The Future

As I held her hand, I felt how small it was. Yet, it was with these hands that she wanted to flip the very fabric of this world.

I continued to look at her hands, it was the first time I've held them with the vigor of youth. Her hands were very soft, it hadn't felt like she had work too strenuously in the past. If this wasn't a fake world, then perhaps she could have become a scholar or maybe a civil servant.

'Do they think of the future too?'

I thought, it was dismaying that there could never be-

"Ouch!"

Sango pulled my cheek.

"Earth to Friend B~?"

"Huh?"

"Do you like holding hands? We can do it more often you know, since we are comrades now!"

"N-no! Never-mind that, why am I being called 'Boyfriend-kun' by Satoru-san?

Sango didn't respond, instead she just smiled cheekily.

Letting go of her hand, we started walking home. But suddenly I remember something important.

"My lunchbox! Sorry, Sango-san. I must get my lunchbox from class. You can head home by yourself."

She only smiled and began walking again.

I jogged back to the classroom

The door to the classroom was still open, but there was also someone still inside.

"Yasuko?"

"Ah!"

I must have startled her since she jumped when I called her name at the doorway. She was at my desk, and it seemed like she was going to grab my lunchbox.

"You-you, forgot your lunchbox again…"

She grabbed it and held it up to me.

I walked over and grabbed it. It came to a surprise how much smaller she was compared to me. Although, I'm no giant she seems like a mouse compared to me.

"Thank you, Yasuko-san."

I accepted it with both hands

However, now the atmosphere of the classroom turns awkward.

I turn to leave, but Yasuko grabs the hem of my blaze.

"D-did you call me without an honorific?"

It was such a small detail that I overlooked. To be fair though, the talking that I have done in just this repeat alone has been more than I have talked in multiple repeats. So, to miss a few things here and there is understandable, it would be easy to compare myself with someone who doesn't talk often: or just an introvert. I like to talk, but when there wasn't anybody to talk to, I would just talk to myself or to some dolls in my room sometime.

Yasuko blushes.

Her face is small and delicate. Her glasses are big and round, but her bangs are long enough that they cover up half of them. Her hair is black like Sango's. Again, since she is a heroine, she has outrageous looks. I suppose it's to compliment Satoru's handsome physique, but at this point everyone besides me is drop-dead gorgeous, including Friend A!

"What do you think of the future?"

Still thinking of Sango, I asked what was on my mind. What inner machinations do these girls hold that the script doesn't show? Now, instead of villains or obstacles that must be overcome by Satoru, I need to start thinking of these heroines as people.

"Erm, w-wha, what do you mean?"

Yasuko tilts her head cutely.

"What do you want to do after high-school?"

Yasuko turns nervously and holds her hands together. Her ears are red now too.

"I-I, I want to b-become a Mangaka!"

"Huh?"

"E-ever since I was young, I loved reading manga and drawing. So, since then I wanted to be a mangaka!"

A cool breeze came from an open window, and her hair freely flowed. How many people's future's have been stunted by this repeating cycle of madness. There isn't even a world outside of this high school!

'Or maybe there is, but it is just a white void for me.'

Then again, how do you describe what you can't taste, smell, and have never seen? I digress.

"Uhm, what about you?"

Oh, right I was talking.

"I don't know what I want to do yet."

I say triumphantly, if repeats have taught me anything, it is to never expect a future. Or perhaps, that I have to fight for my future by getting Satoru through this script without dying.

"But maybe once I have secured my foundation, I think I want to settle down somewhere quiet."

We both become quiet.

'Maybe I should have told her I wanted to become a salary man? Or maybe university?'

The atmosphere in the room once again becomes weird, so I tell her goodbye and head out. As I do that she calls out to me.

"Don't forget to make your lunchbox happy!"

"Don't worry I won't."

I laugh and strut out of class back outside. By happenstance, I see Mrs. Yuki walking home too. I wonder why she doesn't just drive? No matter, I call out to her.

"Hey Teacher!"

She sees me and goes "Harrumph" and she tries to ignore me. But she kinda fails, as she keeps looking back at me to ascertain whether I'm going to ignore her or not. It's pretty cute.

"You forgot, didn't you?"

"Huh, what did I- Oh! Sorry for saying 'Yuki-san' in class."

I bow apologetically. Mrs. Yuki panics for a second.

"Pl-please raise your head, it wasn't really serious. Hah."

"So, Yuki-san, why are you going home so early? Don't you have stuff to grade?"

She looks at me like a deer in headlights and then she starts to explain hectically,

"W-well, I am really stressed out today, so I wanted to kickback and play the guitar. So, soo…. Do you want to listen to me play?"

I look at her, and then the sky, which was quickly darkening and I said,

"Sure."

After-all what's the worst that can happen at your rockstar teacher's house?