On the third day, they sit in silence as Amy sticks her tongue out, straining to figure out the problem on this assignment, their stack of papers much smaller than before. Shiori writes but looks up at her. She examines her for a moment. She thinks back to when Chizuru and her first met.
She looks up surprised to see Chizuru coming back, pulling her friend by the wrist. Her friend does not seem to want to come along.
Lucy "Chizuru, would you stop! I don't want to!"
Chizuru "But you have to! She needs us!"
Shiori "Hey."
They stop abruptly now that they are next to her. Chizuru jumps behind Lucy using her as a shield to hide behind.
Shiori "What are you doing back here? I thought I told you-"
Chizuru "If I had known you were this lonely, I would have come with Lucy the first time."
Shiori 'Maybe this time… I could…' "Hey, Amy?"
Amy "What?"
She says with only a tiny bit of attitude but not rudely as she focuses on the paper in front of her. Shiori sweats a bit and hesitates.
Shiori "I was wondering, why are you so worried about your grades? You don't strike me as the academically conscious type so why do you care now?"
Amy is surprised by her question and gets embarrassed a bit.
Amy "I've never really been all that smart but that doesn't mean I don't have hopes and dreams. I've kinda always wanted to… get into movie writing…"
Shiori is surprised and doesn't respond.
Amy "I know that sounds, like, mega lame but there's something about seeing a story transferred to a big screen that makes my soul jump. I want to see something I made be played on a big screen for everyone to love."
She says softly. Shiori smiles at her. Amy looks at her then gets a slightly annoyed look.
Amy "Wait, are you trying to be my friend or something? That's, like, super weird."
A vein pops out of Shiori's head as she gets irritated by her response but before she can say anything, Amy continues.
Amy "But since I've kinda lost all of my friends, I guess it wouldn't hurt to make some more."
She says while crossing her arms and looking away. Shiori sighs and smiles again.
Shiori "Well, if you do want to be my friend, I am a writer so I could show you how to write a story if you wanted."
Amy "Wait, you'd, like, actually do that, for real??"
She asks enthusiastically but stops and calms down when she looks around at the others staring at her. She clears her throat and sits back in her chair with her arms crossed.
Amy "Yeah, that'd be pretty cool, I guess."
Shiori "Then let's hurry up and finish your assignments."
Amy smiles a bit as she gets back to work.
Eventually, the last two days come and go as Amy gets completely caught up with her assignments.
Principal Ai "Yep, everything looks good. Looks like you actually caught up on your assignments. As agreed, you no longer have to go to tutoring but I expect you to keep on your schoolwork."
She says to Amy in her office. Amy looks a bit nervous as Principal Ai puts down her packet.
Principal Ai "Is something wrong, Amy?"
Amy is surprised and gets embarrassed.
Amy "No, nothing's wrong.. I just… Principal Ai? Would it be possible to continue getting tutored by Shiori? She helped me a lot even though she really shouldn't have…"
Principal Ai looks surprised but smiles.
Principal Ai "I'm surprised. I didn't expect her to have this much of an impact on you."
Amy gets embarrassed.
Principal Ai "I'll allow it but you'll only be having two sessions a week, for Shiori's sake."
Amy looks excited and happy.
Amy "Thanks a lot!"
She says before waving goodbye and leaving her office. Principal Ai smiles as she watches her leave.
Principal Ai 'Shiori showed her a kindness that she has probably never felt before. Care and understanding. Shiori had every right to hold a form of anger or resentment towards her but she chose not to. Shiori really has come a long way since she fell into my care. Maybe… I could end their sentences now?..'
She thinks for a moment before smiling.
Principal Ai "Nah."
She says before going back to work in her office.
In September, the class sits as they read a book. Ms. Samuel sitting at her desk quietly. Hisana stares off, rather than reading the book, until she looks at Samuel. She stares at her for a moment before speaking.
Hisana "Hey, Ms. Samuel? Why is it that you don't have a boyfriend yet?"
Samuel gets angry as a vein pops from her head. She smiles at Hisana despite being obviously annoyed.
Samuel "You know, I've been wondering the same thing.."
Sugawara "Yeah, you're super pretty and smart. People must be pretty dumb to not want to date you."
Kitaro "That's what I'm saying."
He says without looking up from the book. Samuel gets a gushy look.
Samuel "You guys are so sweet."
She says warmly.
Samuel "Now get back to reading. Stop distracting me."
She says playfully but still seriously. Hisana giggles as they do what they were told. Samuel then looks down with a slightly upset look.
Samuel 'I really do wonder though. I'm not that unattractive, am I? How come no one has made any moves on me? Sometimes it does suck being so lonely…'
She thinks to herself. Eventually the school day ends and Samuel cleans up her desk.
Samuel 'Maybe I should make more of an effort. Yeah, that's it! I'll go out tonight and try to flirt with someone! It's the weekend after all!'
She thinks with a confident look before cutting to a sidewalk in the city after the sun has gone down. She mopes down the street and sighs with a disappointed tone.
Samuel "Even after all that, I couldn't muster up the courage to dress sexy so now I'm just wearing this… Who would want to flirt with someone looking like this..?"
She looks down at herself in a large trench coat with an off the shoulder large t shirt and skinny jeans on with sneakers. She droops a bit before wrapping herself up in the jacket a bit.
Samuel "At least the jacket is warm. It is pretty cold tonight."
She walks a bit more before a man goes flying out of a pair of doors from a bar right in front of Samuel. She screams from the sudden act as the man hits the ground and is knocked out. Out of the doors comes a large, muscular woman with violet hair wearing a leather jacket. Samuel turns to look at her but gets a confused look.
Samuel "Ashley? What are you doing here?"
Ashley turns and looks at Samuel for a moment before smiling and laughing loudly.
Ashley "Oh! Samuel, it's you! Great, I could use a witness cause this guy is about to die!"
She says while smiling. The man sits up with a fearful look on his face as she steps towards him with her arm pulled back and fist clenched. Samuel quickly steps forward and grabs her arm.
Samuel "No! No, that's okay. How about we just walk away? I'm sure this guy has learned his lesson."
She gives him a mean glare to which he nods quickly.
Ashley "Yeah, alright. That's probably a good idea."
She slurs her words slightly and blushes intensely. Samuel looks a bit upset.
Samuel 'She's drunk…'
Ashley throws her arm over Samuel's shoulders as she helps her walk down the street.
Ashley "Hey.. Can we go to your place.? Mine is… no good."
Samuel "What does… Sure, we can go to my place."
She says, not trying to argue with the drunk woman holding onto her.
Samuel 'Although I really wish we wouldn't… I was always hoping I'd be invited to their house since mine is so small and lame… Oh well.'
She thinks to herself. They eventually make it to her home, the small studio apartment. Samuel opens the door and carries in Ashley, struggling. She shuts the door behind them as Ashley groans.
Samuel "Here we are!.. Let's get you- woah!"
She shouts as they both tumble over and fall onto the ground. Samuel falls onto Ashley as Ashley giggles.
Ashley "We fell… Heh…"
Samuel rubs her head a bit as she props herself up over her. She blushes a bit when she looks at her.
Samuel 'She's always been so pretty… I just wish… we actually went out like she said we would…'
She gets an upset look on her face before getting up.
Samuel "Try to crawl onto my futon. I'm gonna get you some water."
She points to her bed as Ashley looks at it. She rolls over and begins crawling to the futon as Samuel walks into the mini kitchen to pour some water into a glass. She comes back to see Ashley passed out half way onto the futon. Samuel sighs as she sets the water down and sits next to Ashley. Samuel stares at her for a moment before looking away.
Samuel "I really do like you, you know? You're pretty and funny and loud and strong… I've never met someone quite like you… I wish… you would look at me the same way I look at you…"
She says softly with a slightly sad look on her face.
Ashley "I'm sorry…"
Ashley says quietly. Samuel jumps back and blushes in surprise.
Samuel "You're still awake?!"
Ashley begins to sniffle as tears form in her eyes. Samuel stops being embarrassed and gets a surprised but concerned look.
Ashley "I'm sorry Samuel… for standing you up all those times… I said we should go out… but you're just so pretty… I got scared that you would realize I'm not so cool… that I'm loud and dumb… and not like me anymore… Please don't hate me!..."
She cries on the floor as Samuel blushes a bit before getting a warm look.
Samuel "You big dummy… That's why I like you."
Ashley whimpers a bit but tries to stop herself from crying.
Ashley "I like you too! Please be my girlfriend! You're so cute and smart, I don't think I could find anyone else like you!"
She says before balling. Samuel turns and sits down in front of her while patting her lap. Ashley sees this and continues to cry while hugging her waist and laying her head on her lap. Samuel winces a bit from the strong grip but smiles.
Samuel "Is this really how I'm not gonna be single anymore? You drunk crying while I hold you on my lap?"
Ashley nods as tears roll down her cheeks. Samuel giggles.
Samuel "I guess I'm okay with that as long as it's you."
Ashley smiles a bit as Samuel rubs her head.
Samuel 'You know… I'm not really surprised… for some reason, this is how my daydreams went with you… I thought for sure you wouldn't ever like me the way I like you but I guess you did after all. I love you Ashley…'
She thinks with a warm smile on her face and blushies on her cheeks. They sit there until the night eventually comes to an end.