2.
The next day is sunnier, warmer. Hiyori feels like she is melting by the time she can take her jacket off, draping it on the back of her chair. Around her is sleepy chatter as students greet each other, talking about the homework and the class schedule for that day. She sits down, waving to a few of her classmates, and reaches for her notebook. There is a math test that day, and Hiyori is less than confident—she turns to the girl sitting to her left, asking about one of the formulas, and tries to memorize as much as she can before first period.
Hiyori's cramming is interrupted by Rieko, a girl she has known since childhood with long black hair, obsidian eyes, and an easy smile.
But Rieko is not smiling now. She pulls the seat in front of Hiyori's desk around, places her elbows on top of Hiyori's books, and cups her own face in her hands.
"You're being called for," she whispers. Hiyori peers over the top of her textbook, keeping her gaze artfully innocent; the curiosity in Rieko's voice is poorly concealed.
"By Aimoto-sensei?"
"No. A guy." Rieko says, puzzled further by the genuine surprise on Hiyori's face. Then, in a much softer voice, she adds, "Well, if I had to describe him… He's like a scary looking samurai."
"Scary samurai?" Hiyori echoes, then turns to look through the classroom's open doorway.
Windows line the far side of the hallway, so when the morning sun streams inside, the light casts the students who stand there in a dark shadow. Her eyes adjust to the brilliant sunlight and she sees him there: at eighteen, he is already towering over his peers, his chest muscular and his shoulders twice as broad as most men's. He wears his uniform in a casual manner, with the sleeves rolled up, shirt tails untucked, and the top button unfastened. His hair is also pulled back into a messy bun, his face unshaven. But despite his wild appearance, his eyes are soft, skirting away from the curious glances of other students.
When he meets her gaze, Asahi smiles uneasily as he holds up a coin.
Other students in the classroom notice him, too, and quickly avert their gaze. "Hey, is he trying to bribe someone?" one whispers, and soon there is a flurry of hushed accusations towards this strange third year standing at their classroom door.
Hiyori reaches up to massage the lump forming in her throat, embarrassed again when she recalls yesterday's events. Still, she is moved that he came all the way here to find her, especially over such a small thing; he may look dangerous, but she can tell that he is kind.
She turns to Rieko and whispers, "I'll be right back."
"You're actually going out there?" Rieko forgets herself and asks the question in full voice, attracting the attention of nearby students. Hiyori casts Rieko a dark glance as she rises from her chair.
.
Out in the hallway, they stand facing one another. There is a careful distance kept between them, but still her heart is beating hard against her chest.
"You were looking for me?" she asks, nervously running her fingers through the ends of her hair.
"I didn't actually give this back to you yesterday," he says with that same gentle smile. Asahi extends the coin out towards her as his voice trails, lending her the opportunity to introduce herself.
"Matsuda Hiyori." She takes the coin and pockets it for safekeeping. "I'm sorry for all the trouble I caused you. Ennoshita-san referred to you as Asahi-san, right?"
He nods. "I'm Azumane Asahi, yes. From class 3-3."
Hiyori's eyes widen up at him, horrified, and she quickly bows in apology—perhaps out of reflex from the day before, he recoils, taking a step back.
"I'm sorry! I should not have referred to you so casually!" The words spill from her mouth, all in a rush of embarrassment and anxiety. "Especially considering what happened yesterday… I've caused you a lot of trouble…"
Asahi cannot do anything but laugh—laugh at this first encounter that has been nothing less of a disaster. And she, looking up at Asahi from her bowed position, is stunned by the chords of his laughter. But it is because of their disastrous first encounter that the ice is broken, and a smile unfurls her lips and touches her blushing cheeks.