Disclaimer: I do not own Tonari No Kaibutsu-kun.

1

It was their first encounter. Without Haru, they wouldn't even be close to each other. What, with Natsume's inferiority to boys, even if Sasayan is a friendly guy, it would've been impossible.

Sasayan knew how cold she was with boys way before, when class was just starting. Natsume had dropped her eraser on the floor. With Sasayan picking it up and handing it to her, Sasayan would've expected a "Thank you". Instead, she snobbed him.

At that time, Sasayan was sure he'd never get along with the girl, not even close to being friends. But hey, the least things you expect to happen are the things that mostly happen in the future. And now, he didn't know if he should be thankful for Haru or not.

At a supermarket, a girl with auburn hair was helplessly carrying a bag of nails and wood and various other construction tools. It would've been weird for a pretty girl like her who looked like someone who never really cared much about construction, but such was the case. It's not her decision, anyway. Haru and Mitty, and Sasayan was supposed to be with her at that time. But Haru got into some ruckus with some gang from another school and Mitty and Sasayan ran off to safety. She didn't even know something was happening until she looked around and noticed that her friends were nowhere to be found.

"Aggh. Why do I have to be in this-". She was carrying the bag to the counter when a boy she still wasn't very familiar with walked inside the store. He wore a shy look on his face, but he tried to smile even though. He walked towards her and he spoke as he did so.

"Sorry…" He started. "For leaving you like that. We had to, or else things would be bad." He noticed the heavy bag she was carrying and offered his hand. "Can I?"

Unexpected thing to happen #2 – after snobbing him for picking up her eraser, she held her hand farther away from him so he couldn't even get a hold of the handle. She looked at him weirdly, and Sasayan, surprised about it, looked back curiously. There was a weird moment of silence between them that time, and Sasayan wondered whatever was the problem.

"Ah. Natsume-san?" Sasayan started. He was indeed surprised at Natsume's weird gesture.

"No-nothing." She handed the bag to him. Sasayan, still looking at her curiously, accepted it. He looked around to check if Yamaken and his pals were still around and he noticed Natsume was hiding her face away. He looked at her once more and asked her.

"What's wrong?"

She didn't answer, she hoped it was enough to keep his attention away from her, but it didn't. "I- I'm not good with boys, okay?" She admitted.

"Oh." Sasayan said. Then he laughed. "You don't have to worry about me, see."

"Ye-yeah." Natsume replied. "I guess I can tell."

"How come?" Sasayan asked. But instead of hearing her answer, he turned to the cashier and paid for the materials.

Natsume was still thinking if there was something weird about the situation, but she can't quite point out what it was. She was drowned with curiosity until Sasayan faced her. "Come on, let's go to Haru and the others."

So the two walked together with a bicycle in between them. Sasayan didn't like to be quiet when it's not the right time, so mostly the conversations they had were started by him.

"Oh yeah." He said, once they travelled a few distance from the store. He stopped walking, as if he remembered something, which he really did. "What was that about you.. you know, when you said you can tell that you don't have to worry about me. How come?"

"Oh that." Natsume quickly answered just as he was about to finish his question. "It's just, it happens very rarely I-"

Sasayan turned his head to her, his brows creasing. "What happens very rarely?" Sasayan said.

Natsume kept her head on the road. For a moment Sasayan thought she was ignoring him, but she started to talk. "Promise, don't laugh."

"Promise." Sasayan said.

"It's about boys, like you. Usually after a few days or even hours of knowing me, they start telling me they like me, or anything."

Natsume noticed Sasayan was covering his mouth with his free hand, obviously trying not to laugh.

"You promise you won't laugh." Natsume pouted.

"Not.. it's just." He chuckled once more. "Just I didn't expect that."

"It's true." Natsume said, reassuring it. "Do-don't think I'm being too full of myself, please. It's just that, I don't like it when it happens, and I was just… surprised it didn't. You know, with us… being alone."

At that point, Sasayan laughed a little harder. "So, you think… or you were expecting I'd confess to you?"

Natsume didn't answer. Instead, her face grew red.

"So when that didn't happen, you concluded that you won't have to worry about me?" Sasayan said.

Natsume nodded quietly.

"I'll try." Sasayan said. "I mean, yeah. You won't have to worry about me."

Natsume didn't answer, but she listened anyway. A few minute later, she smiled. "I'm so happy. I was actually worried about what I should do if you fell in love with me. There are those types! Boys start off being friends and then attack you by surprise." She paused. "Oh Sasayan-kun, please don't ever do that."

"Right." Sasayan said. "I think it'd be fine."

A few moments later, Sasayan yelled. "Oiiii." He raised his hands and waved it upon the air. He grinned. Natsume looked ahead and saw Mitty and Haru waiting for them. Natsume was excited upon seeing Mitty, she was her first friend, after all.

But actually she was really glad that they were already there. She's not yet used to being with Sasayan's side alone. Besides, she said something really embarrassing, so she doesn't want to talk to him or anything.

But why did those words spit out of her mouth? Most guys Natsume met for the first time, they'd fall head over heels for her. And as usual, she'd ignore them. She was just surprised that it wasn't the case for Sasayan. Well, if she looks at him, she can tell that maybe Sasayan wasn't into those kinds of things. But still, he's weird. Being around him feels weird.

2

There are a few times when Natsume would have no choice but to be left alone with Sasayan. It's not like she doesn't like being with him, it's just she's still not used with the aura. She'd rather stay with Mitty even though most of the things she tell her, she wasn't sure if it even get into Mitty's head.

One of these times was when she was washing her face after cleaning. The sink outside was near the baseball field, and Sasayan was practicing along with his teammates. She almost jumped when he heard him call her from behind. When Natsume turned around, she saw Sasayan grinning at her, waving his hands.

She waved her hands back and smiled. She noticed they were just done practicing, and so Sasayan went out of the field and ran towards her.

"Sup." He started. "Where's Haru and Shizuku?"

"Doing their own business." Natsume replied.

"Oh?" Sasayan said. "Is that so?"

Natsume nodded.

Sasayan shrugged his shoulders. He took his towel and wiped it on his face. He drank from his water and noticed Natsume was watching him. He raised his eyebrows as he held out the bottle in front of Natsume.

Natsume shook her head and spoke instead. "Aren't you going home, Sasayan-kun?

"Nah." Sasayan said. He looked at his right where a giant tree was standing. "Guess I'd like to take a little break."

"Oh." Natsume said. "Okay. I'm going first then." She began to wave her arms and walked away. Sasayan grinned and waved back, then he walked towards the tree as soon as Natsume completely turned around.

He liked to sit under that shade whenever he feels tired. Though he may be a very social person, he prefers to be alone sometimes too. Especially when he wants to think clearly. He got his cap and covered his face with it. A few minutes late, he fell asleep.

Almost slept.

"Sasayan-kun." Someone said. At first Sasayan though he was dreaming. But… but why would he hear Natsume's voice in his dream. He opened his eyes and took off the cap that's been obscuring his view. He looked up to see Natsume, her face a little terrified.

"Na-Natsume san?" Sasayan said. He rubbed his eyes before asking talking again. "I thought you left already."

"I did." Natsume said. "But…" She looked down.

"What?" Sasayan said. "Did you miss me already?" Sasayan joked.

"No. That's not it!" Natsume denied. "Stupid Sasayan."

"I know I know." Sasayan replied. He was still laughing . "I was just kidding." He took another laugh and breathed in. "So, what's the problem?"

"There are guys outside the school." Natsume said. "Creepy guys."

"Are you scared?" Sasayan asked. Then he regretted having said it immediately. Of course, any girl would be afraid if there are creepy guys around, especially when they're alone. "I mean. I'm-" He sighed. "Stay with me for the time being then, if they're really that creepy." Sasayn said, he looked away.

"Don't think about what you shouldn't be thinking or anything. Don't misunderstand." Natsume said.

"What? What's with-" Sasayan said. His face turned red as soon as he realized what she was thinking. "No, it's not like that. It's NOT a date if that's what you were thinking, okay?" He waved his arms frantically, hoping it would close the topic.

"Ye-yeah." Natsume agreed.

"I told you, you don't need to worry about me." Sasayan reminded her.

"Okay." Natsume said.

Natsume sat under like Sasayan. She was leaning on the other side of the tree opposite to Sasayan's, so they couldn't see each other.

"Do you really have to be there?" Sasayan said, peeking a look at her from beside the tree. He moved to his side so they both won't be completely facing each other's backs, but there was still some distance between them, just enough for Sasayan to look at Natsume without completely turning around.

Besides, it would be weird talking to someone without seeing them.

"Not a bit closer." Natsume said.

Sasayan let out a sigh mixed with a little laugh. "You're really serious about that, huh."

"Mm." Natsume agreed as she nodded her head.

"I don't really know what we're gonna do so… you can talk about whatever you want." Sasayan said.

"What should I talk about?" Natsume said, wondering.

"I don't know. Your blog or anything."

"How'd you know about my blog?" Natsume said, stunned by his statement. She almost stood up.

"You really do have a blog?" Sasayan said. "I was just guessing."

"Guess you guessed right." Natsume said.

"So, what do you put in your 'blog'?" Sasayan asked.

"None of your business." Natsume replied, though she wasn't completely serious.

"Whatever you say." Sasayan said. He smiled. "Hey, just do whatever you want. I won't mind. If you talk, and if ever I don't reply, then that means I'm asleep. I'm kind of tired, that's why. Sorry."

"That's okay. Okay." Natsume replied.

"Or if you don't want to talk, we could just stay like this for a while, just sitting." Sasayan said.

Natsume looked at him suspiciously.

After that, the two of them stayed quiet. Sasayan was humming some tune until he fell asleep. Natsume was enjoying the breeze, and Sasayan's hum was mixing with the sounds in the air. It's as if it's been there from the start. She closed her eyes as she sat.

The sound stopped, and she opened her eyes. She took a peek at Sasayan and saw that he was already asleep. He looked nothing like someone who played baseball when he's asleep. He looked as though he's some kid who was taking a nap after playing for hours with other kids, like they usually do. Natsume couldn't see his face since he was covering it with his cap.

She noticed he was looking at him for quite some time. She felt awkward since the last time she looked at him this long was when the two of them were too early one time when for their meet up. Well, along with Mitty and Haru. It's just Sasayan and Natsume came first.

That moment was awkward since they both reached the entrance at the same time, and they looked at each other more than they should have. She was glad she spoke. If she didn't, they might've stayed like that for quite some time.

"What you looking at?"

Natsume almost gasped when she heard him talk.

"You scared me." She said. "I thought you were asleep."

"I was." Sasayan said. He sat up. He scratched his head, then he faced her. "Wanna go home already?"

It took Natsume quite some time before she could respond because she wasn't sure herself.

"What if they're still there?" Natsume said.

Sasayan laughed. "You're not alone anymore, you know."

"But…"

"Okay fine. We'll wait a little longer."He looked at her from his side and lied back down again. He closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry I'm very rude." He said. "I'm just sleeping here."

Sasayan opened one eye, looking at the girl sitting not too close beside him. He fished out a device from his pocket.

"Here. You can listen to if you're bored. If you want."

Natsume didn't say anything, but she accepted it.

"Natsume-san?" He said again. "Just wake me up if you want to go home already." Pause. "And don't leave me, at least wake me up if you don't want to go home with me… Okay?"

"Okay." Natsume said quietly.

Sasayan smiled, but she couldn't see it under his cap.

Sasayan saw her adjust his earphones on her ear before he went back to take a nap.