Emi had spent the morning dressing and redressing. Applying and removing makeup. Staring into the mirror. Twice she had had to phone her mother for moral support when it blatantly refused to show her what she was looking for. In the end she had just taken a shower and thrown on shorts and a t shirt. And her running legs which had carried her here. So the end result was something slightly different from the cute and fresh image she had wanted to portray. Her hair was a mess, she had pit stains on her shirt and was huffing and puffing from the run in a very unfeminine manner. Still she was here. At the foot of the staircase to the main building of Yamaku Academy waiting for the bell to ring.

At last the familiar signal rang out and students started streaming down the staircase. Some threw her glances, her legs clearly drawing attention. Emi stretched to her full height, trying to sort out the familiar black haired mop from the crowd. Why did she have to be so short? Even many of the student were taller than she was. For a moment she got scared that she would miss him. But then she heard a familiar voice coming down the stairs. Hisao was walking down the stairs talking to several students who were all hanging on his every word. His hands was gesticulating enthusiastically.

"So you see, it's exactly the same principle as..."

And then he looked up and saw her. He stopped dead in his tracks and his jaw fell open. His students searched around his a confused look as to why their teacher had suddenly stopped talking. And then all of the wandering eyes found Emi who suddenly found herself the center of everyone's attention. She blushed.

"Let's pick this up tomorrow" Hisao recovered and nodded towards his students who bowed and continued down the staircase gossiping furiously. More than one of them looked back to throw another curious look at Emi. Hisao took a few steps down the stairs.

"Hey" he said at last.

"Hey" Emi responded. She so longed for him to look at her the way he had last time they met. Like she was the only thing in the world. He didn't. Instead his eyes were kind of neutral. Not hostile, but not inviting. And with none of that spark in them. Still Emi dug deep and found some courage.

"I...I just wanted to say I'm sorry. For treating you like shit. I was...no. I am a mess." She wanted to look down into the ground but didn't. Instead she looked him straight in the eyes.

"But I'm trying. To get my life back together again." She awkwardly yet at the same time proudly showed him the running legs she had on, hoping for some kind of reaction. A smile. Something. But this time it was his face that was unreadable. So this is what it felt like, Emi thought. Being shut out. No wondered he had hated it.

"So are you coming back to work?" Hisao continued casually, still stonewalling her.

"No" Emi shook her head but didn't know how to continue. 'I just wanted to see you again' is what she wanted to say. But her courage was failing her. His face looked so hard.

"Been trying to get back into shape again." She tried instead.

"That's good" Hisao responded and nodded seriously.

"And..." Emi swallowed hard. At some point she had to put herself on the line. "I could really use a friend. A running partner?" She felt like she was laying her whole heart bare. It was so uncomfortable she wanted to crawl out of her skin. But it was the only thing she could think of doing. Lies and keeping up appearances was not going to help her here.

"Please?" She tried to smile but instead her voice cracked and wavered. Hisao just looked down at her from his position further up the stairs. At last a sad look fell across his head and he shook his head.

"I don't think I can be just friends with you" he said at last with a finality in his voice. The part of Emi that she had tried to keep cold blossomed at his words. She didn't want to be just friends and part of her wanted to scream that at the top of her lungs. But she had figured that out too late. The way he said the words made it clear that which she really wanted was no longer an option.

Emi nodded and pushed back the tears. It was over. She had fucked it up. Like everything else. No she couldn't afford to think like that anymore! She would just have to deal with it. But at this point she was so god damned tired of breaking down in front of people. So with one last weak smile Emi turned and started walking down the stairs before her emotions overwhelmed her.

Fortunately she didn't get very far. Second chances are rare. Third chances? Almost unheard of. Almost.

"Wait!"

"Yes?" Emi whipped around so fast she almost fell over and had to steady herself at the railings. If she was trying to keep cool she failed horribly. A more desperate and utterly longing word had never left her mouth. Hisao himself was looking conflicted and miserable. At last he set his jaw and took a deep breath. But looking up at her again seemed to give him pause and he let the breath go. Mumbling something that sounded an awful lot like 'fuck it' under his breath.

"8 sharp tomorrow. You know where. Don't be late."

The End