2 | Transfer Student

The blazing rising sun brightened the sky throughout the city. People begin to do their usual morning routine.

Yoru was playing around with a ball of yarn, while Akio was getting prepared for school.

He checked himself in the body mirror, his dark bags under his eyes were finally disappearing, his dirty blonde hair reached to his shoulders. Some people might even mistake him as a girl due to his feminine facial features and short height stature.

The short-legged cat purred against his leg, distracting him from looking at himself in the mirror. Yoru knew he had low self-esteem after his parent's tragic death.

Akio strokes her fluffy head and strolls off into the small kitchen to make some breakfast for the both of them. Yoru follows behind him to the kitchen with her tongue sticking out, hungry for her breakfast.

Akio opens the fridge, grabbing a package of fresh strawberries for Yoru. Next, he grabs a cup of instant ramen from the cabinet for himself. He then places the food on the table counter.

Yoru climbed on top of the counter, gazing intensely at the package of fresh strawberries. Akio smiled at his cat adorable silliness.

Then he takes out a kettle and pours water inside it, leaving it to boil in the stove.

As the water began warming up, Akio softly hummed his favorite song, while rinsing the strawberries in the sink to wash the grimy dirt off it.

Once he finished washing them, he draws out a cutting board, plus a sharp knife too. He puts the strawberries on the cutting board and begins to chop the strawberries into small bits. So Yoru can chew them without any problem at all.

After he finished slicing them into little pieces, he grabs Yoru's bowl and fills it up with strawberries slices. Yoru wagged her tail, excited to eat her favorite food.

Akio places the bowl in front of her, she began to eat the strawberries at an abnormal fast past, "Yoru eat your food slowly," he warned her.

The kettle started to steam, causing Akio to turn off the stove. Later he poured the hot water in his cup of ramen. He grabs his chopsticks from the counter, stirring his noodle until they were finally ready to eat.

Akio sat on the wooden chair and started slurping his ramen in the counter, with Yoru. In a few minutes, he finished his delicious cup of ramen and threw it in the trash can.

Unexpectedly someone was ringing the doorbell multiple times nonstop. Akio guessed it was his friend Toyo since she is the impatient type of person.

He headed towards the door, but when he opened the door, he got tackled to the ground by an energetic Toyo, "Akio Kun, you are finally sleeping well!!!"

"Toyo, can you get off me, I can't breathe," He muffled from being squashed by Toyo's body.

She immediately got off him and helped him get up from the floor, "Hehe sorry, for surprising you like that," Scratching her head apologetically.

Toyo sniffed the scent of the ramen aroma, "You're still eating Instant ramen for the hundred times!?"

Akio response was a simple nod, "Yeah, I'm going to get my school bag from my room, plus you can chill in the kitchen with Yoru."

Leaving her in the doorway, Toyo removed her shoes and entered Akio's kitchen, where Yoru was peacefully eating her meal.

When she hopped in the kitchen, she squealed in delight on how adorable Yoru is, "Yoru chan, give your auntie a hug!!!" Opening her arms wide, ready to hug Yoru.

Right away, Yoru ran away from her, not wanting to get crushed to death from her strong hugs. Toyo pout sadly, but then something caught her eye.

She looked at the photo frame that had a picture of the three of them, holding their shiny golden medals for winning the track competition back in 6th grade.

"Toyo lets get going, Rinuko texted me, that he is waiting for us in class," Toyo, snapped out of her thoughts, and took one more glance at the picture, before catching up to Akio at the door.

The two of them walked throughout the busy streets of Tokyo, sometimes Akio had to drag Toyo away from many stores.

Shortly, both of them made it the school campus where students roamed around, Toyo ran off inside the building, ready to tackle Rinuko next.

Akio ran after concerned she would trip herself from the untied shoe lances, the two of them, startled some students who were walking around school halls.

Inside the classroom, Rinuko was wearing his headphones jamming to the rhythm of the music that was playing.

In a few seconds, Akio entered the class, grasping on Toyo's uniform collar to prevent her from tackling Rinuko.

The two of them made their way to Rinuko's desk, where he was peacefully listening to his music.

Toyo managed to escape from Akio grip and started to ruffle Rinuko fluffy caramel hair. Rinuko flinched, almost dropping his phone on the floor, from not noticing his friend's sudden presence. He instantly removed Toyo's hands-off his hair, not wanting to get it any messier. "Don't scare me like that Toyo, also how many cups of coffee did you drink, seriously your breath smells like caffeine."

Toyo began to fiddle her fingers nervously, including avoiding making eye contact with him, "Uhh, about three cups of coffee..."

Rinuko sighed, not surprised at her answer, "You shouldn't be drinking a bunch of coffee everyday Toyo."

Toyo pouted, "But I love coffee, Rinuko Kun!"

Rinuko sighed, putting his phone and headphones inside his bag. "Anyway, so what about the free food you promise us?"

His question left her completely confused like a lost puppy, "Free food that I promised?"

"Hmph, I see you forgot already, although I'm not surprised, just disappointed that's all."

Toyo stood there frozen, while her brain was loading, trying to comprehend the situation.

As her brain was still trying to load, Akio whispered something to Rinuko, "I think the caffeine is combusting her brain too much."

Rinuko agreed with him, "Yeah, hopefully, the caffeine wears off soon."

At that moment, the two of them overheard their classmate's conversation about a new transfer student coming to their class today.

"Did you know that theirs going to be a student, transferring to our school today?"

"Yeah, hopefully, they're cute."

"I doubt it, most of the transfer students we had, are pretty average in my opinion."

Their classmates kept on chattering about the new transfer student and guessing how they're going to be.

Toyo tossed a bag of chips at Rinuko, though she accidentally hit him in the face with it.

"Thanks, for the chips Toyo," He thanked her, even though he got hit by them in the face. Toyo sighed in relive that she didn't end up dead.

The school bell ranged, indicating that school has begun. The entire class sat down in their assigned seat, so did Akio, and Toyo as well.

Instantaneously, Mrs.Tadame entered the classroom, her heels clacking every time she steps on the floor. "Alright, settle down class, we are going to have a new transfer student, you better welcome him nicely since it's his first time going to a public school."

She then called him to come inside, "You can come now."

A tall young handsome boy with angelic amber eyes and soft dark cherry red hair entered the classroom, walking directly to the chalkboard.

The girls in the class watched him intriguingly, already falling in love with him by his outstanding beauty. However, Akio felt like he has seen him before, but he doesn't remember when or where, though.

The dark redhead wrote his full name in the chalkboard with a piece of chalk, once he finished writing his name, he introduces himself to the class.

"Hello, my name is Yarimin, Tsuminrae you call by my nickname Minmin instead, also please take care of me.", He said, bowing to his classmates, the girls started to squeal softly from hearing his deep soothing voice.

"Tsuminrae, you can take your seat in front of Surin, raise your hand Surin, so he to know where to sit at." Akio did what Mrs.Tadame told him to do, he raised his hand, to help Minmin find his seat. While Minmin headed towards his desk, he took one glance at Akio before sitting down.

Akio body stiffens, his guts told him that something was odd about the transfer student, although he didn't know the reason why.

After homeroom class, Rinuko was in charge of assisting Minmin by touring him around the school building during the first hour.

After four classes, it was now lunchtime, Minmin instantly became popular and was surrounded by many people.

"Wow, he's already become the popular kid," Said Toyo while chewing her food.

Rinuko hummed, "I guess his charming personality engages people, what do you think, Akio?"

He asked Akio, who is poking his food, not bothering to eat it. Rinuko flicked his forehead, bringing him out of his thoughts. "You alright, you haven't taken a bit of your food."

Akio faked smiled, "Sorry, I was thinking about something," he told his friends, not wanting them to get more worried than before.

There was an awkward silence between them.

Until Toyo tried to lighten up the mood, "I heard there's going to be a field trip soon!"

Rinuko crossed his arms, "A field trip huh, it's probably going cost around 400,000 yen or more,"

Toyo choked on her apple juice shocked from the price, "That's like buying 4,000 snickers bars!"

Rinuko sweatdrop, "Man, you easily get shocked by anything."

When lunchtime was over, Akio walked alone in the halls since he needed to go to the bathroom.

However, when he took the turn to the left, he accidentally collided into someone.

When he fell on the floor, he opened his eyes, only to see Minmin on top of him. Akio could feel Minmin's warm breath hitting his delicate face. The people in the hall watched the scene that was happening right in front of them. 'Why does this have to happen to me, I just wanted to go to the bathroom.'

"Can you get off me please," He asked kindly to Minmin who still was on top of him.

Minmin got off him, letting Akio stand up from the floor. "Sorry Sorry, I didn't see you right there!" He apologized, as his face turned flustered.

Akio looked up to the ceiling due to his tall height, "It's fine," was all he said and left the scene not wanting to get any more attention.

What he didn't notice is that Minmin was blushing, 'Ah, I finally found him.'

After a long day of school, everyone headed back home.

Toyo and Rinuko waved goodbye to Akio, "Bye, Akio Kun, take care!" Shouted Toyo, only to get bonked in the head by Rinuko fist, for disturbing the people around them by yelling loudly.

Akio waved them goodbye to them and began heading back home to his apartment.

When he made it home, Yoru meowed, greeting him. Akio caressed her head, making her purr in delight.

He then went to his bathroom and took a cold bath, leaving him to feel relaxed. After taking a peaceful bath, he changed into a white long sleeve shirt, plus black jeans to go with it.

He dried his wet hair with a blowdryer, once his long hair was now dry, he began to brush it.

Yoru went inside his bedroom, falling asleep in his bed, snoring softly.

During the evening, Akio heard someone ringing the doorbell. He instantly knew it wasn't Toyo because she could press it many times like earlier in the morning.

He put his computer aside and checked who was ringing his doorbell. He peeked in the little door hole but didn't see anyone standing outside his door. 'Stange, it better not be the neighbor's kids ringing my doorbell.'

As he opened the door, he saw a puppy inside a box staring at him with its adorable amber eyes.

Akio was shocked that someone left a poor puppy in his doorsteps. The puppy started barking at him while wagging his tail. Akio bent down to grab the note that was inside the box.

The note said, 'Sorry if I disturb you stranger, I'm unable to take care of him in my household since it's not a perfect condition for a puppy to live in, so please take care of him for me.'

When he finished reading the note, he carried the puppy in his arm and brought it inside his home. The puppy licked his face, wagging its tail excitedly.

Akio laid him down in his bed and began to examine the puppy, "Mhmm, you seem to be a golden retriever breed and two months old."

The curious puppy hop towards the sleeping cat, staring at Yoru's tail. The puppy bit her tail, causing Yoru to hiss at him.

Akio grabbed the pup bringing him away from Yoru, "Please don't disturb Yoru."

The pup licked Akio's soft hands, "Mhmm, what should I name you?"

As he started to think of a name for the pup, he remembered that there was a crown drawn in the note.

"How, about Prince?"

Prince instantly licked Akio face making him giggle, "I guess you like the name already."

During the rest of the evening, Akio fed Prince and played with him for a while. Yoru was still in bad terms with Prince due to what happened earlier. Prince even tried to play with her but only get's himself hit multiple times by Yoru's paw.

Eventually, the sky turned dark, meaning it was now night time. Akio and Prince played in the bed together.

Prince slept on top of Akio's chest, "Rest well, Prince," Said Akio, turning the lights off.

Akio shut his eyes and drifted to sleep in a few seconds.

Meanwhile, Yoru was looking out the window, watching the bright moon and the twinkling crystal lights of the city. 

Word count:2309

Edited: August 23, 2020