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During the break, Aki went by himself, turning down some proposals to eat together. He headed to the cafeteria to buy some bread and other snacks. As there were still some cup cake left, he bought three extra, thinking he would eat with Kamiya. He then made his way to the library to meet her.
Entering the library, Aki found someone munching on snacks but didn't see Kamiya anywhere. "Is Kamiya not here?" he wondered. "Did she go off by herself? I should have told her before."
As he closely observed the girl eating, he realized it was Yamada. "Oh, she's from that anime The Dangers in My Heart," he thought. It made sense she would be in the library, given her character.
Walking over to Yamada, he started a conversation. "Hello, Yamada-san."
The girl, startled, looked up to find someone she didn't know standing opposite her. She protectively surrounded her chips with her arms. "I-I'm nott ggguiving," she said, struggling to eat and talk.
"Um, Yamada-san, I think you need to finish swallowing first," Aki suggested.
To his suggestion, she swallowed, only to choke on her food. "Cough- argh- cough."
Sighing at the sight of her choking on her own food, he controlled himself from laughing. "Here, have this," he offered, handing her a can of juice.
She looked puzzled but accepted his gesture. "Thank you," she managed to say after taking a sip.
Saying that, Yamada picked a candy out from her pocket and handed it to Aki.
Aki was really concerned now. There were literally dozens of chips and bread with her, and she was seriously giving him a candy. He didn't know whether to laugh or be angry at her. "But she is adorable," he thought. "Can I sit here?" he asked.
At first, Yamada seemed hesitant, but when Aki handed her the two cup cake from today's menu, she quickly agreed. "Okay," she said, taking the food. In return, she handed him a pack of chips.
"Now you're giving me something?" Aki wondered, bemused by the exchange.
Yamada, noticing his confusion, explained, "It's a fair trade, right? You gave me something, so I give you something too."
Aki chuckled, shaking his head. "Alright, fair enough," he said, sitting down. He opened the pack of chips and took a bite, watching as Yamada eagerly dug into the cup cake he had given her.
"So, Yamada-san, do you always eat alone in the library?" he asked, trying to make conversation.
She nodded, munching happily. "Yeah, it's quiet here, and I can eat without people staring at me," she said between bites.
Aki smiled, finding her straightforwardness endearing. "Well, I guess I'll join you for today. Hope you don't mind."
Yamada shook her head. "Not at all. It's... nice to have company."
They ate in companionable silence, each enjoying the other's presence. For Aki, it was a surprising but pleasant encounter, and for Yamada, it was a rare and welcomed break from her usual solitude.
Yamada is a tall and curvaceous young girl who will stands out when compared to her classmates, causing some people to think she is actually in college. She has long, straight, black hair that extends below her shoulders. She has two birthmarks on the right side of her neck, and one on her inner left thigh.
Aki knew this last detail from his knowledge of the anime, though he would never admit it out loud.
As they continued eating, Aki couldn't help but notice how Yamada's presence lit up the otherwise quiet library. She had a certain charm that made her stand out, not just because of her appearance but also her personality.
"So, Yamada-san," he said, trying to make conversation, "do you have any favorite books you like to read here?"
Yamada looked up, a bit surprised by the question. "Oh, um, I mostly come here to eat in peace. But if I had to pick, I like mystery novels."
Aki nodded, intrigued. "Mystery novels, huh? Any particular favorites?"
She thought for a moment, then replied, "I really like the Detective Conan series. It's interesting to see how the cases unfold."
Conan? is it out here...! Like I care" he thought. But outside Aki smiled. "That's a good choice. I enjoy those too. Maybe we can discuss them sometime."
Yamada's eyes lit up. "Really? I'd like that," she said, a genuine smile spreading across her face.
As they finished their meal, the bell rang, signaling the end of the break. Aki gathered his things and stood up. "Well, it was nice talking to you, Yamada-san. Maybe we can do this again sometime."
Yamada nodded, still smiling. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks for the food, Shijo-kun.
"You know my name?" Aki asked, bewildered. He hadn't introduced himself yet, nor had she asked how he knew her.
"Um, I know every classmate's name," she said, smiling. "Next time, will you bring me food?"
Aki chuckled. "Haha, okay, if you insist." Saying that, Aki left the room, aware that someone had been eavesdropping on them. He didn't bother exposing the person, though.
As he walked back to class, he couldn't help but smile. Despite the unexpected encounter and the mysterious eavesdropper, it had been a pleasant break. Making new friends and building connections felt like the right path forward, and he was curious to see where these new relationships would lead.
As Aki walked through the corridor, he pondered, "Didn't Kyou and Yamada meet in their final year of middle school, or am I wrong? But from the looks of it, they don't seem to know each other yet." He shrugged off the thought, deciding it wasn't worth overthinking. "Whatever," he muttered under his breath.
With a final glance around, Aki rejoined his class, ready to tackle the rest of the school day.
After class, Aki made his way up to the rooftop, where someone had mentioned they'd be waiting for him in a letter. As he opened the door to the rooftop, he saw a girl standing by the railing, gazing out at the cityscape.
He recognized her instantly. "Runa Shirakawa," he thought. She was a prominent figure in school, known for her outgoing personality and the numerous boys she had dated. She was a gyaru at the top of the school caste, able to approach anyone without hesitation. Aki remembered her from the series "Our Dating Story: Experienced You and Inexperienced Me."
Runa was indeed stunning. She had blue eyes and mid-back length light blonde hair with a dyed light blue side ponytail. She wore the standard school uniform, but with her own twist: a white blouse, a pink bow, a blue tartan skirt, and a blazer tied around her waist. Her blouse was slightly unbuttoned, adding to her distinctive style. She also wore a pair of black thigh-high socks.
"Shijo-kun, you came," she greeted him with a bright smile, her eyes twinkling with mischief and curiosity.
Aki nodded, approaching her. "You left a letter, right? What did you want to talk about?"
Runa's smile softened, and she glanced away, looking a bit more serious. "I wanted to get to know you better. You seem... different from the other guys around here."
Aki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Different how?"
She turned to face him fully, leaning against the railing. "You have this... presence. Confidence. It's refreshing. Plus, I've seen you with Kamiya-san and others. You actually seem to care for them .And i also saw you singing."
Aki chuckled softly. "Is that so? I guess I just got famous overnight."
Runa's eyes softened. "That's rare, you know. Most guys either fawn over me or avoid me because of my reputation."
Aki leaned against the railing beside her. "Well, I think everyone deserves a chance to be themselves. No one should be judged just by rumors or appearances."
She smiled, a genuine, heartfelt smile. "Thank you, shijo kun, I appreciate that."
"So tell me the real reason." he asks wondering why she is approcing him."Is it not to just praise me right!"
That…" she began, hesitating as she looked down, avoiding his gaze.
"I won't judge you," Aki assured her gently.
Runa took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "Yesterday, I got dumped by my boyfriend. After he got what he needed, he went after Ume-san. I was so angry. Then my friend showed me a video of you singing. I don't know why, but hearing it made my mood brighter."
Aki nodded, understanding the power of music to uplift spirits.
"Then my friend suggested I go after you," Runa continued, her voice softer. "But I refused. After that, we were playing truth or dare, and I got dared to confess to you."
Aki sighed, feeling a mix of sympathy and amusement. "So that's why you wanted to meet me up here?"
Runa nodded, looking a bit embarrassed. "I didn't mean to mislead you. I just… didn't know how else to handle it."
Aki smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Runa. I understand. Life can be complicated, and sometimes we do things on a whim or because of a dare. But I appreciate your honesty."
Runa looked relieved, her shoulders relaxing. "Thanks, Aki. I feel better now after telling you the truth."
Aki chuckled softly. "Anytime. And hey, if you ever fall for me for real, I'm always available."
He paused, then continued more seriously. "But I would appreciate it if you stopped accepting advances from people who only want one thing. You're beautiful, and everyone will desire you, including me. But if everyone gets their desire easily, it becomes boring and they toss it away."
Runa looked down, feeling a mix of shame and sadness. She knew that many boys only wanted her for her looks, but she had trouble refusing them. Every choice she made seemed to end with a playboy who just wanted to use her.
"My suggestion isn't to judge you," Aki continued, his voice gentle but firm. "You need to judge people better. Look beyond the surface and see who genuinely cares for you."
Runa nodded, understanding the truth in his words but struggling with how to apply it. "I… I know you're right, shijo- kun. It's just hard. Every time I think I've found someone who cares, they turn out to be just like the others."
Aki placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You deserve better, Shirakawa- san. Don't settle for anyone who doesn't see your worth. Take your time, and don't be afraid to be alone until you find someone who truly values you."
Runa felt tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. She blinked them away, grateful for Aki's understanding and support. "Thank you, shijo kun. I needed to hear that."
He smiled warmly. "Anytime, Shirakawa-san. Remember, you're worth more than just your looks. Don't let anyone treat you like you're less."
She nodded, feeling a renewed sense of determination. "I'll try. Thanks for being a friend, even though we just met. You are like Nicole. Ah Nicole is my best friend she always acts like my mom haha."
"Of course," he replied, giving her a reassuring pat on the back. "Now, let's get back before we get into trouble."
They both laughed softly and made their way back down, feeling a little lighter and more hopeful.
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