A week passes before I return to school. As I walk into homeroom everyone becomes silent. It is only to be expected. After the hunt I disappeared without a word. I make my way to my seat as quietly as I can and after I sit the silence is slowly replaced with idle chatter. As I look around I notice three absences: Haruhi, Hikaru, and Kaoru. I shuffle through my foggy memories of the last time I was at school and try to think of a reason that they wouldn't be there and none appear. For the rest of homeroom I remain numb to my surroundings and only when it's time for first class do I move. I have English first period today. It is the first time I have ever been to this class with all the hunt business and being sick so when I walk in I am unprepared to see Hikaru leaning his chair against the wall and looking out the window.
"Look who the cat dragged in," he says, not looking in my direction at all. "Sit in front of me. It is the only empty seat left."
I sit in front of him without saying a word and without protest. He doesn't say anything and the only thing that changes about him is that the chair sits flat on the floor with the teacher walks in. The class commences without any other problems until the teacher brings up a project that we are going to have one month to complete. As the teacher continues explaining it seems that it will be simple enough. We are going to improve our verbal skills. When she mentions a partner however, I cringe. There is no one in this class I know other than Hikaru and I know I can't talk normally with him. I am too embarrassed. Then it gets worse. It will be a skit acting out the first date between two people that have fallen head over heels with each other. I hear a shift behind be as Hikaru rearranges himself.
"How are the partners going to be chosen? There's more of one gender than the other," he asks lightly.
"Well Hikaru, I was going to let you all pick your own partners if nobody can think of any reason for it not to be done that way."
"I think that Hikaru and Asou should partner up! They're names are really similar it could be fun to see what they come up and it looked like they worked well together for the hunt," some random guy shouts from the back of the room.
"That seems like a great idea! Hikaru could also help her catch up on the items she has missed in class!" she says enthusiastically. "Would that be alright with the two of you?" she asks us.
I look to the floor and my hands knot into fists. I feel a hand lightly touch my shoulder and I somehow only flinch minimally.
"That would be great. We had loads of fun together during the hunt!" Hikaru responds happily.
I can almost feel the grin that most certainly exists on his face but I can also here the tightness in his voice at the end of his words. Nobody else seems to notice. As everybody begins to chatter and find their respective partners Hikaru leans close enough that only I can hear him but far enough that I don't feel in danger.
"Come to the Host Club at lunch. They've got something they want to show you," his voice is soft and very serious. "Don't be late either. If you are I'll tell on you."
I nod just as the bell rings and quickly bolt from the room.
