"Thank you for letting me join you," the girl said happily as she sat down beside me.
I glanced at her.
Why is she sitting next to me?
I thought she would sit in the middle. There was no reason for a girl to sit next to someone she barely knew.
She noticed that I was glancing at her.
She turned toward me and smiled. I quickly looked away, my gaze drifting to Yuichi sitting across from me.
It seems like he wasn't happy at all. He looked annoyed, almost like he was quietly seething.
"Oh, my apologies," the girl said as she stood up. "My name is Kaba Ayame. I like playing tennis and reading manga. I hope we can be good classmates."
"Oh yeah, I forgot," Yuichi stood up as soon as Ayame finished. "My name is Okada Yuichi. I like playing video games." Yuichi paused,
"And...?" Ayame asked.
"That's all" he said as he sat back down.
Really? It's that all you got?
He could have tried harder, but I guess he was nervous in front of a girl he liked.
"I guess it's my turn, huh" I stood up slowly,
I can't believe I'm really introducing myself again!
It had been a long time since I'd last done this—and I didn't want to do it at all.
"My name is Hamasaki Tamotsu. I like being alone and reading novels."
"Tamotsu-kun?" Ayame muttered.
"I assumed you already knew me!" I said.
"No, sorry" she apologized.
What?
If she wasn't the girl who called out my name this morning, then who was it?
"Okey, forget it," I said as I sat back down.
"I didn't know we shared the same hobby." she said happily.
"No, we don't," I said.
"Don't be silly, Tamotsu-kun. You like reading novels, and I like reading manga!" She spoke while chewing her food. Her cheeks puffed up like a small balloon.
"That's not the same," I said flatly. I continued eating, holding a piece of beef with my chopsticks.
"Don't be so rude Tamotsu" Yuichi said to me. He couldn't stand watching me be rude to Ayame.
"Don't get the wrong idea, Ayame-san. Tamotsu is a good guy. He just isn't very good with girls." He explained to Ayame.
"Don't worry about it"Ayame said cheerfully. I kept eating while Yuichi explained my personality to Ayame—but he was wrong.
You are wrong, Yuichi.
It wasn't just girls—I didn't get along with people my age at all.
(The school bell rang)
Before I knew it, the first day of school had ended. "Tamotsu, wanna walk home together?" Yuichi invited me to walk home together.
"No, thanks" I declined immediately.
"Come on, you're always like that "Yuichi said with a sad expression. "Then, I guess I have to go home by myself again" He left the class and headed home.
I packed my things and got ready to head home. "Tamotsu-kun, wanna walk home together?" Ayame Invited me this time. She looked happy about it.
"No, I'm in a hurry," I replied declining her Invitation.
"You're so mean, Tamotsu-kun" Her cheeks puffed up red, like a cherry.
"Anyway I'm heading home now." I stood up and left the classroom.
I left the school and walked home along the main road.
"The first day of school wasn't that bad after all."
I stood by the street, waiting at a red traffic light.
"hm hm~hm" I looked toward where the sound came from.
"Ayame-san?" I was surprised to see Ayame standing next to me.
"Oh, Tamotsu-kun. I didn't know we walked the same route," she said, looking just as confused as I was.
"I guess we'll end up walking home together every day!" she said happily.
I stood there in silence, pretending I didn't know her.
"Say something!" she punched me softly.
"What do you expect me to say?" I angrily shouted at her.
"Um... I don't know "She said scratching her head.
Then the light turned green.
"Anyway I'm going now" I crossed the street.
"Wait..." she tried to run after me but the light turned red which makes her stop.
Now there were two people who were going to annoy me.
"I'm home" I made it home. But my dad wasn't at home.
Maybe he will come back soon.
I went inside, took a shower, and lay down on my bed. "Today wasn't that bad… but what about tomorrow?" I muttered wondering what tomorrow would bring.
And then,
Zzz...
I fall asleep before I knew it.
(The next day at school)
"Tamotsu-kun, why did you leave me like that" Ayame angrily scolded me.
"Because I wanted to," I didn't even look at her. I sat still at my seat.
"You're not a gentlemen at all." she said with an angry cute face.
Like I'd want to be a gentleman.
"Hey, Tamotsu. I didn't know you two Walk home together yesterday. "Yuichi whispered into my ear.
"We don't." I replied.
"Don't lie"
"I don't"
He was jealous of me of course.
"Okay everyone take your seats." Tsuruta-sensei walks in.
"Today we'll choose the class representative for this year." He announced.
"Any Volunteers?" He asked.
But no one raised their hand. Maybe because being a class representative means a lot of work to do.
The whole class remained silent.
"I'll do it," one of the girls said as she raised her hand.
Everyone looked at her in surprise. Then she stood next to the teacher.
"Okay what about the boys?" He asked looking at us boys with high hopes.
No one raised their hand. But then
"I'll do it" Yuichi raised his hand.
What?
Yuichi? It won't bother me if other students do it but Yuichi?!
I don't think he would be able to handle the class representative work.
He then looked at me and gave me a wide smile.
Oh, that's how it is.
He did it to impress his crush Ayame.
Yuichi and the girl stood together at the front of the class.
"My name is Okada Yuichi. I really hope to get along with you all. I'm counting on you guys" he introduced himself as he bowed his head.
Come on you can do better than that.
His introduction fell flat. The class barely reacted.
Then it was the girl representative's turn.
"My name is Shiraki Emi. I like sports and reading books. Thank you so much for allowing me to become class representative" She then bowed her head as well.
"If there's no objection, then Okada Yuichi and Shiraki Emi will be the Class 2-B representatives." The teacher declared
Everyone clapped their hands and cheered them.
Yuichi showed a thumbs-up and smiled happily but
Shiraki Emi?
She didn't look happy at all. She didn't even smile.
It kind bothered me.