Chapter 1: Changes

Tsubasa was sitting by herself in a café. She never was one for conversation or just being around people. At least that's what she told herself. In fact, deep down she wished for nothing more than to be just as outgoing and loud as other girls her age. But she just could not do it. She did not know how to approach people, she did not know how to start a conversation. So, she just sat here, at a table in the corner, drinking her tea and eating her dorayaki. Alone. Like always.

She usually stayed until she was done eating. She had no other reason to come here. She did not hang out with friends. She did not have any to begin with. At school she sat silently, her book on her desk, pen in hand. Copied what the teacher wrote on the chalkboard. She did not talk with anyone in her class. She knew them all by name, sure, but she never had the courage to speak to them.

At first, when the class was newly formed, a few of her classmates greeted her, tried to talk to her. But she stayed silent. Not because she wanted to, but because she was unable to figure out what to say. After a while, the talks stopped. After that, the greetings. And then, the eye contacts. It was as if she did not exist. It was like it always was for her. And so, she lived her school life like she lived her life before that. Alone. Like always.

The walk home was silent. The sun was about to set, and the wind began to cool down. It was the beginning of spring. The birds were singing, children played outside with their friends. Friends. A foreign concept for her. She overheard her classmates talking about plans, about the latest fashion, the hippest bands and actors. They had friends. She did not. She was not popular. She was alone. Like always.

The house she lived in was big. Huge, even. Or so people say. She lived here her entire live. Her grandfather was a powerful man, with a lot of influence and money. Her father was always busy with 'work for the family', as he always called it. Others would call it striving for a tiny bit of acceptance from his father. Tsubasa's grandfather did not think highly of either of his two sons, and he had no problem with voicing this.

Her father especially got the worst of it, every time something did not go how her grandfather wanted it. He got yelled at, has been called useless and a shame for the family. And that was only the case if her grandfather was in a good mood. Otherwise there were threats of disinheritance or expelling him from the family. In trying to satisfy his father's needs, Tsubasa's father in turn neglected his own family.

There was no greeting when she entered her home and made her way to her room. There was no smell of prepared meals. There was no smile, no gentle gestures, no hugs. There was no love in the house. The people living here were no family. They were housemates.

And they were alone. Like always.

Tsubasa threw her bag on the ground. She closed the door to her room and played a CD with her favorite music. It helped her take her mind off of how miserable her life was. When her homework was done, she looked outside to realize that it was already dark outside. She stepped out of her clothes into her nightgown and went to bed. She fell asleep shortly after. Alone. Like always.

The morning silence felt lonely as always. When she woke up the sun was still under the horizon. She stood up, showered, and had breakfast in her room. Her father was still sleeping. That was normal. He most likely worked himself to the bones again for grandfather.

The walk to school was equally as silent. The path she took led her away from the most populated streets. She preferred it that way. Fewer people meant fewer judgmental looks. She already got enough of those at school. Thankfully, that was all she got. She was never a victim of bullying. Most likely because no one noticed her or cared enough about her to even consider bullying her. Or maybe it was the name, and people were scared of the repercussions.

Her school day was like every other: boring, lonely, and way too long. She just wanted to run away from all this. Be by herself instead of being here, surrounded by hundreds of people who did not even know she existed.

She visited this safe haven of hers every day directly after school. Like the day before, and pretty much every other day she could think of, she entered the little café to have her traditional snack and tea. Tsubasa did not even have to order anymore. The waiter just gave her an understanding nod as she took her seat in the usual spot. So, she just sat there, nibbled on her snack, sipped her tea. A day like every other.

Or so it seemed, because suddenly a woman came through the open door, drawing in Tsubasa's eyes. She looked young, Tsubasa's age, maybe a bit older, with red, wild hair, and a bright smile on her face. She wore a tank top and hot pants, showing off her slender legs.

Tsubasa tried not to stare, and so, decided it would be better to intricately study her cup of tea. That would have worked swimmingly, if the woman did not suddenly approach her.

"Hey there", she greeted. Her voice was bright, maybe little hoarse, but pleasant to listen to.

"Mind if I sit down?"

Tsubasa didn't answer. She did not want to answer. If she was honest, she wanted to ignore the woman until she disappeared.

"I noticed you are sitting here all by yourself", she said as the took her seat in front of Tsubasa. "Excuse me, I haven't even introduced myself. My name is Kanade. What's yours?"

Kanade. Like the character of that one fairy tale Tsubasa loved so much as a little kid.

"The silent type, huh?" Kanade smiled. "That's fine."

Tsubasa threw little glances towards the girl opposite her, secretly hoping that she will just go away.

And yet she stayed.

Kanade grinned. Honestly, it started to make Tsubasa nervous. She took a quick bite from her dorayaki and gulped down the rest of her still very hot tea.

She slammed a few Yen on the table and stormed out of the café.

She could here Kanade yell behind her. But she ignored her. Quickly she took the usual, secluded path to her home, when she heard footsteps approaching.

"Hey, where are you going?"

Kanade followed her. Great.

She could hear the steps slowing down as she drew closer, but she did not turn around to acknowledge her.

"You know, you are really strange."

That does it. Tsubasa stopped suddenly and turned around, an angry expression on her face. "I am strange? You are the one who just walked up to me and chewed my ear off!"

Kanade's face began to beam. "So you do have a voice!"

Tsubasa could feel the blood rushing to her cheeks.

"I was afraid you might be one of those mutes or shut-ins you read about. Oh, and I did not chew your ear off, I just thought you looked interesting and wanted to get to know you. How is that strange?"

Tsubasa thought about it. Maybe Kanade was right. She wouldn't know. She had no idea how human interactions work. "I'm sorry", Tsubasa whispered.

The red-head tilted her head in confusion. "Sorry for what?"

"For raising my voice. It was uncalled for."

A little giggle escaped the taller woman. "Hey, it's fine."

"No, it's not", Tsubasa argued, "you just wanted to be friendly and I just tried to push you away." Then, much quieter, she added, "I always do that."

She thought she was quite enough so that Kanade would not hear her, but she did. "Trouble with people, huh? Yeah, I get you."

"You do?" She felt a little prick of… something inside her. Hope, maybe?

Kanade nodded. "Yeah. Believe it or not, I was once just like you: A shy, introverted little girl, no friends, an uncaring family, all that jazz. But you know what happened?"

Tsubasa shook her head.

"I made a friend. There was this one person who just would not leave me alone, no matter what I did. And sooner or later we hung out. I got to know stuff I never knew even existed until then."

A little smile spread over Tsubasa's lips.

"And when I saw you sitting there… I don't know, I guess you reminded me of myself."

"And now you want to do the same thing for me?"

Kanade pointed a finger pistol at her and clicked her tongue. "You're sharp. I like that. Yeah, sometimes one just needs a kick in the ass. I know I did."

Tsubasa laughed. Her first honest laugh in years.

"So, tell you what, how about we meet up here again tomorrow? We can hang out, talk, do stuff. How does that sound?"

She let that thought rest a bit in her brain. Kanade seemed like a nice person, and she could have been her ticket out of that monotony and into the life she always wanted: fun, friends, excitement. Sounded good. "Sure", was her short, but thrilled, reply.

Kanade's grin grew even wider, if that was possible. "Fuck, yeah, that's the right answer. So, I'll see you tomorrow, then."

Tsubasa reciprocated her smile with a much smaller one. "Yeah, tomorrow."

And so, Tsubasa watched Kanade disappear in the distance before turning around to head back home. Today was a good day. Today, she made a friend.