Day one of this school year might have been the worst in Mitsuhas book. Though she was sure Taki was having a grand old time. Just the thought irked her a little bit. This caused her to angrily sigh while at the breakfast table the next morning. This earned a confused look from Yotsuha and her grandmother. Quickly Mitsuha apologized and made her way out of the house hurriedly. Her mood diminishing further upon realizing she just shortened the space between now and when she would have to see Taki again. Now she'll have to see that stupid pervert even sooner!

'Although he didn't seem like a pervert when he...felt me up. He seemed embarrassed, ashamed almost.' Mitsuha's inner self debated. Though she couldn't understand why a part of her defended Taki. It had been him that kept doing dumb and perverted things!

'Albeit on accident though.' It was him that embarrassed them at school!

'That was partly my fault.' He had tried to steal Mitsuha and her friend's seats!

'I did trip him during his introduction though.' In anger, Mitsuha growled to herself. No matter how she tried to paint it, neither of them was really making anything better for themselves. Even if Taki was a stupid pervert.

Frustratedly, Mitsuha kicked a small pebble lying in the road. However, Mitsuha felt her foot suddenly catch on a slightly uneven piece of the pavement. The girl gasped as she slipped across the stone before tumbling down into a spin. Rolling across the ground feeling it scratch and batter her face. When she came to a stop Mitsuha could barely even move. An ache echoed in her bones and after all the things that had piled like blunder after blunder, she wasn't even sure she wanted to stand up. She knew she'd just end up in the same tiny annoying classroom, she'd fumble something with Taki before embarrassing both of them. It seemed it would be the same thing every day. This she could blame on Taki, she wished he had just stayed in Tokyo. Then she'd just have a normal year at school.

'But didn't I want something else? Didn't I wish for a different life? Outside of this town?' Mitsuha curled in on herself as the thoughts continued to press into her. Then out of the blue, she heard the footsteps of someone approaching and a concerned voice from next to her.

"Are you okay?" It was Taki. Why, WHY, was he here?

"Not really. I tripped."

"So you're just laying there?" Taki asked,

Mitsuha slowly tried to get up. Wanting to be as far away from Taki and this embarrassing incident as possible. Maybe even run home and saying she wasn't feeling well. Would her grandmother buy that?

Suddenly she felt a helping hand pulling her up. Mitsuha raised her grazed face to see a rather concerned-looking Taki. When she was steadily on her own two feet Taki immediately released his hold on her arm. Mitsuha cast him a strange look to which Taki simply avoided her eye contact.

"Well, let's get to school then," Mitsuha spoke, startling Taki a little.

For a brief moment as Mitsuha made her way down the road Taki simply stared at her, seemingly a little befuddled by her behavior. He seemed to be debating whether or not to continue the way he was going or follow Mitsuha. At last, Taki seemed to decide on following and proceeded quickly after her.

The two walked in silence for a significant amount of the journey, which seemed to be a lot longer than either remembered.

"So," Taki began, Mitsuha turned her head slightly to look at him, "I'm sorry about yesterday...that was my fault."

Mitsuha almost stopped walking but retained enough of herself to not be stopped by the sudden shock of the words. She honestly didn't expect this. Although it wasn't unlikely he was just doing it for his own personal gain.

'You should say something.' Mitsuha's inner voice told her, as they continued to walk in silence.

'Come on. Call him out! SAY SOMETHING!' Mitsuha's inner voice all but lost it on her. The girl clenching and unclenching her fists as she walked. Opening her mouth trying desperately to force out some words,

"I-it's okay...I kinda played a part in it too so it's also my fault." Mitsuha shuffled along abashedly,

'GODDAMNIT.' Mitsuhas inner voice screamed at her. She was going to get an internal headache from all this.

'Why did I apologize to him?' Mitsuha asked herself. Maybe she knew it wasn't all Taki's fault. Maybe she just needed to get some of the tension out. Maybe it was none of those things at all. Yet the thought never left Mitsuha as she and Taki walked in silence.

"Mitsuha!" Came a voice suddenly from behind them. Loud. Commanding. Ignorant. Yep, it was Mitsuha's father alright.

Mitsuha sheepishly turned around to face the tall man. He had slicked and combed hair that was just slightly greying, he wore a serious and irritated look on his face (as per usual) and he was dressed in an annoyingly fancy and prestigious navy blue suit. Though Mitsuha supposed being the mayor of Itomori had something to do with his taste.

"Stand up straighter." The man near-shouted at Mitsuha who almost slightly winced before adjusting her posture and hurrying along.

Mitsuha could feel her face burn a little as she continued. Being embarrassed and called out by her own father. In front of someone like Taki no less! This was truly turning out to not at all be her day.

"Mitsuha," Came a softer voice, although recognizably annoying for Mitsuha, "Are you alright?"

Turning to look Mitsuha found only care and concern in his eyes. Taki was without a doubt the most interesting person that Mitsuha had ever met. Annoying, perverted, maybe not the nicest. But still, here he was. Concerned for her. Mitsuha was really truly never going to understand boys.

"I'm fine. Not unused to it." A brief silence descended upon both of them,

"So you're the mayor's daughter," Taki asked less like a question and more like a statement "You could probably get me kicked out of town you know."

Despite herself, Mitsuha laughed at that.

"Suppose I could." She giggled slightly,

Another silence descended upon the two. Though this one was noticeably calmer and less tense, less awkward. These were the best kinds of silences, both of them agreed in their heads.

"SHOOT!" Taki suddenly exclaimed,

Mitsuha turned to him. The boy held the side of his head with one hand as he checked his opposite wrist decorated with a decorative band and a watch. Though before Mitsuha could get a look at the suddenly familiar band Taki shoved his wrist into her face tapping the watch screen rapidly with wide eyes.

"WE'RE GONNA BE LATE!"

Mitsuha let out a high-pitched squeal and took off running. Taki close behind her. Yet even though they were most definitely gonna get a huge yelling at for their tardiness. Mitsuha couldn't help but playfully smile. Still, she couldn't quite grasp why. But that band on Taki's wrist felt so familiar.