Whispers in the Winter Wind

Yasushi Futakao sat in his high school classroom, staring out the window as another ordinary day unfolded. Second year had settled in, its familiarity comforting, filled with friends, family ties, and easy interactions with teachers. Yet beneath this surface, something unsettling tugged at him, a void he could not identify.

At sixteen, nearing seventeen, Yasushi melted into the crowd. His short, messy brown hair framed a face marked by deep purple eyes, a rarity that caught attention but did not anchor him in anyone's memory. He slipped into the background while a subtle unease stirred inside him, an awareness of something lacking, a sense of pieces missing from life's intricate design, leaving him lost among the movements and chatter of his classmates.

"Yasushi, focus," the history teacher said, breaking through his thoughts. She tapped the top of his head with a textbook, a blend of playfulness and frustration in her tone.

Yasushi forced a tired smile as he returned his attention to the dull lecture. "Sorry," he mumbled, his interest fading fast while he engaged only half-heartedly with the lesson, which drew a few smirks and muffled laughter from his classmates.

Born in Japan, or maybe it was better to say he had been brought back into this life, Yasushi found himself in a place that resembled his past but wore different details. Mentally around twenty-one, he carried the marks of a fate all too familiar in stories filled with sorrow. One night had blurred into memory, marked by drinks and laughter, leading to a meeting with a cruel twist of fate — a speeding train, an older woman rushing, a collision that left Yasushi split apart on the unyielding tracks.

Too drunk to react, lost in the haze of celebration, Yasushi faced his end sprawled on the rails, a tragic figure in a tale he never wanted to tell.

Yasushi let out a silent sigh as he thought about his new life, a life he carefully maneuvered to avoid the sharp eyes that followed any sudden change. He held back from making bold moves that might draw attention, choosing instead to take subtler paths.

Winning the lottery not once but twice gave him a financial buffer, hiding the money in a plain savings account. This unexpected fortune brought a level of comfort to his daily activities, freeing him from the worries that often burdened regular people.

Yet, despite this twist of fate, Yasushi found himself in a life that lacked excitement or remarkable events. No magical "cheats" like those found in certain stories, no strange meetings with beings from other worlds.

His days unfolded in the familiar pattern of ordinary life, forming acquaintances that brushed against friendship but never crossed into romantic territory. It was a life without grand tales or dramatic turns, a quiet existence hidden in the corners of normal life.

"Ah, one more thing," the teacher said, his voice breaking through the day's usual flow. "There will be a new addition to our class starting tomorrow — a transfer student, you might say."

The classroom filled with a soft buzz of curiosity at this news. Whispers moved through the room, each student eager to share thoughts about the newcomer. For many, this moment marked a break from the usual lessons, a spark of excitement in the day. Yasushi, however, felt a hint of cliché surrounding the announcement. Still, beneath that doubt lay a quiet thrill, a flicker of anticipation he could not ignore.

In all his years since coming back to life, Yasushi had never seen transfer students or foreign exchange students, things often depicted in the anime stories he had watched before. The idea of a new person joining them stirred a long-buried curiosity within him, a feeling he shared with the rest of the class but kept to himself, like a secret he held close.

+-+

At lunchtime, surrounded by the noise of trays and the conversations of students, Yasushi's friend, whom he nearly considered a "best friend," walked over to his desk, full of energy.

"Hey, Yasu! Can you believe we're getting a transfer student? It is going to be so cool!" Furuya said, pulling a chair close to Yasushi.

Yasushi nodded, his chopsticks hovering over his lunchbox. "Sure, Furuya. It's a bit hyped, though. Feels like everyone expects a celebrity instead of a new classmate," he said, taking a bite while Furuya dug into his sandwich with eagerness.

Furuya laughed between bites. "You're right about that. But think about it, Yasu. We've never had a transfer student before. It feels like something out of a story, doesn't it? Adds some excitement to our regular school days." His enthusiasm spread, painting a vivid picture of anticipation against the backdrop of their ordinary lives.

Yasushi let out a soft chuckle at Furuya's bubbling excitement, a smile appearing on his face as he shook his head in light-hearted amusement. "We'll find out soon enough. Any idea if it's a girl or a boy?" he asked, glancing at his eager friend.

"I'm hoping for a cute girl!" Furuya said, his eyes shining with anticipation and a hint of mischief.

With a resigned sigh, Yasushi rolled his eyes playfully. "Of course. I'm sure most of the guys share your thoughts."

Furuya nodded as if sharing some deep insight. "Exactly! Who wouldn't want a cute girl joining our class? But if it's another guy, and he looks like one of those pretty boy types, I might as well jump off a cliff..."

"Pretty boy? We don't have those types walking around our school," Yasushi replied, dismissing the idea with a wave of his hand, his tone light but firm.

"You're out of your mind! How can you not see the seniors like Jishiha, Kevin, and that European guy, or even Tanaka from our year? They walk around like dreams, with bodies that make girls lose their minds! It's not fair!" Furuya's words rushed out, frustration pouring from him.

In the background, another voice joined in, echoing Furuya's thoughts with loud agreement. "Exactly!"

Furuya turned to Yasushi, searching for support. "See that?" he said, gesturing with emphasis.

Yasushi paused in the middle of chewing, swallowing his food before he replied. "I don't really focus on that stuff. Why does it matter so much? Just ask them out or figure things out on your own," he said, looking at his friend with disbelief.

"Ha! Now you're the love expert, huh? You haven't even had a girlfriend!" Furuya shot back, pointing his piece of bread at Yasushi as if it were a weapon.

Tilting his head slightly, Yasushi responded, "...but isn't advice about understanding people, not just about personal experience?" His eyes met Furuya's, thoughts swirling in his mind, 'Though I had relationships in my past life...'

Furuya straightened, puffing out his chest like a peacock. "I'll have you know, I dated someone in middle school!" he declared, a note of bravado slipping into his tone.

Yasushi's expression turned sour as he cut in. "For all of four weeks before she left, citing your 'weirdness' as the reason. Seriously, man, let it go and move on. She even announced on social media that you still message her," he said, grimacing as he shook his head at the absurdity of it all.

Furuya's face contorted in horror, resembling a character in a painting caught in a moment of sheer panic. "People can see that!?" he shouted, his voice rising to a pitch that drew the attention of classmates who turned to witness the unfolding scene between the two friends.

Yasushi buried his face in his palm, letting out a tired sigh. "Yes, it's all over social media. Facebook, Instagram, even Snapchat. Half the city probably knows," he lamented, his tone laced with resignation.

Furuya's face lost its color, leaving him speechless and shaken. He struggled to find the right words as a sense of regret loomed over him.

Suddenly, Furuya jumped from his seat, panic ringing clear in his voice. "I-I have to go!" he blurted out before rushing toward the classroom door, his footsteps echoing as he made his hurried exit.

Yasushi let out a long sigh, shaking his head in disbelief. "...you're such an idiot," he muttered under his breath, turning back to his lunch with a weary expression. He leaned back in his chair and stared out the window, his mind wandering.

As he picked at his food, Yasushi's thoughts wandered to the upcoming arrival of the new student. Despite his expectation of a mundane existence, a flicker of curiosity sparked within him.

He wondered if this newcomer would bring any change to their ordinary classroom dynamics. Still, a deeper part of him remained doubtful, convinced that things would stay as uneventful as always, bound to the familiar patterns of his unremarkable life.