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‘Another rejection down the drain,’ Nadeko thought to herself. How long has it been? Since the incident, since becoming class president, since…
She thought back to the rumors running through her classroom and how all of her friends turned out to be those she couldn’t trust anymore. She exposed herself to Araragi, trying to seduce him in an embarrassing childish way just to find out he was dating someone else. She only caught glimpses of her, but she was so naturally elegant. What Nadeko practiced in the mirror—her outfits, one liners and bashful face—all for nothing when compared to the other girl.
‘How embarrassing,’ she thought to herself.
The memories stung even more when Tsukihi, Araragi’s own sister, called her out on her behavior.
‘Nadeko-chan never liked Araragi.’
‘B-But… But I do, I have real feelings…’
‘Nadeko’s feelings are the same as a girl crushing on an idol, no? Just a parasocial crush.’
She knew she never wanted to date Araragi, yet it was so comforting having something to distract herself from. No longer being able to use the excuse, ‘Sorry, I have someone else I like,’ she walked away from the boy who confessed his half-witted love with her head down.
—
Drawing manga at night helps Nadeko cope, but it’s just another coping mechanism. Becoming a mangaka is surely her passion, but the drawings leave a sour taste in her mouth. In the quiet moments of the night time, that’s when her thoughts become the loudest. Even the scratches of her mechanical pen can’t disturb her internal monologuing.
As such, the cycle repeats. She keeps her head down, draws in the depths of night, and repeats. It’s become a mundane reality, but she would much rather have this than be attacked by her classmates for rumors. She has an encounter with a high school student, but she can’t remember the exact details. She seemed to have known Nadeko without Nadeko revealing her name.
—
“Are you okay?”
A voice devoid of any emotion appears next to her as she approaches the school grounds. She has turquoise hair,—unnatural, but many things are unnatural in her town. By the look of her uniform, Nadeko deduced they were in the same grade. For some reason, they never met.
“W-who are you…?”
“Why is your first instinct to ask who I am?” The girl quipped back with almost no time to consider Nadeko’s question.
“You shouldn’t be talking to me…” Nadeko tried walking away faster, but it seemed like the mysterious girl caught up without even a break in her struts.
“Why? Is there some reason we shouldn’t be talking?”
“N-No, but…” She trailed off.
Nadeko traded her outdoor shoes with her indoor shoes. She thought she would take the hint and go to her locker, yet here she is pressed against Nadeko.
“I’m not someone you want to… associate with.”
Nadeko closed her locker and walked towards her classroom, but stopped in her tracks when she felt the presence of the girl behind her.
“Are you not going to change your shoes?” She asked meekly.
The girl looked down at her shoes. “No, why should I? My older sister bought them for me.”
“They’re still going to be here even if you change your shoes… Where’s your locker?” Maybe it was the ‘class president’ side of Nadeko speaking, but she felt a sense of responsibility.
After fiddling with the shoes that only somewhat fit the girl, they continued walking the same direction.
“Why can’t I talk to you?”
“Because…” She tried thinking of a reason that would suit her, send off the impression of something not to mess with but to also leave her with no concern. “People who… who talk to me have something bad happen to them..!”
Okay, so maybe she failed at her last point. But still, she doesn’t want to be perceived in any way that isn’t shy and meek. Everything is an act that she can just hide under her bangs after all.
The girl only just tilted her head to the side. Not even a laugh or a change in expression. Did she think it was a joke? Even worse, a joke that didn’t land.
“Nothing bad will happen to me. I’m invincible,” the girl stated.
For some reason, those words felt comforting to Nadeko. She realized that this was her first real interaction with someone in her school. Not a shady sales person, not anyone associated with Araragi, but a real girl in front of her. She had no color in her lips and cheeks, making her look like a zombie. They were only just about the same height, making it easier to peer into her eyes. They were filled with so much curiosity, if that’s even a physical attribute. For once, Nadeko didn’t feel like hiding under her bangs.
“Why are you just staring at the floor?”
Nadeko forgot Tsukihi cut her bangs blunt short. She was not giving off the bashful impression she wanted.
“U-uh, um, uhhh, ehh…???” Nadeko started flaring up, covering her forehead with her sweaty palms.
The girl reached for Nadekos’ hands and put it out in front of her. “Do you want to tell me what’s wrong now?”
Nadeko could only let out a chuckle, which then escalated to a laugh, back to a smile filled with hope.
“What’s your name?” she urged.
“Ononoki Yotsugi—“
“Ononoki-chan,” Nadeko cut her off and gripped harder on the grasp that Ononoki already had, bringing them closer to each other.
“D..Do you want to hang out after school?”