Chapter One.
Kyrah.
March 2nd, 2026
I sit alone at lunch, surrounded by people. I hear voices. So many voices, coming from all directions, too many conversations overlapping. It's nearly impossible to make out what anyone is saying through all of the overlap and just utter chaos. I just rest my head on the table, not touching the food that lay somewhere in front of my arms. This has been probably the worst school year of my life. All of my friends moved away either literally or mentally. June went out to California. Sacramento, if I remember right. Io and I have just grown apart, and it's the same with Nyx. I used to sing for the garage band she's in, actually. Until she replaced me with her girlfriend. But that's no biggie! It's fine! Completely fine! Not like I'm upset or anything!
I groan in frustration. I wish people would actually have substantial conversations with me rather than just ask if I need help getting around the school. The answer to that question is almost always no. I don't think that most people understand how well I have this place mapped out in my head. I know from the position of the windows to my front right – just a light coloured blur – that the doors leading out of the cafeteria are to my left, the lunch line is directly behind me, and the restrooms are in front of me. From somewhere in front of me, I hear someone sit down, something jingling, keychains maybe? Then I hear an unfamiliar voice, higher pitched, warm, and... British?
"I love your shirt." She says, sounding very energetic.
"I uh- Thanks. What is it again? I forgot." I laugh awkwardly. She's gonna think I'm a weirdo now. Great.
"Hatsune Miku, my queen!" She laughs after saying that. "What's your favourite song with her, love?"
"Definitely..." I hesitate, thinking about that for a second, "you can't make me pick one, there are so many. Maybe Monitoring or Retry Now."
"Good choices. But you're wrong," I hear something, probably a lunchbox, zips open from her direction, "the best Miku song is Salamander. Anyway, do you like my lunchbox?"
I sigh. "I can't see it." Now is the part where she makes up some excuse to be somewhere else.
But she doesn't. "Oh. My apologies. Err... it has Teto on it." I hear her set something down on the table, and the snap of a container opening. The conversations going on around us have thankfully gotten quieter.
"Is Teto your favourite then?" She doesn't give a response for several seconds.
"Oh- uh- sorry, yes, she is," The girl sighs a bit.
"Call me basic, but I like Miku." I exhale a bit, that was meant to be a laugh, but I'm too exhausted.
"What's your name? I'm Kyrah." I smile while saying this.
"Lily! Nice to meet you, Kyrah!" There's an awkward silence for a few seconds. "I guess you can't see my hand there, sorry."
"Don't apologize," I let out a half-laugh. "Happens all the time."
I hear people shifting in their seats and objects sliding across the table, which signals to me that it's time to go to my next class.
"What class do you have next?" I ask as I stand up, putting on my backpack.
"Biology. You?" She seems genuinely curious.
"I also have biology," I say, excited to have met someone who held a meaningful conversation with me, and who's into similar stuff.
