A Happy Child

"It is indeed a familiar voice, No one other than my family calls me by my first name.

This is the voice of a teenage girl, My mom doesn't sound like this."

"She must be..."

Keiko's having an unconscious thought while sluggishly opening her eyes with a frisson of excitement pumping on her chest.

"Keiko! How did you get here!? Does your head hurt?"

~Small Feelings~

"Yozuki Keiko was a name given by my grandmother that had passed away, She always told me that I can always choose to be happy no matter what happens to my life because being sad is not an option. That is why she named me Keiko, A happy child."

In the twilight of Yozuki Keiko's junior years, She had faced a formidable challenge which played a big role in how she couldn't be peers with her fellow classmates. Ever since she was a young girl, Keiko found it difficult to express her thoughts and feelings with words. Every potential conversation she encountered often ended in frustration and awkward silence, leaving her classmates baffled and unsure of how to connect with her. It is almost like there's an invisible wall that is built between her and the others.

"Maybe having such a name is why god's separating me from the world"

She believes that her name was a curse. These isolated feelings began to grow from day to day, But not too long after a girl with completely different personalities traits from Keiko appeared before her eyes,You can clearly tell that she is a pure lively soul the moment you laid your eyes on her, It is almost like the two were living in a different world but on the same planet.

One lovely day during spring a girl from another class had transferred to study in the same classes as Keiko. The moment she steps in, a crowd teeming with noises turns silent.

"Everyone this is Miura, From now on she will study with us as one of our classmates please be nice to her."

Makoto sensei introduced her to everyone.

"Hi my name is Miura Shizuko! I came from class B because the schoolmasters think our class had too many students so please go easy on me."

Shizuko introduces herself.

Everyone in the class greeted her afterwards including Keiko.

"Bells ring for lunch break"

"RINGG RINGG RINGG..."

Everyone in the class approached Shizuko questioning her while others invited her to have lunch with them.

"Miura chan come and have lunch with us-

Miura chan what did you use your hairs are so shiny-"

Keiko was so impressed that she had admired her already! She's itching to go talk to her but she's too worried that things will end up awkward like before. So instead the little shy girl sat there listening to the questions that Miura has been asked while eating lunch.

After the last person departed from the class, Keiko sat there quietly eating her lunch all alone, her eyes drawn into the window where the suns shine casting a warm glow on her face as the delicate scent of spring cherry blossom wind brushes on her cheek. The moment of peacefulness that Keiko had experienced taught her that happiness comes from your own mind.

Suddenly she heard the back door open.

"CREAK"

Looking back at the door she saw her new classmates Miura.

"Miura chan! h-have you eaten lunch yet?"

As she nervously asked Miura out of politeness. Shizuko then answered.

"Not yet. Can I eat my lunch here with you?"

For the first time in Keiko's life someone wanted to eat lunch with her. Keiko quickly answered.

"YES. I-IS THAT ALRIGHT?"

In this moment Keiko felt tears running down her face, as she locked her eyes on Shizuko the bright and lively girl that seems so far from Keiko's reach no matter how hard she tries.

Instead shizuko reaches out her arm grabbing Keiko's hand and holding it tight then said.

"Let's be friends Yozuki..." (Yozuki Keiko)

Shizuko had walked through Keiko's invisible wall.

After that day onwards Shizuko and Keiko bond deepened. The two had spent their time together after school, exploring the city, reading books together, talking about their favorite subject, trying new things and gaining experiences. Before they could realize, They had already been so close to each other yet so different, just like the Sun and Moon.

"..."

After Keiko opened her eyes revealing the person that she was hoping for.

"It's her... those gleaming eyes..."

The moment she sees her Keiko quickly pulled Shizuko towards herself then wrapped her arm around Shizuko's waist hugging them tightly not wanting to let go, giving a silent message saying I've missed you so much.

"I'm so happy..."

Keiko whispered.

~End of Chapter 2~