- Lou Salomé

Ring, ring, ring!

I grasped for the phone just sitting beside me, turning off the alarm.

I looked at the time.

"Seven o'clock..."

At first, my body suddenly went into adrenaline. It's the type of adrenaline that rushes your blood vessels, increased temperature in your face, ears, and chest area, prone to sweating, and clouded thoughts.

Yes, the type of adrenaline I'm talking about is panicking.

I quickly sat up on my futon, then I dug thoroughly through my phone contents, but the adrenaline quickly faded away when I saw some text just below the big clock on screen.

Today: Observed National Non-working Holiday

Phew, I sighed in relief, as I got up from the futon.

By the way, I'm using a flip phone, no I'm not talking about those modern flip phones with foldable screens. It's these bricks that have a screen on one part and a keypad on the other. Ala-chan kept pestering me to purchase a modern smartphone, but I feel like this antique cellphone is certainly enough for me: calling, texting, that sweet alarm, and a couple of handy utilities like a calendar. I don't get how new smartphones can't last a day of a charge—no, this beast of a cellphone of mine lasts for a week!

And besides, my clunky laptop does all of the modern stuff as well as a smartphone, especially for the modern age social media and messaging "apps" they call it.

I checked my messages, which happen to be coming from Ala-chan at around 6AM.

Wow, she woke up earlier than me this time.

"Akkochii, I'll be at your place at around 8, while Miko and Tomo would be together. Then we'll meet up at the square by then~!"

"Shoot, I only have less than an hour to prepare", I said as I closed my cellphone.

I quickly grabbed my towel from the closet and rushed for the bathroom as I needed to take a bath really quick (though on average, it takes me around five minutes to bathe, so I guess that's already quick enough?)

After a sweet (and horrendously cold) bath, I wore the usual: plain white t-shirt on the inner with some grey hoodie with a dark gray accent color and some jeans.

But my breakfast isn't the usual, because I instead toasted some bread and spread white cheese all over it. I figured I need to change up my breakfast every now and then because I lied; I'm fed up with rice and luncheon meat at this time around.

From waking up, to taking a bath, wearing my clothes, cooking and eating my breakfast, it only spanned a whopping twenty-five minutes, and I woke up at ten minutes past seven a.m., so if I'm right, the time is around 7:35.

I grasped for my cellphone again and flipped it up.

7:40 AM.

Close call.

When my parents gave birth to me, they noticed that I have a natural grasp of time when I was three years old. I was taken to a doctor and three pediatricians back then, and they too couldn't come up with a conclusion of what I was possessed with such a condition. The third, last, and most knowledgeable pediatrician that my parents and I went to that time just simply concluded that I have an innate time perception.

Luckily, I wasn't treated like a guinea pig that was sent to the Ministry of Sciences and further investigated, taxidermized, autopsied, or just about anything sci-fi horror they did to me. That particular pediatrician was just as intrigued as we are and did a little science investigatory in that amount of time on how I'm good at perceiving time naturally. According to them, the average margin of error of my time perception is ± 20 minutes. That, however, was the only time we did the mean average of my "ability", if you'd like to call that.

Approximated 7:35 when it's 7:40 in the morning? I guess my innate sense of time seems to be getting better.

While I have an exact twenty minutes to spare, I usually get to my table where my clunky laptop is and play Solitaire. It's a classic joke to nerds, but it isn't a joke to me considering that I oddly find it a fun time killer. I play at random difficulties on a Standard 1-draw game, but if I feel confident and sure I can win without running out of moves, I'll play on the expert difficulty on a Las Vegas 3-draw game. At first, I thought it's a squiggly mind game brain teaser like Minesweeper, but turns out you can be an idiot and just order cards on the deck in either a red-black or black-red consecutive pattern.

Heck sometimes when I'm outside, I usually bring myself a deck of cards and play Klondike (standard) Solitaire outside on a big table.

Speaking of that, I'll snug one in my pockets.

...

Well it's already 7:58, and not even one of my five Solitaire rounds have I solved the deck—I've run out of moves on all of them.

The question is, is the choice "random" difficulty too random, or not so random? Or better yet, is the AI too smart?

AI or Artificial Intelligence is growing every day and it's scary to think that one day, it might overturn the human race. Didn't we declare ourselves that humans are the most intelligent species ever known to exist, in the whole universe even? Well that title we possess for two million years might suddenly be crowned to Artificial Intelligence, which is something we created ourselves and more intelligent than us?

Imagine humans are less intelligent than AI, something we made ourselves.

Or if I think back to the roots, it's just like our parents know less than their children.

Biomimicry, putting nature's lessons into practice, applies right there. It's a term that we even coined⎯no, enough brain candy!

It's 10 seconds to 8 o'clock. Looking carefully at my cellphone with the seconds visible.

Any moment now.

Tick, tick... boom!

Ding dong! as heard from the door

"C⎯"

Ding dong! Di-di-di-di-di-di-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-d-ding dong!

Judging by that monstrous rhythm, I know who this is.

I walked towards the front and opened the door.

"AKKOCHIIIII~!"

It was the usual lively Ala-chan, for five seconds.

"Haah, haaa" She almost collapsed as she bent down, hands on her knees.

"Hey, uh... you alright Ala?"

"Yeah, I'm, al...right⎯haa.." every syllable was accompanied by panting, like seriously she's sweating a lot. And no, this doesn't look like someone who has run through a marathon!

⁂

We happened to stay for a while in my room. I'd never seen a day where the two chairs I had around here would finally get occupied.

But something's been on my mind lately...

"Hold on Ala, how do you know where I live?"

"WOAHHH!!!" Her head was like a carousel, as she glanced around my room. I'd imagine her eyes were sparkly like one of those girls you see in anime.

I don't get it, this room isn't anything fancy. It's like a run-down motel that hasn't been renovated for ages. More so, it matches my definition of it being close to a robbers' den.

I stood up and bonked her head with a hand chop.

"YEEOOUCHH!! Hey, what was that for!?" she aggressively pouted at my direction.

I sat back down, "My question."

"O-oh right!" well thank goodness she has good memory, "Well, I tailed you all the way home yesterday, then I looped back my way to my apartment."

"That proves to me that I'm bad at the parts around here, I didn't know Ruruteru had all sorts of rollercoaster-looking loops, intersections, and streets!"

"Hee hee~ As someone who is a knowledgeable native around here, I'm the world's best navigator!" she exclaimed with confidence at her heart, as she drank the cup of water I handed to her a moment ago.

"Ughhh, yeah right..." I meant to sigh, but she can finally come in handy since we're close buddies. For pete's sake, the directions I only knew from my apartment were to school and to the train station. Nothing more, nothing less, I don't know where I'm going outside those two routes, including the square they were talking about. Hence, I'm scared like I'd imagine Ala-chan would do a kidnap-for-ransom scheme on the way since I'm a whack for directions.

"Well..." Ala stood up, "Ready to go Akkochii, or are you still preparing your elements for the real outside world?"

"Don't talk to me like I haven't gone outside yet, but whatever."

We left my apartment, locked the door, and walked down the stairs. As we walked away from the apartment towards the uphill road (which I haven't gone to yet), we passed by Aka's mochi store. It was the same closed state as it was last evening. Come to think of it, I never knew when the mochi store would open since I always leave for university just before seven o'clock. Though sometimes, Aka and I would meet up outside whenever I leave in the morning—not today it seems. The walls on the apartment are unusually thin to the point you could faintly hear your neighbors, and it seems like Aka is still asleep.

Or she's eavesdropping on us earlier? Well shoot, I might be up for a cheesy interview with her later.

Looking at Ala-chan, she has another wardrobe up her sleeve. Like it was the reverse yesterday; wearing a lilac drop shoulder shirt on her top and a white skirt with black grids, accompanied by a light brown leather purse. Her short shoulder-length hair seems to be curled up from the tips as opposed to the wavy style from yesterday. If I could accompany her wearing a pink straw hat, it would be compelling. Needless to say, Ala is beautiful today, not gonna lie.

"Ah right Ala, what about Tomo and Miko? They might be waiting for us over there..."

"Oh, while I was on the way here, I chatted with them and they happened to run a little late as well! The trains were a bit wonky they say."

"That's a coincidence, but why didn't we commute all the way there?"

"I don't like to use the trains, plus I figured you hate tight crowded spaces. And to top it all off, I like walking around the city, even if it takes a couple of kilometers~!"

"Woah, even you know that I have things that I hate?"

"Cheeky Akko, I have to know what my friend likes and dislikes about!" Ala giggled, partially covering her mouth with her hand.

Huh, even she can magically know something about you without you telling? I can't recall a moment where I shared to her what I like and don't like. Maybe she's just good at her social and peoples skills? Well damn, I'm somewhat jealous of her for pulling off that kind of stuff easily.

After a long walk, we finally took a turn to the left. There seems to be a lot of trees in this street; really cool down under the shade. Despite my whack for directions, I know that this direction is headed towards the university, and where the train goes on the first railway crossing that I encounter on my way to uni as well.

"Haahh, finally it's cool around here," Ala fanned herself with her hand, "I can finally break a sweat out of sweating!"

"Speaking of that, why do you seem like you're in a rush to my apartment earlier?"

She continuously (jokingly) fisted my shoulder, "Dummy Akko! You didn't respond to my text, so I thought you slept in or got into something terrible! Hmph."

"Oh sorry, I have to do my necessities you know, plus I'm still charging my phone that time."

"Grrrr, whatever." she sulked in front, really gripping her purse from that reaction.

I just realized that Ala-chan now has a habit of saying "____ Akko!". Maybe it's going to be the first time that I'll be possessing some sort of personal collection? I mean if memory serves: Dummy, Crazy, and Cheeky Akko. Oh boy, is she gonna catch all of my shenanigans?

Moreover, this street seems like it's a never-ending straight path with of course, the abundant rows of trees. It's quite breezy here too as the leaves slowly fall off from the trees. It's like one of those autumn leaves found around Harvard or Yale University, or one of those sakura trees in Japan during spring. I bet a director is going to plan to shoot around these parts.

And what do you know, this street just happens to be named "Autumn St."

It wasn't an awkward experience of the two of us just walking in the streets in peaceful silence, but rather, it's a breath taker; a palate cleanser for the both of us. Glancing at my left (frustratingly I had to tilt my head slightly up) and seeing Ala-chan's calm smile, I too was left with a smile.

"Hmm?" Ala-chan bent forward whilst looking at me, "My my, never seen Akkochii this happy before! Something good happened to 'cha (you)?", she questioned with a smirk.

I avoided eye contact with her, "Oh shut it, it's nothing."

"Fuehehe, never knew Akkochii was this emotional and easy to read..."

At the end of the street after some intersection, there appeared a railway crossing. This could be connected to the first railway crossing I see walking to my university, so somewhere along the tracks there's a turn.

"Oh by the way, we're almost here. It's just a matter of walks before we reach the city square." Ala-chan pointed to the right while we halted at a busy railway crossing, "There is a nearest station here which actually is the City Square stop."

While I did travel by train after I got here from the airport towards my move in my apartment, that's the extent of my knowledge when it comes to the routes of these trains. I only know two stops, "Airport Complex" and "Ruruteru". The Ruruteru train stop is located opposite to the direction where I head to school.

From the intersection, the roads are doubled in width, especially towards the City Square. There are also a lot more people walking within these parts at around 8 o'clock. Back around my apartment? There are like two or three people and some bicyclists passing through, with some shops in front of the apartment just about to get set up.

Just a few centimeters after the poles on the railway crossing had lifted, I felt a sudden grasp of my arm that leaned and dragged me forward.

"Come on, Akkochii!"

I know that Crazy Ala (borrowed from the "____ Akko!" habit of hers) keeps grabbing on my arm for whatever reason, mostly when she's fed up on something, but this is a different grasp. It's an inviting kind of grasp of my arm leaning forward. More like a new adventure, a new chapter of life yet to be explored.

And it all starts here.

Well, that's just me being overly dramatic and taking cues from famous scenes of various films and series; like we're kids in a new arc of a series ready to explore another region, but that's what I feel about.

As we ran forward to the other side of the railway crossing, with bigger roads and sidewalks, and more of what a bustling city should look and feel like.

"Here we are!"

Turning to our right, we finally see the City Square. It is actually bigger than I imagined. The frontback-most part of the square is the city hall, a stone statue right dead center of the square (probably heroes who declared the city's independence) with two flags on its left and right-hand side, the city and country flag respectively. There are a number of shops, stalls, and food trucks on standby on both sides of the city square.

Despite the bustling ambience, there aren't many people yet at this hour, though I'd expect it's going to skyrocket later at noon.

"MIIKOO, TOMOOO~!" She waved towards the two who were standing at one of the lamp posts scattered around the square. We slowly approached them as they waved back.

"Hallu bestie, and nice to meet you... Akko was it? I'm Miko, Miko Miura"

She gave out her hand, shook hands. The one who greeted me was Miko.

"Yo, good morning."

Unlike Ala-chan, Miko and I have somewhat the same height, so I can finally break free of not having to look up all the time, goodness my neck could take some rest somehow.

So if this is Miko, the person beside her would assumedly be Tomo. Miko's wear more or less looks average, with a red shirt coupled with suspenders, jeans, and some white sneakers. She seems to be wearing correctional glasses accompanying her brown eyes. Miko has medium-length, charcoal hair that reaches up to her elbow. Despite her possibly girly demeanor, she dresses up quite tomboyish, not gonna judge—I mean despite how beautiful Ala-chan is, she doesn't endow a poised attitude akin to Miko. Tomo on the other hand is around 10 to 15 centimeters shorter than me, wearing just a white dress, white purse, and some glossy black shoes. I guess she likes the color white?

"..."

Not even a single hitch from her, she does look like she's tugging slightly to Miko's side (not necessarily hiding behind her). Tomo is somehow avoiding eye contact with me, but not with Ala and Miko. Perhaps she's afraid of socializing (just like me)? Or she's simply not good with people she meets for the first time, I don't know, she should know for herself.

"Well have you two ate your breakfast?" asked Ala-chan to Miko and Tomo

"No, I hurriedly went here, and Tomo said that she slept in too much, so she too hadn't had one."

"Alrightyyy, we're stopping by at our favorite taco/burrito place, c'mon besties and Akko!", exclaimed and somewhat did a march forward like one of those British Guards you see on the palace.

Besties and Akko? Aww I'm not part of their besties circle yet? Well, it'll take time to get used to.

We walked forward towards the city square, and I'm not kidding when I say it is extremely enormous. It reminds me of Piazza San Marco in Venice, but thrice the size, like the stone statue of heroes that looked like miles away from where we stood earlier!

Both Ala-chan and Miko were in front of us having their chitchats, while I'm here with Tomo beside me—still avoiding eye contact with me.

I don't know, did I do something wrong right off the bat?

I know that question seems kinda odd for a first meetup, but the silence (ironically we're in a public space but still) is somewhat killing me.

Is she conscious about her height? I mean granted, I'm not used to having someone by my side whose height doesn't surpass me (you can thank Ala-chan for sticking to my senses that I have someone taller beside me all the time). Or is she jealous, but what though?

Did the gods think I was finally going smooth sailing in my life, and Zeus thought "Nope, let's zap this child for he has experienced mania"? Man that would be a big turn off.

Anyway, we finally entered the taco/burrito place that Ala-chan was talking about. Right off the bat, the place already smells like fresh burrito, which made me hungry-

Growwlll..

"H-huh-Akko, don't tell me you haven't had your breakfast too!" exclaimed Ala-chan facing towards me from the front.

"Bestie, maybe it's a cause for celebration, or meal I mean, haha," Miko giggled, "I guess we're all into our hangout with fasting."

"Awghh, don't tell me I'm the only one who really broke the fasting!" Ala-chan whined in front of us, stepping the floor like a wild gorrila whose teddy bear had been stolen by someone in the department store.

After all of the Ala Commotion outside, we finally entered the restaurant. We happened to sit around the maroon seating booths just beside the glass panes, with that fine cushion that can accommodate two people (three if you'd go the extra mile). Ala and Miko sat on one side, while Tomo and I sat on the other side. Just like on airplanes, I'm so fascinated I get the window seat!

A waitress approached us, "Here you go, Ma'am, Sir," handed two menus to me and Ala-chan, bowed, and walked out.