The gate looks kind of like that of some kind of fortress or mansion, rather than a school.
 
I generally imagine these gates looking friendly, inviting, but this one looks like it's keeping something in, or protecting it from the outside world.
 
Tall brick walls, and a black iron gate for an entrance, forming a perimeter around the campus. It doesn't feel welcoming at all.
 
Not wanting to waste time on the gate, I push through it towards the school. I've done this before, but this feels different. Maybe nothing I do will feel like it did back then, I'll need to re-familiarize myself with everything, and life itself. What a daunting task.
 
...
 
As I enter the building itself, I'm greeted by a tall, scruffy-looking man towering above me.
 
"Are you, er... Goto?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"So you are. Excellent. I'm your homeroom and science teacher. My name is Mutou."
 
"Welcome."
 
He extends his arm for a handshake. He shakes my own hand with more force that I was ready to give, and it comes out to be an extremely awkward handshake.
 
"The head nurse asked you for a brief check-in visit, but there's no time for that now."
 
"Oh. Can I check in later?"
 
"Yes, afternoon is probably fine. We should get going and introduce you to the rest of the class. They're waiting already."
 
Gee, no pressure. I always hate introductions, and I usually like to come to class early to avoid the gaze of other students.
 
"Do you want to introduce yourself to the class?"
 
"Don't students always do that?"
 
"No, of course not. It's up to you."
 
I shake my head from side to side. He takes my answer, and starts his way towards the classrooms. I'd rather avoid having to talk about myself in front of a room full of people.
 
***
 
"Good morning everyone, sorry I'm late again."
 
The room is pretty spacious, but it's more empty than the classrooms I'm used to. I guess it makes sense that a special school would have less students than normal.
 
Every eye in the class room is focused on me. I turn my head up to Mutou, to avoid looking at any of the students directly. Why is he taking so long to get started?
 
"...please welcome our newest classmate, Iwanako." He goes on to introduce me, saying where I come from and explaining other menial details, but it's an empty speech. I feel like I messed up, maybe I should have been the one to say something. But this is easier.
 
As he finishes, there's an awkward silence permeates the room. Shouldn't he tell me where to sit, or something? I can't help but start to scan the various students in the classroom.
 
To be honest, it looks like a fairly normal class. The only person who stands out is a boy with long hair in the back, who seems to be avoiding my gaze. I feel kind of guilty for looking at him, I'm in the same position right now, not wanting to be stared at.
 
"We're going to be doing some group work today, so that'll give you a chance to meet up with a few of your classmates. Is that alright with you?"
 
"Yeah."
 
"Okay. Uhh, you can work with the class representative, Hakamichi."
 
"He should be able to explain how this stuff works just fine."
 
Should I know who Hakamichi is? I feel like I'm at the end of some comical joke, but the teacher seems to catch my helpless expression.
 
"Oh, right. Hakamichi is right there, Shiro Hakamichi."
 
As I look over to call over to where he's pointing, this boy hits me like a brick. A tall, colorful-looking boy with bleached hair is flailing his arms in the air at me. How did I not notice him before?
 
I move over near his seat to greet him, before sitting down next to him.
 
"You're Hakamichi, right? It's nice to meet you."
 
My politeness is greeted by his off-tone chuckling. Did I do something wrong?
 
"It's nice to meetcha', but I'm not Hakamichi, you can call me Misha!"
 
Before I get the chance to correct myself, a less outstanding boy next to him jabs into his side.
 
"What? Oh, right! This is Hakamichi. You can call him Shiro."
 
His eyes have been glued onto me this entire time. While Misha's gaze seemed indirect and impersonal, his seems cold, analytical. It's kind of scary.
 
He has short, neatly kept hair, a pair of plain, uniform glasses, and cold, blue eyes, which are invading my personal space at this very moment.
 
"Oh, sorry. Hi Shiro. Misha."
 
Shiro averts his gaze and looks back to his partner, making some strange hand-gestures at him, before looking back to me.
 
"Don't sweat it, it was the teacher fault for not making it clear. Shiro's here is deaf, so I'm his interpreter. You don't get to him unless you go through me." He looks back towards his partner, exchanging more of those signs. I should have guessed that it was sign language.
 
"Right. I am the Class Representative. It's nice to make your acquaintance, Iwanako."
 
After being confused for a second, I realize that he is probably interpreting for his deaf friend. It's going to be hard getting used to this kind of thing, it feels so unnatural to think that someone is talking through another person.
 
***
 
Science has never been a good subject for me, and I didn't really keep up that well in the hospital. For the most part, I observe what my two partners are doing and write things down. It comes to my realization that this is probably the first time I've written anything in 6 months.
 
The day moves on like this for a while. I follow Misha and Shiro wherever they take me, showing me the way of things in this school. I wonder how they became friends. Misha is loud and obnoxious, but Shiro is reserved and formal. Maybe it's a friendship out of necessity. Obviously Shiro wouldn't be able to get by without an interpreter.
 
At one point, I ran into that boy again. I turned a corner too fast and I ended up bumping into him. I thought it was weird at first that a boy would have long hair, but when I got up close I saw something on his face. Some kind of facial deformity. Scars, maybe? I guess hair is a good way to hide that sort of thing. I feel bad for him, I should be more considerate about this sort of thing. I wouldn't want someone looking at my scars, had I any.
 
As the school day ends, the two boys take me over to the nurse, before going about their own things. I'm not sure what to expect.
 
The room looks neat and tidy, but it doesn't feel sterile. Not like the hospital. There's a person in the back, who turns around as I enter the room. I probably should have knocked.
 
"Hello there. What can I do for you today?"
 
She looks fairly young for someone who works at a school. Her mouth bares a wide, friendly smile. I can't help but smile back at her.
 
"Are you the nurse?"
 
"Yeah, I'm the nurse. It says so on the door, right?"
 
Actually, I didn't notice that. It always annoys me when I realize that I've been forgetful or unattentive. It happens again, and I realize she's right in front of me, extending her hand. Having learned from my encounter with the teacher earlier, I make sure to give her a firm handshake.
 
"I'm sorry for not coming earlier, then. I guess I came to school later than I should have."
 
She gives me a strange, inquisitive look. "I'm sorry, but who are you again?" Maybe I assumed too much. My face lights up, and I correct myself.
 
"Oh, sorry! I'm Iwanako!"
 
"Ah, yes. I remember. Don't worry about that, it's fine. "
 
She motions me to take a seat next to her desk.
 
"Heart problems, right? Chronic arrhythmia?" I nod.
 
"Good. Actually, you coming late makes my job easier. I just need to brief you on my job here. We have all kinds of facilities available, for physical therapy and things like that to accommodate students. I have people around the school at all times, so you should be able to get help if you ever need it."
 
I'm not sure whether or not that makes me feel better. On one hand, it makes things safer for me and other students, but on the other, it reminds me that I'm going to be watched at all times. Maybe this is like a fortress.
 
She goes back to flipping through my files. "Your medication will be in your dorm, as well as some instructions for what you should be taking. Be sure to be on top of that. Before the accident, did you participate in any kind of physical activity?"
 
"No, not really."
 
"Ah, good. Then I won't need to tell you to stop. You'll need to be extremely careful with that kind of thing. No over-exerting yourself and nothing too physical, alright?"
 
"I understand." The room goes silent again, aside from her flipping through the pages, and my eyes wander across the room. There are familiar health posters pinned to the wall, and motivational pictures in every corner. It reminds me of the nurse's office back in my old school.
 
"Still," her voice breaks through the air again, "You'll need to stay healthy. Nothing will help your heart more than making it stronger. I'd recommend going for brisk walks, or some light exercises every now and then to keep yourself in shape."
 
I nod again, but it's an empty reply. I've tried getting in shape before, but I've always failed at that. I've never been too good at physical education. Still, maybe my impending demise will make for better inspiration.
 
***
 
I walk through the dorm-halls, looking at the number on each door, hoping to jog my memory. I can't believe I forgot my room number. What a terrible way to start off my new life.
 
Finally, I find a familiar number. 119? I knock on the door, to see if anyone's in there. No response.
 
I open the door, revealing a bland, empty room. I scan the room, for a moment, before finding a table, littered with several identical bottles. My medication. This has to be my room.
 
Suddenly, the door opposite of mine starts to rattle, making my heart skip a beat. I turn around, facing the sound of quiet clicks and metallic slides from the room.
 
The door opens, revealing a heavily-clothed girl. She looks extremely odd, wearing a beanie, a scarf, and a jacket, during this time of year. In doors, no less. She re-positions her thick glasses, opening her mouth for an inquiry.
 
"Who is this?"
 
She takes a few steps closer to me, as if she were analyzing an enemy.
 
"Hi, I'm... I'm Iwanako Goto. I guess I'm your neighbor."
 
Her face lights up, alleviating her of her suspicious outlook. She re-adjusts he glasses, opening her mouth once again. Her breath smells horrible.
 
"Hey, welcome to the dorm! You can call me Kesha."
 
Before I can respond, her greasy hand grabs mine, shaking it chaotically. I'm not sure whether to feel welcome or uncomfortable. Her smile breaks, and she scans the hall to the left and right.
 
"There were some weird people raiding your room earlier."
 
"The nurse told me that people came to deliver some of my stuff."
 
I almost mention my medication, but I try to avoid bringing it up. I don't really want people to think that something's wrong with me. Maybe that's the wrong attitude to have at a school like this, but I think I'll stick to whatever feels comfortable for now.
 
"Likely story. You can never be too sure in a world like this one, you know."
 
'This world'? Kesha's paranoid warnings leave me confused, why would someone come to raid an empty room?
 
"I think I'll take my chances."
 
She gives me an approving smile, nodding at my reply. I guess I answered correctly.
 
"You're right. If you never take risks, you'll never get anywhere. Good on ya."
 
She stares at me for a second, her smile dissipating. Am I supposed to respond? Before I get a chance to think of something, she turns around and returns back to her secluded cave. What a strange person.
 
***
 
I plop down on my bed, exhausted. I guess after doing so little for so long, I'm not used to walking around all day like this. I almost fall asleep, but the medication on the table comes into my vision again, slapping my in face. I jump up again, facing the nightstand. There's a note from the nurse sitting on top of them.
 
It describes how many of which pills I should take and at which times. It makes me feel uneasy, thinking about how I'll have to do this every day for the rest of my life.
 
I sigh, and start screwing the caps off of the bottles, dumping the instructed amount into my hand. I've seen people in movies takes all of their pills at once, but that seems scary. What if I choked or something? Instead, I take each pill individually, downing it with a small sip of water.
 
The task wears on me. This is what my life is now. This is what it will be from now on. How pitiful.