The cherry blossom festival was over, and school was back in session. Julian walked through the crowded halls, keeping his head down. He was not anti-social, but he had always felt more comfortable on the fringes. Being top of the class had earned him respect, but not close friendships.
He spent his lunch break under a tree in the school courtyard, reading a book. The sound of students chatting and laughing around him faded into the background as he lost himself in the story. But even as he read, his mind kept drifting back to Scarlet.
Meanwhile, Scarlet Akiyama was the center of attention as usual. She flitted between conversations, her laughter ringing out above the chatter. She engaged in almost every school activity—drama club, student council, sports, etc.…. But even with all the attention, she felt a certain emptiness, like she was playing a role rather than being herself.
After the school was over, Julian made his way to the library, a sanctuary of sorts for him. As he searched for a new book, he spotted Scarlet at a nearby table, her sketchbook lying open in front of her. Their eyes met, and she waved him over.
"Hey, Julian," she greeted him with a smile.
"Hi, Scarlet" he replied, taking a seat across from her.
They did not talk much, but the silence between them was comfortable. Julian felt a strange sense of peace in her presence, and he noticed how the usual noise in his mind seemed to quiet down. Scarlet, on the other hand, was intrigued by Julian's quiet nature. He was not like the other guys at school—there was something deeper about him, something she could not put into words.
As the afternoon turned into evening, they both packed up their things. "See you around, Julian," Scarlet said as they left the library.
"Yeah, see you," he replied, already looking forward to their next encounter.