Chapter 3 - Yet so, Toshiro Okumori can't help but ponder.

Toshiro Okumori

I took the time to eat my lunch before it ended. Miyake was silent to me for the remainder of our classes. It made me feel somewhat relieved. I wouldn't be bombarded with her constant talking any longer. For today, that is.

I need to prepare myself for the stunts she'll do tomorrow. Chances are, they are going to be even more painful to withstand, and I didn't know how much training I needed to do to combat it.

After another hour or so, school ended. I had my head buried in my arms, already half-asleep. Once I heard everyone starting to converse and walk around, I rose from my seat and crammed my belongings inside my messy school bag, without tending to clean it any time soon. Triumph flowed in my body when I finally stood, then letting out a content sigh. I then grabbed my school bag, sling it over my shoulder, and started walking.

But, as if my day couldn't get any more draining, I ended up accidentally hitting something. I felt someone's head had bumped into my chin, combined with a quiet oomph! that came out of the person's mouth.

I froze, then looked downwards in shock.

The blonde hair became present to me, which was the only feature that made it blatantly apparent to whom I had just hit.

𝘖𝘩, 𝘯𝘰. 𝘏𝘦𝘳…

All of a sudden, I didn't feel so remorseful anymore. Miyake gazed up at me, a shade of red present on her cheeks while doing so. It was vague what she was thinking, but I started to perceive the supposed reason. We were only an inch or two away from each other, and once I had comprehended that, I instantly retreated in a flash and hastily attempted to exit the class.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭? 𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘰 𝘯𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘰𝘶𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘴𝘶𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘯? 𝘋𝘪𝘥𝘯'𝘵 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘤𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘢 𝘧𝘦𝘸 𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘨𝘰? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘺 𝘥𝘪𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯𝘵?

"Wait! I need to give you something!" She blurted out.

I froze and slowly turned around in slight curiosity.

𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵? 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵? 𝘓𝘦𝘵 𝘮𝘦 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺! 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦!

Once I had finally faced her, I spotted approximately five chocolate bars on the palms that she reached out with.

"I'm, err, giving everyone in the class chocolates, especially since it's Valentine's Day... As an introduction, of course! Though some guys already thought I was hitting on them." She said with a stiff smile.

Before I could jump to conclusions, she had confirmed that they were already obligatory, and it made me glad. I didn't know what I'd do if they were actual valentines chocolates. Hopefully, that day never comes.

"You can take two, by the way."

I halted from grabbing the two chocolates from her hands.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘵𝘸𝘰?

"What's wrong?" Miyake sounded perplexed.

I hesitated, then timidly and hurriedly grabbed two of them. I inserted them in my left pocket, turned around, and exited the classroom promptly.

"Um, bye!"

I glanced behind me and saw Miyake waving with a smile before I finally withdrew from the room without any hesitation.

I took my earbuds out of my pocket and inserted them inside my ears to try to disregard what just happened. I played music to block out the sounds of a mass amount of people chattering in the hallway.

Her cheeks were too red. She had puppy eyes. She looked too innocent. She's too dangerous. I'm scared.

I eventually left the school grounds and tried to enjoy my stride home with ease. I desperately attempted to misremember Miyake's whole circus act today, which would most likely take around fifteen or so minutes to succeed if my estimate was correct.

Around eleven minutes had passed, and I seemed to be starving a little. I did have the chocolate that Miyake had given me, but I doubt that it would be enough to satisfy my starving needs in the slightest. I spent a few minutes contemplating where I should go. The nearby convenience store soon won the debate in my head.

Once I reached the store, the smell of coffee, bread, and sugar filled my nostrils. I scanned the store for a few seconds, then made my way to the food section.

It didn't take me long to buy what I had wanted. I ended up picking some pork buns and raspberry iced tea. Convinced with my selections, I approached the cashier and placed them on the counter.

"Oh, hello, Okumori-chan," the cashier spoke with an old feminine voice.

I looked up and instantly recognized who it was. It was the old lady who had worked here for what seemed to be forever.

Apparently, my mom told me her parents used to own it, so she ended up taking care of the store after they had passed. I assume that it was a very long time ago. I'm confident that she has been here ever since I was born.

I nodded and pulled out some yen from my wallet.

I revered her. She always respected and greeted me whenever I entered the store. Even as a little kid. I am also grateful to her, as she occasionally secretly gave me food whenever I didn't have enough money. She didn't make it a habit, though, and eventually made me pay her back after a few days.

"You're still quiet, huh?" She chuckled.

I placed my yen on the table and acknowledged her remark. I watched her collect the money I had given her and place it inside the cashier. She then grabbed a plastic bag under the counter and started to put my food inside.

"His name is Okumori?!" Someone exclaimed behind me.

I turned around, seeing who had called out my name. It was a girl with blonde hair, pointing at me in disbelief. I stared at her, perplexed. Of course, I knew exactly who she was, but maybe if I acted like I didn't, she might leave me alone.

"You never told me your name earlier! And the cashier here just casually says it like it isn't of any importance!" She declared.

"Is this a friend of yours, Okumori-chan…? " The old lady muttered.

I shook my head rapidly.

Already irritated at the girl's boisterous tone, I decided to take matters into my own hands.

I took a deep breath, then forced a polite smile.

"Who are you?" I spoke.

𝘞𝘰𝘳𝘬. 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬.

She paused, and choked on her breath upon hearing me. She lowered her arm, then dropped to her knees.

"He doesn't even remember me. And those were his first words." The girl whimpered.

𝘞𝘩𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘴 𝘪𝘧 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘯 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥?

She then rose, and gripped my shoulders tightly.

"I'm Youko Miyake! You don't remember me?!" She cried.

𝘕𝘰, 𝘐 𝘤𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘺 𝘳𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶.

I grabbed her wrist and pulled it away from my shirt in discontent. I stepped back, turned right back around, and hooked the bag that contained the items I had bought with my fingers. I then gave a quick assuring nod to the cashier.

𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘭𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵? 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 𝘬𝘪𝘥𝘴, 𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵?

I exited right after.

"Wait! Hey! Don't leave me here!"

I could hear her rapidly checking out her things in the cashier, causing me to start getting worried.

I started to fasten my walking pace. My house was only three or so minutes from here, so all I had to do was sprint for it. I won't have to deal with her anymore once I enter my safe haven. I walked hastily on the road, tightening the grip on my plastic bag as it swayed back and forth.

"Okumori-kuuun!"

𝘖𝘩, 𝘯𝘰. 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘢𝘭𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘺 𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘷𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘥.

I glanced behind and caught a glimpse of Miyake running towards me. Horrified at her immense speed, I went from walking to straight-on sprinting.

"Wait for me!"

I started to run faster, but before I could fully wing it, a grab of my shirt was all that could stop me. It pulled me backward, causing me to fall. Then, a hand was all of a sudden placed on my back, but it was a futile attempt to stop my fall. I shut my eyes, and braced myself as I slammed onto the concrete with a loud grunt.

I gradually opened my eyes and noticed a shadow on top of me. I could smell the strawberry scent that protruded from her body and even feel their hair lightly graze my face.

"S-Sorry."

I immediately recognized who it was. I was frozen and speechless, without a clue on what to do in the slightest.

"I-I'll get off right away!" Miyake said rapidly.

She quickly rose, stepping away from me. I slowly stood up, grabbing my plastic bag.

"I'm sorry about that! I'm really, really sorry!" Miyake repeatedly bowed.

Still awkward from what had just happened earlier, I waved my hand around shakily as if I was saying: 𝘋𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘥.

"I just wanted to talk to you!" She exclaimed, still bowing. "But, I think I'm forcing you too much."

Well, she was right. I had no intentions of conversing with her or anyone in that matter. I didn't want to waste my time doing something I loathed.

I then looked around and instantly noticed that we had been catching the attention of multiple strangers. I could hear them mutter words such as: 𝘈 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘧𝘦𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯? 𝘚𝘩𝘦'𝘴 𝘨𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘰𝘶𝘴! 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘭𝘥 𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘫𝘦𝘤𝘵 𝘩𝘦𝘳?

Of course, it was Valentine's Day today, so I couldn't necessarily blame the speculations they threw out. I quickly looked back at Miyake and fluttered my hands around in embarrassment.

"It was the first impression I gave, wasn't it?!" She spoke in a loud voice.

𝘚𝘩𝘶𝘵 𝘶𝘱! 𝘠𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘶𝘥! 𝘞𝘦'𝘳𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯!

Miyake had a desperate look on her face, with her hands held together in front of her chest and her eyes shut closed as she continued speaking.

I was too speechless by her disregard of public humiliation, not able even to move an inch.

"I'm a nice girl, I promise! Be my friend!"

I had no idea what to do. I was completely motionless, and the eyes from the strangers only made matters worse. Miyake took a step, then another, and then another.

Seeing her do so, I backed up. Was this her plan? To use the civilians and make me uncomfortable and use that to her advantage? She was eviler than I had typically assessed her to be.

"Please, be mine!" Miyake yelled now.

She had hunched her head down once more.

I instantly froze.

𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱!

𝘛𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘣𝘢𝘤𝘬! 𝘐 𝘣𝘦𝘨 𝘰𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶! 𝘐 𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘦𝘭𝘺 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘳𝘺𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢𝘺, 𝘣𝘶𝘵 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴! 𝘐'𝘮 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘢 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘣𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘺!

"My friend! Be my friend!" She was quick to fix her poor choice of words.

I saw her bright red ears that hid behind her blonde hair, and it only made me more uncomfortable. Aside from that, I didn't even know how to respond to her demand. If we were in a normal circumstance, such as in a classroom or a house, or even if it was just the two of us, or anywhere at all where I can deny her request without a second thought, I could gladly say no without any remorse.

But, unfortunately, that wasn't the case. We were on the sidewalk, with multiple people spectating us, with even a maladroit atmosphere that surrounded us.

I groaned, and mentally braced myself for the outcome I'd be met with after what I was about to say.

"No." I tried saying it nonchalantly.

She squealed, dropping to her knees just like earlier, and clutched her chest.

"It was the first impression, wasn't it?" She muttered.

𝘕𝘰. 𝘐𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨.

Not feeling satisfied with the sad mood I had brought upon everyone, I turned around and started to walk away.

But, a gentle grip was set on my shoulder, causing me to stop in my tracks and turn around.

"D-Don't worry, Okumori-kun! I'll be your friend soon!"

She gave me a thumbs-up, with her voice mixed in with uncertainty and embarrassment.

I sighed, throwing her hand away from me.

Thankfully, I was able to exit freely with no interruptions. Though, it also intrigued me how Miyake would achieve that unrealistic goal of hers.

What exactly was she going to do?