He can hear the faint sound of patronizing claps ringing in his ears.
Eh.
Whatever.
Focusing back on his game, he blocks out all noise immediately. Like what the teacher's saying will improve his studies anyway. He has his own way. He's been using it for years. Currently, he still aces classes, so whatever the teachers say are just a waste of time to him.
"Hi! I'm Ishigawa Yuuki! I'll be sitting next to you for the rest of the year. Please take care of me!"
-Ignore her
-"Hello."
-"Hi!"
-Smile and nod at her
He selects Hi!" without even thinking. It's so simple. He's played those high school, new-student-who-sits-next-to-you galge like a million times. Especially one involving a preppy, cheerleader type. Those were the very simple, one dimensional yet usually quite likable characters. Oh well. The graphics in this particular game was excellent though. Top-notch. Which was why he was playing it.
"Hi! I'm Saito Kasumi! I'll be sitting next to you for the rest of the year. Please take care of me!"
He froze.
Such a coincidence in real life? Has a magical 3D manifestation of Ishigawa Yuuki come to see him? Oh! It must be a dream! Yes, yes it must!
But he can't help hoping still.
Eyes wide, mouth open, he gingerly turns to meet the wondrous call.
Only to be disappointed.
Beside him, the girl has sat down, sending him a cheery smile. It was admittedly, a nice smile (Not as nice as Ishigawa Yuuki's though!) but she wasn't ethereally beautiful or anything. Heck, he wouldn't really say she was beautiful. Average. And 3D. Blech. What a disappointment.
He looks back to his game.
After getting Yuuki to agree to a date, he's interrupted by a finger snap in his face.
He pauses.
The girl whose name he didn't bother to remember has turned to him, hand in his face. She hurriedly retracts her hand, seeming abashed.
"Hey, so I guess you didn't hear what the teacher said? She said we're going to work in pairs on this Maths project. The procedure and objective's in the handout on your desk. Anyway, we'll divide the load equally, okay?"
He raises his brow at the word 'equally'. That would be interesting to see. The number of times he has been completely disrespected and taken advantage of because of his nickname 'Otamegane' is countless. Maybe she'd be fairer, since she's new and doesn't know about his nickname.
Misinterpreting his doubt, she hurriedly adds, "As in, you research on points 1 to 5, me, 6 to 10, and I can consolidate the research while you edit, kind of thing."
He gives one slow nod, lips still slightly pursed.
"So we're on, then? I'll create a Google Docs, how about that? So we can write the consolidated report together."
He nods, more firmly this time.
She smiles.
"What's your name?" She suddenly asks.
"Katsuragi Keima."
"That's a nice name."
Again, he merely nods.
She clears her throat. "Do you mind exchanging... Emails?"
Before awaiting his reply, she tears a small piece of paper off her handout and hurriedly scribbles something on it. Grinning, she hands it to him.
He takes it, stares at her scribbled email address for a moment, then writes his own email on the other side of the small piece of paper.
He passes it to her.
She tilts her head in confusion. "Don't you need my email?"
"I've already got it memorised." He taps his skull.
She chuckles. "Photographic memory? That sure is handy."
"It is." He agrees, eyes back on his game, un-pausing Ishigawa Yuuki's dialogue.
At that moment, the bell rings, signalling the end of class.
He hears the girl whose name he still doesn't care to remember get up from her seat, shoot him a half-hearted 'bye' and leave the classroom.
"Oh... Well... See you tomorrow, I guess."
- "I'm sorry."
- "Did something happen?"
- "See you tomorrow."
-"I... I know why you're upset."
For some reason, he chooses, "See you tomorrow."
She leaves the room. You think: Was it my fault?
A/N: ANOTHER STORY! I decided to stop apologising because I love myself. I appreciate you too though, so some constructive criticism will be much loved! (^-^)