"Good morning, Takeuchi!" I whacked his back.
"Ouch! What was that for?" Takeuchi gave the the snare eye.
"We have become friends now."
"Since when?"
"Since you passed out, man!"
Takeuchi then flinched. He must have thought that I found out he has cancer.
"You overheated and I had to buy you a lot of ice cream." I turned the seat in front of his desk towards him and sat in the chair. I then grinned at him. "You owe me. Buy me a lot of ice creams after school."
"Wha-what?" Takeuchi became flustered. "No way will I do that!"
"I want strawberry! That's the best flavor!" I laughed.
"Class is starting!" The teacher came into the room.
"Welp, let's eat together during lunch, alright?" I jumped out of the seat and ran over towards mine.
"Ah...I guess..." He looked flustered.
Alright, I pushed my way through to becoming his friend.
***
Lunch then came around, and I walked over to Takeuchi's desk.
"So should we eat here? Or would you rather eat outside?" I suggested.
"I'm not going to eat with you." Takeuchi turned coldly towards me. "I'll go and eat alone." He then stood up and left the classroom.
And I thought we became friends. I must continue though. No matter what, I will not give up.
I then ran out of the classroom and followed Takeuchi. He then sat down under a tree ouside. I walked over there and sat next to him. "Wow. This is a great spot you picked, Takeuchi."
"How did yo-" He flinched at the sight of me.
I then leaned closer to him. "I'm not giving up. Until you say we are friends, I'm going to continue pestering you." I grinned at his blushing face. "Did I make your heart skip a beat?"
"O-of course not!" He averted his eyes from me.
"Just kidding! Let's eat lunch!" I took out my chopsticks and lunch box. "Did your mom make your lunch box?"
"Yeah..." Takeuchi mumbled.
"Ooh that's nice! My dad made mine!" I happily took a bite.
"I'm going back." Takeuchi stood up.
"Eh?! Already?"
"You are annoying."
"So mean." I pouted.
***
"How come we are waiting for Takeuchi?" Fuka asked.
"Because he owes me ice cream." I said waiting for him by the front gate of the school.
I waited for him patiently.
He finally walked outside of the school. "Nice." I whispered.
I waited for him to slowly walk past the school gate before letting him know I was there.
He was alert, looking around his surroundings. I knew he was trying to look out for me.
As he passed the gate, I swung my arm around his neck. "Takeuchi! Which ice cream shop are we going to?"
"None! Now let go of me!" Takeuchi pushsd me away.
He looked at me with an angry expression. I then noticed lumps on his neck.
"Ah. I'm sorry about that." I apologized. I should have know. That was stupid of me.
"Sorry won't do anything! You are just annoying! Leave me alone!" Takeuchi screamed at the top of his lungs. He surely showed at that moment that he didn't want me anywhere near him.
"I can't." I answered with a stale expression.
"What do you mean you can't?!"
"I just can't." I repeated. "Even if you don't like me, you will have to learn to deal with me."
"I hate you! Why do I have to deal with you?"
"Because I want to be your friend." I said with a stern expression.
"Well, I don't want to be yours. I stayed alive without a friend, and I can continue that way until I die." Takeuchi turned around and continued to walk home.
"Ah! What about my ice cream?!" I yelled out.
"I'm not buying you ice cream!" He yelled back.
My heart really hurt when I accidentally hurt him. He must have been in so much pain. I almost cried at that moment.
"Wow, it seems like he does really hate you, Sakura." Fuka scratched her head.
"Did it really seem that way?" I forced a chuckle.
"Maybe you should stop bothering him. It seemed like he really didn't like you bothering him." Fuka suggested.
"I can't."
"What? Why?"
I turn to Fuka and smile. "I'm going to become his friend no matter what."
It wasn't his mother puting her words into my mouth. It was my own. I have grown interested in Takeuchi. I want him to experience friendship. I want him to be happy no matter what.
I have to help him.