Chapter Ten
Tuesday afternoon, I head off to lunch. Miku, Len, and Rin all told me to sit at their table for today. I can't help but feel the least bit sorry for Teto having to sit all alone.
"There you are, Madoka," says a voice that sounds like it belongs to Miku. I try to shape my face into a smile.
"Yeah, I was just going to lunch. Maybe we could um, walk together," I sigh. Miku looks up at me, knowing something is wrong.
"Madoka, is there something up? Because if there is-?"
"It's just… Have you ever thought about what Teto does all during lunch?" I ask. Miku takes a second to contemplate on my question while we enter the busy lunchroom.
"Well, now that I think about it, I don't see her in here too often. Actually, I don't see her at all!" Miku says over the noise, her two long teal ponytails swinging behind her as we pace to her lunch table.
"Exactly. I was just with her on Friday, and well… she has to face a lot since she's all alone out in the garden every day," I inform her. Miku looks down.
"Maybe tomorrow we could invite her to sit with us," she suggests. I nod my head, but inside, I'm asking why not today?
When I sit down, I look at the members of my table. I warm up a little, seeing that they're all people that I know. Miku, Rin, Len, Gumi, Luka, and Kaito all sit there. At the surrounding table, however, are Neru, Meiko, Lily, and a couple other girls from Dance that I haven't really talked to yet.
From a table neighboring us stands a tall man with long purple hair and a strange white kimono. How strange, I think. Suddenly, as he turns around and heads toward our table, my eyes widen in shock as I realize he's a student. Thousands of questions run through my head between this and when he sits down next to me. He immediately starts talking with Kaito.
Kaito whispers something to him and points at me. I instantly stop staring and start picking at my rice ball. The strange man… err, um, student turns in his seat to face me.
"Hello, I'm Gakupo Kamui," he introduces himself. As soon as I look up at him, he leans back in his seat and looks away, crossing his legs. Kaito snickers. I stare at the both of them, simply confused.
"Shut up, Kaito," he growls. I bite my lip to keep from laughing too.
"Hi, Kamui-senpai," I nod. Kaito full-out bursts into laughter. I half-snort and give a look that falls somewhere between annoyed and amused.
"He's in our grade," Kaito says between laughs. Gakupo nods slowly. My eyes widen in shock. That is in our grade?
"Sorry about that," I say, trying my best to not give into the giggles that build up inside of me. Miku, who caught the whole scene, pulls me aside for a second.
"Don't talk to those two. Kaito made some kind of deal with Gakupo that had to do with you," Miku whispers. I raise an eyebrow suspiciously.
"What kind of deal?" I ask, after making sure Kaito and Gakupo were out of earshot.
"I wish I could tell you, but you know Kaito is," Miku sighs.
"Why don't you just break up with him?" I ask. Miku leans against her palm and looks down.
"Just like you're probably wondering why I don't invite Teto to sit with us today," she mutters. Something in her eyes starts to fog up. Suddenly, more lyrics form in my head. "It's just another day… With no reason to be kept… At a distance from them… You tried your hardest," I think. Miku looks up at me, but I am too pensive to really notice. The words "when they don't understand… you end up wanting to be alone…" starts swirling around in between lyrics and lines. My eyebrows squiggle up as I think harder.
"Madoka? Madoka, are you okay?" asks Miku. "You look really upset," she says, waving a hand in front of my face, then resting it on my shoulder and shaking it gently. I shake my head up in shock.
"Oh, um, I'm fine," I sigh. There's a silence between us. "Okay, not really," I admit.
Miku looks worried. "Madoka-san, what's up?" she asks me.
"There's just been all these lyrics and stuff I my head," I say, "I don't even know where they're coming from, or what they mean," I stutter. Miku looks down.
"Lyrics?" she asks, after taking a bite of ramen. "What do you mean?"
"You know, like, words to songs. They just… appear in my head!" I exhale.
"Madoka, this is amazing!" exclaims Miku. I raise my eyebrows.
"It is?" I ask, the entire table now looking at me.
"Of course!" Miku says, then turning to Len, who is alert because of the sudden outburst.
"What is that supposed to mean? What's amazing?" Len fires questions at Miku, who is hopping up and down in her seat.
"Madoka is a songwriter," Miku explains to Len.
"I am?" I ask. Len tilts his head, now attentive.
"Yes! Only a real songwriter can really feel their own lyrics like Madoka does!" Miku says. I am probably more confused than anyone else.
"…feel their lyrics?" asks Len, looking into my eyes. I want to look away, but the deep emotion expressed in Len's cerulean eyes is so… intense… just like when I was thinking of the words…
"Oh my gosh!" Miku exclaims. I jerk my head up again.
"Miku, you have got to stop that!" I groan. Gakupo looks at me again.
"But look! You were just thinking again!" she says. I don't think I've ever seen her more excited about anything in our entire five days together.
"Thinking? That's completely normal!" I complain.
"No, you were thinking about song lyrics, weren't you?" she clarifies. I slowly nod my head. Len leans forward in his seat, Rin turns around in her chair, Luka slowly removes her headphones, Gumi's eyes widen, Gakupo crosses his legs, and Kaito's eyebrows narrow in curiosity.
"So? What does that have to do with anything?" I ask.
"Look, Madoka. Tell us what you were thinking. Everything."