After an intimate night with Misha, what will happen now? Time to find out.
Alarm clock. Goddammit, where did I put this cellphone again?
I finally manage to find it. Confusingly, there's a small piece of paper under it. That's not my handwriting, so I'm going to assume it's Misha's.
Misha... Shiina... I still can't get over with what happened last night. It was so close to letting the primal instincts kick in... It was pleasant. Too pleasant... And yet, I couldn't just kick her out of the room. The taste of her lips... Strawberry. I love strawberries.
Ugh. If this was only a one-night stand, than I hope nothing will change between us. She's still highly obnoxious at times, but I suppose I misjudged her at the very beginning. She too has some hidden depths.
Heh. I wonder if she will visit Hisao tonight. Shuffling back to some less embarrassing thoughts, I read the note.
"I hope you don't have any plans for this afternoon. I'm going to teach you a bit today. :3 You know, holding chopsticks, among other things. Love, Misha." This is the purview of said letter. She even included a cat smile. To be honest, it suits her. Still, that "among other things" fragment is a little unnerving. What could she possibly mean by that? Something like last night?
Checking the cellphone once more and it seems I put the same alarm as yesterday. Great, now I won't fall asleep again... With my mind full of uncertainties... I need a shower. Yeah. A shower will help me wash it all.
After getting myself organized, I head towards cafeteria for some breakfast. This time I don't see Taro anywhere. Lilly, however, managed to be here before me today and is now sitting at the same table as yesterday. After ordering myself a casserole – I'm a sucker for casseroles – I head to that table.
"Good morning, Sa-I mean, Lilly." I greet her. Seeing as she smiles, I suppose she has remembered me.
"Good morning, Casper." She replies as I take a seat. "Been sleeping well?"
"Quite." The trembling in my voice is likely too audible to be ignored. She just had to touch that matter, hadn't she?
"I see." On the other hand, she won't delve in any details. I'm grateful for that. "How are your thoughts on Yamaku Academy, if you don't mind me asking?"
"Well..." How should I put this? "People I've met closer are fairly... unusual."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"Should I be honest? Most of them are crazy." I respond jokingly. She smiles, albeit the very delicate frown hid behind that smile makes me think I shouldn't have said that. "Albeit in a sort of positive way. Their presence is very motivating." The frown disappears.
"I suppose it may take time getting used to such a situation." She responds, nodding slightly.
"A little, yeah." To be honest, not really. People in here, despite their disabilities, are... just like they were in every other school I attended to. There's always a sporty gal(like Emi), someone out of this world(like Rin), someone completely average(like Hisao) and so on. The only difference is their appearance and even then most of people around don't have something exceedingly glaring for a disability. There are exceptions, of course, but most of problems seem to be hidden inside.
"I've been wondering, do you have any plans for today's lunch?" Her question makes me raise an eyebrow. That... lesson of chopsticks holding will be held after class...
"I think I don't." I respond after a while, carefully waging words. The blonde girl smiles slightly.
"Would you mind if I invited you for lunch?"
"I'd be honored." I mean, sure, why not? She seems like a nice enough person to know. "Would it be only for the two of us?" She shakes her head.
"No. Hanako and Hisao are also invited." Oh. Well, it's not like I won't enjoy their company. It's nice to change it every once in a while, considering I've been almost constantly with Misha and Shizune.
"Good to know. Where will this lunch take place? I take it won't be in the cafeteria." She smiles slightly.
"I will be visiting your class to pick Hanako up. You and Hisao are welcome to join." She responds with a light nod. And again, that seems reasonable. The whole person of Lilly seems really reasonable. Comparing to other "crazy" people around, she seems so serene. Tranquil, aloof even. Unlike Rin though, she doesn't seem to be detached. Very level-headed, very... motherly? If she's the person that can make Hanako at ease, she really has to radiate calmness.
Heh. Radiate. I wouldn't be surprised if there would be someone in this school disfigured by nuclear stuff.
Lessons until lunch break aren't really interesting. Some Maths, some science, some English(something which, amusingly, even Shizune struggles with while I and the Indian girl just sort of blaze through it) and here I am, blankly staring at the board and begging the bell to finally ring. It finally comes, my saving grace. Thought I will never hear this lovely sound. This time, Hanako doesn't immediately darts out of her seat. I suppose she waits for Lilly. In the meantime, Misha and Shizune has captured Hisao into their nets and try to get him on lunch. Heh. At least they're not concentrating on me this time.
Misha... Misha's the same as ever was. What happened yesterday evening doesn't seem to change our relationship in the slightest. Should I be grateful... or disappointed? I don't know. Makes me wonder if she had told anyone about this. I suppose such an intimate meeting is a bit too much for her to tell about, although considering this is the girl we're talking about...
A light sound of cane tapping on the floor does not go unnoticed for me. The silhouette of Lilly appears in class. All three of us – that is, me, Hanako and Hisao – notice her. Shizune does as well and I can quite clearly see she's less than pleased to see the blind blonde. Dunno why, to be honest.
"Hello...?" Lilly asks no one in particular. She needs confirmation that someone is indeed in the class.
"Good morning." Both me and Hisao say in unison before giving each other a slightly amused look. Miss Satou smiles as well. In the meantime, Hanako slowly gets up from her seat, still looking as shy as ever. There's a small problem though... Shizune and Misha don't want to let Nakai go for some reason.
"Uh... Lilly, I'm afraid I won't be able to make it." He says, hesitating. Those two devils probably have some plans for him.
"Most unfortunate." She responds and seems genuinely saddened. Hanako has managed to shift to her side in the meantime. Well, I suppose I shouldn't waste my time. Just as I'm about to leave, Misha's voice catches my attention.
"Caschan, and where are you going?" I suppose she's speaking Shizune's thoughts now and yes, just as I turn around, I can see the piercing glare of our class rep, looking daggers at me.
"I was invited for lunch." I respond, making a shrug. Dunno why Shizune makes such a big fuss over it.
"Well, Shicchan was going to invite you to lunch as well." There's a small accusation in Misha's voice. It hurts more than I expected.
"Sorry, Misha. How about tomorrow?" She signs it to Shizune. The girl with glasses seems quite bemused, but only makes a silent sigh and waves her hand at me as if she was saying "just go before I change my mind". How grateful, class rep.
"But you'd better be there tomorrow!" Pink-haired girl responds, a very slight seductive tone in her voice. I look away, trying my hardest to not blush. Bizarrely, only Lilly seems to notice the slight tone change. I suppose when you lack one sense, your other ones improve a bit. Then again, Shizune's deaf and yet she wears glasses. Makes me wonder if she can actually talk. Most probably, but as she can't hear herself, she probably doesn't want to use her voice that much.
"Sure thing..." I respond after a while that feels like a whole hour. "See you three later." Nodding to Hisao, I exit the classroom alongside Lilly and Hanako. The latter seems mildly surprised when she notices that I'm going with them. Weird. I thought she figured it out it was Lilly who invited me.
The blonde girl leads us to a room I've never seen before. It's pretty small, having only one table and four chairs. The fourth was most likely reserved for Hisao, but poor guy couldn't make it from Shizune's iron grasp. Gah. I shudder at the thought. She seems like the gal who will keep playing Monopoly just to win, no matter how long the game might take.
"Care for some tea?" Lilly's voice snaps me out of thought. Hanako has already taken her place.
"Oh. That would be lovely." I respond, smiling slightly. Then it hits me: How is she going to pour something without vision? The urge to voice my doubts is tempting, but on second thought... I suppose she has her way of dealing around this issue. Most people around have anyway. Emi has prosthesis. Rin uses her legs. Shizune has Misha to interpret for her... Now that I think of it, my own disability is tame. Surely it looks terrible and it has left some minor scars, but I still have the other eye and the other ear available...
There's a longer moment of silence. Hanako keeps silent, shifting her glances between Lilly and me. I think I do the same, although I'm not all that sure. Maybe I was just staring through the window... Suddenly, there's a cup of tea before my eyes.
"Oh... Thanks."
"You're welcome." She responds with a smile before sitting next to Hanako with her own cup of tea. For some reason, I feel a bit out of place here... "Would it be an unkindness from my side if I asked you about yourself?" She formulates a question.
"I suppose I can tell a thing or two if you're interested. I'm nothing special, to be honest." Well, yeah, the vain part of my soul doesn't agree with that. Still, being modest is a nice thing.
"Oh, everyone has a story of their own." Lilly responds, smiling mysteriously.
"Eh. I was just an ordinary... Maybe slightly eccentric student in one of the many high schools in Tokyo... Until the incident, that is."
"I see." Well, that conversation is on the verge of dying out quite quickly.
"...I'm sorry. I'm not the best when it comes down to keeping the conversation alive." It sounds more like an excuse than anything else. I feel a little bad because of that, especially that I didn't even really contributed to this lunch with some other way than just attending.
"It's quite alright." She responds with a smile. "It is still nice to have some company during lunch."
"Indeed." Shoot. Seems like we just cannot find a similar language. The fact that Hanako keeps quiet all that time doesn't help matters. "So, uh... Your favorite color?" Oh crap, did it really have to be the first thing to think as a question? She can't even see, for Pete's sake!
However, Lilly takes this obvious faux pas quite lightly. I'm actually surprised, as this one was most definitely the biggest out of them all.
"White." She responds, sipping her tea. "It's the color of vanilla-flavored ice-cream, my personal favorite. It's also the color of snow, correct? Winter is my favorite season."
"Really? I'm a fan of winter as well..." I find myself responding. Lilly smiles brightly.
"M-my favorite is... p-purple." Hanako's voice almost makes me jump off my seat. It's so easy to forget she's in here as well. She's just so quiet all the time.
"Well, it's a nice color too." I respond, trying to sound as neutral as possible. "As for me, my favorite would be either red or black. Dunno why. I suppose I'm just that kind of edgy person."
"You don't seem edgy." Blond-haired girl responds with a smile. You can't even see me. Is it the reason you're so kind to me? Is it the reason you and Hanako are friends? Eh, perhaps I'm just too cynical.
"Thanks... I guess. We barely even know each other though." Another moment of silence.
"I-I also think you're not e-edgy..." Purple-haired girl says all of a sudden, surprising me.
"...Really?"
"...Yes." Yet another moment of awkward silence.
"I... Uh, that's... That's nice of you." I can feel I'm blushing. God, what is wrong with you? Get your things together!
"N-no, it's nothing much..."
"A-actually, I think it's more than enough." Too bold, my conscience says. This time, silence lasts until the end of lunch break. Hanako quite literally storms out of the room. Just as I'm about to leave, Lilly sighs. It had just stroked me that she didn't move an inch.
"She can be so timid sometimes..." She says, making a small, sad smile. Not sure what to think of it. Was this note to me or did she just say it to herself? "She seems at slightly bigger ease when around you though." Yes, this was definitely to me. Thankfully she can't see how taken-aback I am.
"Excuse me?"
"Yes, you heard me right." Lilly smiles, and this time the smile is quite genuine. "Perhaps she can identify with you somehow, now that your disabilities are that similar."
"Really? I'd rather expected her to avoid me. I just can't help but think I'm a big sign saying "unpleasant flashbacks" to her." A short moment of silence before Lilly stands up.
"Say, are you interested in another lunch tomorrow?"
"Sure thing... Assuming Misha and Shizune will let me."
"Oh, don't worry about it. They can't prison you now, can they?"
"You'd be surprised..." The flashback of Misha's kiss hits me like a semi.
"Is everything alright?" Crap. My sudden change of tone probably gave it away that's something's off."
"Yeah... Yeah, don't worry about it."
And it's the end of lessons for today. Paradoxically, I just can't find any enjoyment because of it. Now, Misha will most likely drag me to a closet and rape me...
"Caschan!" Well, it's the pink-haired girl herself, grinning to me as always. Shizune accompanies her, standing a bit behind her... Or maybe it's the other way around? "You know what time it is now, don't you?"
"Yeah." I respond, desperately trying to keep a straight face.
"The lessons of chopsticks-holding!" She just had to shout it so loudly so anyone can hear it, eh? I can hear a few snickers around, mostly coming from a guy in a beret. He looks like an ass. Not gonna like him.
"...Yeah, I know. You don't have to shout."
"You know, sometimes you're prone to forgetting about stuff like that." There's a small accusation in her voice. I suppose she might refer to the incident on lunch break which actually has nothing to do with it.
"No, I'm not." I probably shouldn't say that, but honestly I'm starting to become pissed off. "Say, Misha, can't we just give up on that?"
"Oh no, I'm not letting you get away." She grins. Eh. What did I do to be the victim of this?
Suddenly however, I can see someone who might arrive just in time to be my saving grace. Hanako is, surprisingly, still in classroom. What's more surprising, she actually approaches us. Shizune shoots her a glare and for a while I think she might back down, but she doesn't! She doesn't, she actually speaks up.
"Um... E-excuse me, M-Misha..." She starts, stuttering slightly. "B-but I we had an a-appointment with Casper for today..." She's lying and I have no idea why is she actively trying to save my hide from Misha.
"Oh, but you took him away on lunch break already!" Pink-haired girl responds.
"I-it's important." There's a longer moment of silence. For some reason, I feel a bit sorry for Shizune who just stands there, left out of conversation and awaits Misha to stop messing around with an angry glare.
"Oh well." Misha's surprisingly quick to drop the topic... Note to self, lock the room completely for this night. "We'll have our lesson some other time." Hanako nods to me and leaves the classroom. Jesus, she has just saved me.
Why?
I feel this chapter could have been slightly better, but oh well. Here you go, read and review. :)
