[img]https://fontmeme.com/permalink/180429/38169c5131ce9e31b2075cbf81ccd127.png[/img][hr][right][color=gray][b]Tachibana Residence, Fukushima City[/b]
6:30, April 2nd[/color][/right][hr][indent][color=silver]Kotone's alarm clock buzzed within her bedroom; its incessant beeping echoing against the walls.

It was the first day of Kotone's high school career, yet she hadn't wanted to get out of bed. By any means, Kotone was not one of the lazy sort, rather, she was quite socially inept. Growing used to new people was hard, despite how much Kotone wished to make new friends. Often, Kotone would grow the courage to speak to random strangers in hopes of making a friend, only to awkwardly clam up at the last second and make a skittish getaway. Frankly, Kotone wished she could stay in the background—and at home, but, like any good parent, her mother wasn't about to allow it.

[color=C27C46][b]"Alright, alright, okaasan..."[/b][/color] Kotone mumbled into her pillow, groaning as she rolled over in bed to shut off the alarm. Sitting up, Kotone flinched as her eyes adjusted to the sunlight now peeking through the room after her mother pulled the curtains open. It was bright, and surely warm, but for a half-awake Kotone, it was also blinding. Rubbing her eyes, Kotone stumbled over to her mirror, staring back at herself with a sleepy gaze. [color=C27C46][b]"Still haven't grown..."[/b][/color] Kotone uttered, slightly disappointed in her growth. It was stupid to believe rumors, but an average girl like Kotone was sure to fall for them.

Readying herself for her daily routine, Kotone followed through like she always did. A warm morning bath, brushing her teeth, getting dressed—all part of a typical morning routine for a high school student. Holding a hair tie in her mouth, Kotone tied her hair back into a ponytail. Normally, Kotone wouldn't bother with tying her hair, yet her mother would stress it. [i]You must keep appearances up,[/i] she would say, almost like a recorded answering machine message. And each time, Kotone would listen, tying her messy mop of sepia brown hair back behind her head.

Kneeling before her father's altar, Kotone spoke a few words in a rather one-sided conversation, alongside a prayer. Kotone never truly knew her father, having died when she was young, yet she often talked to him. She hoped that he was watching over her, and that she was going to do him proud and make friends this year, although Kotone would say such words year after year. It was like a new year's resolution that Kotone made for herself, yet never did anything and let it lapse into the next year's resolution. [color=C27C46][i]One of these days,[/i][/color] Kotone thought, knowing all too well that it was likely not going to happen.

Deciding to grab breakfast on the way to school, Kotone left home once her outdoor shoes were slipped on and her mother handed her bento, now neatly packed in a cute cloth and cushioned in her schoolbag. [color=C27C46][b]"I'm taking off."[/b][/color] Kotone replied, waving a sleepy goodbye to her mother as she opened the front door of their apartment. Unchaining her bike from the bike rack near the apartments, Kotone pedaled off into the distance towards a nearby family restaurant. Maybe if Kotone arrived early, she wouldn't have to deal with the morning breakfast rush.[/color][/indent]