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Shinobu walked into the empty classroom, waiting for her classmates and teacher to arrive, and for class to begin. She placed her blue bag on the floor, close to her desk, and calmly watched the outside of the window. The light wind, and the way it shook the tree branches, the sound it maked, it was calming to listen.
Shinobu, with her head resting on her palm, smiled softly as she began to hum a melody very quietly. She was expectantly happy today, because today was her birthday. But she wasn't out there, happily and full of joy telling everyone in the school building that her birthday was today, because she wanted to celebrate it home, with her two sisters.
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Suddenly, the short girl heard the door slide open. "Hm?" she turned around to see who was there. It was Gyutaro who opened the door so suddenly. Shinobu smiled casually at him, asking,
"Is there something you need?"
Gyutaro didn't say anything at first. He first looked down at his school bag, then he took a few steps into the classroom. Shinobu curiously looked around with her eyes only, wondering what Gyutaro was here for.
The upperclassman walked up to Shinobu's desk, then crouched down to get something out of his bag. Shinobu kept curiously looking at him with her dark purple eyes.
When he finally found the thing he was searching for, Gyutaro got up and placed a small box on the desk. Shinobu was a little confused.
"It's for you." Gyutaro suddenly said. "Since today it's your birthday and all.."
"Oh, thank you!" Shinobu at first wanted to ask him how he knew that her birthday was today. But refused to, thinking that someone who knows, like her sister, Kanao, or the boy with the earrings, Tanjiro, might've told him that.
"You, uhh.. You can open it now, if you want to."
"Ah alright." Shinobu then untied the satin ribbon that was keeping the box shut. When she opened it, the girl saw a tiny minimalistic ceramic figure of a mantis, that was coloured in white, purple and pink.
Shinobu could not help, but blush slightly due to how adorable the figure looked. Just as she was about to thank him again, Gyutaro was already on his way out.
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After class, Shinobu walked through the corridors in order to find Gyutaro so she could thank him again. Luckily, she found right after she passed around a corner. He looked like he was ready to go home already.
Shinobu rushed her step to catch up. She was just about to call Gyutaro's name so he can stop his tracks, but he turned around and stopped by himself instead. It seemed like he heard the sound of Shinobu running towards him.
Gyutaro looked down and sighed, "What is it now, Shinobu?"
"It's nothing important really!" The short girl smiled. "Just wanted to thank you properly for the gift you gave to me."
"Ah... No, you don't need to, really." Gyutaro waved his hand. "It's seriously nothing special."
"Maybe to you it's nothing." Shinobu slightly tilted her head to the left. "But i really liked that gift! And i've got my reasons to like it that much."
"Uh-huh..?" Gyutaro continued to walk down the hallway, thinking that the conversation was over. But apparently it wasn't. Shinobu casually kept up with his tempo, looking up at him with the same causal smile.
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"I actually like to collect figures based on different insects," Shinobu informed her classmate as they got outside. "so i felt a little surprised when you got me this as a gift."
Gyutaro did not respond nor look at Shinobu.
"If you have no problem with me asking, what made you think ill like that little mantis?"
"It wasn't my idea really."
"Oh, really?"
"It.. was actually my sister's idea."
"Ume's? Huh." Shinobu then thought, "But how did she get that idea then? We don't really talk to each other— Oh wait, Ume is friends with my little sister, so Kanao probably mentioned it to her."
"Uh, guess i'll see you tomorrow." Gyutaro said as he exited the school gate.
Shinobu, still keeping up that calm & casual smile on, waved for goodbye at her classmate, as they both parted ways.
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