Chapter 4 - So Extraordinarily Ordinary


'You exceed expectations. And we have what we have. This is limitless.'

Kaori

The disciplinary committee was not the only club Hanamiya had made joined. Apart from the basketball team, Hanamiya's reading habits had him affiliated to the library committee as well. He had no desire to put in actual work but the silence offered was definitely something he would not give up. Thus, his weekly visits to borrow along with other frequent visits to read were not popular on the list of Hanamiya's activities in Kirisaki Daichi. The library was a part of him that was kept in the quiet either because of Hanamiya's control or people's reaction.

Why would people recognize something normal about a person? They never did and Hanamiya was one who was well aware of the fact.

'I'm a very ordinary person who just happens to like reading books', the quote made Hanamiya snigger in amusement.

For where else did it all come from if not from books and a little bit of personal experience?

If it wasn't a dedicated study of human behavior from years of reading books on psychology, how could he be so sure about people's reactions being completely textbook? Without actually reading a textbook, he could never have made that claim, could he?

But people would never wonder and come to realize that Hanamiya was just a boy who liked to read. The way he used the knowledge he attained was another story but the normal would be left alone.

He sighed as he closed his eyes in contentment. His breathing slow, he pondered over an idea that had just come up to him. People's tendency to notice the abnormal was a normal, necessary reaction. But the power of this draw was tremendous. It was great if used right. It explained almost every kind of behavior he had come across.

The ones who were most normal held the lowest profile and skimmed through the world. Those who could not go with this knowledge resorted to extreme behaviors.

A certain girl came into his mind. Was the girl playing? Or was she really that stupid? His response either way would be the same but if she was stupid, it may bring a few changes. Hanamiya had a thing for stupid.

"Makoto-kun!" Kaori whisper-yelled at him as Hanamiya glanced up to meet her excited wave from across the table.

He swallowed a groan before opening a novel before him.

"To kill a mockingbird. I didn't know you liked to hunt Makoto-kun. Its very nonessential and destructive way to spend your time, you know? I think you should find something healthier. Something that does not involve killing like if you like to shoot, you could just shoot pictures of the same birds like that story I read somewhere of a famous man. But really, its not your fault as you really should blame the people who would write and title boo-"

"Its fiction." Hanamiya interrupted without bothering to display the irritation her stupidity brought.

"Oh." For once, the girl had nothing more to say. Relief passed through Hanamiya's body as the silence of the library he loved returned.

The girl held her stance for a second before the idea flashed into her mind. Her brown eyes widened in revelation and a grin formed on her lips. She was excited but when was she not?

"Makoto-kun! Will you read to me?!"

Hanamiya closed the book at once. There was no reading that could take place with the girl standing there. Even he had his limit to the amount of stupidity he could take in one day. And the girl crossed it just by appearing before him like they were all chummy and close. Followed by this.

Once again, his mind flew to the book he had read that talked about punishments based on the extent of crimes. Being 16 would help with it. Juvenile detention would give him an endless number of victims to dominate over. He could get a lot more reading done. Nobody would question him for playing it rough at basketball. He could even work up a better physique from doing nothing but punching people around all day.

And she wouldn't be existing anymore.

Goodbye incredibly annoying voice. Goodbye stupid brain. Goodbye to her.

The vision was more enticing than chocolate to Hanamiya.

He had to shake it off. He had to come up with something else.

"Will you be sleeping with me before or after that?"

He might as well have asked her about her favorite color. He was just that calm as he waited for a response.

He did not expect a blush out of her this time. Nor did he wait for her to get nervous, not even from the abruptness of the question. He stood up to leave because he knew the words she would say.

Her way of reacting did not make her different. Just a lot more stupid. Very stupid. The stupidest he had ever come across.

He discarded the thought to know if it was a good or bad thing. He had spotted Seto outside. He had a game to get to.

"Even if she seems different.. Isn't she just too stupid?"

Seto voiced the same question he had discarded a moment ago. Hanamiya looked at his taller teammate who looked like he always did – like he had just woken up from sleep.

"Say, Seto. What do you do all night for you to sleep so much everywhere else?"

Seto yawned and wiped a tear that collected in his right eye before answering.

"The same thing that everyone does. Sleep."

Of course, thought Hanamiya.

Seto is an ordinary boy who happens to like sleeping a lot.

But would anyone care about that?


Mizuki

He brushed past faces as always. He had no time or even the remotest interest in any of them anymore. The ones who were walking made way for him. His brisk pace was unusual and that increased the fervor with which they granted him free movement through the hallways.

"Mizuki!"

His voice called out as he pushed the door to their classroom. His voice reached the ones standing outside along with the girl inside.

Their reactions were identical on the exterior. The students who heard Hanamiya's voice full of urgency and concern gasped and gaped. The girl gasped as well. Only her reasons were different.

The boldest of the group of students edged closer towards the door to take a peek. The ones who stayed back were curious but had no death wish. He walked fast to reach the seat she sat on.

"Let me see." he said snatching the hand off her forehead to examine her cheek. The girl's bony face with its high cheekbones had never been the talk of envy among anyone in class. Yet. But the girl knew they would be before the day ended and it had nothing to do with her getting hit by a ball.

The girl froze under Hanamiya's inspective eyes. He felt her turn to stone under his touch. The icy feeling on his finger as he grazed the spot that was turning into an ugly color had nothing to do with the ice pack she was given to press on.

A small crowd struggled to maintain complete silence outside the door. Hanamiya can sense the presence easily from the number of excited breaths alone. Mizuki sensed them as well from her frigid posture.

"Does it hurt?" his voice sounded concerned but there was a mechanical air to it that no one could catch.

"No." Mizuki spoke quietly, her hands clutching at the ice pack in them.

His thumb settled on a point he recognized to be the root of the pain she refused to admit. He knew the girl wouldn't flinch or shiver. Her eyes would not show the fear he would have wanted to see. His hand continued to cradle the side of her face, contemplating in his mind. The bustle outside the class was increasing by the second. The clock in the room was ticking in indication of the reason.

The students had every reason to enter now. Seconds remained for the bell to sound and they edged closer and closer to push open the door.

Hanamiya decided to let the girl take action. She felt his palm settle into his cheek, giving her all the freedom to gaze deep into his eyes.

If something unexpected is happening, there are times when it is just better to let them unfold on their own. Reaction is a better response than fumbling about with predictions made out of incomplete certainty.

So the boy settled in and stared. The slight swelling in his hand seemed endearing to his eyes. The pretty color it was turning into right under his touch chased a breath out of his body. He knew it would only stay for a week before leaving forever. It was momentary and he knew he had to cherish it while he could.

The slight quiver he felt her go through occasionally made him want to smile. Of course all of this happened in a few seconds but he noted it all meticulously and left nothing out.

Mizuki placed one hand on the desk to stand up while the other came up to his hand on her cheek. She covered his hand with her own as best as she could. Her own thumb covered his on the spot that had the worst swelling. She collected every string that hung loose within herself and tugged hard with the string of her thumb. The pressure she exerted on his thumb was everything she could muster. It may have been everything she had. Hanamiya acknowledged it as well. It came with full power. A breath hitched in his throat when she opened her mouth to speak.

"You're here. This doesn't hurt at all."

His hand slipped from her face along with hers. She was quick to pick up her bag and walk out to the sound of the bell ringing. She pulled the door away from the palms from were about to push it through and disappeared between them.

Hanamiya's mind altered the sentence to its true meaning.

"You're here. This doesn't hurt at all."

And then he frowned.