As Chizuru grew further into her own thoughts, something tingled her mind, just a second. She paid no real heed. Than someone started walking in her general direction, facing to her other side…but still caught her attention. She noticed the tall figure. Wearing the customary black uniform, it would seem no one special…but it somehow always suited him, that serious look.

He paced at his own, looking in her direction while seeming to pass in front of her, to walk only past her….except he kept his neutral gaze a bit longer. Neutral sure, but instantly piercing.
She understood the tingling in her mind, warning her.
"I know him…?..!"
She stared, confused.

His face looked as if he wanted to say something, yet, it remained as neutral as it had to begin with… He continued to walk past.
"Maybe he doesn't remember me….but I think I know him". She pondered lightly, watching him pass by her. As she let the confusion fade, her heart sunk a bit.

Fading into thought again, the bell rang and woke her. Time flew faster than she wanted…how was she going to think straight like this?

Sitting down in her seat, Chizuru answered to attendance, and listened to her teacher, taking notes, and nodding off occasionally. Before anyone knew it, the day had been over.

Dismissed, Chizuru packed up her things and headed home into the heat outside.

Her mind had so many things to think about; school, and with school, her future…..but once in awhile…she remembered that face…..she tried so hard to place it.

Making her way inside, Chizuru headed upstairs. She sat on her bed, sighing. She put her bag down beside her, and groaned miserably.

"No….I don't know him…." She shoke her head anxiously. "This is too much….what do I do? Talk to him?...he's obviously my sempai-tall, handsome, and obviously older….not saying, it's a bad thing….ahh~!...too much for one day….just, ..for one day..let me feel peace…"

As if whatever forces dare send her into emotional torment, it relaxed. She realized just how tired her offbeat day had made her, in combination with the hot weather.

"I'm going to skip supper tonight…..I hope they don't mind" she mumbled quietly.

Her brother left a soft knock on his sister's door, only to find there was no response. He gave a raised eyebrow frown. "She's probably beat…..I'll leave her be". His sister usually came for supper…but if she didn't answer, he didn't bother her, walking casually downstairs back to the supper table. Their father nodded and the boys left her meal aside for school.

5 hours it had been? No…She looked up at her alarm clock. "12:30".

"I slept in…I really did…and I feel so tired still, so why did I wake?"

"Chizuru….." a voice, a distant, shrouded voice called. Somewhere, in her mind…

"….What?...who…."

She paused.
Than a sudden pang struck her. Like a headache you forgot you had, till you stood up, she grasped her head in her hands.
"What is it?..!...what do you want?" she sprang up, sitting on the edge of her bed.

The voice was silent…..but an image formed in her mind. A clouded, foggy image…but a familiar forgotten face….no.
"I saw…I saw that face today….do I know you?"

"This man….yes, you do. Don't let his appearance intimidate you…." It continued.
"So, whatever you are, you are not him….who are you? Who is he?"

"You will remember…but I am not important. I am only someone who exists to make fates form together….you will remember me not…."

"Um…." She stumbled…

"Save it….just don't wait too long…...don't regret it.." the voice faded, with the clouds, and the images.

"That was too much….." she mumbled, hiding her face in her knees.
"Obviously, this has to do with something at school, so….I'm just going to sleep and deal with it tomorrow".

Sooner done than said, she fell asleep.

The next day in class seemed to drag on. Feeling like she hadn't slept was for sure no help.
Worrying about her weird intervention, her mind was foggy, like the fog she felt in herself before.

Chizuru went home drained. She had a quick supper, the family sat in silence. Chizuru was the only one who would have had anything to talk about, but something was bothering her too much to say. They left her be another night.

She went to bed not feeling the same presence, but it left a linger inside of her. The man's face from the previous lunch break appeared, but she'd brush it off, even if it didn't last. Finally she rolled on her right side and fell asleep.

If her last day of class wasn't exciting, likely it would make up for it the next day…right? Sometimes karma does that.

The first thing she did was stumble outside fast, and stumble just as clumsily (yet somehow dodging people), into the school entrance. The large doors proved at times difficult when she was in a hurry.

As lame as she felt, there was was….. falling over, and hitting someone on the ground…also, hoping it was a girl, because than she wouldn't have to worry about blushing and running off, only to forget her books, and than, have some boy follow her.

Today was not such luck.

"You…." He spoke, in thought. His voice was lingering in her ears for a moment. She paused unaware….than looked up.
Victim to a clumsy girl late for class, was this face from the other day. His eyes showed no hostility, nor desperation to help her up. He merely looked at her. She blushed.

"I-…..I'm sorry…" she whined, ashamed. He was sitting on the floor staring at her, who had been kneeled over trying to pick up her stuff, but too confused to bother. For a moment she had forgot there were plenty of people around.
As his eyes seemed to finish scanning her existence, he merely smiled subtly. "It's okay…..Chizuru"

"Uh-wha? You know me?"|

"I think I do….." he gazed an amused smile. Something about it annoyed her, it was like he was teasing her…but meant no harm. It also seemed familiar.

"Uh…..well" she observed her situation, sitting flat on the floor, "I think we should at least get off the floor….I feel silly"
A hand extended towards her.
"Oh!...no…you don't have to…I was the one who ran into you….really…it's okay" she shook her head. She tried to read him, but it was not of much use….instead she nervously caught his doctile eyes and bit her lip.

"I'm going to help you up…and you are new, so….I will also, help with your books…" he looked away.
"ok-….No…I'm helping you. It's my fault!...don't think I'm a damsel in distress because I'm clumsy". A faint chuckle arose from infront of her. He seemed to be amused by her upfrontness.
"I really can't reason with you, can I?"

At that moment, she felt a rush of nostalgia run through her. It lasted for second, than opened into a wide aura in her mind…like opening a long-locked door.

"Hijikata-san?" her voice poked out from her soul.

"You know my name, too….somehow, it's not surprising." Silence. " I should get you to class….you're late. I have a spare block, so don't worry about me." He spoke in a calm, commanding voice.

She nodded. Can't argue with being helped to class at times like this.

He held his hand out again, and she reached for it.
He smiled at her, and for some reason, she couldn't help returning it.

Chizuru stood up, and picked up her backpack.
"Let's go…" he picked up her books as she held her bag out, him dropping them inside.

While most students were too busy with each other, or their own shedules, the odd few stared at the odd couple walking briskly towards the left hallway.
"I didn't know our sempai had a relationship with a younger student…" a middle-class student watched from a distance.
"Being sempai doesn't mean much in college….were all technically in the same boat now" her closeby male colleague corrected her. "Let them be".

While Chizuru slipped inside her classroom, she looked at him a moment in desperation, like letting someone go without knowing their name. He read her face, and handed her a crunched piece of paper.
"This is my class schedule. I don't need it now, but you can keep it…"
"Why?...isn't this a bit odd?"
"I just want you to know I'm around….and you can feel free to find me after class. Don't worry, you'll see me again…and I you.."

Blushing, she stared at him as he smiled sympathetically. Without delay, he waved and was on his way.

Holding the paper close, She snuck into her seat, and hid it in her pocket. As much as she wanted to think about him, she had to catch up on her class's lesson briefing.
Setting her mind to work, Chizuru got caught up with her school work, and finished everything on time. Except of course for the homework handed over.
"Study this tonight. We will have a brief quiz tomorrow morning. Class dismissed"

As soon as the teacher gathered his belongings, and the students crowded and shuffled out of their chairs, Chizuru allowed herself to think about the object tucked in her pockets.

"…..I can meet him after class…."she pulled the paper out and looked for his recent lecture room."Upstairs…" she swallowed, " I haven't even been up there yet…..I'm going to get lost….." she grumbled hopelessly.

"I see you are done class…." A voice spooked her from behind.
She looked over her shoulder "Hijikata-sa-….I mean, Sempai?"

"Don't worry about the formalities…I'm Hijikata all the same" He proclaimed.

"Sorry…" she lowered toward her desk.
"Don't be"

She stood up out of her chair, not realizing how close he was. She faced him as he stood rigid, calmly observing her actions. Her face didn't quite meet his, for he was rather tall, but she than looked up to find it still stoic.
"U-um…" She blushed.
His eyes remained placid, unmoving….yet, they seemed open, and somehow reaching.
Hijikata felt a calm urge to reach out to her, but his hand wouldn't go further than halfway towards her.
It had been years….how he recognized her, he didn't know….but he knew something drew them. Otherwise, it was just….not him to feel that way. Not for a single girl his whole life in school, not one….but her, suddenly….she was different.

He choked over his thoughts.
"I feel like a string holds me to you…..is that strange?"
"…No…."
He raised an eyebrow at her lack of emphasis.

She started again, gulping. "I feel something too…..oh, how am I even able to say it….I should be running, falling over something….and hiding my face at supper so my brother cannot tease me"
"You are very forward with that…..it sounds rather embarrassing" he looked at her quizzically.
"Yes….but, I'm…embarrassing…." She frowned, lowering her eyes.

"No…" he pat her on the head. "Whatever you were, I obviously took a liking to you"
"Eh…." Her speechless face burned.

"I'll walk you home". His stern, yet mellow voice offered no reconsidering.
"I don't know if that's a good idea…."
"It is, because I'm going to make sure you don't forget about me again" he smiled.

"This is a little hard to forget" she looked away, nervously smiling.
"You are right…maybe I just want to remember you…let's take a walk" He picked up her bag.
"I guess I better follow now….except, you don't know where I live" she questioned his authority.

"Right again," he laughed at himself. "Lead the way, Chizuru…"

-
Aw!...I'm so sorry…I neglected…I did not forget!...just…T_T…I put it off, or, I forgot at one point…and some days, I just waited too long, and it was like, 3am…oh, haha..it's already 3:20 am.
I was also busy…and have so many things on my mind…..I always do, most of the time….taking life so seriously, overthinking…many things. Sometimes I need a friend like Chizuru myself XDD….to kick me out of my forehead-wrinkle causing moods.