Meet

"Ruki Nishimoiya." "Here." "Sora Kazou." "I'm here." "Kakane Aoi." "Present!" As the teacher takes the attendance I blankly stare out the window stuck in my thoughts. Thinking has become a real hobby of mine. I always think, think, and think. "Ken Nazumoto." I wouldn't call it overthinking, maybe some form of special daydreaming. "Ken Nazumoto?" I like to plan the future of my day just by thinking and coming up with random stuff. "Ken Nazumoto!" Seems like today it's- "KEN NAZUMOTO." "Huh?" I turn my head away from the window and see my teacher staring at me with an annoyed twitchy eyebrow as he clenches the attendance papers out of annoyance. I briefly look around the classroom to see everyone staring at me. "Ah uh, I'm here sorry." I scramble. "Tch." My teacher scoffs and looks back down at his attendance sheet. Everyone in the class slowly turns back to the front. Being slightly embarrassed I put my hands together and looked down at my desk. "Ayumi Funari." But the name Ayumi catches my attention. I look back up. "Ayumi please don't be like Ken and answer if you're here." The class lets out a soft chuckle. It wasn't even funny. "Alright absent then." "I'm here!" Ayumi comes bursting through the door breathing heavily with her messed up collar, unbuttoned blazer, and bookbag on her shoulder. It's not like it's against the dress code but it just tells people "Yeah I was in a rush and I didn't take time to do this blah blah blah." And for an actual nice looking girl like Ayumi that definitely brings her looks down a few points. "Yeah, whatever, stop being late and take a seat." Teacher says. Ayumi obliges and takes her assigned seat next to me. Turning to Ayumi I noticed her character. She has short pink reddish colored hair with a bow to accompany it. She would be around 5'4 if I had to take a guess. Ayumi takes a quick glance at me and on instinct, I instantly turn away and look back out my window. "Alright, class today's lesson is English" Everyone groans at the fact that we have to learn this stupid language. "I know class, but one day in your life you will have to use English. Believe it or not, you will. Anyways today's lesson is on SOV and SVO." I quickly drain my teacher's voice out of my head. Something I've noticed about this Ayumi girl is that she is late. I mean late almost every single day. She only comes in on time at least once or twice a week. I feel a little tap tap on my shoulder. "Ken-san?" I turn to my right to see Ayumi leaning out of her chair. "Y-Yes?" I reply. It's weird for this girl or really anyone to talk to me. And especially for how gloomy and down she seems. "Do you understand any of this? I can't read these scribbles haha.." She says awkwardly. I want to say "Well stop being late." But that's just rude. "Well yeah, most of it. It's not that hard we are just learning grammar today so it's fine." I gave her a heartfelt response instead of being an asshole. "Do you think you could help me?" She asks with a questioning expression. Great now I have to socialize. My daily routine of thinking and looking out the window has been shifted completely. "Uh well.. I can I guess.." Goodness, I suck at communicating. "Okay maybe during lunch." She says with a faint forced smile. "Alright." We both turn back around. She faces the front and I face the window. You've got to be kidding me. A girl.. Wanting to study with me?! Impossible. The loner Ken Nazumoto! Has made an indestructible feat!!! Should I be excited, nervous, or just the plain old me? Mann, I don't know. Bell Chiming. Oh, it's lunch now. Usually, I'd go to sleep but. I turn to my right. "Hi, Ken-san." Oh. My. God. "Hey, Ayumi-san.." Ayumi grabs a chair and puts it in front of my desk. She sits, pulls out a bento box from her bookbag, and sets it on my desk. She looks up at me and tilts her head in confusion. "Ken-san are you not going to eat?" She asks me. "I usually don't eat. I really only eat dinner and breakfast." "Fair enough I guess." I put my head back on the desk. The silence is.. Looming. It's pretty heavy. Just me and Ayumi-san sitting here in front of me. "So Ken-san. About English work." She hesitates to get it out. "Yeah?" It's not that hard to talk to me, just say it. "Someone else helped me so I understand it now. Sorry for bothering you." Eh? Ehhhh… Really. "Eh?" I thought I was about to make a friend. "Sorry heh, I should get out of your way now." She gets up holding her new empty bento. She has that same gloomy look on her face. Ayumi begins to walk away. Come on, say something. Say something damn it. "Ah, Ayumi-san we should totally hang out, yeah?" I blurt out without thinking. "Eh?" She blinks. WHAT AM I THINKING. "Uhhh I have to go. Bye Ken-san." "See you later.." What is my problem? I grab my bag and put it on my shoulder. Next class it is. As I make my way to class I see the club promotion bulletin board. Various clubs stick out. Anime Club. Debate Club. Literacy Club. Drama Club. Fashion Club. So many choices. Maybe if I was to join a club I'd meet some people with the same interests. Let's see. Gardening Club sounds nice. I don't want to do anything competitive but I also don't want to join a huge club. It would overwhelm me. It says on the flier "Gardening Club is hosted in that far back of the school next to the Dojo! I hope to see you there!" Alright after my classes I'll head there. I take a look around me. Huh, no students in the hallway weird. I look at the school clock. Shit, I'm 15 minutes late.