Chapter 4

= Talking to Her =

I don’t want to tell my parents that their boy is known in his class as a gay. Hell, I don’t even care what they say about me, but the thing is they won’t leave me alone. My classmates will always stare at us when we’re together.

Yeah, we’re always together as if we’re glued to each other, but I’m no gay. I’m letting Endou-san near me because I’m just too damn nice.

I’m a nice guy, you know, only a bit vengeful. I’ll let him treat me like his deceased brother just because I look exactly like him. Well, expect me to manipulate Endou-san later.

What can I do? I said before that I’m vengeful. He uses me as a tool to gain forgiveness what-not and I will treat him the same, like a tool. Maybe I’ll empty his wallet for a several days or something.

He made me lunch today as well. It’s the sixth time today and I can’t say how pleased I am since there’s no need to buy lunch. There’s a pair of awesome earphones that I want so much. I bet listening to classical will be like hearing angel’s trumpet.

“Can’t you eat slower?” I hear Endou-san asks me. Hell, I don’t care. I don’t even know what kind of magic he uses, if ordinary humans could use magic, because the food he made for me is always delicious.

He cooked a hamburger patty in black pepper sauce, with sliced vegetables as side dish. The meat is so juicy and flavorful it’s melting my tongue. Not to mention the perfectly steamed rice. Tasty! So damned tasty!

I slowly stop eating once I no longer hear his voice.

Looking up, I see him staring at something. I follow his gaze and suddenly I feel that my heart is in my throat.

Shindou-san is there in the cafeteria, sitting alone one table away from us. She is so beautiful I just can’t take my eyes off her. Now she was wearing a red bandana and it compliments her flowing chocolate hair.

She applies no make-up on her face as most girls usually do, but she already looks divine without it. Her beauty seems… otherworldly as if she was a goddess who descended to the Earth.

Well, I’d gladly throw myself at her feet regardless whether she is a goddess or not.

But something is weird. The guys nearby are staring her like she’d grown three heads. I don’t know what the heck is wrong with them. I mean, Shindou-san is just eating a banana. I see nothing wrong with that.

I turn my head to Endou-san who is definitely hooked up in his cell phone, “The guys are staring at her.”

He pauses the game and looks at me questioningly, “…who?”

I motion where Shindou-san is at with a nod of my head. She has the banana in her mouth as she plays with her cell phone. I don’t like it when other guys are staring at her like that. It’s so rude.

Well, to be honest, I feel myself burning with jealousy. I want to help her, but I don’t know how.

Endou-san takes a good, long look at Shindou-san and I notice there’s something… amiss in those eyes of his. Is it pity? Or is it concern?

“Why is she being stared at?” I repeat my question and Endou-san spends a while to answer.

“Do you want to know?”

“Then what the purpose of me asking you?” I arch my eyebrow.

Endou-san takes a hearty amount of oxygen and speaks alarmingly loud, “You mean you don’t know? A banana looks exactly like a guy’s penis, so—mmhh!!”

I quickly silence him with my hands before he can utter anymore ludicrous statement. From the corner of my eyes, I feel like everyone is watching us. The girls are eyeing us with contempt. Their eyes clearly thinking that we’re some kind of sicko, while the guys are scorning at us for being such an idiot.

“Why are you saying something like that?” I seethe and release him, expecting a logical answer.

Endou-san cocks his eyebrows in amusement, and I find it so annoying I want to claw his face, “Well, you wanted to know.”

“I did, but not like this!” I growl in frustration. Now I don’t think I have the guts to face Shindou-san anymore and it’s all this guy’s fault! How he could be so oblivious?! “You made me look like a pervert in front of everyone!”

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His eyes flash dangerously for a while, “…men are all pervert. They should just die.”

“Don’t lump me together with them! And why should you say that so loud? Don’t you have any shame with you?!”

I sit back on my seat with hands covering my crimson-tinted face.

Someone embarrassed me in public and I seriously want to die.Shindou-san will surely hate me now and I’ll be known not only as a gay, but also a pervert. How will I date her knowing that she’s held such an opinion of me?

Rule number one when hanging out with an introvert is not to make fun of them in public.

“…but penis is a penis, right?”

My fists are trembling and I hold the immense urge to punch him in the face. He even has the gall to repeat it again in a more innocent tone at that! This oblivious, brother-complex guy…!

-000-

Damn, I feel like everyone is staring at me now. It was all thanks to that penis incident. Ugh, if only I had the magical power to manipulate the time, I surely would’ve used it. I mean it’s pretty awesome when you can manipulate the time, just like that Greek primordial deity Chronus.

I slap my face.

This is the result of reading too much mangas and fanfiction.

“Why the hell are you following me?” I ask to Endou-san who is walking behind me. He looks at me with that annoyingly innocent look and answers in a matter-of-factly tone, “Aren’t we friends?”

Something in my head snaps into two. I really, really hate someone who clings to somebody else like a parasite. Why won’t people just leave me alone?!

I yell, “We’re not friends! You are you and me are me! Just go the fucking away! I just want to be alone!” I spin on my heels and walk away. I need to use the damn toilet fast.

“Are you still mad about it?” as expected, Endou-san is following me like he’s my shadow.

I’m so angry to be reminded about that incident, especially when it concerns Shindou-san! I bet she’s disgusted just by looking at me. I’m sure of it.

To my surprise, Endou-san stops following me and goes somewhere. I let out a sigh.

I finally get rid of him.

I hope it’s for good.

-000-

Finally the school is over. I shove everything into my bag and quickly get the hell out of class. Endou-san always follows me around like a lost duckling. Hell, no, he’s a stalker to be precise.

Before I can get to the first floor, someone catch my attention.

It was Shindou-san.

I find myself gaping at her.

She is walking to the third floor. I don’t know where she’s going to, but I feel entranced. My feet walk to the direction I don’t command. Without knowing, I’ve been following her.

Huh? I lost her. I’m sure she went this way. I’m now standing in a third floor hall, near a music room. Looking around in an attempt to find her, my effort ends fruitless.

I’m kinda heartbroken, to be honest.

I’m about to go home when I hear something. It’s a tune from the music room. My eyes fly open. I know this song. In fact, I’m familiar with it.

The gentle sound, the calming and nostalgic melody…

It’s Tristesse.

I steadily walk in front of the music room and peek. As I thought.

Shindou-san is playing the piano.

Her chocolate hair dances slightly by the gentle breeze and her expression is so serene. She really looks divine, even more so when she’s playing such a calming song.

I can’t breathe. She’s stolen my breath and my heart…

…once again.

Now she plays a different song. It has faster beat, sounds almost impossible to play unless she is a pro. Coincidence or not, I know this piece. 

She’s playing Chopin’s Etude in C sharp.

Holy shit. Her fingers are moving like crazy as the tempo is getting faster and faster. Maybe her fingers have eyes or something. How on earth could she play like that?

My shoulders slump when the song ends. I want to see her playing the piano more.

I see her turns towards an end table beside her. There’s a stereo on it. To my surprise, she pushes a button.

The songs are from a recording and she’s been faking the entire play!

“Eeeeeeh?!??!!” I scream so loud that she quickly looks at my direction.

I slap my mouth, realizing what I’ve just done. Her eyes are unreadable as she walks towards me. Her gait is relaxed as if she was expecting me to follow her and peek. If I can compare her to an animal, she’s a spider and I’m a… prey, a moth, or any insect that has fallen into her sticky web.

Now that the two of us are standing near, I realize that she’s taller than me by a few centimeters. She’s quite tall for a girl, I must say.

“Aki, right?” holy all that’s holy in the world! She’s calling me by my first name and we’ve just met! I don’t know whether she’s insulting me or wanting to see my reaction, but god… that’s some beautiful voice I’ve ever heard in my entire pathetic life!

I gulp, “G-Good evening…”

My voice is a bit squeaky, thanks to her. I don’t know if I can handle this blissful torture any longer.

She pulls something out of her skirt pocket and hands it to me. It’s a chocolate.

I stare at it, dumbfounded.

What am I to do with this? Is this some kind of apology because she tricked me into following her? Or is this an offering to keep me from telling the teacher that there’s someone sneaking into the music room after school? Does she want me to eat it?

She doesn’t really care about me and picks up her bag and then leave me alone in the deserted music room. I stare at her retreating figure in confusion. 

She’s such a weirdo. Leaving just like that. Well, that’s to be expected, but still… I really don’t understand her.

Hm? My fingers brush something like a paper. I look at the back side of the chocolate and found a piece of paper attached with glue.

It reads ‘thank you’.

My mind immediately recalls that accident earlier. Actually it was Endou-san who helped her and I should’ve told her so, but somehow I feel my chest warming. I guess it’s the satisfaction of helping someone else?

That feeling aside, I guess I improved how Shindou-san sees me as.

Just a little bit.

It’s still a long time until I can finally impress and date her but I won’t give up.

Never, ever.