Observant
By Tanya Lilac
Orihime was a person who was often understated – some things more than others. However, she also knew that people often doubted the health of her sanity, which could (in some situations) work to her advantage. Her biggest secret was that what appeared to be 'quiet daydreaming' to her peers was really, a very keen and methodical observation of those around her. For instance, she knew that Ishida had an unconscious habit of rubbing the back of his neck when facing difficult problems. Tatsuki could often be found clenching and flexing her fingers as if in preparation for a spar, whenever literature was mentioned – just another challenge to overcome. As for Ichigo...
Lately, she'd noticed that Ichigo's behaviour, especially around the new transfer student, Kuchiki Rukia, seemed to belie his previous statement that he had never met her before. They knew each other – of that, she was certain – but how well they knew each other had yet to be determined. About three weeks after she had inadvertently found out the truth behind their strange connection, she realised that the pair had a routine.
It seemed to be the same – it didn't make a difference what day, or what time, these things just always seemed to happen the same way. Rukia would make up an excuse and she and Ichigo would rush out of the classroom, to return twenty minutes to half an hour later. Rukia came back in first, her skirt rumpled and the pleats crushed at the sides as if hitched up at the thighs. Ichigo followed, five minutes after – the same scowl upon his face – with dust on the back of his pants and shirt. They'd both be flushed, and she would almost always have a slight sheen of sweat on the back of her neck, to which her hair clung. Their eyes would shine almost feverishly and their breathing would be irregular. It was anyone's guess what they'd been doing but Orihime knew better... she just hoped that her classmates weren't anywhere near as observant as she was.