| Earth, Osaka, Japan, Present Day |

Average test grades, so I don't really get that many accolades...

I wake up and look outside my window. The sun's warmth grazes my face.

"Crap, I'm late again!"

Average body type, so guys don't really look at me all that much.

"I may be late, but comfort should always be one's priority!"

I jump out of bed and make time to slip on my pink fluffy house shoes before sprinting to the bathroom.

And average likeability...so I don't have people lining up to be my friend...

"LIKE HELL IT SHOULD!" A voice rang from downstairs

I rush out of the bathroom with poorly done make-up and a bit of toothpaste on my cheek.

My uniform's wrinkled in a few places, but girls are given the option to wear a light jacket over their top.

"Heh...life hacks."

I pull up my stockings, clip the button on my skirt and dash down the stairs.

"Sorry for the wait Mikku, your favorite sister is ready!"

I stride into the kitchen and make a gesture like I just hit a Homerun and made it to 4th base...that's how many bases there are in baseball, right?

Mikku looks up from the table and points toward my breakfast with a mug in her hand. As usual, she's the first one up, so she makes our lunches and breakfast.

Mikku sighed.

"If only you showed this much enthusiasm to get up early in the morning, sometimes I worry about you."

"This is ME we're talking about, and you're MY little sister. You don't have to worry about me."

"Well, don't forget about our plans after school. We're going to check out that cafe two train stations over, right?"

I grinned and waved my fork around with a tomato on end.

"Of course, my dear sister, they're premiering the first episode of our beloved manga Callistus; I wouldn't miss it for the world!"

Mikku and I don't really have that many similar hobbies. She sucks at my beloved video games, and I don't see the purpose of going shopping 24/7.

However, one thing we both have in common is reading manga and light novels. We'll go to a bookstore, bring home our selections and read together for hours.

One series we're currently following is called Callistus. It's about a female knight, Xylantra, and her rise from a mere peasant to a strong and esteemed paladin. They got an anime adaptation and are premiering later today.

But if you bought the first hundred copies of the first volume with a special voucher, you were invited to watch it before the TV premiere!

What Callistus fan would pass this up?

Mikku drew circles around her mug.

"I'm going to skip my Student Council meeting just this once so I can get something to eat before the premiere. For some reason, I get hungry mid-show when I'm excited."

I popped the pierced tomato in my mouth.

"You, goody-two-shoes, missing a council meeting? Surely the world is ending."

Mikku filled her cheeks with air.

"I'm not that straight-laced! In fact, just today, I added a pinch of salt to the rice in our lunches!"

She pointed her nose pointed up with hands on her hips.

I stop for a moment and stare.

"Mikku...never change."

I cram some toast and orange juice in my mouth and stand from my chair.

"W-what is that supposed to mean!"

She pouts, picking up our dishes and putting them in the sink.

I help clean the table, grab my Bento off the kitchen island, and head for the door. I put on my shoes and unlock the top and bottom locks.

"Wait for me, please!"

I hear Mikku exclaim from the other room as she dashes to my side and slips on her loafers.

She smiles at me and hands me my bag, which I'd forgotten near the table.

"One day, you and I are BOTH going to forget your bag...then what?"

I give off a content sigh and smile back, taking my bag from her hand.

"What would I do without you?"

Mikku slips on her shoes and pushes her right toes to the floor for comfort.

"Sometimes, I wonder the same thing."

I open the door to our apartment and look outside. Taking in a breath of fresh air, I look down to the first floor to a pair of birds playing in a puddle.

Mikku walks out after me and locks the door behind us.

"Shall we get going?"

Without waiting for a response, she walks toward the stairs

"Mm-hm." I trail behind her.

The air is soft but tinted with the scent of blooming flowers. Cherry blossoms fall from their respected trees on the street adjacent to our apartment complex.

Our mother and father live in America and send us money to get by. Most of it gets put into savings and spent on food, housing, and other necessities.

But what I don't tell Mikku is that I put a considerable portion into a "College Only" account for when she goes off because let's face it—she's pretty dam smart.

I also work part-time at said convenience mart to put some extra money in the account and give her some to do whatever.

Looking forward, I see Mikku, who's already at the gate of the complex.

I walk over, and she turns to look at me.

"Come on, slowpoke!"

I shrug and walk out the gate as she holds it open for me.

Mikku faces my direction while walking.

"What're you going to do anyways...I mean, once you graduate?"

The door clanks shut behind us as we make our way downhill to our school.

"I've got a friend at a game-design studio that's going to hook me up with a video game writer position."

I throw my schoolbag back and forth.

"I'm currently working on a small story to send them showcasing my skills."

She stops walking, with widened eyes.

"I-I didn't expect an answer like that."

"Hey! I may be a slacker, but when it comes to writing I'm always serious,"

A gust blows cherry blossoms in front of us, prancing in the wind.

Mikku lets out a chuckle.

"I remember you telling mom and dad about becoming an author over the phone and them going ballistic!"

I throw my schoolbag onto my back.

"Yeah, well, I feel the most alive when I'm writing."

Steel black gates with a black and gold-encrusted sign reading "Yakomi Academy" in kanji on the sides of the wall are presented to us.

"Mikku!" I hear a few girls exclaim a few paces ahead of us.

"Hey, guys!"

Mikku waves back and gives a delicate smile.

She looks over at me as if she was asking for my approval to leave.

"Go on; your friends are waiting."

"I'll see you later after school!" Mikku exclaims while running towards them.

"If you don't see me within 10 minutes of the last bell, then go on without me!"

She waves at me, and I give a slight wave back.

Despite this being her first year at a new school, she instantly made friends during her first semester.

It was practically impossible for a senior like me to make any acquaintances since there were all in clubs or closed-off friend groups.

My sister and I moved over here after our mom and dad left for the states. It was hard to say goodbye to my last school's friends, but I wanted my sister to get the best education possible, so I moved near Yakomi.

It's my last year, so I didn't mind being alone for a mere four semesters, but it's truly agony.

I turn into the school's gates, flooding in with other students.

'Good Morning,' my homeroom teacher greets. I simply nod and keep walking.

A cherry blossom petal dances by, and I follow it as it gets lost in the hurdle of kids moving through the schoolyard.

It then disperses and flies high into the air as if it's evading the noisy humans from its elegant dance.

I sometimes wish I could let the wind take me somewhere else as well.

. . .