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

3

The day was beginning to get late and it was time for the students to be dismissed from school. Usually, Natsume would greet each of them wholeheartedly before she would leave for home. But this time, Sasayan noticed she didn't do any of that. He didn't know why he did, maybe it became part of his everyday life in school that when it came to a time that it never happened, it bothered him.

He looked around for Natsume, but instead he only found Mitty. She was walking her way towards the gate and Sasayan decided to ask her if ever she knew where Natsume was.

"Oh. Natsume-san?" Shizuku said. "I think she left already."

"She did?" Sasayan said, a little too stunned.

"Yes." Shizuku replied.

Sasayan noticed the way Mitty looking at him and he quickly smiled.

"Oh so, that's it." He just said, hoping it would take Mitty's weird stare off. It's not like she should doubt or anything, anyway. "Where's Haru, by the way?" He added. Just to make sure. "Shouldn't you two be together?"

He noticed Mitty's face turn red. "I told him to go first."

Now it was Sasayan's turn to give her a weird stare. "Okay." He said. "I have to go now too. Bye." He waved his arms and pedaled on with his bike, leaving Shizuku alone, standing still. He called to her as soon as he reached the gate. "Oi Shizuku! Haru's here."

Shizuku saw Sasayan being grabbed by two hands. He almost fell in his bike. "You shouldn't have done tha-" She heard Haru say. Haru stopped as soon as he noticed Shizuku can see him now. He grinned. Having the chance, Sasayan went off.

"I'll be going first now." Sasayan said. "Byeeee." Then he was gone.

"That little brat." Haru said.

Sasayan left school with a happy face. It's nice to have a little teasing now and then. When he turned to a corner though, his face turned from a grin to a bit of surprise. Nasume was walking there, and a little too slow, by the way. It was as if she was sulking, which Sasayan really thought of.

He went closer to where she was walking and she straightened when she heard him call her name.

"Sa-Sasayan-kun?" She turned around and saw Sasayan waving his left hand to her. She waved back and smiled, but it quickly disappeared.

"Ah- what's the matter Natsume-san?" Sasayan said as soon as he caught up to her. He pedaled on his bike slowly to keep up with her pace. He rode beside her. He wanted to go a little ahead so he can see her face clearly, but he decided not to. It would be weird.

"Nothing."

"Nothing?" Sasayan said. "I might not be very good at guessing, but I think you're lying."

"Why would you say that?" Natsume relied.

"It's just…" Sasayan said, finding it a bit difficult to continue his sentence. "Where's the usual 'Goodbye' with a big smile plastered on your face right before you go home?"

"Oh that." Natsume said. "You saw right through me, huh." Natsume managed a little laugh. "Stupid Sasayan."

Sasayan's eyes widened in reaction. "Me? What did I do?"

"It's my math score." Natsume admitted. "I know myself I'm not really good at it, but that exam, I was hoping at least I got a hold of it. I mean, I was sure. I studied."

"Oh." Sasayan said. "Yeah. Mine's pretty bad too."

"But you still got a higher score than me." Natsume bawled like a child.

"Yeah. Got lucky, I guess." Sasayan said. He found it a little hard to keep up with her pace, since it's difficult to keep a good balance if you're pedaling slow. "Ah- Natsume-san?"

"Yeah?" Natsume said, turning towards him.

"Would you like to ride on the back?" He asked innocently. "It's kind of hard to keep my balance. And it's rude to tell you to go faster so…"

"Then you should go ahead then."

"Yeah." Sasayan said. "Maybe I should. But I don't want to..." He stopped. Then he looked at her curiously. "Does this have something to do with-"

"No." Natsume didn't let him continue his sentence. "I just want to walk... for now."

Sasayan didn't reply. Instead, he sighed. Natsume noticed a lot of shuffling from her side and she noticed Sasayan was getting off his bike. "What are you doing?" Natsume said.

"Getting off." Sasayan said. "Isn't It obvious?" He looked at her. "Just kidding. I'm walking with you, if that's what really answers your question.

"You… don't have to do that, you know." Natsume said, her face facing the floor.

"Like I said, I don't want to." He said.

Natsume didn't reply.

"And it's not what you think, too." Sasayan added.

Natsume didn't say a word as they walked. Sasayan thought it was a little too awkward walking to a girl without saying anything, so he decided to talk. "Hey."

Natsume didn't reply.

"Hey." Sasayan poked her.

Natsume was brought back to her senses. It was as if she forgotten Sasayan was on her side. "Oh. Sorry. I was just thinking."

"If you're still worried about your score," Sasayan started saying. "Don't be."

"Don't be? Why?" Natsume said.

"Because there's still a lot of time then. And at that time, you can spend it with me." Sasayan told her as if he was lecturing a kid. "And Mitty, and Haru. And pretty sure Mitty can help you out."

"But what if it would still never work?" Natsume said.

"Just hope it would." Sasayan said.

"Okay." Natsume said.

Sasayan smiled. He was thankful she at least listened.

"Sasayan-kun?" Natsume said. "Thank you."

"Ah… It's nothing." He said.

The silence enveloped them again for a little longer. It wasn't until they were almost at Natsume's house that she spoke. "Hey… you didn't have to stay with me that long. See, you ended up walking me home."

Sasayan looked ahead and noticed the place wasn't very familiar.

"That's my house over there." Natsume said. "Thanks… again. I feel like I should be treating you or anything."

Sasayan was surprised himself. For some reasons, he didn't notice that he stayed with her longer than he should have. "You don't have to." He said. "I'll be going off now."

Natsume smiled. "Where's your house by the way, Sasayan-kun?"

Sasayan pointed back to the road they had just walked through.

"You- your house is way over there? Sasayan-kun!" Natsume spoke a little too loudly.

Sasayan scratched his head. "Sorry, I didn't notice myself. But it's okay. Really."

"Now I really feel like I should treat you or anything." Natsume said. "Gaaah, why didn't you tell me your house was way over there? Now you have to walk for a great distance again. You could've saved a lot of energy and time…"

Natsume was babbling. "Really. It's okay, Natsume san." Sasayan said. "Besides, I have my bike, so it isn't really much trouble."

"Sorry." Natsume said. She looked down. "Really."

"You don't have to." He said. They were now in front of her house. Even by that, Sasayan still continued to walk with her. He didn't know what's going on with him. "So- ah. I think it's enough."

"More than enough!" Natsume said. "Thanks… again. Seriously! For listening and being with me." Natsume said, clearly embarrassed. She bowed to Sasayan before going in her house. Actually, running.

Sasayan was left staring at their door. As soon as it closed, he sighed. "Seriously, why didn't I notice such an obvious thing." He adjusted his bike to turn towards the other direction. "I guess she was right, stupid Sasayan." He found himself smiling. He rode away.