First Names

The last bell finally rang. I was finally free from today's weird combination of events. I usually wait for Kanjiro to finish with his club activity and walk home together. After around an hour, he came back to the classroom and we both left the classroom together. It seems however that Kanjiro was staring at something behind us and had a change of plans he took out his phone and made a few texts.

"Oh shoot, it seems my mother fell down the stairs, I am going to go on ahead, we can walk home tomorrow!"

So obviously a lie. Why would someone ever be this excited when one of their parents fell down the stairs?

"Alright, see you tomorrow Kanjiro."

I waved goodbye to Kanjiro as he sprinted out of school. I was left alone standing in the middle of the hallway.

"Juni-kun?! Were you waiting for me?"

I turned around and it was my tutor running in my directions. Ah I completely forgot; we promised each other to walk home together. I guess there was a reason behind everything Kanjiro does. He purposely lied and sprinted away so I could walk home with Kinai-san. I gotta thank him tomorrow.

Kinai-san's huge act today shocked the entire school. If it wasn't obvious enough from this morning's event, everyone is now suspicious of me, wondering what my relationship with her really is. Her suddenly dragging me out of school a few days ago didn't make it better either. I wonder what the boys' reaction would be if they ever find out I was living directly next to Kinai-san. The thought of it makes me shiver. I'll cross that bridge when we get there.

Kinai-san and I were still walking home. I checked the time and it seems we are around ten minutes away from home. I turned to Kinai-san but it seems she wasn't looking alright.

"Kinai-san, are you alright?"

Kinai-san's face pouted even worse. Did I do something wrong? Sure I acted like a beta male when Tachi confronted me today during lunch but I thought she was over it?

"Kinai-san, if there is anything I did wrong pl—"

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHH! That was so embarrassing! I can't believe I did that!"

I can only assume her statement refers back to the time when she suddenly kissed me in front of everyone in my classroom. I'm honestly surprised she wasn't embarrassed sooner.

"I am sorry Kinai-san. I stayed silent the whole time and didn't stand up for myself…"

"Yea you should be! Now for the next few days all my friends are going to make jokes about me kissing a random guy!"

Was I really just a "random guy" though? You hugged me by the arm during our walk to school. There is nothing that is "Random" about me when asked about my relations with you.

"If there was anything I can do to make it up to you, please let me know."

Kinai-san stayed silent for a while, then whispered something.

"Tochaki…"

Pardon me? Why did she just say her name?

"Kinai-san, I don't understand what you are tr—"

"Tochaki!"

Kinai-san stopped in her tracks, and I didn't know what to do.

"I'll forgive you if you call me by my first name from now on…"

Was she really pouting over me not calling by her first name? Now that I think about it, I always address Kinai-san's father as Tokita-san. But I have always called Kinai-san by her last name.

"O-oh yea, I am sorry… To-to-toch-Tochaki! Please don't be mad!"

I didn't know saying someone else's first name, especially if this person is someone you live with, would be this embarrassing. My face turned beetroot, but I see a gentle smile form on Tochaki-san's face.

"That wasn't so hard was it!? Let's go home and eat dinner Juni-kun!"

Tochaki-san's face lit up when I was able to say her first name. If she is happy, I guess I should also be happy. A smile appeared on my face as we walked home.

"Uh, yea. Of course."