"...he's just so out-of-this-world. They don't make them like that anymore."
― Camilla Isley, I Wish for You

Chapter 4

"Why are you so quiet today?" Hinata asked. He and Komaeda were watching a movie together on the couch that Sunday afternoon.

Komaeda frowned. "I'm watching a movie. It's polite to be quiet."

Hinata snorted and picked up his soda from the coffee table to take a sip. "You always talk during a movie."

"I do not."

"Yeah, you do. You predict what's going to happen all the time."

"Gee, thanks for telling me. I'll make sure not to do it anymore."

Hinata paused the movie and smacked his friend upside the head. "Spill."

Komaeda sighed and ruffled his hair. As quickly as he could he told his friend what had happened that Friday afternoon with Ruruka and Naegi and how in the end he had kissed her forehead before abruptly leaving after walking her home.

Hinata scowled and cursed. "Naegi is okay though right?"

Komaeda nodded quickly. "I don't know what Ruruka and her friends were trying to do to her but it looks like Naegi won."

Hinata grinned and laughed. "It looks like she's still taking Martials arts at least," he crossed his legs under him and turned to his friend, "And about the kiss, I don't think she'll be bothered by it. Though you should probably just confess already." He muttered the quietly.

"What was that?"

"Nothing. Nothing at all."

Komaeda frowned but let it go. He twiddled his fingers anxiously before he looked up at Hinata's green eyes. "Maybe I should stop hanging out with her. Naegi would be better off that way."

He let out a yelp as his friend pinched his cheek. "You do that and you'll just hurt her feelings. Just let things play out, I'm sure things will work out. Plus, after spring week I'll be an official student at your school too."

Komaeda's eyes widened. "Your parents let you transfer?"

Hinata grinned and got off the couch as he looked up at the ceiling. "Yep, I finally get to leave that all boys school. I'll get to see girls again!" he yelled, a few tears slid down his cheeks and Komaeda laughed again. After spring break Komaeda thought, so three more weeks then. Having Hinata around will definitely be better.

Monday finally arrived and Komaeda had gotten up earlier than usual. He actually had time to eat breakfast and feed Lucky. It seemed his neighbor, Mrs. Takeshi, had brought him some groceries that morning. Ever since his parents had died two years ago in a plane crash, his neighbor kept checking up on him. One time she had run into him at the grocery store and noticed all he had on his cart was junk food. She'd scolded him and had promised to bring him groceries every week. Komaeda offered to pay her, his parents had left him a fortune, but she had declined. All she asked in return was to come eat dinner with her and her husband every now and then and they'd be even. Komaeda had agreed, and made sure to bring them gifts whenever he visited.

Komaeda put away the groceries in the fridge and after he finished washing his plate, headed off. Since it was still early, he decided to take the longer route to school. Komaeda was busy looking at the Sakura trees when he saw a familiar brunette on the opposite street. Naegi was sitting at a bench with her eyes closed. Probably listening to some music, judging by the earphones on her ears. Komaeda took a shaky breath to calm his nerves and crossed the street to meet her.

As soon as he was five feet in front of her, Naegi opened her eyes. She blinked at him before a smile bloomed on her face. Komaeda couldn't help but smile back at her; it was like just being in her presence unconsciously brought out a smile out of him. She patted the spot next to her and Komaeda took a seat. Naegi offered him an earphone and Komaeda put it on his ear before leaning back on the beach. A woman's voice started singing and Komaeda glanced at Naegi who had already closed her eyes again. Her hair was still wet from the shower she probably just took and god, she smelled absolutely fantastic.

Komaeda breathed in her scent, black currant and vanilla, before he closed his eyes and listened to the music. He didn't know how long they sat there, but he heard four different songs before Naegi pulled on his sleeve to get him up. Once they started walking Naegi turned to him. "Did you like any of the songs?"

Komaeda let out a whoosh of air before he turned to her. "Oh my god. Yes. That second song was amazing. It was a different artist right? I loved how it started with the piano."

Naegi nodded excitably, her eyes were smiling. "Raise the Dead by Rachel Robin. I love that song! The way it starts with the piano and they way her voice gets louder at the end-amazing!"

Komaeda could see the top of the school building by now. "It's definitely amazing. That other song too, the one with the guy singing-that one was pretty good too."

They were pulling up to the school gates. Komaeda didn't want the conversation to end yet. He was dimly aware of the other students glancing at them.

Komaeda ignored them.

"Oh that was probably Titus Was Born by Young the Giant," Naegi said, "I'll show you their other albums later, they're one of my favorites too."

Ruruka and her boyfriend were glaring at them but Komaeda ignored them too.

They were still talking when they reached Naegi's locker. Komaeda simply leaned against one of the lockers and nodded whenever it was appropriate. A few girls passed by and said good morning to Naegi before eyeing him warily. One of the girls stopped and mumbled a small good morning to him too before she was dragged away by her friend.

Komaeda looked at Naegi in surprise. She simply shrugged and said they were probably starting to warm up to him. Komaeda snorted but felt a little happy nonetheless.

Naegi tried to remember the first time she saw him.

Because she could, Naegi had always had a pretty good memory after all. And remembering the first time she saw Komaeda Nagito came pretty easily to her. How could it not, when he had bumped into her and sent them both crashing to the floor?

The first thing she noticed was his hair. That unruly, shoulder-length messy hair that was in need of a haircut. And then his eyes, she'd never seen anyone with grayish green eyes like his before. He'd apologized to her before scrambling to his feet and running off somewhere at top speed. Soon after, a few boys ran after him. Kuzuryu and Owada were two that she recognized. Junko and Celestia who were with her at the time had scowled in his direction before they helped her up.

When Naegi had asked about him, all they had said was that he was bad news and that she should stay away from him. Naegi couldn't help but look after him. He had a pretty cool jacket she had thought.

She remembered feeling bad for him. People seemed to treat him pretty bad. Remembered seeing Kuzuryu stick out his leg during lunch when he passed by, making Komaeda fall face-first on his own food.

The rest of the students who had seen the whole thing had laughed at him as he got up. His cheeks had turned red from embarrassment, but he had simply dusted himself off before leaving the cafeteria.

She couldn't help but think he was pretty cool. Naegi couldn't help but stick out her own foot when Kuzuryu walked by her. She was gone by the time he'd gotten to his feet but his cursing could still be heard as she left the cafeteria. Naegi had smiled.

The next time she saw him was on a weekend. An elderly lady was having trouble crossing the street with all the bags she was carrying. Naegi had been on her way to help her out when she spotted a familiar head of white make his way to the old lady and she'd hurriedly hid behind a pole to see.

The woman sent him a relieved smile as Komaeda Nagito took her bags in one of his hands and offered her his other arm to cross the street. Naegi was still staring at him as he bade the woman goodbye and stuffed his hands on his pockets before turning a corner and disappearing.

The fourth time she saw him was after school at the library. Junko and Asahina had begged her to help them with their homework at the library when he had walked in. Students had turned to see who had come, and once they saw that it was none other than Komaeda Nagito, chairs scraped as everyone scowled and hurriedly left the library. Junko and Asahina had dragged her with them but Naegi glanced back to see Komaeda's lip wobbling. He then bit his lip and selected a book at random and taken a seat at one of the tables. His back straight, his shoulders tense.

Naegi instantly felt bad and had brushed off her friends' hands before making her way back to the library. She picked a book she had wanted to read for a while and took a seat next to him. He'd glanced at her in surprise before looking around. Probably wondering why she'd taken a seat next to him when there were other tables around.

He didn't say anything though and his tense shoulders began to gradually relax as time passed by. Naegi smiled internally and continued reading her book. After that, the whole "my- stomach-is-growling-how-embarrassing scene happened and Naegi had wanted to sink to the floor. She'd forgotten her wallet that day, and although her friends had offered to share some of their food with her, she had refused. Perhaps she should have taken their food offer after all she'd thought as she hurriedly got up and went to the restroom.

Thankfully, the school bell had rung and Naegi had thanked whatever gods had been listening to her before she made her way out and noticed the yogurt sitting on her desk. She looked around, but it seems Komaeda Nagito had already left. Still…she couldn't help but smile as she picked up the little treat.

She'd wanted to thank him for the yogurt by giving him something in return. After calling her mom to ask her how to make cookies, she had pulled up her sleeves and gotten to work. It wasn't until the fourth batch that she was satisfied. Cooking was hard. She'd wanted to give it to him in person but her friends had insisted she help them with their homework. And so, after finally agreeing, she quickly made her way to the library and left the cookies on his usual seat. She frowned and quickly took out a post-it from her bag and scribbled something before placing it on the small bag and left the library.

The next day, Naegi had kept glancing at him from the corner of her eye all day at school. Had he not liked the cookies? Perhaps he hadn't even tried them. Naegi deflated at the thought. When she made her way to the library after school, she had already managed to make herself depressed. She had taken her seat next to him, but he didn't say anything. Biting her lip, Naegi inwardly sighed and began to read when he cleared his throat and spoke up.

She glanced at him in surprise.

"The cookies," he said, while fiddling with his a strand of his hair, "they were good."

Naegi smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. "I'm glad," She said.

Not knowing what else to say, Naegi got out her ipod and put on her earphones. Midway through a song, she noticed him staring at her every now and then. She smiled and offered him her right earphone.

He jumped in surprise and Naegi smiled. "Are you sure?" he asked her.

"Sure, here."

Once he'd put on the right earphone she told him the name of the song before she leaned close to him and said, "By the way, I'm Naegi Makoto, it's nice to meet you."

Komaeda had turned red and Naegi couldn't help but think it was adorable. "Komaeda Nagito. It's nice to meet you too."

I know she'd wanted to say.

I'd wanted to talk you for a while.

I think you're pretty amazing.

Knowing that that would be creepy, Naegi had simply leaned closer and smiled at him. She had a feeling that they were going to become good friends. She was absolutely positive.