It's just another average day at school, People chattering about, Having fun. Some even hanging out with their girlfriends. The tragic looks in the teachers' baggy eyes. Sometimes We just gotta feel bad for how hard the teachers get it. They look STRESSED OUT! And then there was me, All alone. Maybe dapping up a few people I see on the hallways, Getting glares from my classmates that probably say "Ugh, He's here. Great." Which they probably aren't thinking that. I'm just a paranoid guy that's all. As i went into the classroom blooming with social life. I'm met with Miss Shoko, Who's putting up a hugeeeee..... smile at me.
"Akira, I reserved you a new seat."
"why?"
"As punishment for yesterday."
"Oh, right. Was this really necessary?"
"Yeah, You really hurt my feelings, No student should do that to their poor teacher."
"Fair point, It's not like anything will change if I switched mere seats."
"uh huh."
What do you mean 'uh huh?' as I gave a confused look to Miss Shoko, man she's actually pretty when She's not nagging about miniscule stuff like this.
As I sit down on my new desk, I whip out my phone and start fiddling with it. Due to me not being social and being outcasted as a creep. Which, Is pretty understandable because of my obsession with getting female interaction. Actually, That IS pretty weird. Whatever, I'm long gone down that path already.
As the day goes by, The sound of a door opening is made. Wait, What? The students were all present. Nobody's late. What's going on?
My confusion was answered immediately a few seconds later. A girl with long, black hair, In the usual school uniform which is black and white. She had fair and pale skin. With really, REALLY, pretty purple eyes. She was gorgeous.
"Please, Introduce yourself."
"The name is Nao Yukimura but You all are free to call me Nao. If you'll excuse me."
She bowed and Miss Shoko gestured her to sit... beside me?
Wait, Hold your horses Akira. No, You're not ready man. You absolutely aren't.
"SHE'S PRETTY!"
"i want some of her hair!"
"Please give me your number!"
The class roared with interest for Nao, She really was a beauty icon. One that's going to be sitting right next to me.
Thank you gods of romcoms. Thank you.
I gave a nervous smile at Nao as she came closer to my seat. She blatantly ignored it with a cold stare on her face directed at her desk. She plopped down to sit and opened her novel.
First meeting and I have already fumbled. I'm a failure to my ancestors. I thought as I looked up to the skies of heaven and the depths of hell, metaphorically.
The period went by a flash like usual. Really not surprising since we're already halfway through the first year. Hold on, How is she supposed to catch on when she's like 6 whole months late?? I peeked at her reading her book, She glared back at me like it was saying "get lost" even though she didn't say anything. She looked cold and composed. I also noticed something, Her chest was fairly moderate. Hey, Before you all direct your allegations of me being a pervert to me. Let me clear things up. Her chest just got in my eye's vision range. It's not like there was much to see anyway.
"May I help you?"
"Oh! N-n-no. I was just checking out what novel you were reading!"
"Oh, Is that so. If possible, Could you please stop staring at me? I may be quiet but I keep my surroundings in check."
Oof! Busted, I'm in complete trouble. Her eyes may be beautiful but she has even better observation skills. She seems like She'd read a room perfectly!
"Oh, Uh, Yeah. Sorry. Force of habit."
"Your force of habit makes makes you seem like you want female attention desperately, please stop that. It's really creepy."
Her cold expression slightly changed from a fearful expression back to a cold expression. Man! She was really hitting me hard with her words alone.
With a defeated expression, I just looked back down on my desk as the lesson continued.
It was lunch time. Boy I've been waiting to try this dish my older sister made for me. Oh, Did i mention I had an older sister? My bad, I forgot to. Anyways! She made me a beef brisket. Oh boy she is such a good cook. Even after leaving her meals out in the open for a few days. They never cease to go bad. She was that good.
The not-so good part started when i saw who was sitting at the only available table. You're kidding me. Nao? I'm gonna slowly kill my reputation by sitting with the most beautiful girl in my class! (at least, In my eyes.) Wait hold on, Why aren't there people sitting near her at all? Is it because of her cold personality? or her "don't talk to me, I like being alone." aura?
Whatever, There was no time to waste. It's time i actually make conversation with her.
I plopped down on a seat beside her, Started eating my brisket calmly. She was still reading her book quietly.
She then suddenly looked at me.
"Oh sorry, I can leave."
"It's okay, stay. It's not like any rumor can affect me anyways."
As I looked around when she said that. I was hit with a sense of the room, She had a good point. The people around us are gossiping about something while peeking at us.
"Oh, Yeah. Alright."
"Do you believe in romance?"
She asked me as she clapped her book shut.
"What do you mean?"
"I seriously don't. I think It's rubbish made up by teenagers just so they can just waste their time. They're so scared of what's coming in the future that they have to force these relationships upon themselves, I don't like it."
Wow, She really was the opposite of me. Here I am hungry for human relationship while Nao here actively denies it. I wonder what other differences we have.
"...."
"No response? Sorry, I may have ranted a bit too much."
She opened her book back and went straight back to reading it.
"Oh no, It's not that. It's just that you have such a way to show your feelings while still being composed."
She looked confused
"Feelings? What feelings?"
"Feelings are subjective, I can't really explain what exactly you're feeling right now."
"Fair enough."
We were surprisingly having a smooth sailing conversation without any road blocks. I didn't know I had that in me, Good job Akira!
"So, you got friends?"
"No. Never."
"What?"
"Never."
It seemed like a sore subject to her so I decided not to go further with the conversation.
Then she spoke after a few seconds of silence.
"You see, Even if I did have friends. They would just turn jealous of me."
She hands me a paper of her previous report.
"I was the top in my class in grades. Champion of the U18 chess tournament. Did quite well in physical activities. You're seeing a pattern here right? A lot of people are bound to get jealous of me."
Your ego is very huge, M'lady.
"Wow, and to top that off with an amazing appearance."
"I know that myself. I am beautiful."
I was just trying to compliment you, Jeez!
"Girls back in middle school are genuine immature brats. I see none of them as on equal footing as me. They're all jealous about my looks and my status."
"I could tell."
"What are you talking about? creep."
"Force of habit."
"Whatever, We've been talking about this without a proper introduction, Don't you think that's a little creepy, bacon hair?"
BACON HAIR??? You've literally met me once and you're trying to get on my nerves already?
"Agh-The name's Akira. Akira Kurosawa."
"For a name like Akira, You seem pretty gloomy, Try to lighten up a bit."
"Do you hate me?"
"It's not exactly that I hate you. It's just that you're not my type of person. The name's Nao Yukimura."
I know that.
"Hey, If you don't have any friends. Maybe I-"
"No, Thanks for your offer."
Okay.
"Oh, uh yeah. No problem."
"I'd rather just us stay classmates. I don't want to make painful connections. That's all."
Ack! She's really brutally honest. Is she some Ice queen named Rukia or something?
"If you'll excuse me, Class is starting again soon. I hope we never speak again."
"Yeah, See you later-"
Huh, Rude.
I got up from my chair after finishing my beef brisket. Then walked back to my classroom, with a sense of satisfaction that I finally got to talk with a girl that's not from my family.
God I need help I know.
The rest of the school day went by like a breeze, We had no further communication for the rest of the day.
As I was leaving school, Miss Shoko approached me.
"How was school?"
"it was alright."
"oh, right. Of course. Stay safe on your way home."
Maybe I was a bit too dry to my own teacher.
As I walked back home, I was mesmerized by the view of the setting sun. Looking around as the couples were doing their own thing. I got jealous. Why was I like this? Why couldn't I get a girlfriend already? Why am I being so obsessed with this? I asked myself all these questions, Still with no answer. I just thought to myself.
God, I am such a loser.