Sentimental

"Why is it that every time I'm trying to find some peace and quiet, you're always around?" Erika sighed heavily as she turned around just to see that same man who is currently the main cause of her problems.

"The campus is too big. Cut me some slack and make yourself easier to find." Kairo said as he slowly walked towards her with his hands inside both pockets. It was noticeable how he started looking at her from top to bottom and his reaction was instant. "Were you crying?"

Erika sniffed before she quickly rubbed her nose with the edge of her sleeve, and quickly looked away after realizing that she had been overcame with her emotions again. She breathes out, "I was not. The---"

"There's a dust in the air and it caught my eye, or I just happened to sneeze because of that same dust." Kairo sighed. "Why is it that every time girls cry, they always give the same reason?"

"It's none of your business." Erika grumpily said. However, she found it uncommon not hearing a quick response from Kairo, and because of that same silence, she couldn't help but look towards his direction, unexpectedly witnessing a pretty distressed expression of his.

"Is it because of me?" Kairo said softly. He seems to be uncomfortable right now, judging of how restless his hands are inside his pocket. It even seems that he's panicking.

"Wow. How important were you to me for you to assume that every little thing I am going through was related to you?" It was rhetorical. Of course she couldn't just admit that she got offended by her classmates' remarks. It would contradict her usual tough and arrogant facade.

"Really?" The tone on his voice is too gentle that it caused Erika to cringe.

"Wait, are you trying to comfort me?" Erika said sarcastically.

"I don't think I am ever good with comforting people." Kairo said embarrassingly as he scratched his nape. "But I can keep you company. After all, I still would be the one who will be walking home with you. It's not like you have a choice."

Erika got tired of responding Kairo with sharp words since it seems like he is really being sincere at the moment. Besides, he already saw through her emo mode, she might as well have him company indeed. She walked away from the bars on the rooftop and decided to sit down instead. A swift motion was felt by her for a split second but she was too distracted to ever notice what just happened. She sat down.

"Moriyama.... Have you ever felt like being the hated one? Like... everybody just... you know, hates you?"

Silence was the response she preferred and received. She chuckled bitterly and started touching her fingernails to drift herself to her thoughts.

"Having such a dream caused me too big of a consequence. You know my father always taught me to live my life with no regrets. Just be who I wanted to be. It sounds cliche but I admit it's pretty encouraging too, you know."

She continued.

"I guess I was just so tired of my current lifestyle. I'm tired of begging for the things I want. I'm tired of trying my best just to achieve what I wanted to achieve. That's probably why I wanted something unreal like "being the future empress". I'm quite envious of you, you see. You just flash a smile, talk a little, and suddenly everybody likes you. Just... be charming and everybody will follow you."

"Tell me, Kairo. How does it feel to be on top?"

Erika's gaze was unavoidable. It was that mixture of bitterness, self-loathing and melancholy that made Kairo to finally look at her. Mentally, he calculated on how long must have it been for Erika to be treated this way, and the number he has in mind doesn't render him at ease at all. Since she has been mouthing about this dream of hers ever since he met her, and judging from the amount of Japanese shenanigan collection inside her room, it is concluded that she started being this showy since elementary. It is safe to assume that she also started being treated this way since elementary.

"Erika, why aim to be on top?"

That is not the answer she is expecting at all. She wanted a clear answer on her question. Even an arrogant answer will do. However, she was responded with another question. Just as she was about to open her mouth, she realized it was also rhetorical.

"Being on top means that you won't have any more room to grow, you know." Kairo said. "Also you've chosen a bad individual to compare yourself with. Do you think that everybody in the room likes me?"

"They're treating you nicely and they do what you wanted them to do."

"Yeah but, think about this. Let's say there is an emperor and he has his subjects. It is mandatory for his subjects to obey everything that the emperor orders them to do, right? But how can you be certain that they are doing those things out of likeness? It could be that they are doing those things out of fear, right?"

Erika furrowed her eyebrows. She was not in the mood for some mental puzzles. However, she got his point.

"Then how can you explain the "treat you nice" part?" She said as she crossed her arms, waiting for his answer.

"Some of the nicest people are fake. After all, it's easy to trick one stupid human being when the enemy seemed nice to them." Kairo huffed as he laid down on the floor.

"So are you saying that our classmates are fake?"

"Not quite. But you can say I don't entirely trust them either. They're probably just after my good looks after all." Kairo commented to which he received an instant smack on his head by the person beside him. "OW!"

Erika, "It's the first time I've met someone as thick-faced as you do."

Kairo, "Girl, have you met yourself? You're pretty much the gold standard of being thick-faced."

"SHUT UP! Are you trying to comfort me or not?!"

"I did not say I was trying to comfort you. I said I'll keep you company."

"Then fuck off! You're even worse at keeping people company." She grunts and laid down on the floor as well. Good thing the sun isn't that scorching anymore because of the sunset. And besides, it gives off a pretty sentimental aura.

Then she asked.

"Since you are so picky towards people you will befriend, what sort of people do you prefer?" Erika said.

"People like you."

Another answer she did not expect at all. She was too shocked to the point that she quickly sat up from her lying position that she have just established minutes ago. Her expression was priceless.

"You're probably the realest person that I know." Kairo continued. "When you are angry, you don't care whether you look like a demon or no-- OW!! WHAT THE HELL??!! ERIKA HATSUGAWA!! GET OFF FROM ME RIGHT NOW!! OW!! OW!! OW!!! MY NECK!!"

Right now, you can witness how Erika's legs were locked on Kairo's neck while she gripped violently on his arm as if tearing his limbs apart instantly with that particular move. At this moment, there is only the two of them so she couldn't care less of her poise, her grace, and her pretense on being a prim and proper lady.

"One minute you were complimenting me and the second I could finally hear something good come out of that potty mouth of yours, you blabber nonsense!!" Erika said as she continued tormenting the poor guy.

"NONSENSE MY ASS!!! DO YOU SEE YOURSELF RIGHT NOW??!! YOU ARE NOW EVEN WORSE THAN A DEMON!! OW OW OW OW OW!! OKAY!! I'M SORRY!! I'M SORRY!"

One minute the sunset was sentimental and after a split second, it's suddenly dark again.

But not the bad type of dark. After all, the stars are twinkling more beautifully than they have ever been.

Oh look, it seemed that Kairo placed his coat on the floor for Erika to sit on to.