She Doesn't Have Many Friends

"So what are you working on?" He asked her. It wasn't a confrontational type of question, he just assumed it was some homework she wanted to get done. Which is why her reaction came as a shock to Arata.

"Ahh!" She screamed, nearly causing him to trip backwards on his feet. That was the last thing he'd expect from her. In an instant, she dove over her journal, using her body to cover its contents.

For a moment, they two just stared at each other. He was too confused to find the words to ask any questions. She was too scared about what he might've seen. It felt like an eternity passed before either of them uttered a word.

"Did you see anything?" She asked, her voice is filled with uneasy tension. Yuki didn't dare to move from her hunched over position.

"No…" He responded, trying to make sure he's careful with what he says to her. "Is it, something embarrassing?"

"I don't want you to laugh at me." She replied to him, her voice breaking up as if he was about to.

"I would never do that." He assured her. "But if you don't want me to know about it, then I won't ask." Yuki contemplates his words for a moment. It's not as though she doesn't know what he's like. Arata was always nice to her when they were anonymous.

"If I show you, you won't laugh at me? Or tell the others?" She's offered. He thinks it over for a moment. This is a chance for him to try and get close to her. If he gains her trust, then…

"I promise." He made a vow. There would never be a day where he'd consider exposing her secret.

Slowly, Yuki gets up from her desk, revealing what she was hiding from him. Arata bends over to take a closer look. The words on the pages here, it looks like… She's writing an outline for a plan?

This isn't some plan for the day. It's an outline for talking to people? Yuki was writing steps for trying to introduce herself, to try and make new friends.

"I bet you think it's silly, don't you?" She asked, sitting with her hands clasped over her lap. It clear that she's uncomfortable with watching him look over her list. "You're probably thinking that I'm some loser, right?'

"Loser?" He responded bewildered by what he's seeing. Sure he may have thought it was strange, but Yuki is far from someone he would make fun of. "I didn't think that you, wanted to talk with people?"

"I…" She struggled to explain herself. It wasn't something she knew the exact specifics. "I want to make friends… It's not fun being alone and always hiding behind Yogi... But I just can't help it." Just telling this to him was hard, her throat tightened, her heart was beating heavily.

"There's nothing wrong with being shy." He said, trying to get her to calm down a little. "Plenty of people are like that, and most of them just need some help opening up."

"Then how do you do it?" She asked. During their lunches, everyone just chatted about things like it was nothing. Meanwhile, all she did was quietly sit with Yogi, maybe uttering a few words here and there. Nothing that would maintain a conversation.

"Now that I'm thinking about it, I'm not sure." While he used to avoid human contact. It's not as if talking with people scared him. Socializing came surprisingly natural for him.

However, Arata had no clue how helpful he could be for her. Talking was clearly not her strong suit, every word took effort for Yuki. That didn't mean he wasn't going to try to help though.

"But, maybe I could help you get out of your shell?" He sat himself down in Yogi's chair, in front of her. While this is mainly supposed to be a kind offer. Arata felt a bit guilty that he was also using this for his own selfish desire. The desire of wanting her to just talk with him again.

"You would do that for me?" She thought this offer over. It definitely didn't sound like it was going to be easy. But she did want to not just run and hide from the sight of people. Also Arata always seemed like a person that was helpful. "If you won't tell the others, then I'll give it a shot."

So he had found a way to get closer to her again. Plus, if he was able to get her to open up, even just a little. That would be a bonus for everyone else as well.

After they finished their conversation, it was time to join back with the others. For study and spending time with each other. The group had already agreed on a relatively standard fast-food joint. The type that served burgers, fries, and a soft drink.

"So, have any of you guys eaten here before?" Arata asked, as he entered through the doors. They had. This was a rather well known restaurant chain, the owners of said chain even lived in the area.

That was rather impressive for him to hear, but also not important in the grand scheme of things. Unless one of the owners was in the store right now, it wasn't going to matter to him. However, there was an opportunity with this place.

"Hey, Yuki." He pulled her back for a moment. "You should order for the both of us." He said. Arata was going to pay, but she had to be the one to place the order.

Yuki's eyes widened in fear from the request. It seemed like too much too quickly. However, she took a deep breath. This was going to have to happen eventually, and surely he'd bail her out if she floundered here.

They let the others go first, he knew that she was going to take a while on it. Of course, the place wasn't that jam packed, so Arata was sure that they weren't going to make people wait. That belief was about to be proven wrong very quickly.

A couple of people got behind her as she was about to try and order. A blonde guy and girl, who also had long twin tails. The thought of people waiting on her caused a bit of panic.

So much so, that she had already forgotten the order. Yuki turned around in distress at him.

"I just want the first meal." He whispered to her, trying to keep the situation in control. His finger pointed to the menu above. "I don't know what you want, just get whatever." She might've wanted him to take control, but Arata wanted to try and get this done with minimal intervention from himself.

"…" Slowly, she turned to face the cashier. "I'd like… That." She pointed to what Arata asked for. She couldn't even call it by name, she was so nervous. The anxiety building within.

Now it was time for what she wanted. Except, there was just so many options. What should she pick? Anytime she started to settle on one item, she doubted herself. Would she like it? Was it too expensive for what Arata was willing to pay?

It was getting to be too much for her. She was concerned if the patrons behind her were getting more impatient with every passing second.

"She's kind of taking a while to order, don't you think?" The boy whispered to his partner. Both Yuki and Arata heard it, and it was starting to stress her out.

"Oh hush, just let the girl order." The girl he was with responded. Arata knew he needed to say something. Hopefully they wouldn't be too mad at him.

"Hey." He grabbed their attention. "I'm sorry, but I'm trying to help the girl in front, with some… confidence issues." Even though he was trying to be quiet, she still heard him. It didn't make her feel good to think about that at all.

"You too?" The boy replied. Which prompted a confused look from Arata.

"Forgive my friend here." The girl spoke for him. "You see, he's a tutor. With what you could call a unique situation."

"Yeah, with what I've dealt with. This is no problem." Hearing that made Arata much more relieved. From the look of this boy, it also looked like he was the type to beat him up no questions asked. Never would've taken him for a tutor, but that smile of his showed his kind nature.

While he was talking with them. Yuki was finally able to ask for the order and pay for it. This interaction was a lot more stressful than he was expecting. It made him wonder if Yogi had to deal with this too. Or was he shielding her?

"Took you long enough." Yuriko complained as they rejoined the others. "At that rate, I thought we were going to be done eating by the time you got your orders."

"I'm sorry." All this talk was making Yuki feel worse about her inability to order lunch. Lucky for the both of them, they didn't question as to why she ordered for both him and her. Simply assuming that he succeeded in patching things up with her, which was partially true.

"Hey Arata, who were you talking to?" Erina asked, not bothering to finish chewing her food first. He turned to look at the couple, who were gone now.

"I don't know." He answered, realizing that he never got their name. "Why, did you recognize them?"

"The boy looked familiar, but I guess it probably wasn't who I was thinking of."

Their group hang out time went by as usual. Getting their fill of food, as well as getting homework out of the way. It was at this point, that Yuriko remembered something important.

"Shoot, I almost forgot." She rushed to pack her things into her bag. "I was supposed to go to Yurisa's school for the Halloween event they're putting on."

"so not only did you forget that it's Halloween, but you almost forgot about this event?" Arata asked in a sarcastic tone. Though, what she said would explain to him why the school had those decorations up when he dropped off her sister.

"Shut up." She snapped back at him.

"Say, since your sister goes to the same elementary school that me and Yuki went to. Can we tag along?" He asked. Yogi believed it would be fun to see what their old school was up to these days. This event seemed like a good excuse to take the opportunity.

"Go ahead." Yuriko turned her head up, pretending not to care. "I don't care if you come or not."

"Can I come too?" Arata asked. He had a couple of reasons, but there was only one that he'd say out loud. "It's be nice to see the kids we babysit at school."

With that, the next location was agreed upon.