It was something, that's for sure. On my first day of college, I thought for a moment that someone already hated me. But I guess, in the end, it all went better than expected? I'd consider it up as a job well done, at least for now.
After that awkward little interaction, I gathered my things and made my way out of the lecture hall. The hallway outside was relatively quiet, the typical buzz of students still echoing faintly behind me. I didn't think much of it at first, but as I walked down the corridor, I noticed something odd. Yui, yes, Yui, the girl from earlier, was walking in the same direction.
For a brief second, I considered turning around, just to avoid any weirdness, but I quickly dismissed the thought. I had no reason to feel uncomfortable. She was just another student, right? But the universe had other plans.
Somehow, without either of us saying a word, we ended up walking out into the courtyard, both of us making our way toward the same bench. Now, that was when things got awkward. What were the odds? Was this some strange coincidence, or were we bound to cross paths more than I realized?
I had two hours of free time before my next lecture, so I decided to just kill some time. Lunch was still a while away, and I wasn't in a hurry to do anything else. But now, sitting on the same bench as Yui, I found myself wondering if she had the same schedule as me. What a weird coincidence that would be. The chances seemed so slim, but who knew? Maybe this was just the beginning of something weirdly inevitable.
"Just so you know, I wasn't following you," Yui remarked with a shy tone, her cheeks blushing slightly.
I blinked, surprised that she'd started a conversation with someone like me, a country bumpkin. She must've thought I was some kind of weirdo, right? Or maybe not?
"It's just that this bench is nice if you want to look at the whole courtyard," she added, her voice a little quieter now.
I couldn't help but laugh softly to myself. That was exactly the reason I'd chosen the bench in the first place. Funny, huh? We both had the same idea, without even realizing it.
"Oh, yeah, not that I was thinking about that or anything," I muttered, trying to play it off. "Do you perhaps have a two-hour break, too?"
Yui's eyes lit up. "Yeah! Do we perhaps have the same schedule?"
We both pulled out our papers, the schedules we'd been handed after the enrollment process, and compared them. A few moments passed as we scanned the lists, and then we both froze, staring at each other in surprise.
To our amazement, we had the exact same schedule. Same classes, same times. What were the odds?
"Well, that's… quite the coincidence," I murmured, unsure whether to laugh or be a little freaked out. This was too strange.
"Do you want to go and eat something nearby for lunch?" Asked I. I hope that question won't freak her out. I mean, asking a person to have lunch with you after meeting them moments earlier prior to this one. Why did I even ask?
"Sure! But for now, let's just sit here." Yui replied with a smile.
Now that's a surprise. I guess she's friendly?
We sat there for a few moments, the comforting silence wrapping around us like a soft blanket. The only sounds breaking the stillness were the rustling of the leaves in the breeze and the distant murmur of students passing by. If I'm being honest, for a way to kill time, this was pretty relaxing.
I pulled a book from my bag, the one I'd brought to read while enjoying the peaceful atmosphere of the campus courtyard. The pages seemed to gesture at me, offering an escape from the ordinary, and I was eager to dive into the story once more.
But as I opened it, I couldn't help but glance at Yui, and sure enough, she was doing the same. She had pulled out a book of her own, settling into the same quiet routine. I couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Too many coincidences for such a short amount of time, right? First, the bench. Then, the same class schedule. And now, both of us are reading in this tranquil spot, without even a word. This kind of thing only happened in movies, didn't it?
But I guess I was wrong. Maybe life could be a bit like a movie after all.
"You know what? I find this whole meeting funny," Yui said with a soft chuckle, her gaze still fixed on her book.
For a moment, I just stared at her, completely dumbfounded. I was so caught off guard that I almost forgot to respond.
"How so?" I managed to ask, trying to shake off the surprise.
She lifted her eyes just enough to meet mine, a thoughtful expression on her face. "I mean, sitting on the same bench, having the same exact schedule, and now we're both here, reading books in the same spot. It's too funny, don't you think? All these coincidences, it's almost like the universe really wanted us to meet. Weird, right?"
I blinked, processing her words. It was a bit strange, but not entirely off the mark.
"Not really," I said with a small smile. "I thought the same thing too."
It felt oddly comforting, realizing we were on the same wavelength.
After a few pages of reading, Yui put hers back inside her bag.
"I think it's about time we grab something to eat," Yui said, closing her book with a soft thud.
"Yeah, my stomach's growling anyway," I replied, rubbing my stomach as if to emphasize the point. "Any food preferences, Aiko-san?"
She gave me a playful look. "Any fast food would be fine. Also, call me Yui. I'll call you Sora, if that's fine with you."
For a moment, I just sat there in a daze, the words sinking in. First name basis? We had just met today, and now she was already offering to call me by my first name? I didn't know if it was the casualness of it or just how quickly things were moving, but I couldn't help but feel a little stunned.
Well, if that's what she wanted, I guess it was fine. I didn't mind it anyway. "Alright, Yui. Sora it is." I said with a small grin, the awkwardness slowly fading as I adjusted to this new dynamic. It was kind of nice, really.