Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

Beep... beep... beep... beep... beep...

The phone alarm rings insistently, like a hammer hitting my half-asleep brain.

In the distance, I hear a snore. It's mine.

Beep... beep... beep... beep...

"Ugh... what's that noise? That's annoying."

Beep... beep... beep... beep...

"I got it, I got it... I gotta get up... shit."

With a slow, awkward movement, I open my eyes. The gray light filtering through the curtains hits me softly, but not enough to motivate me. I reach out an arm, groping blindly until I reach for the phone on the nightstand.

Beep.

"Shut up already."

I turn off the alarm with a tired thump and rub my eyes. Across the room, the ceiling fan is still spinning, moving the cold air from the night before. I struggle to my feet and turn it off, leaving the room in awkward silence.

Shuffling my feet, I walk to the window. I open the curtains and let the cloudy daylight in. The sky is overcast, gray and heavy.

"The perfect day to sleep..." I think, sighing.

Suddenly, I remember. "What day is it today?"

Monday.

"Shit."

---

I walk out of my room and straight into the shower. I turn on the faucet, letting the cold water hit my body like a slap.

It doesn't work.

Tiredness still sticks to me like a shadow, reminding me that today will not be a good day.

"Why did it have to be Monday? This day is perfect for staying in bed..."

I mutter to myself as water slides down my face.

For a moment, the thought of skipping school crosses my mind.

"Mom and Dad aren't here until tonight anyway..." 

But I quickly dismiss it. "Better not. I've been skipping too much lately. I don't want to fail the semester for non-attendance. That would be too pathetic, even for me."

I finish showering and brush my teeth. In front of the mirror, I stop to stare at my reflection.

A mess.

Dark circles under my eyes make me look older. My messy, shoulder-length hair doesn't help. And then there's that earring in my left ear...I don't even remember when I put it in.

"Whatever."

---

I go back to my room and look up the school schedule on my phone. The brightness of the screen confirms what I already knew: I don't feel like going.

"Well, I'd better hurry."

I pull on my white shirt, adjust the red tie around my neck, and pull up my black trousers. The shoes make a thud against the floor as I adjust them.

"Uhhmm... where did I leave my jacket?" I mutter as I look around the room.

"I can't find it."

I look at the time on the phone: 7:30 A.M.

"I'm running late."

I grab my backpack and sling it over one shoulder. "Whatever. I hope the doorman doesn't get me in trouble for being late again."

I leave my room, grab some money from the dining room table and walk out of the house.

---

As I walk to the bus stop, I meet Mrs. Oyuki, an old lady who is always outside her house, as if waiting for someone.

"Young Kaoru? Late for school again?"

She asks with a smile, watching me with her bright little eyes.

I stop and look at her, returning a smile somewhere between polite and teasing. "Good morning, Mrs. Oyuki. As young as ever."

She lets out a light laugh, but she's not fooled.

"Very funny, Kaoru. Do you like to emphasize my age? How rude of you."

"I'm just telling the truth" I reply, shrugging my shoulders.

The old woman looks at me with a sly smile before adding:

"You should court the ladies more. Maybe then you'll get a young lady as a mate."

I roll my eyes, unwilling to play along. "I guess."

She doesn't give up. "You know, I have a very cute and nice granddaughter. I could introduce her to you, but only if you'd be more responsible."

I pause for a moment, surprised by her comment. "I'd like to meet her sometime" I reply, though my tone doesn't show much interest.

Mrs. Oyuki smirks. "See you, young Kaoru. But remember: don't make excuses for skipping classes. That'll lead you astray, young man."

"Sure," I reply dryly as I walk away, leaving behind her knowing look and her words.

---

The neighborhood is quiet this morning. The empty streets and gray skies only add to my feeling of heaviness. I walk to the bus stop, checking the time on my phone.

7:45 A.M.

"15 minutes...possibly I'll be late."

I sit down on the bus stop bench and let out a sigh. "Come on, damn bus."

Time seems to slow down as I wait. Finally, after five minutes, the bus appears in the distance.

I get on, pay the fare and take a seat by the window. I lean my head against the cold glass and let the motion of the vehicle lull me to sleep.

"Just another Monday..." I think, as the neighborhood scenery slowly passes in front of my eyes.

---

I get off the bus and take a look at the school building. The weathered facade seems to look at me with the same disdain I feel for this place. I walk towards the entrance, my backpack slung over one shoulder, shuffling my feet as if the ground is trying to swallow them.

Before I can reach the doors, however, a familiar voice stops me.

"Hey, stop right there, Kaoru."

I look up with a mixture of frustration and exhaustion. Huh? What's up, doorman?"

The man, a stocky fellow with a face hardened by years, shoots me a stern look.

"What's with your school jacket?"

I'm silent for a moment, blinking. "My jacket?"

The doorman snorts, clearly irritated.

"Are you stupid or what? I just asked you."

"Does it matter?" I reply, shrugging with disinterest.

The doorman frowns. "It's the school uniform code. You can't come in without it."

"Are you kidding me?" I let out a snort, pointing inside the school with a finger.

"I can literally see people without jackets in there. Look at those thugs. Some of them aren't even in full uniform, and I'm pretty sure one of them has a tattoo. Are you going to do something about it, or do I just have to follow the rules?"

The doorman leans toward me, his eyes alight with anger. "Watch your words with me, young man."

"Huh? What's your problem, you fucking asshole? You got something against me?"

Before I can react, the doorman throws a punch in my face. The blow takes me by surprise, and a sharp pain spreads across my nose. I feel the warm wetness of blood dripping.

"Get the hell out of here, you piece of trash" the doorman spits, his gaze full of contempt. "You're late anyway. "

I wipe the blood off with the back of my hand, trying to control my anger. "You fucking ape shit" I mutter, glaring at him.

"That's why you're a doorman. You don't have the mental capacity to get a better job. You're a brute, ignorant, with a negative IQ."

The doorman, now completely furious, lunges at me again, intending to hit me again.

But this time, I am prepared.

I dodge his blow and, in one swift move, pull down his pants. Before he can react, I run toward the school entrance, leaving behind his screams of frustration.

"HEY! COME BACK HERE!"

Roars the doorman, stumbling as he tries to pull up his pants. He finally falls to the ground, his fury being overshadowed by humiliation.

---

In Class

I am late for class, as expected. The teacher, a thin man with glasses who always seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, barely looks up from his desk.

"Kaoru, have a seat. We've already started."

I nod my head and walk to my desk, ignoring the stares of a few colleagues. I plop down in my chair and set my backpack aside.

Classes go by with the usual monotony. The voices of the teachers mingle with the clatter of pencils and the faint murmur of students whispering to each other.

A classmate, Ryota, leans over to me from the seat next to me.

"What happened to your nose?" he whispers, pointing to the dried trail of blood left after the incident with the janitor.

"Nothing, I reply, not wanting to explain. "Just an idiot who doesn't know when to give up."

Ryota lets out a low chuckle. "That sounds like you. "

I look out the window as the teacher continues to explain something about history. Outside, the sky is still cloudy, and a light breeze moves the branches of the trees.

"Kaoru" the teacher suddenly says, catching my attention. "Could you please repeat what I just said?"

I'm silent for a moment, trying to remember something, but my mind is too scattered.

"I have no idea" I finally answer, shrugging my shoulders.

The professor sighs deeply, but doesn't insist. He knows it's pointless.

---

When the bell finally rings, I gather my things and head for the exit. The day has been like any other: boring, monotonous and slightly frustrating.

However, as I walk through the halls, I notice something out of the ordinary. Near the entrance, an older man is sweeping the floor with slow, methodical movements. I don't recognize him.

He's wearing a janitor's uniform, but his appearance doesn't quite fit. His posture is too straight, his movements too calculated. On his chest, a silver badge gleams in the dim light of the hallway: "Raigor Guildemont."

I pause for a moment, watching him. There's something about him that I can't identify, something that strikes me as... odd.

"I guess they hired a new janitor" I mutter to myself before continuing on my way.

"It's been a while since I've seen any new staff around here."

I think nothing more of it and leave the school, walking back home as the gray skies begin to darken.