H I K A R U I S H I K A W A
石川 光
of 3-D
I was beginning to think that I should stop trying.
Maybe trying to turn to others for help was useless, especially when it came to these two.
It was absolutely impossible, I deemed as I checked my phone to see if it actually had been ringing.
「The person you have dialed cannot be reached. Please try again later」
I waited by the entrance to the mountain, the gate that separated Class E from the rest of the campus.
"Ishikawa-kun, I understand that you are a sports prodigy, which is why the chairman is doing his best to keep you in the main campus. However, if your grades, most especially in science, continue to be like this, there is a great chance that you would be demoted and dropped to Class E" I recalled what the teacher told me.
Since then on I only seemed to keep bothering myself with the fact that my dad was definitely going to ground me --- No, at this rate, he was definitely going to kill me.
I could already imagine it. Banning me from sports and any other extra curricular activities. Heck, I might even go to cram school.
I knew that I could ask Hotaru to help me, but with the pace Class A is going, I'm not even sure if she's sane anymore.
"It's hell" she told me, bags under her eyes. "I don't even know if it's even worth it".
I could also ask Iroha, but I doubt she's the type to teach. Karma, on the other hand, well based on Iroha's complaints, I don't think I'll be able to deal with his spartan ways.
Science. Science. Goddamn science.
Ah, I could also ask Okuda Manami if I'm desperate, but that's a different story. I barely know the girl. Except for the fact that she's one of Hotaru's friends, and she was the one who served us during the festival.
There was no other option then. I'll just bet my chances with Iroha.
But how could I when I've been waiting an hour and the girl still hasn't left the classroom?!
"Ishikawa-kun?" A timid voice cut me from my thoughts.
"Ah, Okuda-san" I greeted her.
"Are you waiting for Iroha-chan?" She asked me softly, reminding me of my sister.
To be honest they were quite alike, the only difference was how this was timid this one was despite not having a fear of guys.
It makes me want to bully her.
That's no good, Hikaru~ People are going to hate you with that habit of yours, my subconscience warned me.
"Mhm~" I smiled at her, before asking "Is she going to take long?".
"U-um...She went ahead. She probably went home with Karma-kun and the others" she told me.
"Karma, huh?"
What great luck. Be it Karma or Iroha, I missed the two people I've been looking for.
"I see. Thanks for telling me" I told her, glancing at the two other girls she was walking together with. "Sorry for taking up your time".
"I-It's fine" she nodded, before turning to her friends.
"A-Ah! Iroha-chan? I see I see" her green haired companion kept nodding, right after I excused myself. "Wait! Ishikawa-kun!".
"If you're still looking for Iroha-chan. Why don't you have Okuda-san, here, come with you? She's going to visit Iroha after all---"
"Sure thing, that is if it's alright".
"O-Okay" the purple head stammered.
✖︎●✖︎
I never thought, there'd come a day wherein I'd face a difficulty in dealing with people.
"Ishikawa-san, you seem like you're close to Iroha-chan, huh?" She mumbled, the awkward tension has been quite heavy for awhile now.
"I guess" I agreed with her.
Of all the types of people, I couldn't get along with this one.
The quiet, timid type.
I could charm her and sweet talk the girl like how I've dealt with the others, but I couldn't do anything if she doesn't give the responses I yearn for.
"To be honest, I used to be pretty close with Nagisa and Karma as well" I told her.
"I see" she muttered.
God. The silence was unbearable. No wonder she seemed so hesitant to invite me to walk with her.
"U-um, if you don't mind me asking, why have you been waiting for her?" she asked.
"It's not really waiting. I mean, I was, but, there's this important favor I need to ask of her" I admitted. "It doesn't have to be her I've been waiting for Karma too".
"It seems like it's very urgent then".
"You could say that" I sighed. "You see, I'm no good. I've never been good at studying so I was hoping one of them could teach me. I'm getting desperate as well".
It took a moment of silence before I heard from the girl, "U-um, if it's alright with you I can help as well... But I'm only good at Science...".
"Really?" I turned to her, never expecting such a response.
"Mhm" she nodded. "You see, Iroha-chan's done a lot for me so I thought that if I could help her friends out then maybe I could at least repay her for everything---".
"You make it feel so distant, Okuda-san" I chuckled. "Then from now on, were also friends, alright?".
"Is that alright?".
"What's with that?" I queried, slightly laughing myself. "We have a lot of mutual friends, right? You don't need a reason nor do you need to ask if it's alright in order to be friends".
"I-I see" she responded with a smile. "Your amazing Ishikawa-san. You're good with words and people, and you're quite talented with sports too. You're dazzling just like the sun. I think you have more redeeming qualities than you think. That's why it's not that you're no good".
I tint of pink slightly made its way to my face as I felt the embarrassment get out of hand. This girl's the type that couldn't hide anything even if she tried, isn't she?
"I'm starting to question which one's the amazing one between us two" I told her, the girl who just replied with a curt laugh.
"I'm looking forward to work with you" she told me politely.