SECOND ENTRANCE

My name is Tiara Hikari, and this is my story.

Being a seventeen-year-old high school girl, I have made a lot of regrets in my life. Most of it are due to my own idiocy, but some of my worst decisions in life are worthy of being thought about.

And this day has one of my greatest regrets in my life.

You may have already known my appearance. If you see an adorable tall girl with long black hair reaching her knees, sky-blue puppy eyes, and porcelain white skin running clumsily at the school hallway with a buttered toast in her mouth, that’s probably me. I’m getting late!

“Oh, Ms. Hikari. You just missed the school assembly... Two hours ago.” My homeroom teacher Macho Steel- I mean, Mr. Kent said.

I immediately gulped the toasted bread and swallowed it in one go! “I-I’m sorry Mr. Kent. I-I kind of got a lot of errands last night. And I overslept… ahahaha…” I made an apologetic smile at him.

“I’ll let you off this time.” Macho Steel crossed his arms, showing off his bulky biceps and triceps. “Don’t let your extracurricular activities ruin your academics.”

“Y-Yes!” I answered. “T-Thank you, sir!”

About extracurricular activities, Macho Steel… I mean Mr. Kent must be pertaining to my paranormal activities. Apparently, I’m a Gate Guardian, who can create a portal to the world of collective unconscious which is called Yami. We Gate Guardians fight Eidolons; which are monsters that can corrupt people’s minds.

As I settled down on my seat, I looked to my right. I saw my best friend Alaric Eisenhower; or to make it shorter, just call him Rikkun. He was lazily staring at the blackboard with that half-opened eyes.

Rikkun is so handsome. His golden hair is brighter than the sun, and his green eyes are more glittery than the stars. He’s a tall man with a white complexion and a well-built body. He’s not perfect, however. His manners and personality need to improve a bit.

But I can see that there’s some development. Since becoming a Gate Guardian, he became unconsciously heroic. He may not look at it, but he cares for his friends a lot. He’s the reason why I’m alive after all.

Suddenly, the blonde heartthrob glanced at me. I was caught off guard! I just realized that I have been staring at his delicate face for too long! So I looked away in return, pretending to watch the blue skies through the window beside me.

“I-I’m sorry, Tiara. I’m quite busy, so I had to go to school as early as five. You were sleeping soundly so I didn’t wake you up.” Rikkun said. He was kind of embarrassed and blushing, and it looks so cute!

“I-It’s okay… I kinda overslept anyway, ahahaha….” I made a fake laugh. Help me, I can’t stop acting awkward in front of him!

Is it just I or Rikkun is breaking his own character right now? This is the first time he took the initiative and apologize to me over some trifling matter. And why did he wake up that early anyway?

<>

Rikkun continued to boggle my mind even now at lunch break. Usually, he would eat with me and share the same table, but he seems to be really busy right now. Even his best bud Heushac is not here.

After I laid the tray on the cafeteria table, I slammed my face into it. I really hate being alone. Nobody is daring to share a table with me, not even my classmates. It seems that they are avoiding me for some reason. Yes, I’m the Brightmore Witch, but am I that scary? Did they even know that I’m a witch in the first place?

“...Auuu….” I cried.

If only Necchan was here…

“Heya!”

It was the president of the Idol Club and my senior, Miss Awane. She laid her tray and sat in front of me. Then she proceeded to eat her spicy carbonara casually.

I just watched her consume her meal, waiting for my appetite to jump start. The Idol Club President must have realized that I’m just staring at her, so she started to talk.

“Tiara, are you sick? This is the first time I saw you not having an appetite. Usually, you would sneakingly eat snacks at the backstage during our rehearsals.”

“I-It’s just that I don’t find myself eating without Rikkun…” I said.

“Oooooh!” Awane gave me a malicious smirk. “Don’t worry. After this day, he would absolutely be by your side until the end of time.”

“W-W-W-What are you talking about, Miss Awane!?” I blushed.

“Nothing.” Miss Awane withdrew with a genuine smile. “Just eat your meal or it will get cold.”

Just what is going on with Rikkun?

<>

Classroom, afternoon. The bell rang from the tenth floor of the campus, signaling the end of the classes.

Rikkun has been avoiding my glance this whole time because he keeps on daydreaming while staring at the blackboard.

“I-Is something bothering you, Rikkun?” I went in front of him and blocked his sight.

“I-I-It’s nothing!” Rikkun turned away with a blush. Suddenly, he packed his things up and then rushed outside the classroom. “S-See you later, Tiara!” He waved goodbye.

I really don’t understand him right now.

I saw Heushac who is scratching his head and his face has this troubled look. Maybe he has a clue on what in the Earth Realm is going on.

“H-Hey, Mister Heu-”

Suddenly, Miss Awane made an entrance and grabbed Heushac’s wrist! She shouted, “It’s about to start, we need you on site!” And then the leader of the Idol Club dragged the poor boy along the hallway. Now I’m alone again.

Sigh.

I know I’m not the one to talk, but everyone is weird right now.

<>

I was now in front of the school gate, and Heushac is there at the side of the way. He’s carrying an acoustic guitar, and he made a smooth strum as I went past him. He got my attention and I’m about to talk to him, but then he released these words.

“Don’t mind me~ I’m just background music ~ Pretend that I’m just air~”

There were some red rose petals scattered, trailing towards the gate. And about a couple of meters from me is the whole band of the Parade Club, with their trumpets ready. It’s as if they are just waiting for my mark.

Slowly, the swarm of people split up and revealed a man with pure elegance.

He is so handsome. Golden hair, green eyes, white complexion, and composed body. He is wearing an all-white tuxedo, and he’s carrying a bouquet of roses.

“...R-Rikkun…” I muttered under my breath.

His face is quite pinkish, but it didn’t ruin his adorable smile. The guitar started to unleash a romantic symphony as the knight in white slowly approached me. His emerald eyes pierced my heart, and I’m definitely lost in his gaze.

Doki doki… I can feel my heart throbbing. I just hope he won’t hear it because it’s quite loud and about to explode. And now he’s too close! I swallowed the gastric juice stored inside my mouth, but it didn’t help me calm down a little bit!

The man with pure elegance started to speak, and his words are the most beautiful music that I have ever heard.

<>

“I have been sailing aimlessly in the sea of darkness, without a destination. It was a voyage without a map.

But I always managed to have a safe journey, just because you were always there by my side.

I don’t have a compass, but you are the glittering north star who gave me directions whenever I’m lost.

I don’t have a paddle, but you are the gentle ocean waves that keep me going forward.

I don’t have food, but the thought of your smile is there to give me sustenance.

I don’t have any tools to repair my boat, but you are there to fill the holes in my heart.

And now that my journey has ended, I have finally seen the real treasure...

A treasure that has always been with me from the start.

Tiara Hikari…

I love you…

Will you be my girlfriend?”

<>

As Rikkun gently placed the bouquet of roses to my hands, my face went bright red. My heart became so tired of beating fast, it suddenly made a stop.

“E-Eh?!”

Eeeeeeeh?!

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHH!!!!!!???