“Basically, whether we know it or not, we’re all miserable, but we have a responsibility to change so that we can become the best versions of ourselves,” Komi explained while Yumeji rested his chin on his palm, half paying attention. “While Kierkegaard’s solution to escaping our misery relied on his own religious views, his work has since been reframed through a secular lens to assert that salvation can only come from within, rather than from some divine inspiration.”
“I guess that makes sense,” he muttered as he used his non load-bearing hand to flip through the book in front of him.
“Don’t just assume that I’m going to jump to your rescue right before exams when you realize that you have no idea what you’re doing,” said Komi as she pushed her glasses back into their proper place nestled just beneath the bridge of her nose, “I’m finally starting to lose interest in babying one of my senpai’s, let alone one that has less investment in his own academic success than I do. It’s none of my concern if you flunk out.”
Yumeji and Komi had met each other when he was in his second year at Tōhidai and she was an incoming freshman. He was walking down the hall one day early in the semester when he spotted her wandering around aimlessly, occasionally checking doors to see which class was being held inside. Typical first-year behavior, he thought to himself. Something about her adorable round, bespectacled, face and the semi-panicked expression on it inspired him to pretend to be nobler and more sociable than he actually was. He helped her find her class on that day, and after helping her do so several more times in the following weeks the two became friends.
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“You’re right,” Yumeji said as he sat back in his chair, “I probably should pay more attention to my studies. I’m just a little distracted right now, is all.”
“Distracted by what?”
“Nothing in particular,” he responded, too embarrassed to tell her the truth that he was fixated on the awkward encounter that he had with his neighbor earlier that morning.
“You’re distracted… by nothing,” Komi replied dryly. “Is your apartment haunted or something? Seeing things that aren’t there?”
“Very funny,” he said as he faked a laugh, “but no, it’s nothing like that. I’m just lost in my thoughts, I guess.”
“Your thoughts about nothing?”
“That’s right.”
“Are all men this stupid or is it just you?”