Unless they're involved in club activities or have some sort of appointment, most students leave school once it ends. The school turns deadly silent when that happens. I either take the subway or walk home, which can be quite a drag when the sun's at its highest point. Seriously, it's like walking through a desert. To avoid the heat exhaustion, I stay behind for a couple hours. It passes by quickly when you keep yourself busy.
As I roam the empty corridors, my footsteps bounce off the walls, making a satisfying echo. In my hands is a stack of various notebooks, folders, and loose papers. I have a pen between my teeth (I hate keeping one behind my ear like most people do).
My feet stop at a random column, deciding this is far enough. I drop my stuff on the ground, and subsequently lean against the marble pillar. When I let a deep sigh out, it's the only thing my ears pick up, other than the occasional bird.
It's so peaceful here. I think, looking around. Not a soul for miles.
My attention focuses onto the heaping pile of work in front of me, and I immerse myself in the thing I do best.
"Please, Takashi-kun, say something!"
My eyes open immediately, alarmed from the high-pitched cry. I groan, rub my head, and blink away the fuzziness. The pen is still in my mouth, barely hanging on.
I guess I fell asleep. I wonder when I exactly passed out?
The voice comes back- this time even more shrill. "Why aren't you saying anything?" it cries.
Carefully, I poke my head from the side of my column and peer down the hall, curious to know what's happening. It takes me a moment, but my head paints a clear enough picture.
There's a girl in front of a boy, and they're talking. The boy's back is facing me, so I can't see his face. After a couple seconds of eavesdropping, I suddenly realize it's Mori.
The girl is trembling. "I have feelings for you, Takashi-kun," she says, voice coming out like strangled whisper, "I need to know. Do you feel the same way?"
Mori doesn't say a word. I'm sure his face reads the same, because the poor girl breaks down.
"Don't just stand there!" Her head drops to the floor, and her words come out staggered between sniffles. "What is it? What's wrong with me? Am I so horrible that you can't even speak to me?"
My heart sinks. When she bursts into tears and runs away, I'm speechless. Of course, I'm not involved in the conversation at all- in fact, I'm watching from a distance and listening in- but my stomach wrenches for her. The pen falls from my mouth, and it clatters as it slides across the ground.
"Oh, crap." I mumble, scrambling to snatch it up. I get down on my hands and knees and slowly crawl to retrieve the pen, hoping to God Mori doesn't notice me. The plan fails miserably.
"What are you doing?" Mori says from the end of the hall.
I curse in my head and stand up nervously, trying to appear nonchalant. He walks over and towers over me.
The words come out clumsily. "Oh, you know. Just studying. I dropped my pen. No big deal." He blinks at me, and I change the subject. "What are you doing here?"
"Kendo meeting."
"Oh, I see..." I look up and study his face. My head replays the whole situation. He just broke that girl's heart and doesn't even seem phased. How cold. I remember her endless tears, and imagine them on me. My whole disposition changes.
"Sorry to eavesdrop, but we both know I did, so there's no point in avoiding it. No offense, senpai, but you just turned that girl down."
"So?"
I cross my arms, annoyed. "Does that happen a lot?"
He shrugs. "I guess."
"That girl just poured her soul out, and you just flushed it down the drain like a dead fish. How can you reject so many girls and not feel an inch of remorse?"
"It's not a crime to not have feelings for someone back."
"And out of your long list of suitresses, not a single one interests you?"
Mori crosses his arms, too. He shakes his head. I throw my hands up, exasperated. Instantly I start pacing the hall, walking back and forth in front of him.
"You're ruthless." I mutter. Mostly it's a note for myself, a warning, a big hazard sign screaming out bloody murder.
How is it that he makes my stomach flip inside out and my blood boil all at the same time?
The tall host places a hand on my shoulder, forcing me to stop. When I meet his eyes, he doesn't seem offended as I would've pictured. "I haven't found someone yet- that doesn't make me ruthless. It's naive to think I'd fall for every girl I meet."
I roll my eyes and scoff. When he sees this, he cocks his head.
"Why are you getting so worked up over this?"
"Senpai, when was the last time you were in love?" I need to know that there's something in there, that I'm not just chasing the clouds.
He turns silent, and his hand drops from my shoulder. It falls to his side.
Suddenly I feel like the girl earlier, except each second that passes fuels my irritation, not despair. I push up my glasses, bend down to gather my things, and face the raven-haired boy in front of me. I pause expectantly, but he remains mute.
Finally, I turn on my heels and walk away, leaving him in the company of empty halls and the occasional bird chirp.
AN: I hate putting in author notes in the middle of stories, so I apologize. Anyways, I hope you all don't despise this chapter! I felt like the story needed some more depth, some drama if you will. Stay tuned everyone, the story is far from over.