"How was your paper, Shikimori-san?"
I asked the same question to her, even though I know the reply, will be the same. Like 'it was good', 'it was okay' and just something like this.
"It was okay"
"I see."
...
"Good Morning, Shikimori-san..."
"Good Morning, Kaneki-san…"
I greeted the pink-haired girl, who walked towards me as soon as she saw me, leaving the building, as her house is in this neighborhood…
This is my first time, walking along with Shikimori-san. Even though, I have seen her multiple times in this neighborhood, during the morning… I didn't want to interrupt the walk; she took with her friends every morning. So, I didn't try…
Come to think of it, I didn't see them, her friends, today. Are they not going to come today? Or does she meet with them at any other place? Hmm...
"Is there any problem, Kaneki-san?"
Hmm, why do you ask? Oh, I have been staring at her all this time, that's why she asked, huh.
"No nothing."
"I see…"
"Well... I was just wondering.... Where are your friends…? As you know --"
"What about my friends? Huh?"
When I tried to ask her, the thing I have been thinking about. Her eyebrows twitched and she started glaring at me... Hmm, did I ask about something I shouldn't have, hmm?
Her smiling face turned into a dark one. As some of her hair-bangs, slid down to her head, trying to hide her eyes and her smile has also long gone.
"You always are with your friends, you know. Whenever my eyes 'search' for Shikimori-san, I always ends up seeing her with her friends, you know..."
[MIYAKO SHIKIMORI: +10 AFFECTION POINTS]
[MIYAKO SHIKIMORI [CUTE-DANGEROUS GIRL]
AFFECTION: 40 (MY KNIGHT!)]
"O-oh is that so... Well, they said that they have something to do today. So, we are not going to school together, today…"
She said while smiling brightly.
I am getting bad vibes from her. I don't think that she got jealous, when I ask her about them, but still there might be a little chance about that being the case...
And one thing more, she doesn't need to worry about them like showing jealousy... As they are not my heroines, so I don't need to flirt with them and gain affection points from them... As to how I know about this, I have a small conversation with them, last week... But, I noticed that they were blushing while talking to me... I need to, at least, change my way of talking when I talk with normal people…
"When do you think the results of the last week's test will come, Shikimori-san?"
"Hmm, I think it will take one week but, who knows maybe they will show us today."
"I see..."
As we have already walked the half of the distance, to the school bus-stand.
To clear the awkwardness, which was formed between us, I asked about the test.
I didn't find the exact answer as to when the result will come out, from internet. So I asked from Shikimori-san, as I know that she must have attended some school before this, unlike me, to learn many different things...
And just as I thought, she answered my question with no difficulty... Hmm, so there is no exact time to know the results about these tests, huh.
Well, I don't want to know as I know what my result will be.
As soon as we reached the school bus-stand, I noticed that there are already many students standing there. So, I called out to Shikimori-san, who seems to be finding her friends in that crowd of students.
"Shikimori-san, you can go ahead. I have something to do."
"Okay, see you in school…"
"Yeah..."
Then she walked toward that crowd and immediately found her group of friends. She, then, turned her face to me and waved her hand. Her friends also did the same. I chuckled inwardly and also did the same.
Let's see, 10 minutes are still left for the bus to come. So, let me see who is it…? Who is tailing us for quite some time?
When I turned my body, I saw that there was no one behind me. Hmm... I know, that 'she' is trying her best to not get caught but still why the hell is she doing all of this...?
…
"Himawari?"
"Heeek"
When I called out to her, she shouted in surprise. Well sorry for giving you surprise.
Yes, the one who was tailing me is none other Aoi Hinata or 'Himawari'. She was trying her best to hide, to not get caught by me. But her cover was... is that even called a 'cover'? She was hiding behind the electric poll, and when I turned my face, she also turned her face but her bag was still in the range of sight... So, I founded it out...
"So, why were you tailing me?"
"Uh...um...umm"
Upon hearing my question, her body shuddered. She looked at me with watery eyes. Wait, why her eyes got watery all of a sudden? I didn't say anything that cruel to her…
I pondered for a moment to how to deal with her... Hmm, I think the normal way should work better here...
"Himawari, why are you crying?"
"Um, sorry Ren. I am sorry but I don't want to do this but, but --"
"It's okay. It's not like I am angry with you or anything. It's just that if you have to say something, just come to your childhood friend... I will always listen what you have to say…"
[AOI HINATA: +10 AFFECTION POINTS]
As I am surprised to get affection points from her, at this point, because I didn't say anything 'unique', which caused her affection to rise?
While I was thinking that, she jumped at me and hugged me tightly. As if she will never let me run away.
As she is shorter than me, I can feel her face on my lower chest, also because she is crying I got a stain on my shirt. Good grief.
"Himawari?"
I called out to her as the time for bus, to arrive, is less than 1 minute.
"..."
She didn't reply me at my words; she just tightens the hold of me. Hmm...
So I put one of my hands on her shoulder and one at the top of her head. She looked surprised at my sudden movements, as her body shivered slightly but she got relaxed when I started to pat her head.
"Himawari?"
"Hmmm"
When I, again, called out her name in a low voice while patting her head, she just hummed and said nothing else.
What is with this cute creature?
"We can't stand here all day long, you know... And we have school also, so you know…"
"No"
This girl. If she will not let me go, then the bus will leave soon. And then we have to search for a taxi, to reach the school. I don't want the latter as I don't bring that much money, I can't pay for both of us... But still there is a chance that she will pay... Yeah, it will be great if she pay for both of us...
"Himawari, is there anything you want?"
"What are you saying?"
"I am saying, is there anything you want, in return of that, could you release me?"
"Hm... I want you"
"Um, no that's a bit too much."
What the hell is she talking about? She wants me, 'The Great Me', huh... No that's a bit too exaggeration, isn't it?
I mean, if any cute girl says to you that she wants you, a normal high school boy will immediately say 'yes' without even thinking twice... But I am not like them because I value myself more than anyone else. It's only because I am a subject, released from 'White Room' and also due to the training I got even after running from the former place...
"No? Then, what about a date?"
Hmm... 'Date', huh. Well, I have no problem in going to a date. As in near future, I might have to go to the date with my heroines. And the girl, who wants to go to date, is also one of my heroines. Then it will work perfect. I can also take notes while doing this 'Date' thing... Because I have never done this 'Date'...
"Ok"
"Huh... Really?"
"Yes"
"Thank you, thank you..."
[AOI HINATA: +5 AFFECTION POINTS]
[HER IMAGE OF YOU CHANGED FROM [CHILDHOOD FRIEND!] TO [CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART!]]
[AOI HINATA [SWEET GIRL]
AFFECTION: 70 [CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART!]]
Good. I got to gain some affection points, and now she is only 30 points left to reach 100, which I think is peak. There are other heroines also, who are ahead of her, but I think she will reach there first, as she got to do the date with me... I will make sure to gain points from her....
But the only problem is I have not any experience in this field... Should I ask from my sensei or someone from that place? They are busy with their work, so let's not... It looks like I have to ask from the internet, this evening...