“Hana! You have to wear the school uniform skirt!!!”
Today was the day of the school entrance ceremony. When Bora tried to make me wear the skirt, I strongly opposed and ran away. I was running around in just my underwear.
No pants? No matter how much I thought about it, the skirt seemed a bit… off. But before I could dash into the hallway, Bora caught me. Dangling from her hand, I had no choice but to put on the skirt.
“Bora, I’m an adult, do I really have to go to elementary school?”
No matter how much I thought about it, elementary school didn’t suit me. If they told me to go back to university, I’d consider it, but elementary school? Really?
But Bora didn’t seem to care about my pitiful state. Still, since we had come to an agreement, I didn’t have to go to school every day. Just three days a week? That was enough.
Starlight Elementary School operated differently from other elementary schools, more like a university. As long as you met the credits provided by the school, you could graduate. Since attending three days a week was enough to earn the necessary credits, I could somewhat agree to going to school.
If they had told me to go every day, I would have refused. I had already completed my formal education, after all.
“Hana, you’re not an adult, so you have to go to school.”
“Ugh…”
As Bora said, looking at my appearance, I did look like an elementary school student, so I had no room to argue. No matter how early I slept or how much I ate, I didn’t seem to grow taller. I wish I were as tall as Bora…
And so, I ended up wearing a skirt that didn’t suit me at all. Pants are so much more comfortable… A skirt? My past self would never have imagined this.
My reflection in the mirror stared back at me. If I had a niece this cute, I’d want to take her out for treats every day. My cheeks still had some baby fat, and my looks could rival those of child actors.
Maybe if I grew a bit more, I could become a celebrity or a model. Of course, I had no intention of pursuing such a career.
I grabbed the hem of the skirt and shook it around. Unlike pants, the open bottom let the wind blow right through. It was comfortable to move in, but it felt strange. I marveled at how girls could wear skirts even in the middle of winter.
For someone as sensitive to the cold as me, the thought of exposing my legs in winter was unimaginable…
Even now, I was wearing thick stockings. Going bare-legged in winter was just absurd.
There was a ribbon on my chest. I noticed it was slightly crooked and adjusted it with my hands. Then, I checked my outfit to make sure everything was in order. Bora had left the room for a moment, busy with other things.
Bora, who looked more like a young parent than a researcher, entered the room. With her makeup on and having eaten the apple that made her younger, she now looked like a college student.
You’d never guess she was in her late twenties. Anyone who saw her might think she was a high schooler who had a child by accident.
“Hana, are you ready?”
“Yeah. We can go now.”
I nodded in response to Bora’s question. I had packed Lumi’s bag, and my uniform was flawless. If anyone saw me, they’d probably applaud and shout “Bravo!” at how perfect I looked.
I left the room and took the elevator down. The elementary school was a bit far, so we had to drive. Bora was today’s driver. Arriving at the parking lot, I hopped into Bora’s car, bouncing with excitement.
Being outside made me happy. I was excited for the first time in a while.
The bag on my back felt heavy. It was filled with various stationery, snacks for break time, and the tablet needed for class. Back in my day, we just used notebooks and textbooks, but nowadays, elementary students use tablets for studying.
Studying used to be about holding a pencil or pen and writing in books, but saying that would probably make me sound like an old fogey. Anyway, seeing Lumi’s cheerful illustrations in the bag helped me relax.
It felt like just yesterday I was jobless in the building, and now I’m going to school. The car zoomed forward. As we got closer to the school, my heart raced. Was I really going to be living the school life with third graders?
It was hard to believe. A grown man going back to elementary school? It felt embarrassing, and I nervously fiddled with the sleeves of my uniform. The uniform felt luxurious, soft, and pleasant to touch.
—
We arrived at Starlight Elementary School. Since it was the entrance ceremony, the place was bustling with families. It seemed like a prestigious school, as I even spotted some people from TV. I got nervous and clung tightly to Bora’s sleeve.
There were so many people that I could easily get lost. Bora seemed to read my mind, holding my hand tightly. Her hand was warm like a hand warmer. Following the signs, we entered the auditorium.
Maybe because of the low birth rate, there were fewer people inside the auditorium compared to outside. Back when I was studying, there were 10 classes of 40 students each, but nowadays, it’s less than half of that.
Looking around, I heard tiny laughter, like little chicks chirping.
“Hana, just sit here on the chair, okay? Don’t sneak off anywhere!”
Unfortunately, I had to part ways with Bora. Of course, she wasn’t leaving completely. She’d be watching me from the parents’ seats. I nodded to reassure her.
“I’m not a kid, so you can go without worrying, Bora.”
“Yeah, yeah. Then since you’re not a kid, I can just go home, right?”
She acted like she was really going to leave me. Surprised, I shook my head and grabbed her hand tightly. After all, it’s only natural to have someone with you during the entrance ceremony.
“No, Bora! You can’t just leave!”
When I made a fuss, Bora laughed and patted my head.
“Where would I go leaving you behind? I’ll be over there in the parents’ seats, so call me on your mobile phone after the ceremony, okay?”
“Okay!”
I nodded enthusiastically. Thankfully, it seemed Bora wasn’t going home. The thought of attending the entrance ceremony alone felt like a lonely experience.
Sitting in the chair, I noticed Bora filming me from afar with her mobile phone. I raised both hands in a V-sign. It was proof that I was here.
But soon, my interest faded, and I had to go along with the usual flow of the entrance ceremony. It was a predictable routine: saluting the flag, then some VIPs giving congratulatory speeches.
I yawned, probably because I was too nervous about the ceremony yesterday and didn’t sleep well. Looking around, many kids seemed in the same boat, looking bored or nodding off. I wasn’t going to fall asleep like them!
Hmm…
I think I closed my eyes for a moment, and a lot seemed to have passed.
Oh no!
I fell asleep like the other kids! Embarrassed, I looked toward the parents’ seats where Bora was, but she wasn’t there. The ceremony had already ended.
I called Bora.
“Bora, where are you?”
– I had to step out for a bit. Is the ceremony over already?
“Yeah. Everyone’s leaving.”
-Then just wait there! I’ll be right back. Don’t wander off, okay?
“Okay.”
I tried to sit back in the chair, but people started clearing them away. I got down and started wandering around, forgetting what Bora had said.
As I was walking around the auditorium with Lumi’s bag, I felt someone behind me. Something big was there. I turned my head slowly like a broken robot.
A huge, unidentified man was staring right at me. I was overwhelmed by his presence. He spoke to me.
“Are you Hana? The one who lives at the Starlight Research Institute.”
At that moment, a chilling sensation ran up my spine.
Bora always said, “Be wary of strange uncles who approach you too familiarly.”
It was too late to run. And being in a quiet place, I’d be overpowered before I could call for help.
Before the giant could say more, I quickly pulled out the security alarm and pressed the handle.
Beep! Beep! Beep!
The sharp sound of the security alarm echoed through Starlight Elementary School.
It was spring.
