"Nagisa-kun?"
Startled out of his slumber, he quickly turned away from the train window and up to where his friend was standing. The train that the two rode to school was unusually crowded today, so they were unable to sit together. Now seeing his questioning look, Nagisa smiled and gave an embarrassed chuckle. "Sorry, Rei-chan, did you say something?"
Shaking his head, Rei gave his friend a sigh. Nagisa was an energetic person, especially in the morning, but lately his friend seemed to be lacking in that department, even catching a nap on the train ride to school. He had read that the winter months could have that effect on some people, but in the entire time he had known Nagisa Rei knew he was not one of them. Adjusting his glasses and looking down at his friend, he chose not to address it right then and just repeat his question instead.
"I was wondering if you were still coming over to my house for our study session tonight. I need to stop at the store before heading home, if you wanted to come with me."
Nagisa smiled and looked like he was going to say 'sure, Rei-chan!', but then, his smile fell and he said, "Sorry, Rei-chan, I have to do something today. Can we have our study session a different day this weekend?"
A look of surprise crossed Rei's face before being quickly replaced by a more understanding one. After all, Nagisa was allowed to have other plans. Besides, he was not outright cancelling, just postponing it.
"Sure, Nagisa-kun."
The rest of the train ride was travelled in silence, and as the train pulled into the station Rei realized his friend had fallen asleep once again. Shaking his shoulder gently, he watched as Nagisa's eyes groggily opened and looked back at him. A quick scan of his surroundings told him that this was their stop, so Nagisa rose from his seat with his bag and followed Rei to the exit and into the cool morning air.
The rest of the way to school was just as quiet, as the usual banter that Nagisa usually provided was missing, causing the silence to hang uncomfortably in the air. Once in awhile Rei would clear his throat loudly or fuss with the scarf around his neck, whatever he could do to subtly get Nagisa's attention, but to no avail. Nagisa seemed to be elsewhere in his thoughts, and nothing his friend tried would bring him out of them.
As the main doors of the school building came into view, Rei tried once more. Since the two were in different classes, he wouldn't have another chance before lunch. Pushing his glasses back up on the bridge of his nose, he looked down at his friend's mess of blond hair and put on a smile.
"Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch, Nagisa-kun."
"Huh?" Finally torn from his thoughts and back in the present, he quickly flashed a smile and gave him a 'Sure Rei-chan' as the other turned to go inside.
No sooner had Rei disappeared through the double doors that Nagisa's smile faded as well. Giving a sigh, he climbed the stairs and walked through the doors into the foyer to find his foot locker.
