"Hopefully we can have one normal day for once." Said Amasa as the pair went about their still new routine of walking to school. "I just want to take a break for once."
"Well, to me every day's going to be an adventure." Given that the number of hours he had spent here still totaled less than triple digits. Tahiko was still learning many new things about what separated these two worlds. "Though seeing you live your life has made me realize one thing."
"I'd prefer you not pay so much attention to me." She quipped. "But what's so special about me?"
"You have no friends." His statement caused them to stop in their tracks. They stood there silently as the energy around her changed.
"You idiot!" Amasa bonked him on the head then immediately returned to walking on their path. He took one moment to pat the spot she hit him at. It didn't hurt thanks to his thick skull, but she was stronger than she appeared. He actually felt that one. "I don't care about making any friends. And that includes you too."
"I'm sorry, but I couldn't help make the observation." He quickly walked to catch up to her. "I just find it so odd. There doesn't seem to be any evil people at your school, so there's no need to avoid them."
"Ha, you've barely seen the worst of her." She pointed out his only sample size consisted of Fukuna. "And she's only cool with you because you saved her life. Otherwise, we'd be dealing with government authorities and mobs of people."
"You may be correct on that." He conceded. "But still, that does not mean every person there is bad."
"I doubt most of them are." It wasn't that she had a problem with most people. "I just want to be left alone, is that too much to ask for?" Apparently the powers that be thought so, seeing as they gave her the fate of running into this knight.
"If that's what you wish for." He obliged with her order and allowed the girl her way of life. Though he only agreed due to their agreement of her power over him.
They got to the school early today, so there was plenty of time before classes were to begin. "I didn't get the chance yesterday, but I'd love to explore this school a bit."
"Well, don't look at me as a guide." She wasn't going to follow him and tell him about all the supposedly wonderful things about the school they went to. "You know where our class is, so just don't get lost." With that, she abandoned him to his own devices. Not a problem for him as he wondered the halls to see the other classrooms around them.
Though it wasn't as exciting as the boy was hoping for. Most of the rooms he looked into were just the same as his own classroom. It seemed most of this school was either rooms like those, or smaller rooms that were reserved for these so-called clubs. Perhaps he could try to join one of these to see what hobbies this world had to offer. That could be fun, but Amasa might not like that.
While he was walking, his eyes wondered onto a floating stacks of papers. No, it wasn't actually floating, but it looked as though that was the case at first glance because it was nearly impossible to see the small girl trying to carry them all. Why someone thought she was the one who had to do the job and not someone boy twice her height was beyond him.
There was no way for her to see through the paperwork as she stumbled along nearly running into other students.
"Wh-whoa." As expected, she was about to lose balance and drop all of them in a catastrophe disaster.
"Hey there." It took a lot in his brain to not overdo it, but Tahiko was able to catch her and prevent the pages from flying all around the hallway. "Perhaps it may be best not to carry this load on your own." He smiled at her as the boy took over half for himself.
"…" She didn't say a single word to him. The girl simply only stared at him as he await for her to speak up.
"So, um, where are we taking these?" He asked, unsure why she hadn't spoken up yet. Was this girl mute or something? "Are you all right?"
"Oh, um…" Finally, she snapped back into reality to finally utter some words. "I was just taking these to the staff room. My teacher asked me to and even though there was a lot I didn't…" Her voice trailed off as she got nervous and couldn't maintain eye contact with him. Basically the gist was she was too shy to ask another person to help her so she just went about to doing it on her own despite the challenges. "W-who are you?"
"Sorry, I'm new to this school." He responded. "My name's Tahiko Maita, and yours is?"
"It's… Chisa Ida." She answered as if unsure if she should tell him her name. "I'm so sorry for troubling you."
"It's no trouble at all." He replied with a massive grin. "Just lead the way and I'll follow."
"Right." So she went on ahead of him and the boy went right along behind her. This was worrisome in her mind, given that as she walked she couldn't turn her head back to look at him lest he notice. At the same time, he could easily just stare at her without the girl knowing what he was looking at.
Did he think the way she walked was strange? Was he judging her uniform? The possibilities were endless and she didn't like it one bit. Thankfully, the walk there wasn't long now that she wasn't encumbered with way too much paperwork.
"Thank you." The teacher gave them praise as they were finished with their task. "I see you've run into Ida. Since you're new, I'd say she's a good person to be close with."
"Well, it's always good to meet new people." He replied, though she simply turned her head down and to the side in response to the kind words. "Um, what makes you special?"
"Well, I do well in class." She quietly answered. It was true, she usually got perfect scores on all her tests.
"And what else?"
"Um, well…" That got her stuttering and yammering to come up with more answers. "Nothing else, really."
"Don't be so modest." The teacher spoke up. "It's okay, she gets a little shy with new people." That was an understatement. Even if she had known who Tahiko was for the past 10 years, she'd still be this way. "Anyway, I should let you both go before classes begin." With that, they were free to go.
"So, Chisa." He started off again as they exited the room.
"What!?" She was in utter shock that he could address her so casually. "Why did you call me that?"
"Um, isn't that your name?" That was an odd reaction to him. Sure, she had been acting weird the entire time they had been with each other, but people shouldn't be shocked to be called by their name.
"But Maita, we barely know each other." That was another thing he felt was weird about people here. Why did she call him by his family name? Wouldn't that get confusing since he also had a sister with the same last name? Then again, that teacher also called her Ida, but he had assumed it was because of their formal relationship.
"If you prefer me calling you Ida, then I'll oblige." He didn't want to make it obvious he had no idea of their social interactions, so arguing about it was not on his agenda at all. "Say, do you have any friends?"
"Why do you ask?" She felt a bit freaked out over the question because she had none. Sure, the girl was well liked among her peers, but it wasn't like she hung out with anyone during their free time.
"I just happen to know someone who could use a friend." He had been thinking about his conversation with Amasa earlier. She didn't have any friends, but he had only seen her interact with Fukuna, who she claimed was a bad person. Even though she stated it wasn't due to believing the students here were bad, maybe she hadn't seen someone who was a truly shining example of good. If that were the case, then maybe she'd be willing to change her mind.
"I mean, I guess I'm not close to anyone right now." She wasn't certain about his offer. This seemed strange to have someone so upfront with her. Normally most people didn't notice her unless they needed something.
"That's great." He felt his body surge with energy over this small accomplishment. It seemed that it was well worth his time to explore the school this morning. "Then during our lunch break you should come by to my classroom. It's room 2-3."
"Okay…" She wasn't sure if she wanted to keep that appointment. "I'll think about it, then."
"Well, what's your classroom? I can come by and grab you if you want."
"It's…" She pointed up to the sign of the room she was about to enter. Chisa went to the room 2-7 for her classes. "Anyway, I guess we'll see each other during lunch."