School Days: Into the Depths of Desire

Chapter 2: From Rejection to Redemption

Makoto strolled into the classroom casually as he weaved through desks with an awkward grace. Makoto slumped down into his spot next to Sekai without giving his counterpart even as much as a glance, he gave the feeling as if he didn't really know her well at all, as if she meant nothing to him. Sekai slightly felt it at the beginning, but the feeling of being ignored grew to prominence in her mind.

It started to dull her focus on the teacher's lecture even further, it was almost as if she could feel the deliberation in his avoidance of even a slight glance or motion towards her. Sekai didn't want to lose Makoto like this, for the memories of her that he had be made completely meaningless, reduced to nothing, that would bring her even more pain, even more sadness.

As Makoto got up to leave Sekai tried to bring herself to speak to him, something, anything, but found she couldn't, any feeling or thought she could articulate to bring him closer to her as she felt his presence drift away from her, up over the horizon, past the great spectacle of her mind. Makoto silently and efficiently brushed past Sekai as he niftily turned his head up and towards the door, Makoto knew he was getting to her.

At least he hoped he had achieved something in this game he was playing with her and at last he received an acknowledgement that he had gotten through as Sekai went to lift her hand up towards Makoto as he was already past her and she deftly roughed gently the back of his shirt as she was going to tug him back to speak with him, but at the last moment before she would close the cloth between her fingers her hand faltered and she decided not to.

Ah, but he felt it all the same, quickly his mind shifting, he stopped after a few steps away from Sekai's chair and turned around slowly, casually, without much care to anything at all.

Makoto, "Sekai, is something wrong?" he said concernedly with a ring of neutrality to his disposition and voice.

Sekai, "No, nothing's wrong, heh" she said as she hastily pulled herself out of her seat on the bench while forcing a fake smile to Makoto and as Makoto turned away he saw that fake smile falter.

Makoto, "Okay then" he said almost nonchalantly making his way to the door and out of the classroom. Yes, Sekai was back in play, both him and Sekai knew that now, they just didn't know what cards the other held. The time would come for them to play their hands as well for Kotonoha; though she did not yet know she was in the game.

Makoto instead of spending lunch with the once bothersome Kotonoha, he had decided to take a breather on the roof to analyze his situation a bit more and to try and figure what cards Sekai and Kotonoha held, how they would play them, and how it would affect him. Now he had gone and met up with Kotonoha and they walked home together.

Kotonoha came and took Makoto's hand and they started to walk, calmly, slowly, as Makoto began to think more deeply about Kotonoha and decided he should try and get a spark going to gain some control, in this aspect of his game he would lead Kotonoha into pushing herself to be 'mentally prepared' as she had 'failed' to be before. It was not something of utmost importance as holding her in his hand, but it was still a goal, an objective of sorts, a thing to be accomplished.

Makoto, "Hey Kotonoha"

Kotonoha, "Yes, Makoto?"

Makoto, " Would you like to try doing some Karaoke tomorrow?"

Kotonoha, "Oh I'm not very good and I haven't really done it much before"

Makoto, "Oh okay the-"

Kotonoha, "But I'll try my best" she said cutting him off before he could end the whole affair, which was a chance to become closer to him and to bring him closer to her so perhaps she could understand him better. "If it's for Makoto" she added under her breath.

Makoto, "Sure"

By this time they had reached the station and the couple boarded the train together as the train slowed to a stop and the doors parted for its passengers. On the train Makoto sat down with Kotonoha and their conversation had ended as Kotonoha leaned her head against Makoto's shoulder as the train pulled away from the station and went on to its destinations.

Kotonoha soon closed her eyes and it was unclear if she was really asleep or not. Makoto then put his hand over Kotonoha's as they rested together on the train and he felt a slight reaction from Kotonoha that indicated she was awake as he touched her hand without clasping it.

Makoto thought more about Kotonoha and Sekai and thought perhaps it really was a bit too soon to throw away the seemingly hopeless Kotonoha as she just may have some interesting potential just yet. Sekai was definitely still in play though, they both were, but it was about time Kotonoha had a change of hand. Makoto would innocently and ever so slightly let her know,

about the game she was involved in, it would be a tough move to pull off, but it was just one of those strategic moves you felt you had to play, for the joy in finally pulling it off would be immense.

Makoto nudged Kotonoha as the man called out, "Haramihama… Haramihama" for their stop. Kotonoha slowly, but with increasing speed got up and followed Makoto as he gently pulled her hand that he now grasped. The pair walked a little ways out from the station towards each of their destinations before the point they would part, each smiling inside for their different reasons.

At the point of their split, Kotonoha turned slowly towards Makoto and Makoto in turn rotated himself towards her as she leant forwards slightly into him and brought her face closer towards his and gliding her lips out and upwards into his she closed the seal between them and after a brief yet deep convulsion from each of their lips the kiss ended and she left Makoto.

Kotonoha, "See you for Karaoke tomorrow" she said beaming as she hurried off in the direction of her own house leaving Makoto to ponder further. Makoto thought more about Kotonoha as he lifted his feet to trudge in his own direction to his apartment. Makoto felt the hand that he would play for Kotonoha would prove even more interesting indeed.

Perhaps she wasn't in play for some serious things yet, but she was still very much in play, and he would still reap much from her and Sekai. He still had a card up his sleeve; he still had a card to play next, with the ace up his sleeve, which would he play next, the King or the Queen?

Next Chapter: Karaoke

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