Class is over for the day. But I have to stay back for my CR duties. I'm not alone though. In the empty classroom, I'm sitting together with Natsuya while sorting some stuff. Natsuya is sitting on the opposite of the desk , in front of me. We've been sitting and working like this for quite some time but none has uttered a word yet. Only the sound of sorting paper can be heard along with the noise of the people doing club activities coming through the window. Though the weather is good, the awkward silence is killing me. I should thank him but I don't know how to bring it up.
"Umm Haruko-chan," Natsuya finally breaks the ice.
"Ye-yes, N-Natsuya-kun."
"Are you angry with me?"
"Wh-why would I be angry?" his question was a surprise for me.
"I dragged you into this without your opinion. I won't be surprised if you say you hate me now."
"No no, I don't hate you neither am I angry," I try to explain. "I'm rather happy. I'm grateful for the chance you gave me."
Even though my explanation wasn't good, Natsuya looks relieved. "I'm happy to help you. Hehe."
His small laugh vanishes the tension inside of me.
"But why did you pick me? There were better choice."
"Ah that," Natsuya scratches the back of his head. "When I looked at you that time, you looked like you really wanted to do it. But for some reason you stayed quiet. I thought you might be feeling nervous. So I tried help you."
"Wow you completely read me," I'm honestly really surprised. Except for Hime, nobody ever read my mind like that. "I always thought I'm hard to understand. Are you some kinda mind reader, Natsuya-kun!"
"Haha," Natsuya laughs bashfully. "I will take that as a compliment."
Natsuya actually is a good guy. He is not only kind but he also has good looks. Is this what people the perfect package? He may be the tallest guy I know. Ah speaking of tall;
"Hey Natsuya," I call him, "Aren't you in basketball club?"
Natsuya's eye lit up at the word 'basketball'. "How do you know?"
"Yea I heard it from Hime. Aren't you gonna be late to your club practice?"
"I've already informed them that I'm gonna be late. Don't worry."
"That's good but what if missing practice cause trouble later? What if they remove you from regulars?"
"Ah about that, I'm not a regular yet," Natsuya face seems sad. "After all I'm a first year. But I'm gonna work hard and become a regular."
"You can do it," I try to encourage him. He helped me, this is the least I can do. "You already have advantage in height. I'm sure you will be able to play really well. You might even be the ace."
"Haha thanks." Though Natsuya smiled, I'm not sure if my words actually reached him or if he did it out of kindness.
"Haruko-chan, you seem interested in basketball. Does someone you know also play baskeball?"
"Oh no, there's none. My interest in basketball evolved purely from anime. Hehe."
Maybe it's rude talk to a real basketball player like that when I'm just an otaku. I hope he doesn't mind.
"Ah! Do you mean Slam Dunk?"
"Y-yea. I'm a big fan of slam dunk."
"Me too," Natsuya leaned toward me in excitement. "I really loved that series. My passion for basketball also came from there."
"Really!" To think Natsuya likes something as much as I do makes me oddly happy. "I still rewatch it. Rukawa is my favorite player."
Before I even realized, I'm going on and on about the anime. Natsuya's piercing eyes brought me to reality. Gah! It's so embarrassing. Can't believe I just let my guard and showed someone my fangirling side. He's been uncharacteristically quiet and keeps staring at me.
"I-I'm s-sorry. I shouldn't have kept talking like that." I desperately pray that he doesn't think me as a weirdo.
"No no. I honestly don't mind. You don't need to feel embarrassed."
He is such a good guy. Most people would be creeped out. I can't praise him enough.
"Hey Haruko-chan," Natsuya says in a bit lower voice. His gaze is also a bit lower.
"If I play in a match, will you come and cheer for me?"
"Of course I will," I say without even thinking. "I will cheer for you all the way."
"Thank you." Natsuya looks at me. His face also looks a bit bashful. But it may be just the afternoon sunlight. Nonetheless he looks so genuinely happy that a smile also forms in my lips by itself.
My part time job isn't any less difficult today either. I'm grateful to the manager that he delayed my shift for an hour due to me being a CR. On the other hand I have to go home an hour later. Though I sigh as I take the food from the kitchen, I don't forget to smile when I serve it to the customer.
"Haruko tell those customers to quiet down," Manager suddenly gives me a hard order.
I mean I know that we have some noisy customers tonight but I can't just go and say that. Since I don't wanna be kicked out, I try to think something that won't be rude also shut them up. I slowly walk towards that table, "Dear customer..."
"Haruko-chan?"
I look up at the familiar voice and see Natsuya sitting with some boys.
"Natsuya-kun?"
"Ah were we being too loud?"
He doesn't even need me to finish. He quiet them down on his own. He also introduces others as member of basketball club. His way of handling thing always impresses me.
And just like he said, when I finish my work I see him waiting outside for me.
"You didn't have to Natsuya-kun."
"There's no way I'm letting a girl go alone when its this late."
As we both walk together along the road in the night, my appreciation for him keeps increasing.