“Wait!”

Ryu looked behind him, a little unsure whether he was being spoken to. It was the girl with the little green man eyes.

“Ah, green eyes.”

“Eh?” The girl looked confused, but quickly brushed it off as she fell into step beside Ryu.

“Um, thanks,” said the girl.

Ryu glanced to his right and opened his mouth... what was he meant to say? A girl was talking to him!

“No problem,” said Ryu, who immediately wanted to shoot himself for being so lame.

<1.9 km to destination (eta 00:22:37.142)>

Ryu shook his head.

“Is something wrong?” said the girl beside him.

“Uh, nah, just something in my eye.”

“Oh,” said the girl.

Ryu was well aware the conversation was reaching the point of becoming awkward, so he stopped and faced the girl.

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Ryu wasn’t in a position to consider how it knew all that, so he shook his head again and looked down. The girl, Shizuka if he believed it, was a little shorter than him, and he’d be lying if he told someone he didn’t find her attractive.

Unfortunately, there was always a part of him that knew it was hopeless. She fell into the 'fashionable’ category in his opinion. Probably on her way to socialise with the other hip kids.

“Thanks for thanking me, but you don’t have to follow me. ”

“Huh?” The girl’s head pulled back. “You think I’m following you?”

Ryu mentally facepalmed, which outsiders would describe as his expression suddenly turning deadpan.

“Uh no, I meant-”

“You’re not very good with people are you?” said the girl.

Ryu sighed. It appeared any of the fantasies he’d imagined with this girl would remain so. But that was okay, he was used to it.

“Yeah, I’m not.”

The girl smiled and smoothed out some invisible creases on her clothes. “Well it’s nice to meet you…”

“Ryu.” The girl nodded her head, pleased.

“My name’s Shizuka.”

“Shirakawa.”

Shizuka took a step back. “How do you know that?”

“Uh… just a guess.” Ryu scratched the side of head.

Shizuka squinted her eyes as she inspected Ryu a little more closely.

“Hmm… do you go to Green High?”

“Yeah.”

“I go there as well, what year are you?”

“Second.”

Shizuka smiled. “Then I guess I’ll call you senpai!”