10
The next two days at school are about as annoying as the last one, in terms of people constantly trying to talk to me. I had no idea I was this popular among other students. Surely they can't all be fans of my violin playing, can they?
I manage to drudge through my classes and act as politely as I can to anyone that wants to talk to me. It's exhausting, but I am able to do it. With a smile on my face, I put my crutches under my armpits and get the hell out of this place before anyone can try to talk to me.
"Kamijo!" Someone shouts. I stop in my tracks. That isn't just someone. I turn around and see none other than Hitomi herself running me down. She catches up, panting for a couple seconds before she can say anything. "May I walk home with you, Kamijo?" The way she is so formal in addressing me is so attractive….
I nod, and try not to be utterly giddy about it.
"Good," she says.
We walk for about ten minutes, down a few busy sidewalks, until I cut across the park to get to my neighborhood. We don't talk all that much; I'm just so nervous that I don't want to say anything to mess up.
Suddenly, I realize something. "Wait, Shizuki?" I ask.
"Yes?"
"Isn't your house the other way from here?"
Hitomi blushes. "You're right. In fact, I live in the complete opposite direction as you. I actually wanted to walk home with you so I could talk to you. Do you care to sit down, Kamijo?" She gestures to a nearby bench and sits down. I take my crutches off and follow suit.
"What… What do you want to talk about?" I try to stay calm, but my heart is pounding almost out of its chest. I've never felt so unconfident in my life.
"Well, it's about love."
"L-L-Love?"
"Yes. First off, I want to admit something to you."
"Y-Yes?"
"The truth is that I have been in love with you for a very long time."