19 Interlude: The Normal Girl's Point of View (Blooming Flowers)

As I was nibbling chocolate, I remember something.

Back in middle school, I was appointed as the class representative. I did think that was the reason why I didn't join any after-school club despite being at the climax point of my youth. I did say that since according to them, middle school was the point of life where one's youth explode...or something like that, but I didn't really pay attention to that matter.

She, on the other hand, had joined the volleyball club but still volunteered to be my assistant. Though, it was supposed to be a boy-girl pairing, which was the girl handling the girl's list and the boy handling the boy's. At some point, both of us ended up dividing the class, not by their gender but their surnames. Seriously, now it was a lot more troublesome.

The class had ended and now the both of us left in the room to sort out the papers...or so I thought. After I stacked the papers on my desk, I sat and started to divide them in half. Just then I remember...

"Oh, right. She's not here today."

I remember her saying she had club activities every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. *So this time, I'm alone, huh...*

I took a glance at the window on the right. Certainly, I couldn't see anything because of the crowd of leaves grazing the glass and hindering the view. It would be more dramatic if it wasn't there, though.

The room was so quiet and the chairs and the tables were not perfectly lined up. Being as perfectionist as I was, I stood up and decided to fix their position before working on my real job: sorting the class papers. Whether I did this because I was bothered by their lining or I just wanted to neglect my work, the answer was in the back of my head, hiding, so no one could find how lazy I was.

Actually, I didn't want to be the class representative, in the first place. I just found myself being nominated by my classmates. *Do they think I can handle this stuff?* I guess, having an average appearance had struck me in some ways. Most people see me that way... ah...erm, normal? I certainly don't know why. Was there something I could do to leave some impression on other people? A brand mark? I tried changing my hairstyle once but, I guess people without any fashion sense couldn't turn a duck into a swan. Not that I know the difference between the former and the latter. Waterfowls were waterfowls, anyway.

I tilted my head as I realized what was I just thinking. Should I laugh because of this thought or should I feel weird about this? Now that was a question worth being answered.

I crouched down and looked at my assistant's desk's compartment. As I do so, I saw a lot of folded papers gathering at the corner. So what was written inside this folded paper? She wasn't here so a little glimpse was *okay,* right? I knew she wouldn't get mad at me, probably, so I took one and opened it. After reading the first sentence, I hastily put it back. *Okay, another love letter again.* As I confirmed what it was, I noticed the chocolates resting on the opposite side of the letters. I took one.

"Well, I know she will throw it since it surely came from the sender of these letters...and who knows if they mix it up with something...I shall be the poison tester." Though, I wasn't really sure whether this chocolate came from the sender. I guess, she wouldn't be mad...probably.

I unwrapped it from the cover and popped it into my mouth. *Yeah, it's sweet.*

"Okay, one more..."

I yelped as I felt someone poke my side. "Hey, that's ticklish!" I complained and turned to look at the poker...ah erm, was the right name for her? ...poke mastermind? Almighty poke girl?

"You sure enjoy my chocolate, missy," she said as she wiped her forehead with a towel.

"I thought you have volleyball today," I answered as I tried to hide the wrapper on my back. My pocket was no good since I always forgot to take it out after I went home.

"Yes, but since I'm worried about what you would do when you left alone, I hurriedly finished my practice and went here, and just like what I thought you're doing something again."

"Something!?"

My grip on the plastic wrapper, hiding on my back, tightened and it made a crackling sound. *Oh, shoot.*

"You don't need to hide it, you know. Just how many times did I catch you munching my chocolate? It's supposed to be my reward after I finish my club activity but you always ate it."

"So, it is not from your suitors?"

"Just how did you end up in that conclusion?"

"Well, there's a lot of love letters under your desk...so."

"Oh, that? It's from the juniors in the volleyball club, just expressing how they admire me."

"You aren't boasting, right?"

"No, I'm not. Anyway, did you read the whole letter? I'm sure you didn't."

Well, I only did read the first part. For a moment, I wonder how did she know that.

"Contrary to your appearance, your mind works weirdly. That's why I need to watch everything you'd do," she remarked.

"Hey, that's rude. Not to brag but I have pretty decent grades, you know."

"Well, you're right. Thanks to the books you read, " she sighed.

"See?" I huffed and stuck out my chest.

"That's also one of the reasons why I need to watch over you."

"Huh, why?"

She never told me the answer even we got in high school. Today, she had volleyball and Eimi already headed home, while Miss Fujihara had a business today, so here I was, left alone inside the classroom waiting for my former assistant to return. It seemed like the chocolate inside Ueno's compartment brought back memories to me. I took one again and popped it inside my mouth.

*"Yeah, it's sweet."*