"An apology is the superglue of life! It can repair just about anything!"- Lynn Johnston
My name is Smith Kaito, Kaito Smith. I was in an accident. I lost my left hand and lower left leg. My parents are Johnathan Smith and Harumi Yamamoto. I live at Yamaku Academy. I upset a girl. Her name was Hanako. I'm going to apologise today.
I was tired. I woke up early today. I wanted to remember Hanako. I even drew her in a sketch. Was that weird?
She came in ten minutes later than everyone else. I was confused why no one thought it was weird, but I will not ask. The question upset her so I will not ask her.
The teacher spoke again. We were to look in groups. Hisao, Misha and Shizune again it seemed.
Shizune and Misha were talking to Hisao about something. I wasn't really paying attention, rather I was looking around the classroom, trying not to stare at Hanako for too long. I didn't want to scare her.
I was thinking, trying to rehearse my apology:
Hi, I'm Kaito (No, she knows who I am)
Hi Hanako, I-
"Kaito?" came a voice. It was Misha "What are you doing?"
"Hanako" I said without thinking.
"What about Hanako?" she asked
"She's alone"
"Do you feel sorry that she's alone?"
"Yeah. Can she work with us?"
"No" her voice was surprsingly final "I don't think that would be a good idea"
"Why not?" I was confused
"Shicchan wouldn't get along with her"
That seemed mean, so I asked again "Why not?"
Misha laughed again, which I felt was inappropriate, even if was thankfully being quieter than usual. "Just because, Kaito"
"That's not an answer" I protested.
Shizune and Hisao take notice at this point. Shizune signed something "What Shicchan?" Misha reacted "The friend of my enemy is my enemy? That sound so harsh. I'm not going to say that"
"You said it anyway" Hisao noted
"I know" Misha smiled for some reason before translating Shizune's next sentence "We should start answering the problems now"
So they got back to work. I did try to help out this time, although I still only managed the smallest contribution.
As class ended for lunch and Shizune and Misha broke into an argument about good places for lunch, I saw Hanako still sitting in her chair. She was staring at the open door, as if expecting something, or someone.
This was my chance. I got up and marched over to her. "H-Hi Hanako"
"Kai... Kaito?" she reacted like I had just dropped out of the sky.
I just stood there, my mind blank from my nerves "I... uh..."
Hanako doesn't even blink, her violet eyes locked with mine in an awkward staring contest.
"Sorry!" I said louder than I meant, making her flinch "I'm sorry I scared you. I, uh, didn't mean to"
"It's, uh... Its-"
"I mean, I'm new and I'm not very good at this, I mean I'm not good with people and I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable..." I stopped to take a breath, only to lose my train of thought (what little there was anyway) I just hung my head in shame "I'm sorry"
"It's... It's okay" Hanako said "It... It was my fault"
"No" I shook my head "It was mine. I'm sorry"
She kept staring at the door "Are you waiting for someone?"
"Y-Yes..." she nodded "Lilly"
"Lilly" My mind strained to remember her "The blonde blind one?"
A nod was my response.
"You're...friends?"
"Y-Yes" She started fidgeting again. I was making her nervous again.
"I'm weird" I said by way of apology, hanging my head "I don't mean to make you nervous"
"N-no," she shakes her head "That's not it. It's easier if Lilly doesn't come here"
"Why?"
"It's... uh..." she starts to say, looking past me in Shizune's direction.
"Shizune?"
She nodded.
""The friend of my enemy is my enemy"" I muttered, remembering her words "They're enemies?"
She shook her head. Did that mean yes or no?
"Hey Lilly" came Hisao's voice. Hanako and I both looked to the door. Lilly had arrived. Hisao had already moved to go speak with her.
"Hello, Hisao" Lilly nods at the boy.
Hanako gets up and moves to the blonde's side in a blur "Lilly" she smiled.
"Ah, Hanako. Good morning" Lilly spoke "Shall we be off?"
"Um... Hi Lilly" I said, making my way over.
"My my, is that Kaito as well?" she responds
"Uh, yes" I speak, still trying not to make eye contact.
"It's good to speak with you. How are you today?"
"Um, good. I uh, spoke to Hanako. Said sorry"
She nods, her expression pleased "Excellent"
"Um... Lilly" Hanako spoke
Lilly nodded in acknowledgement "Okay then. I'm sorry Kaito, Hisao, but we must be off"
"Mind if I accompany you two?" Hisao asked
Lilly smiled "I'm sure that we could accomodate you, can't we, Hanako?"
Hanako looked at Lilly, then at Hisao, her eyes wide "S...Sure"
"Can I come?" I asked, before adding hurriedly "It's okay if I can't I mean it's already the three of you I'd understand if-"
Lilly cut me off, her words much clearer than mine "Of course. The more the merrier, right Hanako?"
Hanako still looked uncomfortable "Okay"
"Are you sure? I mean I know I'm not the best company-"
"You're fine" Lilly assured me. "Shall we go?"
A part of me still felt bad for speaking up. Hanako looked like she was about to have a heart attack. But I had been accepted. Saying no now would just be weird.
So off we went, all four of us together. Hanako practically clung to Lilly as they walked. Lilly seemed not to mind though. She was nicer than I feared.
Around the corner we went, when something sped past me and plowed into Hisao, knocking him flat. Hanako shrieked a little, even I made an involuntary noise.
"Ouch" Hisao groaned.
The thing that hit him was a girl. She was short, with lightish brown(?) hair, big green eyes and a PE uniform. She also had two fake legs. Despite that, the girl bounced to her feet with alarming speed.
"Aw man..." she said, speaking as quickly as she moved "Hey, are you alright? I'm sorry about that, really! I wasn't looking where I was going, and you just came out of nowehere. Sorry... Sorry!"
Hisao smiled with a pained grimace, rubbing his chest with his hand "Don't worry about it... ow" He went quiet for a moment, the look on his face painful and reddening.
"Hey," the girl said "Should I get a nurse?"
Hisao's face relaxed as he looked at her "No need, I'm fine"
"You looked sore" I noted.
The other boy steadily got to his feet and took a deep breath "I said I'm fine. Nothing's broken. No harm done"
"That's good!" the girl sighed
"What happened?" Lilly asked the air "Kairo? Hisao?" She sounded worried.
"Someone ran into Hisao" I explained "Looked sore"
"I'm just winded" Hisao said "Nothing serious"
"Er, sorry, it's my fault" the stranger spoke "I was just going to get some stuff, and I was in a kind of a hurry"
"That "someone" is Emi, isn't it?" Lilly asked
The girl coughed quietly and shuffled awkwardly on her feet "Hi, Lilly. Hanako"
"Do please try to be more careful" Lilly spoke in a tone that reminded me of one of my old teachers "You might be sturdy enough to endure these sorts of accident, but there are people who aren't"
"I know that!" The girl (sorry, Emi) spoke like a scolded child "I was just... Aah! I gotta go! Teacher'll have my head, I promised to help with printouts but I went running instead! Sorry, but I've gotta change and everything!" and like that, she was gone. The hallway silent once again.
"She's fast" I broke the silence.
"Does that kind of thing happen often around here?" Hisao asked Lilly
"There are more rules in Yamaku than usual for running in corridors" she explained with a sigh "But that rarely stops Emi, it seems. I don't think there's anything we can do to stop her, I'm afraid. Shall we be off, then?"
Thankfully, nothing else happened as we walked. We eventually came to the room where I first met Lilly. She explained that she and Hanako often had lunch here. I liked it. It was quiet. I liked quiet, at least the peaceful kind.
We all sit down as Lilly pours tea for us all. Everyone sat differently. Lilly sat with her eyes closed, a relaxed smile framing her features. Hisao was hunched forward, hands clasped with a thoughtful look. Hanako stared at the table, looking as still as stone. I could see the scars on her face underneath her hair. I was utterly fascinated by them, but I was still trying hard not to stare.
"Sorry" I said in the silence.
Hanako looked at me, but it was Lilly who responded "Whatever for, Kaito?"
"We're new" I said "We're different. Change. I know it's a bit... weird" I was trying to apologise to Hanako. I had the feeling that if Hisao and I weren't here, she'd be a lot more relaxed.
"Don't be silly, Kaito" Lilly smiled "Hanako and I are happy to have the both of you today. Isn't that right Hanako?"
Hanako looked at Lilly, then at me before speaking in a quiet voice "Yes"
Lilly nodded as if the matter was settled, then spoke to Hisao "How are you faring in Yamaku, Hisao? You seemed a bit flustered before"
"Apart from getting lost every now and again, and being crash-tackled outside my classroom? Fine I guess..."
"You..." Hanako spoke "You looked pretty hurt before. Are you really...okay?
Hisao went quiet for a moment "Yeah, it's nothing. I was just a bit startled"
"Are you sure?" I asked, feeling there was more to it than that.
"Yes" Hisao said, his voice certain.
I nodded in acceptance. My attention was diverted from the conversation by my cup, which made a funny noise when I ran a finger around its rim. It didn't seem like much time had passed before the bell rang, signalling the end of lunch.
"I guess I'd better be off" Lilly said as she packed away her lunch "Are you going to go with Hisao and Kaito, Hanako?"
Hanako looked like a deer in the headlights, but finally she said "Y-Yes"
Hisao nodded "We should hurry then. Class has already started by the sound of it"
So the four of us walked out together, stopping at class 3-2 for some reason. Oh yeah, this was Lilly's class.
"Hisao, Kaito, thank you for sharing lunch with us today" she said
"It was a pleasure, Lilly" Hisao responded
"Yeah" I added
Lilly went inside, leaving the three of us alone. Hanako looked like she was ready to run in the opposite direction.
"Let's go" I said.
"Do you really want to go back to class now?" Hisao asked Hanako.
"Y-Yes" she said
"Good" I smiled "Let's go"
It seemed like we were late. Mutou opened his mouth to say something, however his gaze landed on Hanako and he just nodded and went back to speaking to the class.
Hanako was weird. Everyone seemed to ignore her. Even the teachers.
Eventually the day ended, and I left class not really knowing what to do with myself. With nothing to do, I went to the library and stayed there until closing time.
I never saw Hanako, which I thought was weird. And maybe a little disappointing, although I don't why I would feel that.