Chapter Three: strange Roya

Tomoya's POV

Who was that frumpy girl? I had never seen a girl wear such baggy clothes before, and I had to admit, it was a little disconcerting. And she didn't go to my school, I was sure of that. All of the girls I know wear miniskirts or something of that kind, and there was this completely confident girl, wearing… sweatpants? This day was turning out to be bizarre, and what's more, she introduced herself using only her first name. No sense of formality whatsoever. And what kind of girl calls a guy out so bluntly, saying "rude" and the like. What's more, she was so unphased by his prank it was almost intimidating.

"Who is that girl?" I asked Sanae, and she shrugged. "Your guess is as good as mine. She just walked in here a couple minutes before you got here. She looked terribly confused, the poor thing." I looked back out the door for a few seconds before asking where Nagisa was. I didn't even have to ask, it was just routine, I already knew she was upstairs working on the script for the drama club.

Knocking on her door I called out, "Nagisa? Can I come in?"

"Sure," I entered and sat next to her where she sat writing beside her table, "what was all the commotion about downstairs, Okazaki?" she asked, looking up.

"A strange girl ran into me on her way out of the shop," I answered, and she looked confused.

"Who was she?"

"I don't know. I've never seen her before. She said her name was Roya."

"Only Roya? She didn't mention her last name?"

"No, like I said, she was strange."

"Oh... well I hope I get to meet her sometime, she can't be all that strange, Okazaki. You're so harsh sometimes."

I shrugged, "whatever. How's the script coming along?" I tried to keep listening to her summary but found my mind wandering back to Roya and our encounter. Something about her was familiar. As though I had seen her before, but no, I couldn't have. I would definitely have remembered. But still… something was bothering me about her. After Nagisa was done explaining things to me, I excused myself and left the house, leaving a note informing the family I was going on a walk and would be back. Walking always helped me think clearly.

It would be even better if it was nighttime, but unfortunately it was only the mid afternoon. I shoved my hands in my pockets, and walked through the town streets aimlessly, trying to place what was so unsettling about Roya. I decided to walk back past the bakery and in the other direction for a change of scenery. It was more secluded that way in any case. I generally didn't go there because I was too lazy to walk up that long hill, but today just seemed like the right day to go there.

At the top of the hill, I stopped for a minute and surveyed the town. It used to be so small, and now it seemed everything was changing. I hated this town, despite my good friends here, my life felt so pointless. Helping all the girls with their issues at school was nice, but in a way it felt like empty work. A mask I put on, hoping they wouldn't see in, hoping that by helping them heal, I would somehow be healed.

I turned my back on it and continued into the forest path, silently listening to the life around me. And that's when I saw it. A house I never knew existed, sitting in a clearing up ahead. I frowned and stared at it for a minute before continuing on to investigate. Who lived here? I looked through the windows, which were dark. It didn't look like anyone was home. I was about to leave, when I heard a voice coming from behind the house.

"…So if I'm in another world… That means, I don't have to work anymore. Or at least at that office place, ugh, good riddance. Wow, I guess I really am lonely. You're talking to yourself Roya. What is this? I should get a dog so I at least can talk to someone and not look so crazy. What do dogs even look like here? Are they as cute as the boys are here?" here the voice exploded into whimsical giggles, "What am I even saying? Yeah clearly you need a dog. Or even better, a cat. You can be the creepy cat woman who wears sweatpants in the woods." More laughter.

I grimaced, was she really telling herself jokes and laughing at them? I recognized the voice immediately even before she spoke her own name. I continued to listen,

"Still… How can I be so lonely still… even now?" her laughter had faded, and her voice took a more serious tone, "If I thought people were impossible back home… I don't have a clue what to say to people here." There was a silence before her lighter voice broke through once more, "cats are looking more and more appealing" she chuckled and then sighed, "well at least there's hope. And a lot less stress." I heard her footsteps start getting closer to where I was, so I quickly turned and hurried away, hoping to get away without her knowing I was there. Except then there had to be a potted plant conveniently in my way and of course I didn't see it and smashed it like an idiot.

The footsteps instantly froze, "H-hello? Is someone there?" I winced and turned around as Roya jumped out from behind the house with a shovel, her eyes wide in fright. As soon as she saw me, she breathed a sigh of relief, and her grip on the shovel loosened.

"Tomoya," she looked confused, "what are you doing here?"

My mouth was dry. Think, Tomoya, think.

"I was taking a walk, and saw the house. Didn't know it was yours. Sorry," I said truthfully, I didn't know you talked to yourself this much either, I added to myself, also truthfully.

"Well. Now you know," she said, resting the shovel against the side of the house, "how long have you been here?"

"Oh I just got here, sorry about the plant." She surveyed the pile of broken pot pieces and shrugged, "Whatever. I guess we're even now." There was an awkward silence before she looked back up at me, "hey want some water or something?" I started decline the offer, but then I remembered what she had said before to herself, how she was lonely, and I decided to accept.

"Sure," I shrugged, "Guess I have time." Her face visibly brightened.

"Awesome, come on in," she smiled, opening the door for me. Well I guess helping one more girl out with her problems won't be that unusual, I thought. And yet I felt that somehow it wasn't as simple as that.

I had no idea.