Chapter 2.1

I asked the professor if it was fine to leave the window open.

…Nobody really minded, so we kept it open.

I don’t know why.

It isn’t really hot inside the room.

But yeah, a little breeze is nice.

…The class remains in this odd silence, we—aren’t really doing anything.

Besides—ah, right… homework.

Hah—

I glance outside.

The trees all stand against the wind.

Like, hmm…

I cross my arms, leaning back.

…Everyone else seems busy.

As for Hayashi—

Wow.

Completely unconscious on his desk.

How lax.

…A yawn escapes my lips.

I held my eyes shut—then returned to my desk.

I should’ve just finished this last night.

Though… I’m right about done already.

…I suppose I—

Hm…

How do I conclude this again…?

Ah—

…

…

“...it really isn’t that difficult, just the essay next week… and I’ll tell you when the video will be submitted.”

Huh…?

I raised my head from my arms.

My homework… right—I finished it.

I look to my right, and Hayashi’s staring.

…I furrow my brows, and he puts a hand over his lips.

Is he laughing?

Then he placed something on my desk.

Uh…

…Persuasive essay.

Eight-hundred words minimum…

About—a topic you like…?

…October twenty-one.

I turn to him, seeing his raised thumb.

I… showed him a thumb as well, then he took his notes.

Hmm, I suppose it isn’t that difficult.

Maybe this weekend… I’ll work on it.

A little later, the first class was dismissed. Apparently I slept through it, but she said it was fine.

Though I shouldn’t be doing that…

…

I buried my face in my arms again, readjusting to get even the smallest bit of comfort.

…

…I felt the breeze peering in.

Opening my eyes, the sunlight wasn’t harsh—but noticeably there.

What if I write about this?

No… it’s kind of weird after he mentioned it.

Winter does sound nice, it’s due after all.

Or maybe penguins… or is that too random?

Uhh—wait, persuasive… right.

Hmm…

Maybe like—

I don’t know…

“…Is she sleeping?”

“What does it look like?”

…?

I lift my head and turn to Hayashi… and Nishino-kun?

“Ah, Aihara-san,” he waves. “Thanks, Hayashi-kun.”

He walks over, standing in front of me as Hayashi just—

“You okay? Did I bother you? Haha.”

“No… not really—what are you doing here?”

“I was bored… Everyone's so busy.”

“What about Mugi?”

“Huh? You know how she reacts… haven’t you visited her before?”

“Reacts? She’s always just working.”

“I mean—in her classroom?”

“Yeah? Same same…”

He looks at me as if it’s impossible.

“I’m going out, you can sit here,” Hayashi stands, leaving the classroom with others.

…Canteen probably?

“Ah—thanks—what do you mean same?!”

“You should sit down.”

“No… it’s fine—” He scratches his head, glancing at his seat then back at me again. “She’s like—always hot-headed in her classroom!”

“Really…?”

I scratch my cheek, watching him fume.

…I suppose I’ll eat later at home.

But—

“You’re getting special treatment…”

“...Me?”

“It’s so unfair.”

…I don’t really know what to say.

Uhm—

I look at him, deep in his thoughts.

“Have you eaten?” I asked.

“...No, ah—I ate during class, so I’m kinda full.”

I hold my neck and look at the open door.

“I’ll go to the canteen, let’s talk later.”

“Oh—can I come?”

“...Didn’t you just eat?”

“Well… it’s for my second stomach.”

He just wants to come along…

I nod, taking my purse before leaving the classroom.

The hallway is, of course—busy.

Nishino follows from behind.

“I’ve never actually seen you go there, Aihara-san.”

“The canteen…?”

“Yeah, you’re always inside rooms.”

I pass by many students coming from below.

“No… you probably just didn’t notice me.”

I let them pass first—then I walked down the flight of stairs, into the canteen.

Though… It's been a while.

I’m glad there—

“Wow, barely any lines at all,” Nishino-kun exclaims. “Oh? Wait, I’ll be back—”

He runs off to a group of people.

Um…

I kind of forgot what’s… good to get.

I pass through the tables, looking at the countless stalls.

Maybe something light.

A small snack or something…

Like melon bread.

But most of what’s here is lunch… like actual meals.

And so many new things actually.

I stop and look around.

Do I just get a drink…?

“...all the gym badges?”

“No, I’m still in Azalea.”

…?

I heard him just now.

“Wow, you’re slow.”

“You think I have time to play?” Hayashi…

Ah, there he is.

…He’s with someone though—

I walk close, glancing at the stalls for whatever will interest me.

He’s… eating fries?

“...”

I shut my lips, watching him talk with… his friend.

I can’t just suddenly intrude can I…?

“When you get to—no after you beat the eight gym, there’s a cave behind it—”

“Ah, spoiler—shh.”

“That’s not it, don’t you want to know—”

Hayashi then proceeds to cover both of his ears… despite one holding a cup of fries.

“Eh, fine—good luck finding Dratini.”

…They stopped talking.

I tilt my head and see him just eating.

Then he finally… gives me a confused look.

I raise my hand, approaching him.

He extends his food towards me.

I shake my head and look around.

“...Where do you buy that?” I point to his hand.

“Fries?”

“Mhm…”

“You didn’t see at the entrance?”

“Ah—really?”

“Yeah, I’ll show you,” he taps his friend’s shoulder. “I’ll be back,” he says, pointing at me—as if that explains something…?

He walks ahead and I follow, immediately leading me to the stall.

The price was fine… and I requested they put only a bit of salt.

“It takes a bit of time, but at least it’s freshly cooked,” he mentions, while eating.

“...I suppose.”

I scratch my cheek.

I wonder how long it’ll take to cook…

“I’m sorry for pulling you here all of a sudden.”

“...? No, why are you apologizing?”

“You seemed to be in the middle of something.”

“It’s just Taiki mumbling about everything.”

“Oh, right… What were you guys talking about?”

“I just got a gameboy recently, and he’s making fun of me.”

“Why?”

“I play slow apparently.”

“...I didn’t expect that.”

“It doesn’t have a time limit—the game, so I don’t rush it,” he says, taking a bite. “It’s not like I play all the time too.”

“Oh… Pokémon?”

“Yeah, I’m sure you’ve heard of it.”

“Yes, I see it everywhere,” I glance at the stall—still cooking. “I don’t really play games though, I feel like it’s not for me.”

“Hmm… you should try it at least once, soon I’ll bring it to school.”

“Is that allowed…?”

“...I can always just talk to the pres about it.”

“Ah—Mugi?”

“Oh, yeah—you guys know each other.”

I nod.

“...there you are!” From the corner, Nishino-kun steps in—waving goodbye to his friends as he approaches us. “Oh? Hayashi-kun?”

“Hello,” he waves. “...I think you’ll like Kirby.”

“What’s that?”

“A pink circle guy, I think I have a copy.”

“Ah—true, I think you’d like it,” Nishino-kun says.

“Really?”

Hmm… guess I’ll wait when he brings his game.

I look at the stall, and—they’re calling me over.

I leave the two for a moment, approaching the lady.

“Just a bit of salt, right?”

“Ah—yes…”

I watch as she transfers the fries to a cup, sprinkling a bit of salt and finally handing it to me.

It didn’t take as long as I’d assumed…

“Thank you,” I lightly bow.

“We have condiments here,” she points to the side.

“I’m good… thanks.”

The fries, I picked one and—hot…

Hah—

But hmm, it’s better than cold fries.

I blew on the fries as I made my way back to them.

Looking at the two… they seem to be talking fine.

“...apparently she hasn’t played before.”

“I kind of figured haha.”

They’re talking about me…

I return to them, eating a small fry.

“Have you heard of Almost Blue?” Hayashi mentioned something English…

He speaks well.

“By who?” Nishino-kun asked.

“Chet Baker.”

“Hmm… No, I listen to Hikaru-san. You heard of her, Aihara-san?”

“...I can’t say I have,” I munch on a fry. I’m not really the person to ask about these things, though… "I know... Hóngdòu (Red Bean)."

“Huh? Mainland…? Is that a song?” Nishino-kun asks.

“Ah—Faye Wong?” Hayashi mentions and I nod.

“My mother played it a lot.”

…I do miss it.

“It’s a song from China,” Hayashi tells him.

“Ah… how’d you guys get there?” He scratches his head.

Maybe I should’ve explained…

Looking around, it seemed like people began leaving the canteen.

“...What time is it?” I ask.

Nishino-kun looks at me in surprise, then pats his pockets—picking up his phone and flipping it open.

“Well… ten minutes before class.”

“Oh,” I glanced at Hayashi.

Going here really does burn time…

We should probably—

“Hayashi… should we go back—” I looked ahead, realizing his friends had already left.

He also looks behind to check—gone, but he nods.

“Well… we’ll get going Nishino-kun.”

“Oh… okay, I’ll see you later,” he waves.

Walking up the stairs, I continue eating small bits of the fries.

He… has already finished his earlier.

“Are you gonna—throw that away?”

“Yeah, it won’t take long.” Upon getting to the hallway, we turned the other way. “You have an accent.”

“Me?”

“Yeah, Hóngdòu (Red Bean).”

“...? You speak?”

“Just the basics, but…” He looks at me, then to the side. “Bùguò nǐ… zhēnshi tiānshēng shìhé zuò—zhège (But you… really are a natural at—this.)”

“Bié fèngchéng wǒ (Don’t flatter me…)” I scratch my cheek. “My mom’s Chinese, that’s why.”

“Hm? Really…?” He mumbles, looking at me as if to—

I raised my hand, covering myself as we made our way to the trash bins.

Hayashi tosses his cup as I, still wasn’t finished.

“Will you bring that to class?”

“...I’ll finish it now,” I say but… I can’t really finish this quickly. “Have some,” I extended the cup to him.

“I already ate,” he steps back.

“No, I insist—I can’t finish this.”

He lets out a sigh, then picks a few, eating slowly himself.

I place the cup on a nearby window.

Nothing was really spoken of as we ate.

…Hayashi’s been—

I’m not quite sure how to place it.

His interests are rather bizarre…

It’s kind of interesting.

Though I can’t help but notice that I…

I’ve gotten too comfortable lately.

But…

“Why salt?”

“...It’s better, I think.”

I suppose it’s fine.