Chapter Text
I don’t know why I was going along with this. Being dragged around the first year classrooms by a crush who I was becoming increasingly aware was rapidly changing. I doubt many people would like that. I know I didn’t. I know all too well I was a bit rough around the edges, but Yoshika had been by my side practically since our first day of elementary school. And now she has seemingly moved on. Maybe it’s because we were barely still teens? What if the pressure of our looming graduation was getting to her? I don’t know. All I knew was that I hated it. One day we were practically twins. The next I found myself replaced by her new obsession. That Atsuka bitch. It stung to see myself practically tossed aside for her new toy as though the years of friendship didn’t mean anything. If anything, I should be mad with Yoshika over it. But I wasn’t. I couldn’t.
Instead I found myself blaming Atsuka.
I know she didn’t do anything, in fact I’m not entirely sure that she even likes being around Yoshika. Even so I couldn’t help it.
Then again, maybe I was also changing alongside her and just wasn’t aware of it? Mai did say before that I was “more jaded” of late. At the time I just told her I didn’t know what she was talking about and dismissed it out of hand. Thinking back on it, I guess that was my way of escaping having to talk about the problem.
If I had to be honest, it’s not that surprising that was my reaction. I never really was one who would talk about my feelings or my problems. It’s pretty much the way my whole family is. None of us were the touchy feely or the talking type. Not my dad, not my mother and definitely not my brother. The only real times my family ‘talked’ was in the gym, and that wasn’t much more than a little bit of small talk between sets. Nothing more than “Good form” or “You’ve improved”. I know that it was weird and unusual, but I guess that’s just how we bonded as a family.
A hard yank on my arm tore me from my thoughts, forcing me to use my free arm to keep my glasses in place as Yoshika pulled me into some first-year classroom. It wasn’t anything spectacular, though there were a poster or two for the upcoming sports day event. A row of windows on one side let the outside light flow into the room, bathing the opposing wall in a warm light. A single girl stood practically in the middle of the class. Shel had short black hair, and skin she clearly took great care of. Her body was… Well, pretty much non-existent. She was more or less just a collection of sticks with absolutely no meat or muscle on her. Sure, I didn’t have rippling muscles either, but at least I had something other than just bones. Though I had to say, her being so petite only served to make her even more cute. I suppose I wouldn’t mind dating her. Not like I’d actually pursue her. I was already firmly trapped in Yoshika’s web. Yoshika dragged me closer to the girl and almost immediately began to talk with her. I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to whatever it was Yoshika was saying. Years of knowing her had taught me the pointlessness of actually trying to listen to her. Instead I found my attention drawn to the small girl in front of us. I’d heard before that I could be intimidating to people, but this poor girl seemed to practically have a heart attack from our mere presence.
I’m pretty sure that was mostly because of me.
I don’t really know what it was about her, but seeing that small girl shake so much at so little struck a chord in me. It made me want to protect her a bit I guess. Sort of like a motherbird shielding its chicks with a wing or something like that. I could feel my face soften at the thought.
A hard pat on my back brought me back to the classroom. I looked over at Yoshika, only to find her already half out the door running off somewhere. I don't know what was worse in that moment. Her dragging me all this way only to ditch me? Or if she had just forgotten about me instead? If it weren’t for the pat on my back, I might have given her the benefit of the doubt here, but that was one of the things I had noticed about her lately. Her obsession for “”friend”” Atsuka. She was constantly talking about her, or running off to her, or somehow doing something related to her. A part of me felt bad for her. I knew all too well what it was like to be in her place. It wasn’t always fun, and for an Ice-Bitch like Atsuka? Well, I really can’t see her enjoying Yoshika all that much. Though knowing that didn't really make the pangs of jealousy any easier to deal with.
“C-Can I h-help you?” I almost missed the girl's question with just how quietly spoken it was. I turned to look at her, only to be greeted by the sight of her pretty much shaking herself apart. Seeing her like that sent a small pang of guilt into my gut as my desire to fill some kind of protector role came back to the surface.
“No, sorry” I began to reply as I walked a bit closer to the girl so I could actually hear what she would say next. “Yoshika dragged me here for some reason, but it seems she forgot about me” I continued as I stuck a thumb out towards the door.
“Oh” the girl timidly replied as she sunk her gaze to the floor.
I’m sure most people would try to leave or comfort the girl. Yet I didn’t know how to do either. At least, not politely anyway. An awkward silence came between us as neither one of us seemed to know what to do or say next. A clock sitting on the wall slowly ticked the seconds by until I finally went to say something, only to be surprised at the girl beating me to it.
“Can I ask what your name is?”
The question caught me totally off-guard, and earnt itself an awkward laugh as an unconscious response. The girl quickly raised her head to me, her face a mixture of confusion and obvious anxiety.
“My name is Katsumi, but most people just call me Atsu” I returned as a small smile broke through my usual dead-pan expression.
“My name is Hitomi” The girl said as she gave a small bow to me. Her anxieties from before seemingly faded, though they weren't totally gone yet.
“Atsu…” she softly spoke as she seemingly digested the name for a moment, lifting her eyes to me soon after.
“Which name do you prefer?”
“Excuse me?”
“Atsu or Katsumi? Which would you prefer I use?”
I couldn’t help but laugh at that. Maybe it’s because I was too used to Yoshika and her less careful ways. After all, Yoshika is the kind of person to do something first, and think about it only when she absolutely has to. In fact, I’m pretty sure that’s how Yoshika gave me the nickname ‘Atsu’ anyway.
“Use whichever one you prefer” I replied with a quick shrug as I moved to stand next to her. It was then that just how close we were in height hit me. I don’t think I was the shortest person in the school, though I was the shortest third year. Half the time I’d have to crane my neck up to look at anyone in the eyes. It felt great not having to do that with this Hitomi girl.
“Did you want to grab a bite to eat?” I couldn’t help but let the small smile on my face get a bit bigger as I asked the question. Hitomi was a good girl. I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to get closer with her, to help keep her safe and all that.
“O-o-oh, u-um” A pang of guilt sunk its way into my gut at her response. Was this really some kind of boundary? Had I gotten so used to Yoshika that her carelessness had rubbed off on me? I know I had just met her, but I really didn’t see whatever boundary I had just crossed.
“Nah forget it, it’s ok if you’re busy” I said rather solemnly as my smile quickly faded back into my usual dead-pan face. I started to turn to the door. I wouldn’t be surprised if she would be relieved to see me go.
Instead I felt her grab my jacket sleeve. I turned to look at Hitomi, my confusion clearly painted on my face.
“N-no it’s ok, I’d l-like that”
My confusion quickly faded, replaced by another warm smile.
I guess I’m not as bad as Yoshika is after all.