I winced as the handle of my briefcase dug into my hand, its newfound weight obviously not sitting well with my fingers. In the end, I could only bear to take five more steps before swiftly giving in and changing hands. I clenched and unclenched my newly freed hand a couple of times, willing the sting away.

It's only the first day but they're giving so much homework. This has to be child abuse.

A loud guffaw briefly occupied my attention as I walked by a group of guys, most of them probably laughing at something someone had said. I eyed their tall figures before shifting my gaze back forward to the center of the wide avenue, squinting slightly as the late afternoon sun pierced through the trees.

Right, we're not children anymore. Can't be child abuse. Already nineteen, even. Legally an adult now. An adult...

I didn't feel very different, though. When I had turned eighteen, there was no new knowledge shooting through the sky and into my brain, nor was there any sudden wisdom bestowed upon me. Even after a year had passed and I had turned nineteen, not much seemed to change.

If I thought about it, I don't remember this experience being any different in my last life, either. It was the second time I was turning nineteen, but nearly two decades had passed since my last life and the event had regained its freshness. I couldn't help but have some faint expectations floating around. But...

Even in this life, adulthood disappoints me.

My peer dropped down to the briefcase in my right hand. It was heavy, full of textbooks and papers spanning multiple subjects. Math, physics, biology, literature, history, and more - and yet, I still had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. My repeated birthdays didn't give me any hints nor clues in this life either.

It wasn't bad being an extra. I could keep my freedom and live a peaceful life, but main characters had one thing that I envied: purpose. In the end, they all had roles to play, and for most of them those roles led them to happiness.

At least this time I avoided my past fate of being an office clerk.

I cringed at the memory. I only worked there for a couple of months, but even now the thought of the buzzing sound of fluorescent lights and nonstop calls brought pain.

I took a breath, exhaling sharply and focusing on my surroundings instead. The large, intricate metal gates at the end of the avenue weren't far now, young men and women around my age nonchalantly passing through. Calls of greeting and goodbye flew around me, students meeting, others parting; the school day had ended. The breeze carried a sweet scent, no doubt from the pale flowers adorning the trees.

I scanned the expansive bike rack lined up along one side of the gate. There weren't as many bicycles parked as there were in the morning, making my yellow one all the more visible as I approached the approximate area I had locked it. It didn't take long for me to set my briefcase into the basket attached to its front, leaning down to release the combination lock.

A bump to my side suddenly interrupted my fumbling, my fingers slipping off the lock.

"Sorry! Did I hurt you?"

I turned my head, only to freeze in recognition. My noise of surprise was barely swallowed, replaced by coherent words.

"No, I'm fine. Thank you."

The heroine returned my civil smile, although hers leaked genuine remorse. Inescapably, it still held a hint of charm. Her dimples didn't disappear as she brushed a lock of red hair behind her ear.

"Looks like my bike is next to yours. I tripped while walking and bumped into you. I'm sorry!"

"It's fine," I repeated, flashing her another quick grin before looking down again to complete the lock combo.

Nothing more was said, and I thought the conversation was over. I diligently placed the lock into my bike basket after untangling it from the rack, grabbing the bike's handlebars as I backed it out of the rack. Then, just as I was about to sit down on the seat, the protagonist spoke again.

"Um, my name is Elinka! Elinka Cote." She moved away from her own bike, taking a few steps towards me and reaching her hand out for a shake.

"Oh." I clasped her hand after a beat of silence, "I know."

"Sorry?" Her head tilted in confusion.

"Hm?" I mirrored her motion, only then realizing what I had said. "No, nothing. Nice to meet you, Elinka Cote. I'm kind of in a rush - I really, really have to get home, lots of homework, you know - so I'll be leaving now!" My eyes widened as I slapped a flat smile onto my face, lunging onto my bike seat and pushing past her flabergasted expression. "Goodbye!"

I didn't wait to listen to her confused protests, pushing the pedals with determined force. My eyes unconsciously shifted towards the other end of the gate, spotting the flamboyant duo of blond and black.

Of course. Elinka was here, so these two had to be lurking around somewhere nearby as well.

I sped past them without a second thought, taking care not to hit any of the circulating students.

I didn't let up speed until about five minutes after leaving the gates, only then releasing the breath I didn't know I was holding. I leaned back, letting a hand fall off the handle to rest at my side as I slowed to a more comfortable velocity.

I probably...could have handled that a lot better. A lot normally.

My face contorted into an uninhibited grimace as I ruminated over my actions.

'I know'? 'I know'?! So stupid, Shion!

A long sigh escaped me, my hand reaching up to loosen the tie around my neck.

Well, whatever. It's over now, and what's done is done. Better to let it go.

And let it go I did. The situation was embarrassing, but it wasn't something worth any more thought. That's what living for twenty-two years last life has taught me.

A/N: Thanks for reading! Please comment as you go, would love to hear your thoughts! I read your comments, promise!