A New Day

"Sayori, wake up already! We're going to be late for school again!"

My shoulders were shaken fiercely, by two tiny hands. My eyes fluttered open, to see a petite girl in front of me.

She had short pink hair. There was a bow-shaped hair clip on one of her bangs, holding together a small clump of hair. There were two red ribbons near the back of her head, forming two cute pigtails. Her hair cascaded down, passing her chin by a small margin.

Her skin was a milky white and smooth as silk. It accentuated her rose eyes and puffy cheeks. I had to hold back the urge to touch them.

This was my best friend, Natsuki.

A dreamy laugh left my lips.

"Ehehe... I stayed up late again!"

Natsuki puffed her cheeks in anger.

"Gah, just hurry up already! I'll make you some toast to pair with a cupcake."

A cheeky smile spread out on my face.

"Instead of toast, can I have another cupcake?"

Natsuki glared at me.

"I told you only one each day! It's bad for your health."

She pouted.

"Don't you remember the time I let you have as many cupcakes as you wanted?"

I pulled my hands out of the lemon yellow bed sheets. I stretched out my index fingers and lightly pressed them against each other.

"Sorry! I just... get carried away sometimes."

Natsuki sighed, with her hands resting on my shoulders.

"Seriously..."

She brushed my coral pink hair back, smoothening it out. Then, she picked up the red cloth on the wardrobe next to me.

Natsuki's hands skillfully weaved the red cloth in my hair, tying a bright red bow on the right side of the back of my head. It was clear she had done this many times before.

Natsuki patted my head affectionately.

"Now get up. We really can't afford to be late again."

I stretched my arms high in the air before sitting up in my bed.

"Alright!"

Natsuki walked to the door of my room. She held the door open with one hand while her head peeked over her shoulder.

"Fifteen minutes! If you're not down by then..."

Natsuki muttered, just barely loud enough for me to hear.

"...I'll feel lonely."

She swiftly closed the door after saying that, with a soft click.

My heart did a tiny jump.

I took in a deep breath, letting a bright smile spread out on my face.

"Ok! Let's get to it!"

Encouraging myself with those words, I pushed myself off the bed. There was a soft pink shirt on my torso and light blue shorts around my waist.

I let out a tiny sigh.

"Time to get into uniform!"

Within ten or so minutes, I changed into my school uniform. It consisted of a white dress shirt with an orange vest over it. A light grey blazer was draped over my shoulders, on top of everything else. I didn't bother buttoning it, as I knew it would feel suffocating.

There was a red ribbon we were supposed to tie around our collar, but I just let it hang loosely. My collar ends up crooked all the time because of that.

A light blue skirt extended just past my knees. White stockings wrapped around my legs, reaching just below the knees.

I hurried over to the washroom, not wanting to keep Natsuki waiting for too long. I hastily brushed my teeth before splashing my face with water.

I took a glance at the mirror. My eyes were bright blue, like the sky. My face was a bit small due to my low cheekbones, making my cheeks puff out a bit. I always wished that I had high cheekbones, so that my cheeks would sink in a little more.

My hands lightly slapped the sides of my face.

"Now for school!"

With that, I made my way downstairs to the kitchen.

Natsuki was already there, holding my school bag, which was a soft orange color.

"Take it, quickly"

I stuck out my tongue.

"Thanks, hehe."

I grabbed onto the bag, feeling my hand brush against Natsuki's soft skin. As my heart beat a little faster, I silently prayed that my cheeks weren't flushed.

My arms fit nicely through the backpack's straps. I stretched my fingers out, feeling the cool air brush by it.

As for Natsuki, she had already put on her cute pink backpack with a little white bunny pattern. She dashed into the kitchen before hurrying out.

Natsuki held a piece of toast with one hand and a tiny cupcake with pink frosting in the other.

There was a small pout on her face.

"Take these. We have to go now, so just eat them on our way to school."

I took both the toast and cupcake from her hands with a bright smile.

"Ok! Thanks for everything again!"

Natsuki turned her head to the side and crossed her arms.

"...Well of course, I do this for you everyday, after all."

A small chuckle escaped me.

"I just wanted to thank you again!"

Natsuki closed her eyes and grit her teeth.

"I... I get it. Let's just go to school already."

She hurried off towards the entrance and pushed open the door. Not wanting to be left behind, I chased after her.

My foot landed on my doorstep, taking me out of the house.

I looked up into the sky, seeing it shine with a light blue. The sun hung high in the air while the occasional cloud filled the nearly empty sky.

Natsuki grasped my sleeve with the knuckle on her index finger and her thumb. She tugged gently.

"Come on, we're going to be late."

I broke out of my stupor.

"Hehe, ok, ok!"

Natsuki walked hurriedly forward, off to school. I matched her pace, staying by her side.

I took a big bite of the cupcake, sending more than half of the fluffy goodness in my mouth.

My eyes narrowed in bliss as I melted from the taste of the cupcake.

"Sho good~"

Natsuki put her hands on her sides and stuck out her elbows confidently. There was a small smirk on her face.

"Hehe, naturally. Who do you think made them?"

After gulping down the cupcake, I let out a small giggle.

"Only the best cupcake baker in the whole world!"

Natsuki blushed furiously.

"Y-Yeah!"

It was a brand new day. I wonder what it had in store!