p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="413eb696f2d8e1687949161592d794bb"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"April 1, 2015 /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c4316beb9c7392c8cc6c7363b619664c"One thing I wanted to do after leaving that place was to make friends, and maybe uncover the beauty of deep connection. They say that in order to understand a person's story, you must first live in their shoes. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="25b33b4036f130279e54e05752e27908"Obviously, that doesn't mean you literally have to put on their shoes, but it does make sense. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dc19aa71edfe6b48b4a1237ebc2c1141"Robin hood is one person people look up to. His life may have been described as 'cool' or 'noble', but it never seemed so in my view. Stealing from the wealthy and gifting the plunder to the poor was rather reckless. Firstly, one cannot be lucky enough to flee the law successfully every time. Secondly, giving to the poor is illogical to me. Couldn't he have used that money for himself? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="843db53c10b236db742b602cfef3c103"The more I attempted to understand it, the more it evaded me, therefore, it was a waste of resources to think about it any further. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df9d79695a37d41190ce1e670679a239"I pushed the door and entered my assigned classroom, class D. A few individuals peeked momentary glances my way before looking away. I searched for my allotted seat and discovered it in the corner. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="27ded37a4099492791f393ce0230f4e3"Appreciating the convenient location, I plunged my bottom into the chair and relished in its cool sensation. Warmer might be more comfortable, but cool is also sweet for the skin. Not that my skin was exposed, since these trousers were quite thick. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a0930a2231b4f79cf299f0a494afd99b"I decided to inspect the phone I was given. Sliding through the differing applications, I arrived at one portion in the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'Student Information'/em tab. A picture showing my face popped up, and I vividly recalled the time I had to take a selfie before the camera during the interview session. That was the first time I'd taken a picture of myself, literally. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f611a4375ba539d6e8deef79504eade1"Another thing caught my attention. Why did I have something called... 'empoints/em'? For some reason, these points were quantified as one-hundred thousand. I guess I could ask someone later, but it was peculiar. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fe485680129a5923e71378daea284f88"I stared outside the window, clicking spiritually with the flapping white pelicans. That was my guardian animal; I just knew it! I desired to experience that luscious freedom; to do whatever the hell I wanted without any wet blankets intruding. Perhaps even a bit of peace in that, as Gandhi would have liked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b8b6a93e8c6e567d8e908917c35fd3e7"The clock on the wall struck without emitting any sounds and entranced me until I heard a dragging sound by my right side. Turning my head, I regarded my neighbour, noting that our meeting was a first. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1d574158b6e8e654ff69788f8433e216""Good morning," I greeted while giving a light nod. "The weather is nice, is it not?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="48d23b19049961522d9d3b0f2321be78"She sent me a pensive glance, probably caught off guard by my initiative in speaking. "Good morning to you as well." The dark-haired girl picked her book and continued unfurling its inner contents, no longer taking notice of me. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dbfef4f902cbc9971ed395cecacea446"Well, if she doesn't want to interact, then I can't force her. We live in a democratic age, after all. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="41daafe8d7ea9d6dd75f5c29c6998fd3"Although. . . she's just too pretty to ignore! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a1e56aaad1df735f09fa9d0ef01fc3d5"This will probably make her annoyed, but I must do this. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="83cb81bff9985d1fc31e1070f88f5b5e""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Crime and punishment/em? A good read, I must commend. Do you enjoy books such as these?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="425b064f7ffe9aa655cd50ae3489b7c2"Just to note, I wasn't lying about having read it. The tale grips the reader from start to finish, despite its filthiness. Simply put, it left a bad taste in my mouth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0852da7e7a649e875f779c4be4055803""You've read this before?" she asked, to which I gave a nod. "Currently at the halfway make. Hopefully, I can finish it soon enough." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b9ab43b6262eccfb04019808ec1d504d""Halfway? I assume you started this morning, then. What's your name? We should meet soon enough to have more in-depth discussions concerning literature of this kind." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fddac388553dd2570fc8bdf7415d7788"She might not have agreed to give out her name, considering her staunch seriousness. My interest in her perked up, and I wanted to know just how girls my age operated. What were their interests? With what fashion did they adorn themselves? How did they talk? Mostly these questions, for the sake of normality. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8dab545459dc356afb861a2a601ca66e""It's hard to turn your request down, since you do seem very educated. You may refer to me as Horikita. Also, I did start reading this morning. How can anyone make such a guess?" she approved while arching a brow. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="93c203bfce43c043438bb22af787d05d""I just did," I shrugged my shoulders as I said so. "Besides, weren't you there on the same bus? I think a girl with black hair reading a book is quite impressionable for the mind's subconscious, Horikita." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="13487bd80fe95e221fa103dec1770cb8""You do have a point. . ." she turned away, as if in contemplation. "Let's exchange numbers. I would like to talk more." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e192952bd9fa2f6a0fcbebab42a03ee1"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Wow. . . First number from a girl. . . /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6ddf4ecd49e31f1315c938adda4e38ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Life is going to be great! /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2acf1333f6df77a0f76da94de32254f4""Sure, let's do that. Also, my name is Ayanokōji Kiyotaka," I mentioned it since she strangely did not ask. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0a1aec3269bb26f3223712887810f85""I've already noticed it on your nameplate, Ayanokōji-kun. My eyes work just fine." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ef9acae652513926143685a62d643c7b"Okay. . .? Loners are typically observant of their surroundings, courtesy of their lack of compensating hobbies. It should come as no surprise that Horikita didn't ask for it but chose to read instead. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="daa209a9f8f0057990da55c3985882d4""Does that mean my eyes aren't working, using your logic?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6dcd1eaa0d6cfb372a0524b78d2597a2""No. Rather, you chose to ask a perfectly obvious question without paying attention to the answers before you. That's all." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d505477efe3c55903caacb86d67ee993"Her logic was valid. Her responses were always witty and to-the-point. I liked this girl. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="229d05f948808ffa43d631757a080147""True enough, Horikita," I acquiesced. "My number is: ########" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fbed71642c9030aa14136c38310bfbf8""And mine is: ########" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="741d442ecf829c3fd23f1c7ea77e7de9"I had a feeling ― things would go well with this new acquaintance of mine. She wasn't too mean, nor was she bothering me with her speech. Horikita was just uncouth in her delicacies and by no means a people-pleaser. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e6ce176e786df047c244249813c48206"We both turned our heads to the front when a grown lady waltzed into the classroom, punctuating each footstep such that is reverberates on the walls. The teacher was probably the strict type, valuing firm discipline. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="82d62ed4825c0c57f31f32216b79806d""Class, please quiet down. The matriculation guidelines will be handed out. Take one and pass the rest." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fd9250f0f78aba0a821db0928cd790c3"From then on, she explained everything about the S-system. Some parts of her wording did strike me as odd, but it didn't cause much alarm internally. Even Horikita was frowning as she mentioned a hundred-thousand points. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f626e2c1b1a6e287c744c97444b5bd4a"It was incredibly strange, really. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="09c550ac5f5fdaa5afec639e829bf985""Are there any questions?" Chabashira-sensei circulated across the room with her eyes, and a dirty-blonde boy raised his hand. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="372865e63f1616a2ec9c3cca8beb3a65""Yes, Hirata?" Immediately, some of the females in his vicinity became excited at the mention of his name. Prince Charming, is that you? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ff327a0925052e0c13f081a09d92cff3""Sensei, I need to give this a mention. How do we give points to other people? At least, in the case where we want to lend to a classmate or friend?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fcf65aaa0bb86591aaea9eb9cf83f07"Chabashira-sensei instructed us to look at an application called em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'Balance Enquiry'/em. Apparently, we could send our own points to a classmate by clicking on their profile and choosing how much to give. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="29b03f35675ab03967e2ba43fedd0cf5"I was impressed by how lag-free the phone and application were. It showed us all forty of our classmates' names and showed their amount of points as well. One minor concern I would raise with this is how breaching it was of the students' privacy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4428760b2193a3a82e1400fcce1c18d1""Any further questions?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="38d4384daa0b57c2f072ae4f7950c9c8""Sensei, is there some sort of reason for getting this many points? My parents certainly did not give this much free allowance to me, y'know?" a beige-haired girl mouthed her concerns. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="589783fe27d289ab2a395605a09ab4df""I've already said it before, right? For passing the entrance exams, you deserve this reward. Go ahead and live fulfilling student lives, everyone." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c9b61d55d324af4beedd99639df61e2a"With that all said and done, the teacher left amidst the joyous airing of celebration. Just for passing the entrance exams, we get this much money? Interesting. . . /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="340c01a7ff37bf6e443d35e6d02bea3b"As this was happening, I watched one boy rise with a pleased expression on his face, donning a beautiful smile. He politely asked us to hold an introduction session, and many voices approved. So, he started with his soothing tone. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8e1881752bf96218d27babe3e68fe246""My name is Hirata Yōsuke, and it's a pleasure to meet all of you! Feel free to call me by my given name, since I personally don't mind. My hobby has been and always will be football, and I'm planning to join the club here too. Let's have bright days in this school, alright?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cda8cd05a6c7f08c7a4c0cd7793f3c16"His introduction had a certain formula to it: First, he told everyone his name, and gave permission to use his given name as a way to establish himself amiably. Next, he gave a clear statement about his love for soccer, which is a sport many continue to pay attention to today. Then, he ended with a cheesy statement about bright days. Essentially, he sounds like a typical Shōnen character. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="45aa09fc552a113bb855d9a029de9a7b"What a man, indeed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e6a3893f3cce81ebcc34e9edc1a2ed43"As the introductions went on, I gave a glance at the gorgeous Horikita's direction. She seemed bored with the current events, and likely about to leave. I petitioned her, "Hey, do you think we can hang out after this?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4f3efcccce56e69f7f9ebab1a0641360"She agreed, and everything went by in the blink of an eye. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: center;" data-p-id="d33251e1e06d2f424eb0894de6da1153"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"1 /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4d638c45fccc54f96c3d6cf70442223b"Departing after introducing myself, I caught up to Horikita who surprisingly waited for me outside the first-year block. Amazing that she would do such a thing, really. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a5ec79595946b87764a4d4a029dbe29"I grabbed her shoulders. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f12243facf67b8d3bf60f3d0b8375933""Hey!" she chided. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5dcc780b0387c8d3a4218a58dd5f5adf""You seemed so engrossed in your book that I doubt you'd have heard me. It's a necessary sacrifice, really," I explained. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e30958e973bafbd6e03d576d913594d9""Okay. That makes sense, but I still dislike that sort of physical contact, Ayanokōji-kun." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e7f73cc6ad5d423205a188a5bfa198b0""Sorry about that, but where should we go? Either to your bedroom, or the library?" my voice rose at the end, showing my uncertainty. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4fcd8f9673c9100e47a085ddca6da64a"She rose an eyebrow. "Convenience store," she gushed, refusing to elaborate any further. Then, she grabbed my hand and pulled me along with her. I didn't dislike the sensation, so I made no attempts to resist. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="85be47c6b1f056a0d101c6d9fce88560"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Didn't you just say you hated this kind of physical contact? /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e5459bae7d561bd04bde24dd5522831f"After about two minutes of walking, we arrived. The place had a fresh smell, indicating that cleaning was done very recently. At the very least, that was good for us since we wouldn't agonize over the avoidance of floor filth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="06a1c679042a92308860b26e513308a6""Are cup noodles healthy?" I asked, lifting a cup labelled size B. The specifics of these measurements were lost on me, and I could barely understand what they entailed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="da5eb9ab8fbfa040a0a07c1d39830980" "I couldn't affirm such. If we were to inspect the nutritional value section, that would give a clear answer, wouldn't you say?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ae56ec80beee13ce4c77dbf8b35c7d78"She was indeed right about that, but companies can also lie about the nutritional composition of their food products. Even if you argue that it was FDA-approved, there is still room for trickery in that vein. Thus, I needed to be ascertained to the overall safety. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fa6a13d607e7077578fd5f1ff94b1e94""Do you believe what you say, Horikita? Is it trustworthy in your opinion?" I probed for her honest thoughts on this matter, looking directly into her crimson circles. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bce6e05b2f395d586e2f8bbf81a2eba5""That's. . ." she trailed off, drooping her voice. "I don't know." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="37266fbe9747fa7a316ff5eb29462696""Okay, what are you going to buy, Horikita?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6e58de76a6f102ba4c7d22f2e7c90d84""Collectively speaking, I intend to purchase groceries, toiletries and maybe something else tomorrow," she explained. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="490f005e1b5a6931802378dfb9172710""In that case, I'll just take whatever you take. It's a less stressful alternative." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="41d3d78f445d95b382315c3b0bebbdd4"My admittance alarmed her, causing her to question me. "Have you never went shopping in your life? Such poor decision-making is just bizzare!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f4e312a2f618fd925378a922e09a66fc""I agree, which is why I'm copying your list," I nodded. "Will that be an annoyance at all? I'd hope not. . ." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="228fa3d8019727e60bb40bc1ea494dd4"She pursed her lips, coming to terms with my request. "Fine. But I hope this is not a frequent habit come the next day. You need to have some basic knowledge about these things, Ayanokōji-kun." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cded487dbf4c2c9e1b634b28eb7e0434""Yare yare daze." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="31739a30006d0adc4969afadb68feaa6""Did you say something?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1926a8e70cdf277ba1c35cc8b497069e""Nah, it's nothing." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9bf745e3ab3238d1244fe2ecd913ab04"What dangerous super ears! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1c9a44a6955f4185f8dcf326a2cb633e"Eventually, the task was completed. I copied the majority of Horikita's shopping list, consisting of: a toothbrush, tissues, face cream, hair food and the like. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="88155621028953ae61d5097d609343e0"She even went as far as to teach me about these foods. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d57f9b9012417eacf5642959ab3906e"Stuff along the lines of: "Carrots have the vitamin b9, also known as foliate. Folic acid is crucial for proper brain function and plays an important role in mental and emotional health. It aids in the production of DNA and RNA, the body's genetic material, and is especially important when cells and tissues are growing rapidly, such as in infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fa1158595c2fb08902c5e1f77e31a0a"I was astounded that she could memorize such trivial loads of information. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="56836d8b9db742fa9bc97c6f88eaccdd"Although, this is just a miniscule piece of the education I received in that place. Of course, men can't get pregnant, but the other benefits fit well for all people. Balance is absolutely necessary when considering the consumption of food. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="748bfb3cdf1ba640f0d6fcc5b7a6782f""...kun?" A mature voice brought me out of my trance. "Ayanokōji-kun, you're daydreaming." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="63b6b211fb893abe5aa8552c84280de1""I was. Sorry about that." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1af207b3049e1d08e5b9caa633bc7931""Placation must be another of your quirks, yes?" a rhetorical question escaped her lips. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3f8c8963a41020466a4e3cbef8f7a0ce""Indeed," sarcastically, I agreed, but would Horikita be able to understand me? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cfe201de5943405c840233fec4378a45" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: center;" data-p-id="2502664431252d92436c22f8c6c4fc9b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"2 /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7d02b64f9e47354bf0b62bf4c2cd954" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1802e4fba741b205e0b2e97f2286eecc"The cooling overture cast us into a shiver as we exited the shop. My eyes drifted over to her lower part as the skirt was lifted by the wind. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="52c504fb1c05f2441ac08f83ff90a5a3"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Purple, huh? Interesting colour. /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b3ae008f4c54eec2f03a4e45e8704666""Horikita, we should hurry. The wind seems to increase aggression second by second." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df536c2028959d564ee30f4c5544d9db"We started our dash, but - /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b9f7ae17556dd546e654d837c6f4827""Move! You're holding up the line, dude!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aa5f883091ea13752e703e0ee9ea200f""Oh yeah?! Tell them to say it out loud! Unless they're too scared to say it?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5fc4bf6dfc80c2d50546f1e951fdaa31"We heard an argument erupt from the inside. Whoever the second person was, their vocabulary was spectacularly unimpressive; they literally said the same thing twice. A better way would've been for them to say, "unless they're to scared to do so?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1b4f3be3c79d03c73ab40c0556d2ecd4"Not only did it for better on the ears, but it required less exertion of effort from the tongue. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="40414264efd1eb11bd587eebc21f1e53""Should we help out or not, Horikita?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d186f7932964a41d0db32fe93e1c9a9""Absolutely not." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f79a685c89acfdfc3d5942057ac42007"Should've seen that one coming. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="63bfbe415e873ec8f48e06ab8e36f469"We left the place in a hurry, ignoring our aching fingers along the way. Nevertheless, it wasn't that bad. Careful consideration would tell that this option was fast more cost-effective than ordering from the cafeteria. If we were dissatisfied by the serving, the possibility of getting a refund or refill was low. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="20ac9de235ca96ebfc867685d8f002b5"As commonplace the portrayal of it in cartoons is, the dishes served there tend to be lackluster, both in taste and appearance. My assumption could be wrong, since this school prides itself on a prestigious level of quality, but rumours tend to be based on fact rather than speculation. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="68b0f840f6871f5a8bcf0e740658d129""I'm glad we didn't get involved in that scuffle. Low-borns pick the wrong wars to fight in, like always." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="40bced8df623c6f72933ed4ce5e3d5a1"Yare yare. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c5c58f40cf3c40fa1eac1553472b0a07""That's a cold viewpoint. Try to be a little more understanding, okay?" I advised. "Judgement is toxic when you don't have all the pieces to the puzzle." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="61493d6cbecb66f849cba5ae1adddf33""That's a hard no. I won't listen to such things from anyone, including you, Ayanokōji-kun," she incredulously refused to heed my words. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8a6406ba993816f6f02166cc69cfaa44""Sure, whatever you say, but hopefully you don't act like I never told you so in future." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f1a4d348bb89ea50a49b57c504d14b14"There was no point going back and forth on this. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cc0ad9d544e16f6164890ea629717ff9"- /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a7a01714c419e12a462dd07fb13e574b"word count: 2488 /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c4316beb9c7392c8cc6c7363b619664c"One thing I wanted to do after leaving that place was to make friends, and maybe uncover the beauty of deep connection. They say that in order to understand a person's story, you must first live in their shoes. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="25b33b4036f130279e54e05752e27908"Obviously, that doesn't mean you literally have to put on their shoes, but it does make sense. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dc19aa71edfe6b48b4a1237ebc2c1141"Robin hood is one person people look up to. His life may have been described as 'cool' or 'noble', but it never seemed so in my view. Stealing from the wealthy and gifting the plunder to the poor was rather reckless. Firstly, one cannot be lucky enough to flee the law successfully every time. Secondly, giving to the poor is illogical to me. Couldn't he have used that money for himself? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="843db53c10b236db742b602cfef3c103"The more I attempted to understand it, the more it evaded me, therefore, it was a waste of resources to think about it any further. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df9d79695a37d41190ce1e670679a239"I pushed the door and entered my assigned classroom, class D. A few individuals peeked momentary glances my way before looking away. I searched for my allotted seat and discovered it in the corner. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="27ded37a4099492791f393ce0230f4e3"Appreciating the convenient location, I plunged my bottom into the chair and relished in its cool sensation. Warmer might be more comfortable, but cool is also sweet for the skin. Not that my skin was exposed, since these trousers were quite thick. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a0930a2231b4f79cf299f0a494afd99b"I decided to inspect the phone I was given. Sliding through the differing applications, I arrived at one portion in the em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'Student Information'/em tab. A picture showing my face popped up, and I vividly recalled the time I had to take a selfie before the camera during the interview session. That was the first time I'd taken a picture of myself, literally. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f611a4375ba539d6e8deef79504eade1"Another thing caught my attention. Why did I have something called... 'empoints/em'? For some reason, these points were quantified as one-hundred thousand. I guess I could ask someone later, but it was peculiar. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fe485680129a5923e71378daea284f88"I stared outside the window, clicking spiritually with the flapping white pelicans. That was my guardian animal; I just knew it! I desired to experience that luscious freedom; to do whatever the hell I wanted without any wet blankets intruding. Perhaps even a bit of peace in that, as Gandhi would have liked. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b8b6a93e8c6e567d8e908917c35fd3e7"The clock on the wall struck without emitting any sounds and entranced me until I heard a dragging sound by my right side. Turning my head, I regarded my neighbour, noting that our meeting was a first. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1d574158b6e8e654ff69788f8433e216""Good morning," I greeted while giving a light nod. "The weather is nice, is it not?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="48d23b19049961522d9d3b0f2321be78"She sent me a pensive glance, probably caught off guard by my initiative in speaking. "Good morning to you as well." The dark-haired girl picked her book and continued unfurling its inner contents, no longer taking notice of me. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="dbfef4f902cbc9971ed395cecacea446"Well, if she doesn't want to interact, then I can't force her. We live in a democratic age, after all. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="41daafe8d7ea9d6dd75f5c29c6998fd3"Although. . . she's just too pretty to ignore! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a1e56aaad1df735f09fa9d0ef01fc3d5"This will probably make her annoyed, but I must do this. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="83cb81bff9985d1fc31e1070f88f5b5e""em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Crime and punishment/em? A good read, I must commend. Do you enjoy books such as these?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="425b064f7ffe9aa655cd50ae3489b7c2"Just to note, I wasn't lying about having read it. The tale grips the reader from start to finish, despite its filthiness. Simply put, it left a bad taste in my mouth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="0852da7e7a649e875f779c4be4055803""You've read this before?" she asked, to which I gave a nod. "Currently at the halfway make. Hopefully, I can finish it soon enough." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b9ab43b6262eccfb04019808ec1d504d""Halfway? I assume you started this morning, then. What's your name? We should meet soon enough to have more in-depth discussions concerning literature of this kind." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fddac388553dd2570fc8bdf7415d7788"She might not have agreed to give out her name, considering her staunch seriousness. My interest in her perked up, and I wanted to know just how girls my age operated. What were their interests? With what fashion did they adorn themselves? How did they talk? Mostly these questions, for the sake of normality. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8dab545459dc356afb861a2a601ca66e""It's hard to turn your request down, since you do seem very educated. You may refer to me as Horikita. Also, I did start reading this morning. How can anyone make such a guess?" she approved while arching a brow. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="93c203bfce43c043438bb22af787d05d""I just did," I shrugged my shoulders as I said so. "Besides, weren't you there on the same bus? I think a girl with black hair reading a book is quite impressionable for the mind's subconscious, Horikita." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="13487bd80fe95e221fa103dec1770cb8""You do have a point. . ." she turned away, as if in contemplation. "Let's exchange numbers. I would like to talk more." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e192952bd9fa2f6a0fcbebab42a03ee1"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Wow. . . First number from a girl. . . /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6ddf4ecd49e31f1315c938adda4e38ac"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Life is going to be great! /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="2acf1333f6df77a0f76da94de32254f4""Sure, let's do that. Also, my name is Ayanokōji Kiyotaka," I mentioned it since she strangely did not ask. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e0a1aec3269bb26f3223712887810f85""I've already noticed it on your nameplate, Ayanokōji-kun. My eyes work just fine." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ef9acae652513926143685a62d643c7b"Okay. . .? Loners are typically observant of their surroundings, courtesy of their lack of compensating hobbies. It should come as no surprise that Horikita didn't ask for it but chose to read instead. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="daa209a9f8f0057990da55c3985882d4""Does that mean my eyes aren't working, using your logic?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6dcd1eaa0d6cfb372a0524b78d2597a2""No. Rather, you chose to ask a perfectly obvious question without paying attention to the answers before you. That's all." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d505477efe3c55903caacb86d67ee993"Her logic was valid. Her responses were always witty and to-the-point. I liked this girl. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="229d05f948808ffa43d631757a080147""True enough, Horikita," I acquiesced. "My number is: ########" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fbed71642c9030aa14136c38310bfbf8""And mine is: ########" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="741d442ecf829c3fd23f1c7ea77e7de9"I had a feeling ― things would go well with this new acquaintance of mine. She wasn't too mean, nor was she bothering me with her speech. Horikita was just uncouth in her delicacies and by no means a people-pleaser. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e6ce176e786df047c244249813c48206"We both turned our heads to the front when a grown lady waltzed into the classroom, punctuating each footstep such that is reverberates on the walls. The teacher was probably the strict type, valuing firm discipline. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="82d62ed4825c0c57f31f32216b79806d""Class, please quiet down. The matriculation guidelines will be handed out. Take one and pass the rest." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fd9250f0f78aba0a821db0928cd790c3"From then on, she explained everything about the S-system. Some parts of her wording did strike me as odd, but it didn't cause much alarm internally. Even Horikita was frowning as she mentioned a hundred-thousand points. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f626e2c1b1a6e287c744c97444b5bd4a"It was incredibly strange, really. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="09c550ac5f5fdaa5afec639e829bf985""Are there any questions?" Chabashira-sensei circulated across the room with her eyes, and a dirty-blonde boy raised his hand. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="372865e63f1616a2ec9c3cca8beb3a65""Yes, Hirata?" Immediately, some of the females in his vicinity became excited at the mention of his name. Prince Charming, is that you? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ff327a0925052e0c13f081a09d92cff3""Sensei, I need to give this a mention. How do we give points to other people? At least, in the case where we want to lend to a classmate or friend?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fcf65aaa0bb86591aaea9eb9cf83f07"Chabashira-sensei instructed us to look at an application called em style="box-sizing: border-box;"'Balance Enquiry'/em. Apparently, we could send our own points to a classmate by clicking on their profile and choosing how much to give. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="29b03f35675ab03967e2ba43fedd0cf5"I was impressed by how lag-free the phone and application were. It showed us all forty of our classmates' names and showed their amount of points as well. One minor concern I would raise with this is how breaching it was of the students' privacy. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4428760b2193a3a82e1400fcce1c18d1""Any further questions?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="38d4384daa0b57c2f072ae4f7950c9c8""Sensei, is there some sort of reason for getting this many points? My parents certainly did not give this much free allowance to me, y'know?" a beige-haired girl mouthed her concerns. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="589783fe27d289ab2a395605a09ab4df""I've already said it before, right? For passing the entrance exams, you deserve this reward. Go ahead and live fulfilling student lives, everyone." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c9b61d55d324af4beedd99639df61e2a"With that all said and done, the teacher left amidst the joyous airing of celebration. Just for passing the entrance exams, we get this much money? Interesting. . . /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="340c01a7ff37bf6e443d35e6d02bea3b"As this was happening, I watched one boy rise with a pleased expression on his face, donning a beautiful smile. He politely asked us to hold an introduction session, and many voices approved. So, he started with his soothing tone. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8e1881752bf96218d27babe3e68fe246""My name is Hirata Yōsuke, and it's a pleasure to meet all of you! Feel free to call me by my given name, since I personally don't mind. My hobby has been and always will be football, and I'm planning to join the club here too. Let's have bright days in this school, alright?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cda8cd05a6c7f08c7a4c0cd7793f3c16"His introduction had a certain formula to it: First, he told everyone his name, and gave permission to use his given name as a way to establish himself amiably. Next, he gave a clear statement about his love for soccer, which is a sport many continue to pay attention to today. Then, he ended with a cheesy statement about bright days. Essentially, he sounds like a typical Shōnen character. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="45aa09fc552a113bb855d9a029de9a7b"What a man, indeed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e6a3893f3cce81ebcc34e9edc1a2ed43"As the introductions went on, I gave a glance at the gorgeous Horikita's direction. She seemed bored with the current events, and likely about to leave. I petitioned her, "Hey, do you think we can hang out after this?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4f3efcccce56e69f7f9ebab1a0641360"She agreed, and everything went by in the blink of an eye. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: center;" data-p-id="d33251e1e06d2f424eb0894de6da1153"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"1 /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="26478db11a74b3c8675f463fee30cba7" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4d638c45fccc54f96c3d6cf70442223b"Departing after introducing myself, I caught up to Horikita who surprisingly waited for me outside the first-year block. Amazing that she would do such a thing, really. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9a5ec79595946b87764a4d4a029dbe29"I grabbed her shoulders. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f12243facf67b8d3bf60f3d0b8375933""Hey!" she chided. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5dcc780b0387c8d3a4218a58dd5f5adf""You seemed so engrossed in your book that I doubt you'd have heard me. It's a necessary sacrifice, really," I explained. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e30958e973bafbd6e03d576d913594d9""Okay. That makes sense, but I still dislike that sort of physical contact, Ayanokōji-kun." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e7f73cc6ad5d423205a188a5bfa198b0""Sorry about that, but where should we go? Either to your bedroom, or the library?" my voice rose at the end, showing my uncertainty. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4fcd8f9673c9100e47a085ddca6da64a"She rose an eyebrow. "Convenience store," she gushed, refusing to elaborate any further. Then, she grabbed my hand and pulled me along with her. I didn't dislike the sensation, so I made no attempts to resist. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="85be47c6b1f056a0d101c6d9fce88560"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Didn't you just say you hated this kind of physical contact? /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="e5459bae7d561bd04bde24dd5522831f"After about two minutes of walking, we arrived. The place had a fresh smell, indicating that cleaning was done very recently. At the very least, that was good for us since we wouldn't agonize over the avoidance of floor filth. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="06a1c679042a92308860b26e513308a6""Are cup noodles healthy?" I asked, lifting a cup labelled size B. The specifics of these measurements were lost on me, and I could barely understand what they entailed. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="da5eb9ab8fbfa040a0a07c1d39830980" "I couldn't affirm such. If we were to inspect the nutritional value section, that would give a clear answer, wouldn't you say?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="ae56ec80beee13ce4c77dbf8b35c7d78"She was indeed right about that, but companies can also lie about the nutritional composition of their food products. Even if you argue that it was FDA-approved, there is still room for trickery in that vein. Thus, I needed to be ascertained to the overall safety. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="fa6a13d607e7077578fd5f1ff94b1e94""Do you believe what you say, Horikita? Is it trustworthy in your opinion?" I probed for her honest thoughts on this matter, looking directly into her crimson circles. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="bce6e05b2f395d586e2f8bbf81a2eba5""That's. . ." she trailed off, drooping her voice. "I don't know." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="37266fbe9747fa7a316ff5eb29462696""Okay, what are you going to buy, Horikita?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="6e58de76a6f102ba4c7d22f2e7c90d84""Collectively speaking, I intend to purchase groceries, toiletries and maybe something else tomorrow," she explained. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="490f005e1b5a6931802378dfb9172710""In that case, I'll just take whatever you take. It's a less stressful alternative." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="41d3d78f445d95b382315c3b0bebbdd4"My admittance alarmed her, causing her to question me. "Have you never went shopping in your life? Such poor decision-making is just bizzare!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f4e312a2f618fd925378a922e09a66fc""I agree, which is why I'm copying your list," I nodded. "Will that be an annoyance at all? I'd hope not. . ." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="228fa3d8019727e60bb40bc1ea494dd4"She pursed her lips, coming to terms with my request. "Fine. But I hope this is not a frequent habit come the next day. You need to have some basic knowledge about these things, Ayanokōji-kun." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cded487dbf4c2c9e1b634b28eb7e0434""Yare yare daze." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="31739a30006d0adc4969afadb68feaa6""Did you say something?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1926a8e70cdf277ba1c35cc8b497069e""Nah, it's nothing." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9bf745e3ab3238d1244fe2ecd913ab04"What dangerous super ears! /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1c9a44a6955f4185f8dcf326a2cb633e"Eventually, the task was completed. I copied the majority of Horikita's shopping list, consisting of: a toothbrush, tissues, face cream, hair food and the like. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="88155621028953ae61d5097d609343e0"She even went as far as to teach me about these foods. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="9d57f9b9012417eacf5642959ab3906e"Stuff along the lines of: "Carrots have the vitamin b9, also known as foliate. Folic acid is crucial for proper brain function and plays an important role in mental and emotional health. It aids in the production of DNA and RNA, the body's genetic material, and is especially important when cells and tissues are growing rapidly, such as in infancy, adolescence, and pregnancy." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7fa1158595c2fb08902c5e1f77e31a0a"I was astounded that she could memorize such trivial loads of information. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="56836d8b9db742fa9bc97c6f88eaccdd"Although, this is just a miniscule piece of the education I received in that place. Of course, men can't get pregnant, but the other benefits fit well for all people. Balance is absolutely necessary when considering the consumption of food. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="748bfb3cdf1ba640f0d6fcc5b7a6782f""...kun?" A mature voice brought me out of my trance. "Ayanokōji-kun, you're daydreaming." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="63b6b211fb893abe5aa8552c84280de1""I was. Sorry about that." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1af207b3049e1d08e5b9caa633bc7931""Placation must be another of your quirks, yes?" a rhetorical question escaped her lips. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="3f8c8963a41020466a4e3cbef8f7a0ce""Indeed," sarcastically, I agreed, but would Horikita be able to understand me? /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cfe201de5943405c840233fec4378a45" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222; text-align: center;" data-p-id="2502664431252d92436c22f8c6c4fc9b"span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"2 /span/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b7d02b64f9e47354bf0b62bf4c2cd954" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1802e4fba741b205e0b2e97f2286eecc"The cooling overture cast us into a shiver as we exited the shop. My eyes drifted over to her lower part as the skirt was lifted by the wind. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="52c504fb1c05f2441ac08f83ff90a5a3"em style="box-sizing: border-box;"Purple, huh? Interesting colour. /em/p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="b3ae008f4c54eec2f03a4e45e8704666""Horikita, we should hurry. The wind seems to increase aggression second by second." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="df536c2028959d564ee30f4c5544d9db"We started our dash, but - /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="4b9f7ae17556dd546e654d837c6f4827""Move! You're holding up the line, dude!" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="aa5f883091ea13752e703e0ee9ea200f""Oh yeah?! Tell them to say it out loud! Unless they're too scared to say it?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="5fc4bf6dfc80c2d50546f1e951fdaa31"We heard an argument erupt from the inside. Whoever the second person was, their vocabulary was spectacularly unimpressive; they literally said the same thing twice. A better way would've been for them to say, "unless they're to scared to do so?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="1b4f3be3c79d03c73ab40c0556d2ecd4"Not only did it for better on the ears, but it required less exertion of effort from the tongue. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="40414264efd1eb11bd587eebc21f1e53""Should we help out or not, Horikita?" /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="7d186f7932964a41d0db32fe93e1c9a9""Absolutely not." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f79a685c89acfdfc3d5942057ac42007"Should've seen that one coming. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="63bfbe415e873ec8f48e06ab8e36f469"We left the place in a hurry, ignoring our aching fingers along the way. Nevertheless, it wasn't that bad. Careful consideration would tell that this option was fast more cost-effective than ordering from the cafeteria. If we were dissatisfied by the serving, the possibility of getting a refund or refill was low. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="20ac9de235ca96ebfc867685d8f002b5"As commonplace the portrayal of it in cartoons is, the dishes served there tend to be lackluster, both in taste and appearance. My assumption could be wrong, since this school prides itself on a prestigious level of quality, but rumours tend to be based on fact rather than speculation. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="68b0f840f6871f5a8bcf0e740658d129""I'm glad we didn't get involved in that scuffle. Low-borns pick the wrong wars to fight in, like always." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="40bced8df623c6f72933ed4ce5e3d5a1"Yare yare. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="c5c58f40cf3c40fa1eac1553472b0a07""That's a cold viewpoint. Try to be a little more understanding, okay?" I advised. "Judgement is toxic when you don't have all the pieces to the puzzle." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="61493d6cbecb66f849cba5ae1adddf33""That's a hard no. I won't listen to such things from anyone, including you, Ayanokōji-kun," she incredulously refused to heed my words. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="8a6406ba993816f6f02166cc69cfaa44""Sure, whatever you say, but hopefully you don't act like I never told you so in future." /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="f1a4d348bb89ea50a49b57c504d14b14"There was no point going back and forth on this. /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="cc0ad9d544e16f6164890ea629717ff9"- /p
p style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px 0px 24px; font-size: 18px; font-family: 'Source Sans Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 24px; padding: 0px; color: #222222;" data-p-id="a7a01714c419e12a462dd07fb13e574b"word count: 2488 /p