Chapter Text
01. PROLOGUE.
Every set of eyes in the classroom seem to be glued on her, and for once, it isn't Satoko who has purposely called attention to herself through the means of her many roguish pranks.
"P-pardon?"
"I - I - I’m asking if ... i - if you will be my g... g - g - girl– girlfriend !!!"
Correction: all eyes may just as likely be bouncing between her and Tomita — red-faced and sputtering — as though the Old Geezer keeps passing between their hands of cards with every stuttered syllable, and everyone is anxious to witness the final outcome.
"I know I encouraged him to just go for it, but that’s pretty ballsy..."
"Hauu~, Satoko-chan’s little blushing face is so cute...! I want to take her home with me!"
"Mii... you might have to fend off her suitor first..."
"Then Rena will fight! I will!"
"Ssshh...!"
Filtered through an odd sort of otherworldly haze and her own pulse pounding in her ears, Satoko can barely make out the buzz of hushed voices sounding from the surrounding desks. As if she alone has been left out of the loop about some stage play set to take place upon the chime of the bell ringing out the school day, with her an unknowing participant.
And she hasn’t so much as glanced at the script.
The room goes silent before long. Even Tomita seems to have run out of steam, after all the commotion he has single-handedly caused, his one-off flare of boldness fading more and more for every counting second left hanging. Despite this, wide eyes brave the embarrassment and remain so imploringly locked onto her. The rest of the crowd follows suit.
With a growing panic stirring in her chest, Satoko realizes that must be her cue. Her line.
"I... whu..." But her mind has gone blank, she can’t think. There’s nothing except the suffocating hyper-awareness of every spectator expecting something out of her with bated breath, and the pressure shoved onto her so suddenly is more than she can bear.
So instead, she succumbs to pure instinct and allows for her body to respond in the way that comes most naturally.
Fight or flight.
Satoko bolts out the doorway.