"What's wrong? Seriously, I know you're not telling me something. There's no way in hell you'd blow up on anyone, much less our teacher!" Her usual tempered demeanor absent, she wore a face of concern that surprised me. "Just… talk to me, dammit. I know I've never been very nice to you, but… I can't stand to see you like this." She looked almost like was going to cry.
I was silent, uncertain how to respond. I didn't meet her eyes, fearing she was in tears. It somehow hurt to think about. "I can't, it's not something you could understand." "Wh-why? Just try to explain it." There was compassion in her voice, it was far from something I had grown accustomed to. "Are you aware of the Limit Alive incident?" "What… What about it?"
"That esper, I was the one who caused it all…" I looked at the floor averting all view of her. "Wh-what do you mean?" "I was the esper that crippled that girl… she will never use her ability again… because of what I've done…" The words choked out over the knot in my throat. I'd never said that to anyone, not even Sato.
She was silent, and I knew what she was thinking. "How could I do such an evil, bet that's what you're asking yourself…" She stood there, gaze a fixed to the floor. "I wasn't a very good person back then… I know that… There is nothing I can do to amend for the hell I've caused…"
"I-I don't know what could have pushed you to the point of doing something so… horrible, but I don't think you're that kind of person now." She had a look of acceptance, yet not forgiveness. I was silent for a long time, not sure if I should say anything. "You may be lazy and don't try at all, but you're a good person. I believe that, and you should too."
I couldn't speak, my face bright red with a knot welling in my throat. "I-I'm not a good person, but thank you… I didn't expect that from you… or anyone really." I could feel the few small tears rolling down my face, I was quick to wipe them away.
After a deep breath and a seemingly awkward few moments I gave way and headed for my next class. I had Aikawa for my next period, so it was okay for the most part. We don't often talk, at least not in a friendly manner. However today was different, which was kind of nice in a way. She avoided asking anything touchy, but I knew her curiosity would spill over sooner or later.
"So um… I know I give you a hard time, a lot, but it's just cause you don't put effort into anything you do. Is it because of what happened that you do?" Her face was lightly red as she spoke. I wasn't entirely certain how to answer her. "I… don't really know, I can best say that it has to do with it absolutely. However, I think it's also my inability to care about much of anyone or anything."
"But why don't you? I don't understand. Yeah you did things you regret, but that doesn't mean you have a twisted heart." She spoke in my defense, which surprised me.
"I um… wasn't expecting you to speak of me so well…" Red donned my face at her words. "Wh-why would you say that… you don't know very much about me…"
"I know enough to say that you aren't evil or mean, well aside from being snide. You have a kind soul, you care about others, even if you don't show it." She smiled at me nicely for the first time. I was completely taken aback. From that day on I began to think differently about her, she wasn't such a spiteful person as I had believed.
Jeez, if she smiled more, she'd actually be pretty cute.