The sunlight streamed through the classroom windows as I sat in the farthest corner, eyes fixed on the pages of a book. It wasn't that the book was particularly interesting—it was just easier to keep people at a distance when you looked busy. But, of course, some people weren't so easily deterred.
"Good morning, Seki-kun!" a cheerful voice broke through the quiet. Ichinose Honami stood before me, her radiant smile as bright as ever. She carried an air of friendliness that made it nearly impossible to ignore her.
I looked up briefly, offering a curt nod. "Morning."
"You're always so quiet," she said, taking a seat in the desk beside mine. "I've been meaning to talk to you more. You know, get to know you better."
I turned a page, keeping my voice even. "There's not much to know."
"Oh, come on!" she said, undeterred. "Everyone has something interesting about them. Like, why did you choose to come here?"
I hesitated, the question brushing too close to my real motivations. "Seemed like a good opportunity," I said vaguely.
Honami leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand. "Hmm, you're not going to make this easy, are you?"
I glanced at her, catching the playful glint in her eyes. For a moment, the mask almost slipped. Almost. "I don't see the point in idle conversation."
"It's not idle if it helps us understand each other," she countered, her tone gentle but persistent. "Don't you think it's important to connect with your classmates?"
I closed the book with a soft thud, meeting her gaze. "Connections are only valuable if they serve a purpose. Otherwise, they're just distractions."
Her smile faltered for a split second before returning, softer this time. "Maybe. Or maybe they're what make life meaningful."
The bell rang, signaling the start of class. Honami stood, her cheerful demeanor undimmed. "I'll see you around, Seki-kun. And maybe next time, you'll tell me something interesting."
I watched her walk away, her words lingering in the air. For all her optimism, she didn't understand. Or maybe she did, and that was what made her so insistent. Either way, I wasn't ready to let her in. Not yet.
This girl I met since the start of this school, is the optimistic classmate that everybody would like to hang over with, but I prefer let her live her best life than trying to integrate her in my problems.