Chapter 3: Nadeshiko Misaki

The next day was a Friday and Ryusei managed to convince Ohsugi-sensei to excuse him from homeroom. Ryusei had his idea set. He was going to find Nadeshiko, the real one, and convince her to go on a blind date with Gentaro.

Somehow.

He waited around his homeroom class, apparently class was midway done. He peeked through and saw her writing diligently about some essay of some sort. One of the teachers walking down the halls saw Ryusei and they chatted for a good 20 minutes, with the teacher mentioning how Ryusei's more outgoing now.

"It's thanks to a friend of mine, I owe him so much and I'm just here to repay him."

"Well it's good that you're thinking of others Sakuta-kun! Your friend is lucky to have you there to help him."

The teacher left and class was about to end, it was going to be lunchtime after this so it looks like his timing was good.

The bell rang and the halls flooded with students. Ryusei waited right outside the door for Nadeshiko but she didn't come out. He walked inside the class and saw her finishing her essay, walking up and turning it in to the basket.

He approached her as she was packing her things and spoke

"Nadeshiko Misaki-san?"

She looked up in surprise, she recognized him but couldn't remember his name.

"Ah, I know your name, what is it…"

"I'm Sakuta Ryusei."

"Oh! Ryusei-san! Mr Transfers Because He Doesn't Like Subaraboshi."

She sarcastically said with a smile.

"Yeah, that's me."

She had packed her last thing and stood up at Ryusei.

"So what is it? Is something up?"

He asked her straight up,

"Could you maybe take a walk with me? I want to talk to you about something."

She was a bit surprised but decided to, because why not.

"Sure."

They were walking down the nearly empty halls that were still somehow crowded with conversation and Ryusei began to talk.

"I know this is gonna come out of nowhere but I need to ask you something."

Nadeshiko gave him a questioned look, she wondered if he was going to ask her out.

"Um, sure. What is is it?"

Almost instantly after she said that he asked,

"Do you have a boyfriend?"

She was taken aback by the blunt question, certainly she was surprised.

"Well, if you must know, I don't. But are you asking what I think you're asking?"

As she said this her eyebrows raised, she thought Ryusei was going to ask her out. I mean she wouldn't mind going on a date with him, he certainly is more social than the last time she saw him.

"This is going to sound weird since I don't really know you but… could you please go on a blind date with a friend of mine? Please." He said as he bowed his head.

Nadeshiko was taken aback by this, what a swerve. She was surprised but she began to think about it.

"Well Ryusei-san, just so you know I only do favors for people who are my friends."

Ryusei didn't know how to respond to that, he lifted his head but couldn't formulate a sentence to say. But Nadeshiko flashed a smile at him and said

"Good thing we're friends now, Ryusei!"

Now it was his turn to be surprised, he looked at her with a blank deer in the headlights expression.

"You dropped my honorific…"

"Yep, that's what friends do!"

They exchanged phone numbers and she walked him to the school exit.

"So this person I'm meeting, he's a student at Amanogawa?"

"Yeah, he is. He's a great guy, even if he's a bit dense."

As he turned to leave he bid his farewell to the witty and friendly girl.

"Bye Nadeshiko, and thank you."

"It's no problem, really. Goodbye Meteor-kun!"

"Eh?"

His mind was racing, how did she know? Was she there when the school was…

He turned around only to see a smiling girl waving at him, he raised his hand rather timidly to signify goodbye and left.

As he was walking back to his house he was left to his thoughts. Only one thing was on his mind, and it wasn't the blind date, it wasn't him leaving Amanogawa, it wasn't even Tomoko which usually creeps into his thoughts if he's thinking alone.

'Did Shirakawa-kun tell her?'