When I entered the classroom, I spotted the delinquents who ganged up on me, and they flinched when they saw me. They were unusually silent, and at this point, I had already thought that they already told the teachers about the scuffle the other day. That's why I expected them to have smug looks on their faces, so why are they afraid instead? I had no idea, and I decided to ignore the matter. But I am curious as to why they are behaving that way.
I made my way into my chair and as usual, I ignored everybody. When I sat down, I spotted someone approaching ne from the corner of my eye, and it was none other than the girl who confessed to me, Fukuda Miharu.
She had a cheerful smile plastered on her face, but if you look really closely, she was forcing it. But what terrifies me the most is that her fake smile isn't even noticeable to others other than me. There must be something at play as to why she was forcing her self to smile.
"Good morning! Kawamura-san!" She greeted me cheerfully. From the looks of it, it's like she wanted to say something to me.
"Morning." I reply casually before I turned my attention to the window, as if telling her that the conversation is over. But it seems like it didn't work since she still didn't go back to her seat.
"May I ask why you were absent yesterday?" She asked. The delinquents who ganged up on me all flinched, and they were at the edge of their seats, anticipating the words I was gonna say next. It was weird.
"I wasn't feeling well, so I took the day off." Of course, I had to lie. If I told her I got into a scuffle; either one between me and the delinquents are gonna fall to the ground.
"I-I see... it's good the you're feeling fine now!" Behind her cheerful smile lies an emotion I know quite well. It's an obnoxious feeling that is caused by someone or something, and it's not easy to overcome this, since the situation varies between different people. And this feeling is called fear.
"..." I remained silent. I've set a rule to myself in order to defend myself from others when being interrogated. And that rule is: always say less than necessary. No matter how high or low, there's always the possibility of my words being used against me.
The door of the classroom suddenly slides open and the teacher finally entered the classroom. I was finally spared from the interrogation. Fukuda-san then goes back to her seat, although it wasn't shown, I felt that she was somewhat dejected.
As to why I was being interrogated by Fukuda-san, I have a hunch that she wants something from me, but I'd rather avoid something complicated. Thus, I replied to her with a disinterested tone.
I heaved a sigh and the lecture went on. Throughout the lecture, I noticed that Fukuda-san stole a couple of glances at me, but I pretend to not notice. After the lecture, I made my way to the canteen, and bought lunch, before making my way to the roof.
"Hey hey, did you know? Fukuda Miharu is in a relationship with the student council's vice president Endo Junichiro!" While I was on my way to the roof, I happened to hear a conversation between two girls in the hallway when I passed by.
"I do, I do! They just started going out with each other yesterday, right?"
"Kyaaah! They're such a good pair!"
The vice president of the student council is quite famous among the girls. He's quite athletic, handsome, diligent and kind. At least, that's what I always hear from the girls in my class. Nevertheless, I don't really care about anyone, that's why I continued walking as if I never heard anything.
I then made my way to the roof and arrived there shortly. Going to the roof isn't prohibited since the roof is completely covered, and the chance of falling is of course, not zero, but the likeliness of falling is low. However, not many people come here since it's quite hot during lunchtime. But what I do know is, the side of the entrance to the rooftop has a spot that is covered from the sun.
I then sat at that spot and opened the bread I brought from the canteen, along with a water bottle and ate in silence. The peace sure was nice, and it wasn't as hot, people made it out to be, but instead, the breeze felt good. The area was quite high up, so the wind felt nice.
After I was done eating, I went back to the classroom. School for today ended, and before I knew it, it was already time to go home. Today was rather uneventful minus the talk with Fukuda-san this morning, but I don't really want to get involved with anyone.
I waited for everyone to leave the classroom, and once I confirmed that I was the only one left; I stretched my back and took my stuff, before heading out from the classroom. As I exit the classroom, I accidentally bumped into someone when I turned to the direction of the exit of the school building.
The person I collided with was the one on the ground, and when I noticed that the things the person was carrying was scattered on the ground, I immediately picked it up one by one.
"I'm sorry. I should've been more careful." I turned to look at the person who was also picking up the things the fell on the ground.
"No, I was the one was moving too quick, so I should be the one apologizing." Her pink long hair was fairly noticeable and her troubled blue eyes were quite beautiful. She was oddly familiar.
Once she and I had picked up all of her things on the ground, I bowed slightly to apologize once more.
"Once again, I apologize for not being careful."
"Like I said, I was at fault as well for being hasty."
"But..." I feel like I was the one at fault, and I can't get rid this feeling of guilt that easily. Consider this a defect of mine.
"Looks like you're troubled. Are you perhaps blaming yourself that this is your fault?" She asked which surprised me. She read me like a book. It probably showed on my face that I was troubled.
"...perhaps." she ponders for a moment, before speaking once more.
"If you're that guilty about it, then how about you help me carry some things from the faculty to the student council? I was just on my way there when I bumped into you." She said.
"All right." My reply took her aback and I was confused as to why she reacted that way.
"You accepted quite easily." So that's what surprised her, huh? My straightforwardness.
"Well... let's not mind the small details. Let's go, it'll be dark soon." I just want to get rid of this guilt, and I'll also consider this a lesson to not be hasty when exiting the classroom, since bumping into someone is highly likely.
"Right."
We both made our way to the faculty room, and I picked up a stack of paper that were probably documents, and made our way to the student council room. The papers weren't heavy per se, but trying not to trip is a different story. I don't want to pick up these documents one by one.
"Those look heavy, do you need help?" Did it look like I was struggling carrying the documents?
"Not really, it's just that, it's hard to look at what's beneath me." The stacks of paper reached my upper chest, so I couldn't see the ground properly.
"Is that so- wo-woah!" While the girl was talking to me, she wasn't looking in front, so she couldn't see the students on her way, making her trip in my direction.
"Look out!" I instinctively tried to catch her, and she successfully landed on my chest with her hands in front of her. It took me a second to realize, but I managed to bring the papers I was carrying on top of my head with both hands without falling myself, and she's even leaning on me. I guess working out to maintain my health is beneficial in this way as well.
"Are you okay?" I asked her.
"Y-Yeah, although, this position is quite embarrassing..." Thankfully, the students who passed by us didn't seem to care, and they had left before we knew it.
"I see." The girl parts from me shortly, and her face was flushed a bit when she did. Well, I guess a lot of girl would get embarrassed from that.
"I-It's amazing that you can carry that amount of paper on top of your head without difficulty!" She changes the subject.
"I do housework, which involves carrying heavy things, that's why I can carry these without struggling too much." I casually lower the papers in front of my chest. None of the papers seem to have been lost, and that's a relief.
"I see! Quite a reliable person, huh."
"I don't think so." I stay silent after, before continuing to walk with the girl.
"Wanna hang out with me today?" Two people on our way were talking to each other, and their sex is opposite of each other.
"Sure! I wouldn't want to turn down my girlfriend!" The male student excitedly said.
"Then let's get going!" The girl latches onto her boyfriend, and both of them left shortly.
"Hmm... must be nice..."
"You mean dating?" The girl I was walking with asked. It took me a second to realize, but I actually voiced my thoughts, and she even heard it. Well, no use crying over spilled milk, it's better to be honest.
"No, not dating in particular."
"Eh? Then what were you meaning to say?" I ponder over words to use as she asked and replied.
"Having someone to hang out with." I noticed that the student council room was already near in front of us as we turn to a corner. I noticed that the girl was about to say something, but I cut her off before she could.
"Looks like we're here." I said. She averts her gaze from me and turned it to the door in front of us.
"You're right." When we arrived in front of the door, she opens it, and when she did, no one was around.
"You can drop off the papers on the desk." There was an office desk at the far back of the room with a large window behind it, and at the middle, there were two sofas at the sides, at the middle front and back, were two couches, and at the middle was a medium sized table.
I walked over to the office desk and dropped off the papers I was carrying like she said.
"Thank you for the good work, why don't you stay for a cup of tea?" She offered. Although I like tea, I'll have to decline, since it was already getting dark. I look at the window behind the office table, and saw that the light was already orange.
"Thank you for the offer, but I'll have to decline. The sun is already setting." I explained.
"I see. That's a shame." She gives me a smile of understanding, and I bowed, before making my way to the door.
"Oh, I just remembered." Before I could touch the knob, she spoke.
"Hm?" I turn to look at her.
"We haven't introduced ourselves." She said with a smile. The sunset was shining behind her, and I felt captivated by the sight. Her pink swayed a bit, and her smile was accompanied with her pretty blue eyes. It was a beautiful sight, that I didn't notice that I was staring at her when she brought me back to reality by calling out to me.
"What happened? You suddenly spaced out for a bit." She looks at me with worriedly.
"Ah, it's nothing." I reassure, giving her a small faint smile.
"I see, let's start the introductions then! I'll go first! I'm Futaba Hayami, I'm a first year student in this school! It's nice to meet you."
"I'm Kawamura Hikari, like you, I'm also a first year in this school. It's nice to meet you as well. Futaba-san." We both gave each other a short bow, before she smiled at me. Her smile was genuine, that it actually moved my heart a bit, making me smile at her as well.
After our introduction, I left the student council room first, and went straight back home. On my way, I realized that I actually lowered my guard around Futaba-san. She was kind, and considerate to me, and she's not gloomy. It was refreshing to be around her.
But this kind of mindset is what led to my downfall in the past. Because I trusted someone too much, I was betrayed, and I don't want that to happen again. Trusting is a double edged sword, that's why, I shouldn't get too close to her, because the same thing can not only happen twice, but thrice.