1 Running Away from Life

Ugh, seriously? Rain? Just my luck.

Here I am, drenched from head to toe, my hoodie clinging to my body like a second skin, and my skirt is doing its best impression of a wet rag.

Perfect. Just perfect.

Hey, don't give me that look! I have every right to complain.

I mean, who in their right mind enjoys getting caught in a downpour? Certainly not me.

Okay, enough griping about the rain.

Hi there, my name is Yuuki Kobayashi, and yeah, I'm the girl currently standing in the rain, soaked to the bone.

If you're wondering why I'm out here getting pelted by water droplets from the heavens, well, that's a bit of a long story.

-----------------------------------------------

Life started off with some hope, you know? But that hope got squashed faster than a bug.

My real parents passed away when I was a kid, and that led me to these relatives who seemed all nice and caring at first. They fed me all these stories about a loving home, but let's just say reality hit me like a freaking truck.

It turns out, these so-called "guardians" were a bunch of jerks.

That warm family I'd always dreamed of? Yeah, that turned into a cold, twisted nightmare filled with heartbreak and words that stung worse than a slap to the face.

Those dreams of a better future? Gone. Reduced to atoms.

Instead, I got slapped with a bunch of rules that felt like chains, dragging me down and choking the life out of me.

And don't even get me started on the mess they called a school. That place was basically a battlefield, and I, the quiet and introverted target, got picked on like I was some kind of moving punching bag.

Maybe my quiet nature made me an easy target, who knows? Thanks to that, every lunch break felt like a gauntlet of insults and humiliation.

But then, there was that one moment that pushed me over the edge. It happened recently when they rigged a chair in the cafeteria to collapse under me. I mean, seriously? Who does that?

And it didn't stop there. They poured trash at me, and laughed like they'd won the lottery. Oh, and they even call me names like "Loser" and "freak."

After that, something inside me snapped. I fought back, letting out all that pent-up anger, and took on every single one of those bullies.

Not gonna lie, it was both scary as hell and strangely satisfying to finally stand up for myself.

Of course, my little "episode" landed me in the principal's office, facing the big shots along with my lovely step-parents, who were just as charming as ever.

And if that wasn't enough, the parents of those bullies thought my punishment was a joke and demanded I'll be kicked out of school. Because, you know, that's totally a solution.

Perfect, just the icing on the cake of my already awesome day.

When I got back home, things somehow managed to get worse. My "caring" guardians decided to unleash their wrath on me, using their fists and words like weapons, making sure I knew just how worthless I was.

And then, for the grand finale, they locked me in my room, cutting me off from food and water. Fantastic, right?

Urgh, who am I kidding. I couldn't take it anymore.

I needed to escape this living nightmare, to break free from their suffocating hold on me.

So, one night, driven by desperation and newfound determination, I packed my stuff in my bag, climbed out my window, and waved goodbye to that house of nightmares.

Walking away from that place, filled with painful memories and suffering, was a mix of scary and exciting.

It was my chance to finally be myself, to breathe without those chains, and maybe, just maybe, find a scrap of happiness.

With each step I took, I knew things wouldn't be all sunshine and rainbows.

But you know what? For the first time in forever, I felt like I had some control, like I held the pen to my own story.

The road ahead was a total mystery, but I was ready to face it. Armed with determination, a backpack full of dreams, and a heart that was dead set on taking charge of my life.

---------------------------------------------------

So, here I am, wandering around town, looking for a place to crash. But luck's not exactly on my side, and I keep searching until the next day is staring me down.

While I'm walking down this alley, out of nowhere, this sketchy guy decides to mess with me, like he's auditioning for a villain role in a knockoff movie.

I know trouble when I see it, so I fought back, biting his fingers when he tried to grab me, and gave him a well-aimed kick where it hurts the most – you know, his precious family jewels.

Yeah, I bet you didn't see that coming, did you?

Long story short, my moves helped me escape. But of course, luck wasn't done with me – I lost my bag in the process. Mr. Sketchy probably thought he hit the jackpot and swiped it while I was making my getaway.

Just my luck. So now what?

Oh well, moving on. I kept wandering down this alley, totally homeless and broke. And then, out of nowhere, the skies open up. Rain starts coming down like I was auditioning for a movie scene.

Naturally, I tried to find cover, but not before I'm soaked to the bone. Seriously, could this day get any crappier?

Urgh, it's like the universe has been giving me the middle finger for a while now.

But whatever, I've got to keep moving forward, even if it means slogging through the rain. I mean, come on, what do I have to lose at this point?

----------------------------------------------------

And that's how I ended up in this mess. Riveting tale, isn't it?

Anyway, I guess it's time to resume what I can only call the "walk of shame." Or maybe the "stroll of bad luck." Actually, let's just go with the "march of misery" and call it a day.

So, there I am, trudging along, raindrops doing their best impression of my own personal waterfall, when I come across this chubby dude.

He's decked out in a track suit, braving the rain without shoes, looking as defeated and waterlogged as I am. Seems like he's had his fair share of misfortunes too.

I figure I've got nothing to lose, so I decide to give it a shot. I march right up to him, ready to break the ice.

"Hey there, buddy. Having a rough day?"

"!!!"

Chubby guy practically jumps out of his skin, giving me this wide-eyed look that's equal parts surprise and confusion. Yeah, I'm probably a sight for sore eyes.

"Man, you look like you've been through a lot. Care to share your tale of woe?"

"..."

He hesitates for a moment, eyeing me with the same skepticism I'm probably giving him. Then he lets out this weary sigh. His voice is all hoarse, like he hasn't spoken to anyone in ages.

"I got kicked out by my family..."

"Damn, that's seriously brutal....and kinda sad too."

He furrows his brows as if my comment touched a nerve. But he just snorts and fires back with his own question.

"What about you, kid? What's your story?"

"Oh, let's just say I did the grand escape from my home of torment and suffering."

The guy gives me a concerned look, like he's pitying my already miserable situation. Not that I blame him – it's not like I could've done anything differently.

Anyway, we keep walking down the rainy street, swapping stories and confessing how we became the unluckiest pair of losers on the face of the planet.

As I learn more about this chubby dude, the more disturbing it gets.

Turns out, he skipped out on his own parents' funeral to, uh, engage in some rather questionable activities. And surprise, surprise, his own siblings decided to kick him out because of it.

Honestly, I've never been simultaneously repulsed and fascinated by someone's life choices. But hey, who am I to judge when my own story is a rollercoaster of disaster?

So, after he shares his... colorful backstory, I spill the beans about my own life. I give him the highlights, like the fact that I got expelled from school, got my butt handed to me by my lovely step-parents, and then ran away from that nightmare of a home.

Oh, and let's not forget how my luck decided to flip me the bird at every turn. Because what's life without a sprinkle of cruel irony, am I right?

"Damn, kid. You got worse than me?"

"Tell me about it. My life's the epitome of crappiness."

"Yeah, well, I regret spending two decades as a certified NEET because I got bullied severely when I was your age."

Wait, what's this? He got bullied too?

Okay, now I feel bad for the guy, even though he's like a freak of nature. But you know what? Time to play comforter for this lovely behemoth.

"You know what, dude. I hereby dub thee my bosom buddy."

"Wait, what? Why?"

"Because, even though our situations are as different as night and day, I get your pain as much as I get mine. Let's just call it a kindred suffering, shall we?"

"Hmm, I guess that makes sense."

And there we were, sharing a chuckle that's actually comforting, unlike those people who used to make my life a living nightmare.

-------------------------------------------

Our shared laughter fades as we continue trudging through the rain until we reach an empty intersection.

But on the other side of the road, a small scene unfolds – three students, two guys and a girl, engaged in an intense argument.

The twist? There's something strangely familiar about them.

"Hey, buddy, hang on. I'm gonna go check out what's happening over there."

"Sure thing."

I dash across the street, my curiosity getting the best of me. Their voices become clearer, and a sense of déjà vu starts to creep in.

I can't quite put my finger on it, but their faces ignite a nagging sense of recognition.

"Come on, Akito, really? No wonder we're stuck in this mess!"

The girl's voice is tinged with annoyance, and one of the guys doesn't seem too thrilled either. Classic teenage drama, I guess.

I get closer, suspicion growing that I've encountered these folks before. But where?

"Hey there, what's going on?"

"Hmm? Well, well, look who's here. You're the girl who got expelled, right?"

One of the guys spots me and flashes a cocky grin while teasing me. And yup, it's him – Shinohara Akito.

"Enough, Akito. I apologize for his behavior, Yuuki. He has a tendency to be a bit much."

The girl steps in, putting an end to Akito's antics and offering an apology. And her, I know. Nanahoshi Shizuka.

"Don't worry about it, senpai. Trust me, I've heard worse insults than his."

"What happened to you, Yuuki? You look like you've been through a storm."

The final member of the trio points out my thoroughly soaked state, which, to be fair, is hard to miss. What's his name again? Right, Kuroki Satoshi.

So, I spill the beans about my recent misadventures, sharing the whole unfortunate saga. They seem genuinely taken aback by my story, which makes sense considering their seemingly normal lives.

"What? You're running away? But where are you planning to go?"

Nanahoshi asks, her concern showing about my next move, which, honestly, I haven't completely figured out yet.

"Who knows? Maybe I'll try my luck in some rundown neighborhoods."

"Heh, that's an interesting approach. Might turn out to be unexpectedly fitting, I guess."

"Akito, seriously, knock it off. Yuuki, perhaps that's not the wisest choice. You deserve better than that."

Easy for her to say. She doesn't know how long I've been searching for a place to belong. Ugh, what's the point of sharing my misery with them?

"Forget it. Never mind what I said."

I start to turn away, ready to continue my "march of misery," when someone grabs my hand. I glance back and find Nanahoshi looking at me with genuine concern.

"What is it?"

"Yuuki, please. Don't try to carry everything on your own. Let us help you."

Wait, seriously? Is she offering to help me? I mean, that would be amazing... But should I believe her? Will she follow through? I don't know, but maybe it's worth a shot.

"Nanahoshi, I..."

"HEY, LOOK OUT!"

Before I can even respond to Nanahoshi, I hear my buddy's voice from across the street. I turn around and see him running toward us.

But why? Why is he...

*HONK * HONK*

Suddenly, the blaring of massive vehicle horns pierces the air. I glance to the side and see a truck hurtling straight at me.

"Oh no...."

*CRASH*

----------------------------------------------------

As the blinding impact of the truck crashes into me, for a fleeting moment, relief washes over me.

The pain, the suffering – it's all finally coming to an end. I won't have to endure the constant struggle anymore.

But even in that moment of relief, a wave of emotion crashes through me.

Regret, sadness, and a profound ache settle in my heart. I realize that I won't get the chance to live the peaceful and happy life I had yearned for.

My consciousness begins to fade, slipping away like grains of sand through my fingers.

In the midst of the chaos, my mind forms one last wish, a whisper in the void – I wish for a second chance, a new beginning, a life where I can find the solace and happiness that has eluded me for so long.

And then, darkness takes me.