I R O H A I N U K A I
犬飼 彩葉
student no. 29
I remembered it was raining that day.
Droplets hit the concrete, as I, holding my umbrella, sat at one of the benches at the outdoor balcony of the rooftop.
"What are you doing here, when you're not even cured from your injuries yet, Iroha-chan?" a voice came from behind.
As I turned to look back, I noticed that it was Gakushu's father who asked me.
"Get back to your room" he said sternly, walking towards me with his own umbrella.
When I was confined in the hospital during my first year in middle school, it was the first and last time I've ever seen the principal shaken all because I jumped of a building. (see chapter 37: rehabilitation time)
"Ne, Asano-sensei, whats the point of being strong? Why are you desperately trying to instill strength?" I recalled myself asking quietly.
"Why are you bringing that up so suddenly?" He looked at me, surprised by the random question.
"Everything...Everything is pointless... I just don't understand why it matters anymore--- One day, the world would end. Be it weak or strong, it doesn't matter if we're bound by the same fate. We're all going to---"
"That's why I want you to be strong before all that" he says, "So that you can live. So that nothing else can bring you down, no matter how hard life is".
"Then, I'm still pretty weak, huh?" I scoffed.
"No. The fact your still alive is enough to prove you're otherwise".
。。。
I ran up to the principal, recalling his words, despite stumbling at some steps along the way.
"Asano-sensei!" I called out to him.
"Ah, Iroha-chan" he turned to face me. "What is it?".
"Uh...um" I tried finding the right words, but somehow, I ended up bowing my head. "Uh...t-thank you for a lot of things!".
"Raise your head" he chuckled, as I did as he said.
"You really grew up to be a fine child. I always wanted to raise you like my own daughter" he said, and I gave him a look.
"I can't stand being siblings with Shu-chan" I joked, referring to his son, who's been my childhood friend since who knows when.
He chuckled, ruffling my hair for a moment, "my wife says you should come by for dinner sometimes. Oh, and... I hope you learn a lot from that octopus".
I nodded politely.
"It's thanks to you that I met this class".
︎✖︎︎●✖︎
As we were finally dismissed for the day, I tagged along beside Karma, wanting to mess with him for awhile.
As much as I hated to admit it, a part of me really did miss him.
"Can I come over to your place? I got a lot of new games Hiyori-san bought me" I asked the redhead, who's been drinking a pack of strawberry milk.
"I don't see why it has to be at my place, though~" he told me.
"Karma" I looked at him before deadpanning, "Do you actually think I have good food at my place?".
"Ah, so I'm just your source of food, huh? I'm hurt Iroha-chan~" he feigned hurt while I crossed my arms.
"But I've been eating junk these days. And I'm reeeaaally sick of convenience store bentos" I complained, dragging the vowel to emphasize my point.
"You sound like a kid.~" He teased, "Well, not that your height's far from it".
"Why you---" I felt a vein pop.
"Seriously speaking, though, Iroha-chan~" he looked at me. "You shouldn't be so willing to hang out with a guy behind closed doors. Do you remember what happened last time?".
Damn you Bakabane, I'm trying to put it past us!, I mentally screamed, feeling my face heat up.
"Eh? What's this? You're not running away?~" he asked.
"I won't fall for your tricks twice!" I stuck my tongue out.
"Fine, fine~".
"But you know, Karma. If you do such things, the girl you like won't take you seriously" I warned him, trying to keep a nonchalant vibe.
"Do you seriously think, I'd do that to just anybody?" he argued.
Karma raised his voice for the first time.
"Like I said, Iroha-chan, you need some awareness.~" he said, reverting to his usual demeanor. "If I attack you again, what would it be this time---".
"If it's you then it's fine" I cut him off, surprising even myself.
"H-ha? Can you hear what your saying?~" Karma looked at me as if I finally lost it.
"I-I trust that you won't do those things... Or I want to (trust you), at least" I looked down at the side walk, trying to avoid his eyes.
"Are you that dense?" He asked me. "I like you--- I already kissed you once... I can't control myself when were together. If I'm alone with I could do even more things---".
I felt my heart rate go up, and my face get even warmer.
"Damn" I heard him curse, with a face that was, more or less, as red as mine.
"I-If it's you then it's fine!" I repeated, stammering as I said it.
"Like I said, Iroha---"
"I-I like you, you dipshit----" I cut him off.
"Ah shit, it slipped" I covered my mouth when I realized it, but after awhile, I decided to carry on with it, "I mean--- I totally get that you're a cheeky bastard and a jerk, and you love to get on my nerves---"
"What kind of compliment is that?~" Karma but in teasing me like he usually did.
God, my face must've been a comparison to his hair.
"Don't interrupt me!" I scolded, stammering along the way, "A-anyways, even so, with all the things you've done, d-do you honestly think that after everything I wouldn't end up liking you?".
"You're unbelievable" he mutters and heaves a sigh, pulling my arm as he dragged me into an embrace.
I couldn't speak. If anything, it sounded like my heart was going to explode. His touch burned through my skin.
That's it.
I'm definitely sick.