"I waste my time thinking about the essential that I sometimes let it pass"

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As soon as he was cured of the mark she had left on his face, he resumed his activities of daily life as if nothing had disturbed his peace.

As calm and monotonous as it used to be before meeting Kotoko.

She still didn't return home, but had the possibility of seeing her in some corner of the University, walking or listening to music with her typical expression drawn from the world; Those were the right times to approach her and talk a few minutes before seeing her leave the facility on her bicycle.

He wasted time in the essential, in the tangible that he could brush with the tips of his fingers on the surface of his skin, he could touch her so vividly that his static body woke up like another human. However, he didn't dare to do so. He let it pass, as everything in life he ended up letting it pass him by.

Even though he recognized that he should be encouraged and conquer Kotoko, he feared for one reason or another the rejection of her part, since he knew well that she rejected all those who confessed to her. She ended up asking them to be friends.

If she told him that, he didn't know what he would do then. Surrender or insist. Either one was worth it, but he could only fit in one and choose to keep his word.

He reiterated that giving up wasn't an option; It never would be.

Leaving his classes that corresponded to him that day, he decided to leave the university campus once again, in case of bumping into Kotoko lying under the shade of the tree, with the headphones on her ears and the body resting in a straight line.

Unfortunately, he didn't find her, but he found himself with a somewhat strange sight because he didn't imagine it as something he would experience in flesh and blood, but he didn't agree with seeing those scenarios.

Kotoko practiced in the stands her singing holding in her right hand a full bottle of water, being directed by what seemed to be the singing instructor, because he was directing her in terms of movements, tone, interpretation of words according to the facial gestures, and the bearing before the public, which according to the instructor "should be imposing".

He rolled his eyes in full disdain, objecting to trying to change her adorable personality to be a fierce and arrogant person, when she was originally not. They shouldn't change her, if he wanted her that way.

But instead of interrupting the session, he didn't do it, as soon as he saw in her gaze the determination they reflected in the brightness of her eyes that stood out more than the rest of her movements in front of the stage.

Ryo accompanied her as well as Jinko and Satomi (her friends), encouraging her to keep up with the unstoppable rhythm she imposed on her and remembered that Ryo suggested protest songs, perhaps for that reason she behaved in a hostile attitude towards the public although she didn't be that way; His heart squeezed as he realized that he didn't contribute anything to make her feel better, rather than pure concern.

For example: having hit his face with a tennis racket.

He shoved both hands into his pockets, shrugged and left.

The Japanese fast food festival had come to the university campus, imposing itself in front of him like a sign of bright and colorful lights to get into forces.

Unfortunately, it was forced to have him as a waiter in the establishment of Okonomiyaki next to Kin-chan who, likewise, had the same stand as him. He rolled his eyes, trying not to hear his annoying voice at any moment when he was serving tables.

Matsumoto and Sudou were also part of the establishment assigned to them, as a requirement they needed to agree on the positions that each would occupy at the time of attending the position and not leaving it abandoned.

He was considered in the chef position, at first, but he refused as he intended to run into Kotoko at some point in the day she would come and he want to approach her position and he would attend her.

Illusive hopes he kept within himself, too illusory for someone as liberal as her.

It was only enough to wish for it for him to feel better.

He served and cleaned the tables, accommodated the chairs, attended to the clients (being more women), brought and picked up the orders, etc. A somewhat annoying work for a guy like him, being so straight and proud to serve clients in an establishment that was originally not his, but a part of his university's festival.

Matsumoto gave him flirtatious glances every time their eyes met or sometimes their shoulders reached to touch in one of the exchanges that entailed being a waiter.

"I'll have better luck than yours, Irie!" Kin-chan snorted from his point of being. He rolled his eyes. "You'll see! Kotoko will help me in my stand, and not yours!" He warned arrogantly, pointing him with his index finger with disdain.

What he lacked… threaten him with the girl he wanted. That was to fall low, even for him.

"That Kansai" Matsumoto murmured with bulging eyes. "He has a lot of confidence in himself, but" She added. "He hasn't left you alone since day one." She emphasized a detail that he wasn't in the mood to remember, much less think of it in living flesh.

He sighed in frustration, rolling his eyes, making Matsumoto understand his intention. She understood and withdrew to attend her corresponding table.

After five, he was grouting the dishes of previous clients.

Suddenly he heard a voice that bristled the pores of his skin until his bones eroded: Kotoko. She had reached his stand!

"Ah! I'm hungry" She announced as if she were arriving at her own home. She was holding her basketball backpack, wearing her typical training attire and her hair tied in a disheveled ponytail from the hemispheres of her head, the drops of sweat emanating from her forehead made her understand that she had just finished training in the auditory.

Kin-chan didn't miss the opportunity, seeing that she was walking through the stands with the interest of trying eat soon.

"What will be good?" She placed a finger on her chin, highlighting her tight lips symbolizing what she was thinking.

He also didn't missed the opportunity to approach her.

"Kotoko!" Kin-chan spoke first. "Come to my stand." He waved his free arm (because on the other he grabbed the spatula). "We have Okonomiyaki! The best here "

Unfortunately, he caught her attention, thanks to his not-so-subtle voice. She approached him with interest, sniffing and watching the stand.

"It smells good, Kin-chan" She commented smiling. The Kansai smiled triumphantly, giving him a winning sidelong glance. "Have you been here all day?"

"Sure!" He boasted good-naturedly, putting on his characteristic frown that meant he was in the skies of happiness. How he hated that gesture! "I was waiting for you since early morning"

"I had training" She said, having ordered a portion of Okonomiyaki from him. "And preparations for the contest, you know, it has gotten very heavy." She complained pouting sideways, anchoring her hands on the fence of the post.

Kin-chan winked, nodding.

"You know you have my vote" He said confidently. "It is obvious that you will win, if you are the prettiest woman in all of Tonan!" He enchanted with a gesture of adoration to heaven, extending his arms as if he wanted to embrace the unattainable.

What annoyance, Naoki told himself, tightening his jaw. How it was that she did not realize that I am next, it's not so difficult to turn to the right.

"Yes, thank you" She thanked, shrugged uncomfortably. "But, the other girls are also very talented." She thought about the contest, impressed. "There is a girl who went to the circus." She listed with her fingers as each of the participants in the contest told her.

Naoki listened carefully to her words, recording the tone of her voice, the descriptions, her gestures, her eyes, her hands, everything about her was kept in his memory as a treasure found in the desert.

"It's almost ready" Kin-chan said, checking Kotoko's request every so often, she looked forward to the opportunity to eat everything in his path.

"It smells delicious, Kin-chan" She exclaimed cheerfully, applauding him. "You have a lot of future as a cook" She flattered, causing an aggressive blush on the edge of his cheeks. Fortunately, she didn't notice his reaction because she was waiting for the food.

Kotoko is too kind, even for him, he complained unwilling to let go of the opportunity to approach him in an oversight by Kin-chan. And for me too, he added.

"I appreciate the comment," he said placing the order on the plate, finishing with the last details of spicing up the rest. "It's the only thing I'm really good at."

"It's the same for me with cinematography" She said, shrugging her shoulders in a quick motion. "Although I don't know if I'm really talented in basketball, because Ryo is a much better player than me, and my friend Nozomi too."

"Don't say that." He was offended by the comment. "You have a lot of spark when you play, I mean it, it's not because I like you, but because it's the truth" He said, and for the first time, Naoki agreed with him.

Kotoko does know how to play basketball with a lot of spark and dedication, if it wasn't for her, they would have lost the game that summer when he saw her play and fall because of the rogue captain of the opposing team.

"Thank you"

Kin-chan handed her the freshly cooked Okonomiyaki, steaming and taking off a delicious smell, noting that that guy had a talent for cooking.

He had to admit defeat, but not the end of the war.

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P.S. (Mention of the song "Oración" from Héroes del Silencio)