Misaki

I woke up well rested and ready to forget everything and move forward. I'd fooled myself into thinking I was over it all, but now I really needed to be over it. And the best thing to do was to find someone else. I needed to find someone normal that I could be with often, that didn't have odd habits, and use me when they felt like it. Usagi was a great person...but I wasn't the one for him. I'd come to realize it. I shoved my books into my bag and headed to the university early. I would figure out how to do that math problem and solve my problems.

I sat at my usual table in the library flipping back to the page of my math homework where I'd left off. I started tackling it step by step. I need to tackle the problems in my life step by step not all at the same time. It didn't work. It's what I'd bee doing, trying to forget it all at once. I looked up to see Miyagi. He was sitting in the window leisurely reading a book. He looked like a different person. I rested my chin on my hands. In a way, he was the one who turned everything around for me. All because of that scholarship.

Even before then he was another constant presence in the library. I began to come here often and so I would see him often. Sometimes there was a quick greeting, sometimes when it was crowded he'd sit at a table and read next to me. It was always a comfortable silence and a safe presence. He'd be a nice person to be friends with. He looked up and locked eyes with me. I looked away after a couple seconds and went back to the problem in front of me.

Miyagi

It was raining hard by the end of the day. I watched it pour down the windows and flood the outside corridors. I thought about going home alone in the weather and wasn't for it at all, not that I'd be for it if the weather was nice. I grabbed my bag and an umbrella and got ready to trek through the mud soaked grounds of the university. Kids were running with their bags over their heads to catch the bus. I'd parked a little far away this morning. When it rained the parking lot was a mad house. I wasn't in the mood to try and get through that.

I looked up and spotted Misaki standing under an overhang. He glanced left and then right. It seemed he was trying to wait out the rain. He was already soaked from head to toe. I made my way over. "How about I give you a ride?" He looked surprised. He looked like he wanted to refuse but he glanced up at the sky. The rain was relentless.

"Are you sure? Is it out of your way?" He crossed his arms. His teeth were practically chattering.

"I've already offered so it doesn't matter now." He smiled.

"I guess your right." We walked to my car together, me on the side of the sidewalk where cars were the closest. I'd seen first hand how clumsy this kid was. I reached for my blanket in the backseat and placed it over the seat.

"Now you don't have to worry about getting it wet." Misaki lived on the nice side of town where I imagined he might. A nice blue house at the end of the road. It was small but cozy looking. The lights were on inside making it look very warm. I girl was standing on the porch looking worried clutching an umbrella. I pulled up and let Misaki out the closest I could manage. He waved to the girl who looked relieved. She ran outside and returned with a towel.

"Thanks Professor." He made me sound so...old.

"It's no problem and Miyagi is fine." He nodded.

"Miyagi then. Thanks a lot. You're a lifesaver." He smiled and shut the door before running into the girls arms. She looked like she was scolding him about something. Before I could wonder if it was his girlfriend a man in a suit appeared and kissed her goodbye before walking out to his car with a wave. I drove off towards my own lonely home.