Chapter 1

“You have 5 new messages”

The female voice of her answering machine announces as she came in with the final box of her stuff. She had already finished unloading some of her stuff to her new home in Tokyo.

It was just a few hours when she last saw her parents but her mother already flooded her voicemail with lots of messages. After carrying the last box, she took a break and drop herself on the bed. She noticed that it was already dark outside her window, no wonder her mother sent her so many messages. She did promise to call once she’s done the unpacking. She sighed deeply, then it finally sinks in, she had truly started the first night of her life alone.

Tomorrow will be her first day as a college student. Going to university and becoming a college student made her feel both nervous and excited. Her mind was occupied with things that she wanted to try as soon as the class starts and making a lot of new friends… the word ‘friend’ echoed in her mind like there was a deep dark hole inside it. Realizing that she lost something, that there was a part of her that she could never bring back made her tremble in fear. Behind those cheerful smile, is a girl whose face is unfamiliar to the current her. Another person, who was a few years ago.

Her thoughts became cloudy, unclear, like a video in black and white playing in a static way. This happens every time she remembered something in the past, the process was painful like her brain was being torn apart. The throbbing pain filling her head works as a warning sign for her to stop remembering the past. Slowly, the pain disappeared as she fights off the old memories flashing in her head.

Ryo got out of bed, bullets of sweat formed on both sides of her face and she was gasping for air as if she had run a marathon. It was the second time that it happened. The first time she tried to remember was at the hospital when she learned that she had amnesia. The first time was much more horrible than it was today, she even lost consciousness because of the sharp pain she felt.

Ryo shakes her head slightly and went to the kitchen to drink some pain killers since the pain didn’t completely disappear at all. As she returned to her room, she got a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. In that mirror, she was a beautiful lady with long and curly leaf-brown hair. She had a shapely figure like most girls of her age and had a pearl white complexion. She moves a bit closer to the mirror and notices those emerald orbs that were the same as her mother’s eyes. It was hard to believe that the girl in the mirror was her, the girl that was lost years ago. 

Mori Ryo, that’s the name given to her by her parents but even that name was unfamiliar to her own ears.

Her lips stretch in a tight smile then she heads back to bed to get some rest. Tomorrow will definitely be a new beginning for her.

***

A snowstorm of cherry blossom petals from the clear blue sky danced around frantically, as she made her way to the university entrance ceremony. Everything was new to her and the scene looked like something from a painting. She remembered the TV show that she watched before about students entering the university while Cherry blossoms dancing in the air on an April sky. A lot of students began to gather for the opening ceremonies to be held at the Auditorium which is located amongst a number of old gray office buildings.

A constant stream of different faces passed before her eyes. She is on her way to the Auditorium to attend the entrance ceremony. As she walks by, she notices different men and women wearing brand new clothes, shoes, bags and bright smiles breaking out all over the place. It looked more like a festival rather than an opening ceremony. Ryo felt a sudden urge to be apart of this happy scene like everyone else but fitting in wasn’t easy, especially if you're the only one who is entirely alone.

She stood still at the entrance of the Auditorium, the place was noisy all the time from people talking. It was because everybody else had somebody to talk to. If they’d come up from affiliated high school, they’d already formed groups of friends, guys, and girls together, and if not, they were usually seated with their parents.

‘But parents aren’t allowed to go to college entrance ceremonies!’ she thought to herself. Without realizing it, she was already shrinking away from the people in front of her. Being afraid and hiding was not the reason why she decided to leave home and go to college - she wanted to change and live a new life!

From where she stood, she took a deep breath and gather all her courage. As she took a step, a strong force collides with hers making her fall down the floor.

With just one blow, all the courage she gathered fell down with her. Things aren’t looking good and now it got worse by bumping into someone. Ryo kept her head down, not wanting to meet those eyes that were now glued to her. She wanted to jump up and run away from the spotlight yet her legs were trembling that it can’t even move.

“Hey, can you stand up?”

The embarrassment she felt lessen as soon as she saw a hand offering for help. Ryo didn’t think twice and accepted it.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to bump into you.”

A man with jet black hair spoke to her. It was the first time she saw a man’s face that close. His charcoal grey eyes match well with his jet black hair and somehow it looked… familiar? Somehow she could gentleness in his eyes and that gentleness made her feel at ease. 

“Are you okay?”

The man asked since she didn’t respond.

“Y-Yes, I’m fine. Sorry for troubling you.”

She stuttered in embarrassment then take her hand back. Ryo wanted to say a few words but decided not to and just take her leave.

***

She found herself sitting on the corner of the cafe located inside the university. She didn't have the chance to attend the opening ceremony since she was too embarrassed to go back inside the Auditorium.

The juice that she ordered earlier was almost finished yet she hasn't decided on where to go next. She sighed heavily and looked at her registration paper. She had read it so many times but there are no details about where to go for her first class. She can't even ask someone for help since she doesn't know anyone at school. As the minute passes by, the more hopeless she felt. Ryo was sure that her life would be different once the school starts but she ended up hopeless again as if she was back to the day she woke up in the hospital and not remembering anything at all.

'I...should have stayed home.' she told herself.

By the time she realizes it, the likely-to-be-important orientation was already over. With no idea where to go, she stood under an old cherry blossom tree at the back of the grey building. Her thoughts began to argue inside her head and if she doesn’t make up her mind the day will end without her not accomplishing anything.

‘What the heck? What am I supposed to do?’ she screamed inside her head.

What an idiot.

Her gaze up, seeing the pink blossoms made her calm. It was a calming scenery. As she gazed longer, a strong wind blew towards her direction and send hundreds of petals flying. A different image came into view, behind those blooming cherry blossom was a man sleeping soundly. Suddenly, she felt her chest tightened. The man had tousled dark brown hair, which was thick and lustrous. He had dark eyebrows, which sloped upward, showing his calm state. Her eyes went down his lips, she had never seen a guy with pinkish lips before. It had the same shade as the cherry blossom.

She blinks many times.

‘A-Am I seeing an angel?’ she asked herself as she admires the man’s beauty even more.

An odd feeling began to rise from the depths of her mind, she thought of raising her hands and brushing her fingers against his dark brown hair and imagined how it would feel but of course, she doesn’t have any courage to do so.

Another wind blew to their direction, she thought that his eyebrows move so her legs began to retreat. Ryo took a step backward, one after another while her eyes remained at the sleeping man on top of the cherry blossom tree. She was standing a few steps away when suddenly she stepped on something hard and she found herself falling down the ground. Ryo felt a strand of pain from her bottom, it was still hurting from her first fall now she has fallen again.

“Hey, I can see your undies.”

Her eyes grew larger as she heard a deep voice. Her emerald eyes began moving upward going to the man’s location. She was right, the guy who was asleep earlier is now fully awake and staring at her. His eyes were a mesmerizing deep ocean blue, flecks of silvery light performed ballets throughout. His perfect lips now curved in a mischievous way.

“You aren’t very attractive with those character undies.”

“C-Character… u-undies…”

Then it hit her like a bullet train, she was sitting down on the ground while wearing a skirt. She sprang up from the ground with her face blushing red as a ripe tomato.

“P-Pervert!”

The guy seems to enjoy that redness flooding her face.

“Geez. I’m not interested in childish stuff.”

“W-What did you say?!”

Somehow the embarrassment that she felt turned into anger. She has never felt angry before ever since she lost her memories. Ryo regrets thinking that this guy was an angel from the beginning, he was more of a stupid *sshole.

“You… apologize now!”

The man burst into laughter.

“Apologize? Why would I? I didn’t ask you to show that to me. I was merely taking a nap here. Now, get going. You’re disturbing my nap.”

The anger that she was feeling suddenly explode like an angry volcano, this guy isn’t only a pervert but also a stubborn idiot. Having forgotten her embarrassment for the moment, she made her way closer to the guy laying over the cherry blossom tree.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***