right beside me.
Fujimoto-sensei continued calling out names—one by one—until finally, she smiled and said,
"My name is Fujimoto. I'll be your homeroom teacher."
Everyone raised their hands to wave at her, so I did too. Just a small wave.
Then I heard a whisper, right beside me.
"I'm Shin. You're Hideki, right?"
I turned slowly. It was the boy with the fiery voice. His eyes were bright and his grin was wide.
I nodded. "Yes," I said softly. My voice was smaller than his. Shy.
He leaned closer and whispered again, like it was a secret between us.
"Let's be friends, Hideki."
I blinked.
Friends?
I didn't know if I could.
Because I already had a best friend.
Her name was Yui.
She was kind, and warm, and she always made me laugh. She was my whole world once.
But…
But…
Mama told me something a few days ago.
She said it was okay to make a new friend.
Because Yui was making new friends too, wherever she is now.
And Mama also said—very gently, while brushing my hair at night—that it wasn't called betrayal.
I didn't really understand what "betrayal" meant…
…but I believed Mama.
Because she's my Mama.
And she loves me.
And she knows what I need, even when I don't.
So I looked at Shin.
And I said, just a little louder this time, "…Okay."
He nodded fast—like he had just won a race—and grinned even wider.
Then our class went on.
Fujimoto-sensei started teaching us songs and colors and shapes. Some kids were loud, some quiet, some looked scared… like me.
But once in a while, I turned to the window.
Outside the glass, Mama and Papa were still standing there.
Watching.
When my eyes met theirs, Papa smiled and waved. Mama did too.
I didn't wave back every time.
But I always looked.
Because just knowing they were there… made everything feel better.
Even if just a little.
And just like that…
my first day at school ended.
The sun was lower in the sky now, and Mama and Papa walked beside me to the car.
I didn't say much.
I was still thinking about everything — the classroom, the colors, the names, Shin.
As soon as we reached the car, Mama bent down and gave me a big hug.
Her arms were warm, and her voice was even warmer.
"Yaaaay, Hideki~ You finished your first day of school!" she cheered, like I had won a big race.
First?
I blinked.
Wait… this was just the first?? I have to go again??
I said nothing out loud.
Just nodded slowly and hugged her back, trying to hide the surprise in my chest.
Papa smiled as he opened the car door for me.
"So, how was it, buddy? Not too bad, right?"
I stared at the seatbelt in my hand, unsure.
My mouth opened… then closed again.
"Hmmm," I said.
That's all I could get out while searching for the right answer inside me.
Papa chuckled. "I know, Hideki. Papa felt that too, you know…"
He looked ahead, thoughtful.
"You just have to do it again tomorrow. And then again the next day… and every day after that. One day, you'll be glad you came."
I tilted my head.
Glad?
That sounded… far away.
We drove home.
I leaned my head against the window and watched the sky drift by.
Clouds were slow.
Like me today.
And I wondered…
Did Yui go to school too?
Does she have a teacher now?
Did she make new friends… just like I did?
I didn't know.
But the thought stayed with me, even after we got home.
Papa and Mama went inside to do their grown-up things.
I went to my room.
Shiba-inu was sitting on my desk like always.
His fur was a little faded now — not as squishy as before.
But he was still here.
Still mine.
Still my friend.
Like Yui.
I walked over and gently touched his paw.
"Shibaaaa… Hideki went to a place called school today."
But before I could keep talking, I stopped.
Wait.
Tama-chan needs to hear this too.
"Wait here, Shiba," I said.
Then I ran out of my room, through the hallway, and into the garden.
Tama-chan was lying down in her usual favorite spot — near the flower pots.
But something was different.
Her belly…
It looked big. Round. Like she had just eaten the biggest fish in the world.
"Tama-chaaaan~" I called softly.
She opened her eyes and looked at me.
But she didn't move.
I walked closer and knelt beside her, petting her gently.
"Tama-chan… you okay?"
She meowed.
Not loud.
Just a little tired sound.
Then she stood up slowly — her steps heavy.
My chest squeezed tight.
Something didn't feel right.
I jumped to my feet and ran back inside.
"Mama! Papa!"
They looked up from the sofa.
"Tama-chan… she's lying down and… and… she looks tired. Her belly—her belly's big!"
I pointed out the window, my hand shaking.
Mama and Papa got up quickly.
We went outside to the garden together.
Tama-chan looked at us and gave a soft meow.
She walked again — slow, like her feet were careful.
Mama kneeled beside me, rubbing my head gently.
"Oh, Hideki… it's okay. Tama-chan is pregnant."
"…Pregnant?" I looked up at her, confused.
"She's going to have babies," Mama said with a smile.
"HUHH?! REALLY?!"
My eyes went wide and I jumped a little in place.
"She's gonna have babies?!"
I grabbed Mama's hands and twirled in excitement.
Even though school was scary,
even though today was big and strange and new…
…Tama-chan was going to have babies.
And that made everything feel…
kind of magical.