The bright morning light slowly filled Nena's room, and the soft sound of birds woke her up. She opened her eyes slowly, still feeling a little sleepy.
From the kitchen, her mother's voice came,
"Nena! Wake up! You're going to be late again!"
Nena turned slightly and mumbled, "I'm awake…"
Her mother had already prepared breakfast, and the smell spread through the house. After eating quickly and getting ready, Nena picked up her bag and stepped outside.
The morning air was cool, and the road was quiet. As she walked toward school, everything felt calm.
When she turned a corner, she saw Rina and Miri walking ahead, talking happily.
A small mischievous smile appeared on her face.
She quietly moved to the roadside and hid behind a pile of dry leaves. Her plan was simple—scare them.
She gently moved the leaves.
Miri stopped.
"Did you see that…?"
Rina looked at the leaves. "Why are they moving?"
Miri held her arm. "Don't go… it feels strange…"
Rina took a deep breath. "Relax. Stay back, Miri. I'll check."
Behind the leaves, Nena was trying hard not to laugh.
Rina slowly stepped closer.
The leaves moved again.
Miri almost jumped. "I told you!"
Rina leaned forward to look—
The leaves suddenly moved again.
Both of them screamed and ran straight toward the school.
Nena couldn't hold it anymore and burst out laughing. She quickly came out and shouted,
"Hey! It's me! Stop!"
But they didn't stop.
By the time Nena reached school, Rina and Miri were already telling everyone.
"I'm telling you, the leaves moved on their own!"
"It wasn't normal at all!"
Some students looked scared, some were curious, and a few even moved away from the area like the leaves might follow them.
Nena stood nearby, trying to stay quiet, but her laughter kept coming out.
Rina noticed and asked,
"Why is this so funny to you?"
Nena finally said,
"The story you're telling… that was me."
There was a short silence.
Then—
"WHAT?!"
Rina got angry and ran toward her.
"I'm going to catch you!"
Nena laughed and ran.
Both of them started running through the corridors while other students quickly moved aside.
Then suddenly—
Nena bumped into a teacher.
It was Mr. Kurogane.
He already looked annoyed, like his morning had not gone well.
"Why are you running in the corridor?!" he shouted.
But Nena and Rina didn't wait.
"Run!" Nena said, grabbing Rina's hand.
They ran again.
"Hey! Stop right there!" he shouted, but they were already gone.
They rushed into the classroom and quickly sat in their seats, breathing heavily.
Both of them were still a little angry at each other.
Miri looked at them and said,
"You both are impossible…"
Soon, two teachers entered the classroom.
"Good morning," everyone said.
"Good morning. Sit down," the teacher replied.
The classroom became quiet.
One student asked,
"Sensei… who is he?"
The teacher said,
"He is your new teacher."
The new teacher stepped forward.
"Hello everyone… I mean students. My name is Takashi Tou. You can call me Tou Sensei."
Some students started whispering.
"Is he always like this?"
"He sounds a bit funny…"
Tou Sensei smiled.
"I can hear you."
The class became quiet immediately.
"Please be good to him," the teacher said and left.
Tou Sensei clapped lightly.
"Let's introduce ourselves one by one."
A girl stood up.
"My name is Tama Sasaki. Nice to meet you."
Tou Sensei looked at her.
"Are you a transfer student?"
"Yes, Sensei. I came from Tokyo because my father was transferred for work."
Tou Sensei nodded.
"Tokyo is a big city… tall buildings, crowded streets, trains running everywhere, and lights even at night."
The class started whispering again.
"She's from Tokyo?"
"She must be rich…"
"Quiet," Tou Sensei said gently.
Then it was Nena's turn.
She stood up.
"My name is Nena Sakumi. I live near the candy shop with my mom."
Tou Sensei asked softly,
"And your father?"
Nena looked down slightly.
"My father passed away last year… during a work trip."
The classroom became silent.
Rina quietly said,
"It's okay…"
Tou Sensei nodded gently.
"Loss is part of life… but we keep moving forward."
Then he changed the topic.
"Did you all enjoy your beach trip?"
The class became lively again.
After some time, the bell rang.
Tou Sensei smiled.
"I will teach you something interesting tomorrow."
Everyone replied,
"Thank you, Sensei."
Students started talking again.
Rina said to Miri,
"He's actually nice… calm and kind."
Miri nodded.
Nena was looking outside the window, lost in her thoughts.
Rina called her,
"What do you think he will teach tomorrow?"
Nena blinked.
"Huh?"
She hadn't heard anything.
Just then, another teacher entered.
Everyone stood up again.
"I will take a test," he said.
It was Mr. Kurogane.
The class reacted immediately.
"What test?!"
"I told you before the trip," he said strictly. "Start writing."
He gave out the papers.
The classroom became completely quiet.
Only the sound of the clock ticking… the wind coming through the window… and pens moving could be heard.
One student tried to whisper something.
"Write your own paper!" the teacher shouted.
Silence again.
Nena looked at her paper.
Her mind was blank.
"I forgot to study…"
She rubbed her head, trying to remember anything.
She looked around.
Rina was frozen, staring at the paper.
Miri's eyes were watery, like she might cry at any moment.
Nena almost laughed seeing them, but she controlled herself.
"This is really bad…"
She answered whatever she could.
Time ended.
The teacher collected the papers.
"I will tell the marks tomorrow," he said and left.
"Thank you, Sensei…" the class said in tired voices.
As soon as he left, everyone reacted.
"We're finished…"
"I wrote nothing…"
Nena looked at Rina.
Rina looked back.
Both sighed at the same time.
Miri almost cried.
Rina tried to cheer her up.
"It's okay… one test doesn't decide everything."
Then the bell rang again.
Lunch time.
Everyone became happy instantly.
Nena took her lunch box from her bag.
Rina said,
"Let's eat together."
They went to the terrace.
There, they saw Tama sitting alone.
Rina said,
"Oh… it's Tama. Why is she alone?"
They sat with her.
Tama stayed quiet.
Rina asked,
"Why are you eating alone?"
Tama said softly,
"I just don't like crowded places."
Then Tama asked,
"Were you the ones who got scared by the leaves?"
Nena started laughing.
Rina said quickly,
"I wasn't scared! Nena did that!"
They started arguing again.
Miri tried to stop them.
Then they decided to open their lunch boxes.
They played rock-paper-scissors.
"1… 2… 3!"
Rina won.
She smiled proudly.
But Miri said,
"You won first, so you open first."
Rina tried to argue, but they insisted.
She opened her lunch.
Inside was simple food—eggs, rice, and vegetables.
Everyone went quiet.
Rina smiled shyly.
"It's simple…"
Miri opened hers next.
There was a fried egg with sauce shaped like a smiley face.
Everyone smiled.
"So cute," Nena said.
Then Nena opened hers.
A panda-shaped rice ball, everything neatly arranged.
"Wow…" everyone reacted.
Then they looked at Tama.
She didn't want to open hers.
They kept insisting.
Finally, they took it and opened it.
It was empty.
Everyone froze.
Tama said quietly,
"I already ate…"
Rina leaned closer playfully.
"What did you eat? Tell me!"
Tama smiled slightly.
"Nothing special."
Nena said softly,
"Next time… don't eat alone."
Tama nodded.
After lunch, they walked back.
Rina asked,
"How is Tokyo? Big buildings and trains?"
Tama said,
"It's not as nice as it sounds. It's crowded, expensive, and always busy. You don't even get time to breathe."
Rina said,
"Oh…"
After school ended, they walked together again.
A car came.
Tama said,
"That's mine."
Rina and Miri looked surprised.
"She really is rich…" Rina whispered.
They said goodbye.
As Nena, Rina, and Miri walked, they reached the same place again.
The leaves moved.
All three stopped.
Rina said slowly,
"Nena… this isn't you, right?"
Nena shook her head.
"No…"
The leaves moved again.
Miri almost cried.
"RUN!"
They ran away quickly.
Behind the leaves, a small rabbit jumped out and ran into the grass.
Nena reached home and ran to her mother.
"Mom! The leaves were moving on their own!"
Her mother said calmly,
"It was probably an animal."
Nena still looked unsure.
"It didn't feel like that…"
Her mother smiled.
"Come eat. I made your favorite curry."
Nena's expression changed immediately.
"Really?"
She forgot everything and started eating happily.
After dinner, she went to her room and lay down.
The room was quiet.
She looked at her father's photo for a moment.
Then she smiled softly.
She closed her eyes…
and fell asleep peacefully.