"Renji! Renji! Get up! You're running late!"
A loud voice exploded through the door like a morning alarm.
I groaned and shoved my face deeper into the pillow.
"Mom… just five more minutes…"
SMACK!
"Ow—!"
My eyes snapped open.
"Mom! Was that really necessary?!"
Standing beside my bed with her arms crossed was my mother.
"Of course it was necessary," she said sharply. "You're going to be late for school again! Now hurry up and get ready!"
She turned toward the door, already walking out.
"And don't forget—you're taking a bath when you come home today!"
"Yeah, yeah…"
The door closed behind her.
I sighed and sat up slowly.
Hello everyone.
My name is Renji Yamamoto.
The woman who just attacked my head is my mother—Sarina Takanashi. She's probably around thirty-nine. I stopped asking after she threatened to ground me for a week.
My father's name is Haruka Yamamoto.
Where he is right now… or what he's doing…
Honestly, I have no idea.
He's been missing for almost seven years.
But anyway.
Right now I'm a second-year middle school student, fourteen years old.
And my final exams start in seven days.
Actually—six days.
Because I always revise a subject the day before the exam.
Normally I manage fine.
But this year…
Might be the first time I actually fail.
"RENJI!!"
My mother's voice echoed from downstairs like thunder.
"What are you still doing up there?! Class starts in fifteen minutes!"
"I'm coming, Mom!"
A few minutes later
"Does it take that long to brush your teeth?"
I froze mid-brush.
My mother stood in the doorway, glaring.
"My mouth is a little foa—"
"Don't talk while brushing!"
"Mmgh—!"
She pointed down the hallway like a strict commander.
"Finish and come eat breakfast!"
Alright.
Brushing: done.
I spat into the sink and washed my face.
My school bag was already packed from last night.
Uniform on.
Shoes ready.
Everything should've been perfect.
Everything except sleep.
"Renji! Breakfast is ready!"
"Okay!"
I rushed toward the stairs.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
"Renji, where are you?!" my mother called.
"Mom, I'm com—"
My foot slipped.
"Woah—!"
CLATTER!
"Owww!"
I landed on the bottom step.
"My head…"
A shadow appeared above me.
My mother.
Arms crossed.
Expression: terrifying.
"How many times have I told you," she said slowly, "not to run on the stairs?"
I rubbed the back of my head.
"…A lot?"
"And yet you keep doing it!"
She sighed and shook her head.
"You worry me too much, Renji."
"Huh?"
She looked at me carefully.
"You can't even walk down the stairs without falling."
"…That was just bad luck."
"How are you supposed to survive in life if you can't even manage a few steps?"
"Heh."
I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"Fine, fine. Finish your lecture later. I'm going to be late for school."
She pointed toward the dining table.
"Your breakfast is there. Eat before leaving."
And that's how every morning usually goes in my house.
Chaos.
Complaints.
And my mother worrying about me.
The reason I woke up late today was simple.
Yesterday I stayed up all night finishing an assignment.
My printer ran out of ink halfway through.
Luckily, the supermarket near our house stays open until 11 PM.
I barely finished the assignment at 3 AM.
At 3:28, I was finally ready to sleep.
Then suddenly—
I remembered something.
"…The cover page."
Thirty more minutes gone.
By the time I actually slept…
It was almost 4 AM.
Morning — 7:58 AM
I glanced at the clock.
My heart dropped.
"…Oh no."
I jumped to my feet.
"WHAT TIME IS IT?!"
7:58.
"I'm going to miss my first class!"
I grabbed my bag and sprinted toward the door.
"No time for breakfast!"
"I'm leaving, Mom!"
"RENJI!!"
Her footsteps thundered behind me.
"You are NOT leaving without eating breakfast!"
STOMP STOMP STOMP
"Renjiiiii!"
I slipped on my shoes and burst outside.
Cold morning air hit my face.
I grinned.
"…Heh."
Mission successful.
I escaped.