I'm sorry. Let's talk after school today. Same place as last time.
First thing in the morning, a message on my phone greets me. It's from Hyoudou, and apparently he sent me that last night, I am the one who did not realize that. I read the content with a smile.
Finally, some answers might be coming my way.
It's still a mystery to me how Hyoudou got my number and my email address. Can he somehow steal contacts from other person using advanced IT skills? Well, the technology to do it I'm sure exists, what I'm not sure is Hyoudou possessing the necessary skill to do it. And I always remember to keep my reputation as non-existent, so I'm always careful in giving others my number.
The people whom I give my number is, usually, those whom I can't stand being seen with me in public. And frankly, Hyoudou fits the criteria too much.
Nonetheless, I'm curious. And so I do the rest of my morning rituals of tidying my bed, tidying Riku's bed, making breakfast, and went to school with the message on my mind.
Damn, why the hell does Hyoudou invade my mind like this.
As I sit on my desk, my eyes trails to Hyoudou's desk, and finds it empty. So he hasn't arrived huh? And just like that, once again he's on my mind.
Stupid Rise. Stop thinking about him. That's right. Talk to your friends about other things! Remember, this month edition of a certain magazine I like is coming to bookstore today. Yes, yes. It seems that I will spend a little of my pocket money to buy it.
Yay! I do a mental cheer. Good job on ridding Hyoudou from my mind, me!
Not even a second after that, the classroom door opened and Hyoudou Issei steps inside with the transfer student from Italy near him.
I ignore the whispers that is coming out from my classmates' mouth about the transfer students with the pervert. I also ignore the pervert's two friend who shouted to him. Inside my mind, there is only one thing.
I just managed to rid him from my mind! Why does the universe have to remind me of him again!
Clicking my teeth, I fiddle with my phone instead. Right. Clearly there's something more productive that I can do with my phone. After all, phone is the pinnacle of Japanese youth's social life. And I have my own social life, you know. I'm not like those people in anime or manga. I just like having my reputation as non-existent to reap the benefit.
So why am I staring at the inbox of my email?
I guess I really am curious to how Hyoudou got my contact and why did he seek me before. I think I will just accept the fact that somehow I know Hyoudou Issei, even though I never remember anything about conversing with him before.
Strangely, after I accepted the fact, the rest of the day feels so light.
Truly, having that pervert inside my mind is a heavy burden.
The bell signalling the end of school period rings. Finally, the school ends for today. As I stop myself from doing anything now that I don't have the obligation to do it, I see Hyoudou leaves the classroom with Argento in tow. Huh, those two are always together. If Hyoudou wasn't a pervert that is hated by girls everywhere, I would believe it if people say that they are a couple.
Or is it?
Nah, even if it's true, it's still not my business what Hyoudou likes and dislikes. All I want from him is an explanation, and after that I guarantee I will never contact him again. Who want to mail a pervert anyway? Obviously not me.
After I finished putting all my things inside my bag, I am a little hesitant to go straight to the meeting place. There's no guarantee he will already be there. So the safest course of action is to message him first. There's no harm in messaging him. After this I won't contact him or anything anymore, anyway.
Are you there?
Not long after that, the reply comes.
Yes. I'm waiting. It's not nice to make a man wait you know
Shouldn't it be the opposite?
I reply back.
Nah, it's not like we're on a date or something.
As I read that on my way to the old school building, my fingers press the button to pour what's on my mind onto the text.
True. Who would ever date a pervert like you.
Not long after that, I arrived at the place, and see Hyoudou's forlorn look. It's the same look that he had when he met me in the infirmary. The kind of look that tug my heart and makes me feel this uncomfortable feeling.
Nah, probably not important.
I try to dismiss it.
"Hey," I greet him. "So?" I prompt him to talk.
"Wait for a second, will you."
I tilt my head in confusion. But nod anyway.
"The answer will come soon."
"Yeah yeah, whatever you said," I reply in disinterest.
Observing a rather nice tree beside Hyoudou, I do not realize that two minutes have passed since I arrived here, and from the look of it, whatever Hyoudou is waiting for has arrived.
"Ah, Buchou!"
Club President? Huh? I don't realize Hyoudou joins a club. Wait, doesn't Hyoudou is seen in company with the Occult Research Club? I think I remember people cursing at him. And isn't that also the reason why he chose this place? So that means that the Club President is…
I take a look at the figure who is coming towards us. Crimson hair swaying in the air, so long and beautiful that I wonder what salon does she visit often. An exotic European facial structure that you can't find anywhere in Japan, coupled with a pair of clear blue-green eyes that reflects the sunshine. A figure that makes any other students envy, I mean, it is so curvy in the right place. Genetics does matters in deciding the physical appearance I guess. I think I can see why people idolizes her. Does that mean I am going to? Nah, she sure is admirable, but to idolize her is too petty I guess.
I wonder how many people know the real her, not the Rias-Oneesama of Kuoh Academy. While I don't think her personality is fake, I do think that being put into a pedestal like that is lonely. Avoiding a situation like her is one of the reason why I want my reputation to be non-existent.
She put up a smile when she realizes I am looking at her. I can't do anything but smiles back at her. It's a common courtesy and it won't hurt even if the person in front of me is the most popular person in Kuoh Academy.
"Good afternoon," she bows. Holy shit, she bows! I think she does not bow to any other students. I bow back at her and shortly, I scan my surrounding in paranoia of a random student seeing the scene and making fuss of it tomorrow. But luckily, the place is deserted. Hyoudou sure knows how to choose a place to talk privately. No doubt it's part of his personality. Looking a place to hide from the beatings the Kendo Club regularly gives him.
"Good afternoon."
"Ara, you do not stutter. Most people do."
"Most people put you on a pedestal."
"And you don't?" there was a glint of amusement on her eyes. Well, if you want to play…
"I do. But I also put plenty others into a pedestal, and yours is by no means the highest pedestal I ever put someone."
Her lips curves and forms a smile.
"Ise, this is…" she trails off, motioning Hyoudou to introduce us. Hm? What is this? Do my ears deceive me? Did Rias Gremory just call Hyoudou by a nickname?
One big fact about Japanese people is that they are polite. It's hard to find a co-worker with no closeness to call each other by their given name. And calling someone by their given names implies closeness. Especially without the suffix. And here, I just heard Rias Gremory jumps straight into the nickname zone. It's actually quite funny if not inciting jealously. The most popular girl calls the most hated guy by a nickname.
"Ah! Right! I forgot to introduce you. Buchou, this here is Hanazono Rise. She's my friend," he gestured to me. "And Hanazono-san, this is Rias-buchou, my club president."
"A pleasure to meet you," she extends her hand. Her eyes glitters with amusement.
I take the extended hand and shakes it while replying, "The pleasure is mine."
What? Does she think I would be afraid of touching her? Or I would worship her? Or I would be hysterical? Well, if I were other people, I can picture myself actually going 'kyaaaa' when she offered her hand. Fortunately, I'm not other people. I'm me, and like I said she's not the highest in my book.
"And what help can I offer to her?"
"She seems to forget the first time we talked, and wants to know how I got her number."
Wait, so Hyoudou got her to help me remembering our first conversation? It doesn't make any sense.
"Aah, I see. Ise-kun, if I remember correctly from what you said to me, the first time you two talked was when you were put into a group together and did a work, right? And then to make it easier, you two exchanged contacts. Isn't that right, Hanazono-san?"
Huh? Why do I feel dizzy? Uh? What am I doing here? Oh yes, I remember. I want to talk to Hyoudou about… huh? Why do I want to ask him about our first meeting? I remember it quite clearly. We were put into a group together and to make it easier for us, we exchanged contacts.
Silly me.
Both Rias Gremory and Hyoudou looked at me expectantly. Their expression, particularly Hyoudou, is like the close friend of a person who had just got amnesia and tried to recall their memories about the friend. There is this hopeful look on his face. It's like when Riku was expecting something. I do not want to disappoint that expression.
"Yeah, I remember. Silly me. Thank you, Gremory-san. Hyoudou-san, I'm sorry."
Hyoudou bite his lip before he replies, "Nah, it's cool."
"Well, if there's nothing else, I remember I have an arrangement after school. So I think I will take my leave."
With a little dizziness remain, I leave the deserted place behind the old school building and goes to my English course. I wonder if Akihito-san will continue our tutoring session. From what I can gather from today's, I seems to be improving on math. Now if only I can find other tutor for the rest of the subject…