The next day at school began with a slap on Kaito’s back.

“Hey-ey, Mr. Igarashi! Looking good today, buddy.” Touma popped out from behind him with his hand still rested on Kaito’s back.

“And what exactly are you so excited about, Toma?”

“Heeeh? What! It’s Touma!”

Kaito shrugged. “Yeah. Toma. That’s what I said!”

“TOUMA! T-O-U-M—” Touma tilted his head to the side and with a raised eyebrow said, “Wait a sec!”

Kaito couldn’t suppress it anymore. With both arms, he clutched his stomach and burst into laughter.

Touma rolled his eyes and shook his head. “Ha-ha! Very funny.”

“But seriously—” Kaito still laughing, “Why do you look so happy? Aren’t we being forced to run track today?”

“Yeah, we are! As well as long jump, high jump, and baseball. But—!”

“But?”

“Well, think about it, buddy. We have to change into our gym clothes...”

At this juncture, Kaito was confused and curious. “And… You really enjoy wearing gym clothes?”

“Err! Incorrect answer, Mr. Igarashi! Just think about it!” The excitement in Touma’s face turned into an evil smile that spread from cheek to cheek. “The girls need to change into gym clothes as well! And have you seen our school’s female gym clothes?” Touma asked with big round eyes.

He reminded Kaito of a dog, eagerly waiting for his master to give him his treat. “Of course, I ha—”

“Of course, you haven’t! But today is the day you become a man, my friend! Today you get to experience one of the delicacies of life!”

Delicacies of life?

What is this guy on about…?

But before Kaito could ask, Touma grabbed him by his shoulders to call his attention, and Kaito was next looking at a beautiful girl wearing extremely short pants and a fitted white T-shirt, which highlighted the shape of her breasts.

“Yes! Just look… There! Just look at those… those plump, big, beautiful BOO—”

Shock ran across Touma’s face. He froze. Eyes wide, mouth open, and sweat froth began to form on his forehead. Kaito noticed a pair of arms interlocked with Touma’s right arm and a pair of big brown eyes focused intensely on Touma’s face.

“Morning, To-to! What were you guys talking about? Hmm?” she asked, seemingly enjoying the look on Touma’s face.

“N-n-n-nothing, Himari!”

The poor guy is shaking.

“Anyway, this is the new kid in class, Kaito.”

“OH! Kaito, it’s so nice to meet you. I’m Himari! I’m the girl’s baseball team captain!” she proudly said with a smile that peered out from underneath a low hanging baseball cap.

That cap…

And the baseball jersey…

Kaito stood frozen for a good ten seconds and then, slightly embarrassed at the fact that he’d mistaken her for a boy, awkwardly extended his arm and said, “H-hey, It’s nice to meet you… Himari.”

Himari had a mousy-brown ponytail that protruded out the back of her cap, big brown eyes, and freckles running from cheek to cheek. But she seemed to be bouncing with the same kind of energy Touma had.

I guess what she lacks in looks she makes up for in personality.

“So! Tell me what you guys were talking about! Tell me, tell me, TELL ME!”

Touma let out a shriek. He looked terrified of Himari and her finding out what he had been talking about with Kaito.

Kaito slung his bag over his shoulder. “Um… I’m going to class now. Again, it was nice to meet you, Himari. See you guys around.”

“Huh? Kaito! No! You can’t leave me here with this wo—”

“With this WHAT?!”

Kaito shook his head and walked off.

What a bunch of weirdos.

The school bell chimed. Professor Yoshida took the register and directed the class to change into their sports clothes—if they haven’t already—and meet up on the sports field.

Kaito had never really partaken in any sporting activity, but he didn’t mind sports. He had a thin but muscular stature, probably the reason he was asked to fill in for certain sports teams at his old school. Back then, he jumped from club to club but never really stuck around long enough to get to know anyone better.

He eventually joined what they called the “Music Club” at his old school. Except there was no music program. It was just an excuse to ditch school to smoke and hang out with the wrong kind of people.

As he changed clothes, Kaito wondered why his mom never asked to come and see any of his plays.

Maybe she knew I was lying back then…

“Okay good. Looks like everyone is here,” Professor Yoshida’s voice bellowed, silencing the crowd of students in front of him. “I want you guys to split up into two groups, please: one for all the boys, and the other, girls.” He then flicked his fingers together. “Come on, hurry up, you slackers!”

“Good. Now, girls, you will be running track first, so you can go meet up with Professor Hoga at the starting line, please. But I urge you to take care, she seems to be in a rather foul mood today.” Professor Yoshida stared at them over the top of his glasses while the giggling group of girls made their way to the other side of the sports field.

“Good, good, good. Now, guys, when I read out your name, you will get up one at a time and do a long jump for me. Please, try your best. Okay, let’s go!” the flicking of his fingers continued.

“Riku, you’re up first.” Riku was a small boy with black hair in Kaito’s class. To Kaito, he looked much more like a guy that would enjoy a good pop quiz rather than being out here having your athletic prowess gauged in front of your classmates.

Kaito wasn’t sure what kind of guy he was. He didn’t really like sports, but he didn’t really dislike it either. Some things in class he found interesting, others, well… he wouldn’t know because his mind would habitually wander off to faraway places.

Singing.

Kaito liked singing when he was younger. Back when everything was bright and colorful. He loved seeing the smile on his mother’s face whenever he would sing one of her favorite songs, or when he started performing in musicals; she would always tell him how proud she was.

I haven’t sung in such a long time.

The sun was blaring straight down at them when Touma’s name was called. After a quick dash to the sandpit, he launched himself and soared gracefully through the air. Everyone was left in awe as he set the record for the furthest jump of the day so far. Touma got up and bowed majestically. The crowd erupted in claps, shouts, and whistles.

Kaito rolled his eyes. He’s definitely one for the spotlight.

“Kaito, you’re up.”

Touma smiled at him, but Kaito ignored him. Kaito knew he would have a tough time going after a performance like that.

Oh, it’s on, buddy!

He was going to try his best to wipe that smile off Touma’s face.

Kaito took a deep breath, then he set off toward the sandpit. The pit approached fast, and as Kaito got ready to launch himself, he realized something…

He had forgotten to tie his shoelaces.

SMACK! CRACK!

Kaito woke up with the taste of sand and blood in his mouth. His knee was on fire and throbbing with pain. He couldn’t understand what was going on, or why Touma’s face seemed perched above his, looking down at him. The world was blurry, and his whole body was bobbing up and down, making him feel nauseous.

“Touma.”

“Hmm?”

“Are you… are you carrying me?”

“Shush, buddy, it’s alright. I’m taking you to the infirmary,” Touma answered.

When Kaito grasped he was cradled in Touma’s arms, being carried like a baby, he quickly and with all his might wriggled free from the red-headed boy’s arms.

“Woah, chill! I was just—”

“I can walk fine by myself, thanks,” Kaito said, wobbling his way forward.

Touma took his arm around his neck and helped him walk toward the infirmary.

“Why do you always have to be so headstrong?” Touma asked.

Kaito didn’t know how to answer that question. He’d always asked Yui the same whenever he tried to help her with something. It now dawned on him that it probably ran in the family.

Mama used to be the same.

Used to be…

“Thanks for helping me, Touma.”

Touma started giggling, which quickly turned into roaring laughter. He grabbed his belly as he folded over. “Ahahah! Man. You bailed so hard! I’ve never seen anyone fall so hard! Ahahahah! Only your face made it into the sandpit when you face-planted the sand!”

“Shut up!” Kaito yelled, but he couldn’t stop himself from laughing either and soon, they were on the infirmary floor trying to explain to the nurse what had happened and why they weren’t able to stop themselves from laughing hysterically.

Kaito spent a few hours in the infirmary getting patched up and sleeping off the pain medication he had been given. He then headed to the showers as soon as he woke up.

He was relieved when he discovered the boy’s bathroom was deserted. Kaito quickly jumped out of his clothes and into the shower. The warm water soothed his skin, seemed to wash away his pain.

Kaito felt happy.

He had no idea why, but he had a sudden urge to sing again.

I haven’t sung anything in such a long time…

He recalled the old country song his mother would sing each time she was in a happy mood. It was called “Lucky Loo.” Just the name itself made him giggle a little.

Kaito had an amazing voice. And not only did he have a talented voice; his mother taught him to sing at a very tender age. For years now, he hadn’t sung anything; nonetheless, he had a knack for turning melodies into magic. The words jumped from water drop to water drop as he started singing underneath the shower head.

“They call me Lucky Loo

How do you do

Still got one rabbit’s foot over

While I’m chewing on my four-leaf clover”

“See I got all the luck

I don’t need no horseshoe, pig or duck

Cause I’m Lucky Loo

I’ll sweep your chimney with some bamboo”

“I wouldn’t trade any mate

For a lucky number 8

I don’t need to!

Cause I’m Lucky Loo!”

“But even with all the luck in the world

It’s never once gotten me what I wanted

No matter what I do

I never got you…”

Kaito immediately stopped singing the moment he heard the bathroom door creak open. While getting dressed, he wondered if anyone had heard him singing in the shower.

Who even sings at school?! How drugged up am I?

Annoyed with himself, he made his way back to class. The pain in his knee also started throbbing again, and when he entered the classroom, he saw Touma talking to the professor. Kaito could’ve sworn he heard his name and judging by the silence that followed when he entered the classroom, they were most probably talking about him, which annoyed him even more.

Ugh, I just wanna go home and sleep already.

Maybe she is…

… nah.