Chapter 3

Profound Similarities

No longer gold… the world’s saturation is really dropping—I let out a heavy sigh as I’m enveloped in an unexpected chill. Each step forward growing tremendously difficult as the mood is perfect for snuggling in bed, yet here I am going to school.

Today’s rather quiet..

The leaves I step on are crunchy.

The birds are chirping lightly..

Even the students around me are chatting softly…

Hah… even if I can’t skip school—today’s a comfortable day.

I passed through the school gates, and there I saw him afar.

As much as I wanted to forget that name… there’s no deleting it.

Sakuragi Ren.

Ever since then, his narcissistic attitude has grown stagnant. He still persists in greeting me and inviting me out, but I mirror his persistence by giving him no attention. Yet it worries me because there’s this buzzing in my head whenever he’s around, a constant headache whenever he’s in proximity.

Though it’s quite surprising—today I see him with his arms around the shoulders of another girl.

I guess.. 18 days was all it took to get him discouraged.

Continuing forward, I lowered my head as I passed through the busy students. Taking my time as I swapped my outdoor shoes with the indoor pair.

Once done, I stepped inside the building and noticed a familiar figure.

“...”

“Oi ocha.” I said, my favorite green tea.

“Are you really not giving me any slack..?”

“No.” I folded my arms and gave him a questionable look. “Backing out on your words? I can’t have that.”

“You’re paying for tomorrow.” he said, turning his back on me—walking towards a vending machine in the corner.

“Me? Who are you talking about?” I scoffed.

“I have a recording of what you said.”

“I said nothing.” I stood behind him as he pressed a few buttons on the machine and squatted down to pick them up. Then there it was, handing it to me, my green tea. “Thank you, really. Even though I never asked for it, you knew.”

“I’m also thankful—for what you’ll spend for me tomorrow..”

“..I won’t pay for something absurdly expensive.” I said as we began walking through the hallway.

“Don’t fret, I won’t do that.”

…

There it is.

It was just… two words—but still..

I keep seeing it in so many of the letters. Too many have come—not much point in counting them; though I do keep them all in my room.

From most of it, one phrase keeps standing out.

I see it in the letters.

I hear it from him.

Don’t fret.

…

I have no idea what to make of this.

Though it undeniably makes him… a candidate.

For my…

It’s embarrassing to even say this…

But he might be my future lover.

“What’s wrong with you?” he suddenly asked.

I glance to my right and there he was, drinking the apple juice he got from the vending machine earlier. “...What do you mean?”

“You’ve been blank.”

“..Hah?”

“You must’ve skipped breakfast, you’re always dozing off.” he said, turning his attention from me.

“Aihara-san.” a feminine voice called.

It was—Kujou-san.

“What is it?”

“They said you had the class funds?” she asked, a bit confused.

“Why would I have it?”

“They told me you had it.” she said, pointing at a group of girls up front.

“I don’t have it.” I shook my head before letting out a sigh as she left my desk.

“..What was that about…” I muttered as I reached under my desk, looking for my novel—but… “Kujou-san.” I stood, the sound of my chair scraping against the wood floor—reverberated across the classroom.

My voice came with it, garnering everyone’s attention as Kujou-san herself stopped in her tracks, turning to look at me, awaiting my response.

From under my desk… was an envelope full of cash.

“I found it.” I said, pulling it out from the storage of my desk.

“Didn’t she say she didn’t have it?” someone murmured.

“So… she stole it?” they laughed.

This absurdity.. again.

As it would’ve been awkward walking through everyone to reach Kujou-san, she saved me the trouble as she walked over to me and reached for the envelope. “Thank you, Aihara-san.” she slightly bowed after I handed it to her.

I sat down—brows now furrowed as I folded my arms. They’re doing something again… here I thought they were already tired of me..

“We came here together didn’t we?” Hayashi suddenly asked.

“..Yes, why?”

“Someone must’ve put that there, don’t mind it.” he said.

He didn’t say the line…

“Yeah, I know.” I looked down, unsure of how to act.

Though he kept looking at me, I didn’t want to talk any longer.. In search of what I could do, I remembered the novel I was reaching for earlier.

Once I began searching for it under my desk—I hoped not to find anything else that wasn’t mine…

Thankfully enough, their play had ended with the class funds—there was nothing else. I kept an eye on the girls that may have done it… but they were busy being loud amongst themselves.. Perhaps I don’t need to worry anymore..?

I turned to look at Hayashi—now minding his own business, and we didn’t really have anything to talk about; so I finally opened the novel to continue reading.

Flipping from one page to another, I kept back tracking.. some lines failing to register in my head, my mind… still preoccupied.

..So I just put the book down.

With nothing else to do, I lifted my arms to my desk—and simply buried my head in it.

For a while, the noise around me was drowned out by my thoughts.

I thought that if I just stayed like this for a moment… everything will pass.. I’d no longer be worrying over.. nothing.

…

Like being pulled back, I felt someone tap my shoulder. I lifted my head up, then turned to its direction. Hayashi.. he did some strange actions—signalling me something… my face..? I immediately looked at the window, taking a look at my reflection.

..My hair’s all messed up.

I took my time fixing myself and slowly turned to look at him.

“You slept through the entire morning class.”

“..I did?” I asked, unsure of what to make of it.

“Yeah, I told the teachers you weren’t feeling well.”

“...” I stared. “..You didn’t have to do that.” I muttered.

“You’re still worried about earlier?”

“So..?”

“I know what will make you feel better.”

“..What’s this about?”

“Let’s grab coffee after school.” he suddenly proposed.

“...” I stared at him, intensely. I narrowed my eyes—wondering what he meant by it. “I can’t believe you’re asking me out on a date, Hayashi.”

“Ah, then nevermind.” he folded his arms and looked the other way.

“I didn’t say no.” I stated, avoiding eye contact.

“Then-”

“Your treat… I assume?” I asked—now looking at him in the eye.

“Yeah, I’m the one who suggested it.”

“Then.. okay.”