Chapter Nineteen

"Almost everyone here is going to a different university." Watanabe said. All morning, he had to have been tiptoeing around the subject of college since, because I'd decided to use the escalator system, there were rumors it was because of Aihara. These rumors were becoming so tiresome. Did everyone in this school really have so little to do?

"It'll be sad to say goodbye," He said and then took a tentative peek at me, "Sometimes it doesn't matter if you go to a big college or not, though."

"Right." I said.

"Is it true what I've been hearing, then?"

I took a moment of silence before confirming the rumors, "Yes. I am going to be going to Tonan University."

"Because of Kotoko Aihara, right?" He asked. I didn't know how to respond. It was true that she was a part of it, but that wasn't anyone else's business.

"No."

"Are you sure about staying here? A person like you is designed for an elite school."

"If I change my mind, I will take the University of Tokyo exam next year."

"Got it," Watanabe said, "It would be that simple for you."

Not if Kotoko makes me another charm. I thought.

"You got into your first choice of college, didn't you? Waseda University. Congratulations." I said. Watanabe looked so proud of himself.

"Thank you."

The bell rang for the next class. Watanabe continued our conversation on the way there.

"Hey… if you didn't choose Tonan because of that girl, then why did you choose it?" This was a question with no good answers.

"I'm not sure. I just felt like I should go here." He gave me a funny look, but he never would have understood my reasoning.

"Good luck, anyway."

"Thanks." We took to the stairs.

"I've been meaning to ask you something. What did you end up doing with that charm she made you?" Was it possible for him to ask anything that didn't have to do with Kotoko, or that I could answer easily?

"I threw it out." I lied.

"Good thing. I was thinking that maybe the charm had hypnotized you to go to the same school as Aihara. That thing is powerful after all." Watanabe said.

The statement made me think. Maybe it had. But without it, I would've been going to a college I didn't want to go to. Perhaps the charm wasn't so unlucky.

We passed a window at the landing. Glancing out it, I caught a glimpse of Kotoko and Kinnosuke. I looked back out and watched the two of them walk to their next class. His arm snuck its way around her shoulders and tugged her closer, an idiot grin crossing him.

I clenched my teeth together and tension raked up my back. The sight of it irritated me. I couldn't stand it.

"Oh look," Watanabe said, "She's with that guy again… what's his name?" He thought, "Ikezawa… are you okay?"

"Perfectly fine."

"I wonder what she's doing with him all the time. They look pretty close. Think she's started dating him yet?"

"Yet"? There was something about the word that made me go rigid. I rolled my shoulders to rid myself of tight muscles.

"I don't care."

Watanabe calculated me, like he was sensing my unrest.

"Okay."

We made it to our next class without another hitch, though I couldn't stop thinking about that one little line… "Think she's dating him yet?"

Was she? Shot nerves ran up my shoulders again.

Whatever, I said to myself, Who cares if she is or isn't?

Certainly not me.