Story Fragment: Shiro Takashi

Heyo..!

There will be a short week or two break on the updates here on Webnovel with respect to the updates on my website.

Anyhow, here's Shiro's side story!

Only a preview though, the rest is on my website ( https://www.dotturndotcreative.com ):

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Story Fragment

*

Shiro Takashi

===

– I remembered, something I wasn't supposed to.

Lightning crashed, thunder growled. Rain poured heavily on the outside, beating against the window. The teacher raised his head and looked towards her table– absent. He then looked to the rest of the class.

"Does anyone know why Kobayashi-chan is absent?"

Half the class shook their heads.

"Is anyone a close friend of hers?"

The other half of the class shook their heads.

Shiro's brows furrowed.

Rika Kobayashi. His impression of her was the 'loner-type' student in class who often sat on her desk alone. A diligent student, average grades. If he were to point out a flaw, it would be that her social skills were negligible as she barely talked.

"Takashi-san."

"Yes sensei?" Shiro Takashi answered.

"If you learn anything about her situation, please tell me about it."

"Understood."

Conversely, Shiro Takashi was part of the upper castes of the class. Well– somewhat. He was the class representative, a ranker in the academic charts, and was active in club activities. Class proceeded as usual in disregard of Shiro's premonition.

Splash!

Water came spraying upwards. Her shoes and socks soaked, she then landed on her right feet, causing another splash..

'A little more, just a little further..'

Pitter, patter.

Hundreds of mini ripples spanned the expansive puddle. Rain poured heavily, she continued her sprint, black blazer held above her. Panting, she watched as numerous colourful umbrellas passed her by.

She slipped into an overhang, finally out of the rain. Relaxing the tension of her hands, she pressed both hands against her knees and crumpled the coat now dripping in water.

She raised her head, taking note of the odd stares of the people in the locker hall.

Her blouse was soaked, bra visible through the fabric.

She felt a certain dread in her heart.

"Crap.."

She made a beeline to the bathroom.

Looking into the mirror, she saw raven black glossy from the tears of rain. Her white uniform underneath drenched, clinging to her skin, revealing the contours of her body. Her black bra and its strap could be seen through the translucent fabric.

Her lips quivered. Hands clenched tightly on her blazer.

"I should've.. brought the umbrella.."

She cursed herself for her lack of foresight.

Now that it has come to this.. how should she proceed?

She had no spare change of clothes, class would begin in another fifteen minutes.

Should she reach out to a teacher?

She wiped the dripping water from the bangs of her hair off using her arm.

===

"Shiro-san! Are you going to the cafeteria today?"

"Uh? No, I'm not actually."

"Eh? Really? That's a relief.."

"Why?"

To Shiro's question in reflection, she blinked her big round eyes.

Chisu Sasaki. If Shiro was the calm protagonist, Chisu would be the flamboyant heroine.

"You know, you should just be honest and tell him what you prepared for him," Yu Makino prodded.

"Uh.." Chisu fidgeted her fingers.

'She's always like this,' Shiro showed a bitter smile.

"Please accept my cooking..!" Chisu slammed two lunch boxes on the table.

"Well, well, what is this?" Ibuki mused.

"I-I'm showing my sincerity."

"I'm I really allowed this? Why did you cook for me anyways?"

"Eh.. uh.. well.."

"Shiro-san, you can't be that dense, right?"

"Fine.. I get it. Thank you Sasaki-san."

Chisu's eyes sparkled.

"Itadaki.."

"Big bro!"

"Risa-chan?!"

"I got you your cream bun combo.. what's going on?"

Barging into the class, Risa narrowed her eyes.

"E-E-Eh.." Chisu raised her hands in arrest.

Risa narrowed her eyes further, "What is this..?"

"Here we go again," Ibuki looked away.

"Ibuki-kun, don't look away like that," Yu admonished.

Attention gathered around them, as would usually whenever they were in class. After all, they were part of the 'popular group'.

Sniff. Sniff.

"Did you cook this? Why are there two?" Risa examined the lunch boxes.

"..."

"Risa-chan, you know Sasaki.." Shiro tried to placate her.

"I'm opening it."

"W-Wait!" Chisu wanted to stop her, but her actions came a step too late.

Revealed underneath the cover was a bento set brimming with ingredients from small pieces of sushi, egg rolls, grilled salmon drizzled in gravy, fruit slices and a hearty amount of rice.

And it just happened that on the top of the rice, a seaweed sheet had been cut out into a heart shape.

".. This.." Risa's eyes twitched.

"I-I think you opened m-mine. The other one should be for Takashi-san–" Chisu's face turned bright red.

"Why was this one closer to my brother then?"

"W-Well.. it was the wrong lunchbox!"

"Then we'll see what's in the second set."

"No!"

"Hey, shouldn't you stop them?" Ibuki leaned in towards Shiro and whispered.

"If you remain indecisive like this, Chisu-chan will definitely feel hurt," Yu followed up.

"Well.." Shiro watched as the two girls bickered about.

He was aware that Chisu held feelings for him. But truthfully, he found it difficult to reciprocate.

'If she confessed to me, what would be my answer?'

As someone who had rejected many girls in the past, Shiro didn't know how to feel about this. Chisu was the one that got closest to his heart so far.

Ibuki and Yu looked at each other with defeated expressions on their faces.

"Hm?"

"Wait, that is.. Kobayashi-san?"

"What happened to her?"

Rika entered the class and made it over to her seat. Her hair was a mess, a shadow over her eyes.

She laid her bag down and sat hugging the table with her hands over her head.

"Don't you think her clothes look wet?" Yu asked.

"Yeah, what happened?" Ibuki mused.

"Well, only one way to find out," Shiro stood up.

He approached her who clearly expressed her dislike for anyone approaching, the tension in the class heightened.

"Excuse me, Kobayashi-chan."

"..."

Yu was right, her clothes were wet.

"Did something happen?"

"..."

"Kobayashi-chan, if you need help, I can assist you. Everyone is concerned."

"As if."

'As if?'

"At least tell me what happened."

".. nothing. Leave me alone."

'She's really hard to talk to.'

Shiro turned to his group and shook his head. The rest looked at each other in confusion.

"I'll let the teacher know that you weren't able to make it to the earlier classes. If you have any complaints, you can come to me and tell me about it."

"..."

"..."

Shiro returned to his seat after ending the awkward conversation.

"What's up with her?" Risa said, displeased.

"Maybe something personal is troubling her? Her family, perhaps," Chisu said.

"Perhaps," Ibuki mulled over his words.

"Risa, my bread."

"Oh, here!"

"E-Eh.. does that mean you won't eat my cooking.."

"No.. of course I will.."

"Big bro.."

And so the conflict continued.

===

'Cold..'

Sinking deeper into her consciousness, she felt everything growing distant. The sounds, the smells, the temperature of her own body.

She was floating, or so she felt. She was burning, or so she felt.

An unknown amount of time passed.

'Hm? Don't I still have class..?'

The realization struck her. She was asleep.

She forced herself to open her eyes.

"Ah.."

"You're awake, sleepy head."

"W-Where.."

The class was empty. The dark sky had lifted, revealing the clear afternoon hue soon coming to its evening.

"Don't worry, I told the teachers about it already."

"Don't you have practice.." before she could complete her sentence, a chill caused her to jaw tremble intensely.

'Cold.. I'm seriously cold.. and hot..?'

She felt incredibly cold on the inside, but hot outside. It was at this point that Rika realized she felt feverish.

"No. I don't have basketball practice today."

"..."

"Is something the matter?"

"N-Nothing.. the time is.."

"It's after class."

"Everyone.. left?"

"Except me."

"I see.." Rika felt the world spinning.

"You don't look good. Where do you live?"

"I.. don't know the address.. why are you still here? Don't you need to wait for your parents to pick you up..?"

"Nay. I take the train."

"The train.."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing.."

"What happened earlier this morning any.."

"ACHoo!" Rika sneezed.

Shiro's eyes opened wide. He placed the back of his hand on her forehead.

"You.."

"What are you d-doing..?" Rika panicked in fluster. The number one most popular boy in class was touching her–

His every action was as if flirting– misleading gestures. No wonder girls would fall for him.

"You have a fever. You better go home and rest."

"I know that!"

"I'll accompany you home."

'Huh? Why?'

Rika couldn't believe what she had just heard. This person was going to bring her home? Was he being genuine, or could this be another one of his ploys? Wouldn't a rumor spread if people found out?

"Or do you need me to carry you?"

"N-No. I can walk.. ugh.." her body felt heavy.

"Careful now. I'll help you with your bag."

"No.. it's alright.."

"You're sick."

"..."

Rika didn't understand his logic. He didn't need to go out of this way just to help her, so why?

===

"If your house is so far away, why don't you take the train?"

"To save money.."

Shiro looked at the map on his phone once more.

'What kind of financial situation is she in to even save money in such a situation anyways?'

"Okay, we'll do it this way. Since our train line connects, we'll take the train."

"I didn't bring my train card."

"I'll get you a new one."

"No need.." Rika tried to take her bag back from him; he wouldn't budge.

"Follow me."

"Takashi-san, you don't need to do this."

"The teachers told me to take care of you."

"..."

"Everyone is concerned alright?"

Rika couldn't deny his offer to help after seeing his resolute expression.

They went to the train station, and there Shiro got Rika a new train card loaded with change.

As usual, it was crazy crowded.

Rika was pinned between the door and Shiro. She tried her best to not mind it– how their bodies were pressed against each other. Even though she was aware that there were a few layers of clothes between them, she couldn't help but feel her already high temperature rise a little more.

'Why is he helping me..?'

"Sorry," Shiro said.

"I-It's fine.." Rika's ears turned red.

Shiro was kind, but she didn't know that he was kind to this extent. She felt suspicious. She wanted to think that there was no ulterior motive behind his actions. They got off the train at the right station and headed towards Rika's place.

"What the.."

A small dilapidated cornershop with stairs going upwards. The place looked like it had been abandoned for years. Rika felt somewhat annoyed by his exaggerated expression. It was not a proper house, but was there a need for a big fuss?

"Thank you for your help. I'll take it from here.."

"Do you have enough money for medication? For dinner later?"

"Don't worry about that."

"There's a convenience store nearby, I'll go get something for you."

"No need.. this is… enough already.."

"Stop trying to handle things alone. I don't know what kind of family situation you're in, but there are times when you need to get help."

"Why are you doing this? Why are you wasting your money on me? I'm not even your friend."

"Why not?"

Shiro grabbed Rika by the wrist and dragged her towards the nearby convenience store. She held back the urge to complain.

"Tell me what you need. I'll pay for it," saying that, Shiro went to ask the clerk for medication.

"..."

Rika looked around in a daze. She still didn't understand.

'Why..?'