Time passed and I didn't get a chance to talk to Pauli. Between the periods, either she was surrounded by others or I was and during the lunch break, she wasn't in the class. Now it was after school and everyone was packing up their stuff. I had a feeling that this was my chance(this was my 24th time having this feeling) but..

"What are you gaping around for? Come quick. We need to pick up Trichia." Yuko said from behind me which almost got me startled.

"Oh right! Trichia!" I shouted quite loudly without thinking which made everyone look towards me.

I got embarrassed as a heard a few laughing sounds from here and there. Then I looked towards Pauli but she was already leaving the class. I gave up trying to talk to her and left it for tomorrow.

"I'm waiting...." This line from Yuko brought me back to my senses and I quickly finished packing my bag and followed Yuko.

Our class is at the third floor and I had to go two floors down to where the middle schoolers have their classes to pick up Trichia. By the way, Yuko got called by a teacher on our way here so he had to leave. I alone reached her class, 7-B and peeked inside. Trichia was sitting at the corner bench and two other girls were chatting to her. Well, chatting AT her, more like, since she wasn't saying much. I guess it'll take her a while getting used to. I felt bad about leaving her just like that for the day so I put on my best smile and went inside the class.

"Trichia, you ready to leave?" I said and then looked towards the two middle schoolers who were talking to her earlier, "are you two her friends? Thank you looking after her."

"Oh.. Its a different big brother this time." One of them said and started walking towards me, "hello. I'm Julian and this is Lucy." The girl with a high pitch voice introduced herself as well as her redhead friend who was also standing before me by now.

Well, in normal situations, I would reply back with a "nice to meet you" but something was really bugging me.

"Um.. Do you have any idea why everyone is staring at us?"

All those left in the class were looking towards us and it was kind of creeping me out.

(Do I look weird or something?)

"A transfer student is a pretty rare sight, so everyone's curious." This time it was the redhead who spoke. "She's especially famous among the boys." 

What was that about being famous with the boys!? I looked around and those looking this way averted their gaze.

(Don't tell me they wanna..... No! How dare they look at my Trichia like that!? If anyone even.. touches her, I'll slice off their hands, chop them into tiny pieces and feed it to insects!!)

"So scary." This little whisper from the girls brought me back to my senses.

(Huh?)

I turned towards the two girls again and they were looking at me with scared looks.

(Did I really make such a scary face?) 

"Ahh.. I'm sorry. I guess I got a little angry when I heard she was the focus of all the boys. You can understand the feelings of a big brother, can't you?" I said with an apologetic tone. 

The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

(I think I understand some of Yuko's feelings for Nazuna-chan now.)

"Oh yeah I forgot to introduce myself. I am Rota from class 11-E."

The girls finally calmed down after a while. Since, the school had already ended, almost the entire class was empty except for the ones on cleaning duty. The girls left after chatting some and said goodbye to Trichia. Trichia got off her seat and hanged her bag on her shoulder, probably trying to imitate what others did. I corrected the shoulder straps which she had gotten upside down and took her hand.

"Let's go."

She just nodded and started walking along. We had to go out the class, across the broad hallway, down the stairs, across another broad hallway, and out the main school building, then finally onwards to the main exit gate where Yuko would meet us. Normally, the time would pass in the blink of an eye but today, it felt like a long journey.

"So how was your first day at school?" I asked trying to start up a conversation.

"Fine." She gave as short a reply as ever.

"Did you make any friends?"

"No."

(Um.. That was unexpected.)

"Why? What about those two girls who were talking to you after school? What were their names again? Umm.. Juliet and Lacy?"

"Julian and Lucy. And no, they are not my friends. A friend is a person you trust."

(Hmm.. I guess what she says is correct but I dont think that kind of philosophy will work in today's society.)

"So do you trust.. me?" I asked with high hopes.

"Yes, obviously."

"Obviously?"

"Obviously."

(Obviously! She said obviously! That means trusting me is obvious, right? Oh.. I'm soo happy.)

"Rota, are you crying?" Trichia asked me with wide eyes, a rare expression.

"No.. Its just.. Something got in my eyes." I frantically made an excuse as I rubbed my eyes.

We had already reached the school gate at this point and Yuko was waiting there.

"Do you ever come on time?" said Yuko with half closed eyes.

"And there you go, ruining the moment. Hahaha" I said cheerfully and gave my best friend a hug.

"Your speech and your actions don't match." said Yuko, returning my hug.

"You want something to eat? My treat."

"What's with you? Weren't you depressed before because of Pauli?"

His words reminded me of earlier and I got depressed again.

"Ah crap. I shouldn't have said that." Yuko said with a wry smile.

"Is Pauli the person we ran from this morning?" Trichia asked with a innocent look not realising she was just adding oil to the fire.

"Oh, so that's why you looked half dead in the morning." Yuko nodded as if he had just understood everything, "well then, how about I treat you to something instead. I know what'll cheer you up."

I consented to his offer half heartedly and we started walking. From the direction we were going, we were most likely headed to Yuko's house.