"Sorry… I had to fake this because I don't really like guys like him." She admits, with her gaze fixed firmly on the floor.
"It's fine. You're lucky I didn't get killed on the spot." I replied. Honestly, I should start charging for these near-death experiences.
"Hehe… sorry." She giggles, finally looking up at me with a small smile. "Well, since you got caught up in this, what's your name?"
"Kita. Kita Muramatsu." I answered.
So, it seems that I've accidentally stumbled into a friendship, or something resembling one. I mean, when someone basically uses you as a human shield and then apologizes for it, that's got to be some sort of bond, right?
Maybe it's the start of one of those side quests you hear about. The kind that derails you from your main mission but gives you a cool item, or in this case, something interesting to tell about.
Mirei, was still fidgeting. "You probably already knew my name since… the basketball guy shouted it." She mumbled out.
"No. What's your name?" I replied. This was sarcasm at its finest, folks.
"Eh? Did you really forget? That fast?" Ah, perfect setup.
"Sorry, but I have a disability where I sometimes have memory loss." It was the ultimate gaslight maneuver. I could feel the dark side of the force whispering sweet nothings in my ear.
"Really? I'm sorry to hear that, Kita." She totally fell for it. Hook, line, and sinker.
The power I wield is truly terrifying. "Yeah. You haven't answered my question, though."
"It's Mirei Minami. I hope it gets better."
I should actually be casting as the villain in the next horror movie. I'm just not evil, but I'm evil with a twist of lemon.
Honestly, pulling this kind of mind game on someone so earnest feels even worse than the plots those horror villain cooks up. I etched her name into my memory. Or at least the part of my brain that pretends to remember things.
Then, with what I hoped looked like a casual wave, I turned on my heels and walked away. For a second there, I imagined myself as one of those cool movie protagonists, the kind who walks off into the sunset with the wind blowing dramatically through their hair.
Okay, maybe I should cut back on the self-delusions. They're getting out of hand again.
Anyways, I decided to head back to the classroom, the one where I sit next to… wait, I still don't know her name. How did I let that slip by? This could be a problem for my side.
But, wait. I should've asked Mirei, our newly discovered class president. She's probably got the class roster memorized or something. Yeah, that's the kind of forward-thinking strategy.
I spun on my heels and made my way back to the gymnasium. I'd only taken a few steps out, so there was no way she would've vanished.
To my mild surprise, she was still standing there in the exact same spot where I waved her off.
Seriously, did she not have anywhere else to be? Or, was she waiting for me to make sure I didn't die of my supposed memory loss or something?
"Hey, uh… What was it again?" I feigned confusion. Must commit to the bit.
"It's Mirei," She says, with a smile. "And, what is it, Kita?" You're going to give me mixed signals with the casualness.
"Right, Mirei. Do you happen to know anyone around here that looks, uh, frosty?" I asked.
It was probably the most straightforward way to describe the human iceberg I encountered. I mean, there's no one else here whose mere gaze could freeze an entire classroom.
"Frosty? Give me a second to think about… Oh, are you talking about Naokawa?"
Huh, Naokawa? That name sounds like it belongs to a cute girl in a rom-com, not someone who could give Elsa a run for her arctic skills.
"What does she look like?"
I have to piece together the puzzles properly. Otherwise, I would call out the wrong name.
"She has long black hair, usually wears it down, but sometimes she ties it up in a ponytail for important occasions. She's been a bit of a loner since she enrolled in here, and has ranked at the top of our school twice. From what I've heard, they even placed her in that special classroom where free time is practically the only subject."
Jackpot.