"I'm sorry I hit you." Mina said, holding out a bag of ice.
"It's ok, I know it was an accident." Rei took it and put it to her head, watching the volleyball as it rolled away. "You're still a good shot I see."
"What are you doing here?" she knelt down beside her.
"We need to talk. I'm ready to talk."
"And what if I'm not ready, did you ever think about that?"
"I'm not here pressure you, just know the offer stands." Rei rose to her feet and handed the bag of ice back to Mina, she turned and walked toward the gym door.
"When?" Mina finally called out after hesitating a few moments.
"Today, at the temple, 5 o'clock." she didn't turn around, just kept walking.
The moment Rei left the gymnasium she loosened up a bit, rubbing her head searching for a possible bump. She walked over to the tree where she left her book bag and other belongings, not feeling like carrying them inside. Everything seemed to be in its place except for her book bag. She frantically tossed her things aside, then sat there on her knees, whimpering. That bag had everything in it, her books, her assignments, her money, everything. Minutes later her book bag was lowered in front of her face, hovering before her. She quickly snatched it up and held it closely, then abruptly turned around. She had to shield her eyes just to get a good look at the figure standing behind her.
Rei had seem him before. She didn't know him, but had occasionally seen him around campus. He was one of the more popular boys at the school, a senior in fact, Koyasu Sendai. He had long straight blonde hair and clear baby blue eyes. That particular day he wore a black collar dress shirt, a dark blue tie with matching suspenders and black dress pants. He stood there smiling down at her, smirking in fact.
"What were you doing with my book bag?" she stammered. It was a bit hard for her to believe that any senior, let alone Koyasu, would be seen with her.
"You know it's not smart to leave your things laying around unattended. Luckily I was here to watch over them for you."
"Lucky? How do I know you weren't trying to steal it yourself?"
"Ha! What would I need with a silly little girl's book bag? Makeup? Teen pop magazines?"
"Silly little girl?!" Rei's face began to turn red, her hands clenching her bag.
"You know instead of giving me attitude you should be thanking me." he flipped his hair a bit.
"Thanking you?! For insulting me?!" she was now on her feet and in his face, her hands in fists.
"What's your name?" he spoke casually.
"What?! You're changing the subject!" she was getting flustered with his callousness.
"I asked you a question."
"W-wha....it's Rei. Now listen..."
"Well Rei, I would love to stay and chat but I've got to get going. I'll see you around firecracker." he then leaned in and kissed her cheek, whispering in her ear, "...and I'll be waiting for my thank you."
Rei stood there in utter shock. If her face wasn't red enough before it was now. Her mouth tried to form words, but instead she just stuttered. Koyasu smirked in his small triumph and walked away leaving her speechless. It wasn't until he was far away that she finally snapped out of it.
"If you think I'm going to be thanking you for anything, you're nuts!" Rei screamed out, but he was already gone.
Makoto entered the cafe that afternoon out of breath. She ran all the way there from home in order to get there around the same time she had the day before and the day before that, in hopes of getting another glimpse at the young man at the corner table. She slumped down at a booth by the window and ordered a lemonade. Like clockwork he finally arrived and sat down at his usual table. He ordered and ice tea and sipped it slowly as he read the paper. She gazed at him longingly, leaving her lemonade untouched. He turned the page, then lowered the paper to take another sip of his tea. He slyly looked up at her as he drank and winked. Makoto gasped and quickly looked away toward the window, as she had done many times before. The young man was very aware of her presence and what she was doing and he thought it a fun little game to make her squirm every now and then.