Chapter 3: I Don’t Understand This Girl At All

There are two things I fear in life:
1.Running out of toilet paper.
2.Airi Fujimoto when she’s acting too nice.

Guess what’s happening today?
No, not the toilet paper. The other one.

I walk into class half-ready to dodge a flying eraser or another verbal karate chop.

Instead, she waves at me with a smile so bright it should be illegal.

“Good morning, Yuuji-kun!”

I blink.
She looks like she wants to offer me cookies and friendship bracelets.

I blink again.

“A-ah… Morning,” I say.

She tilts her head. “You look tired. Did you sleep okay?

”No. No, I didn’t." I had nightmares about slippers.

“But I’m fine,” I say quickly.

She leans closer.

“You sure? Your eyes look extra dead today.”

Gee, thanks.
I fake a smile.

“Thanks for noticing.” She giggles.

Daiki leans over from his desk. “Morning, lovebirds.”
“WE’RE NOT—!”
 I stop myself. The teacher isn’t here yet.
But the class is.
Some heads turn.
I shrink into my seat.

“Just kidding,” Daiki whispers, still grinning. “So… she’s being nice again?”

“I don’t know what’s going on,” I whisper back.

“She’s like a broken vending machine. One day it gives you candy, the next day it throws the can at your face.”

He nods like I just shared ancient wisdom. “Deep.”

Airi walks to her seat two desks away, humming a song like nothing happened yesterday.
I stare at my desk.

Yuuji’s Mental Diary – Day 3Airi Fujimoto Status: ☀️
Damage Taken: 1/10
Confusion Level: 3000
Notes: Is she broken? Or am I? Am I in a romance anime? Is this a prank show?

Class starts normally. Mr. Kumagai is reciting old Japanese poetry with enough passion to set the chalk on fire.
No one listens.
Except Airi.
She’s nodding and writing notes like she’s training to be Teacher’s pet. Meanwhile, I’m drawing cat on my textbook to stay awake.

At break time, Daiki throws himself into the seat next to mine with a loud  “Ughhh.”
“What’s wrong with you?” I ask.

“I forgot my lunch at home,” he says dramatically. “I only have this soggy convenience store sandwich. And zero will to live.”
“Rip.”
He leans in. “Anyway. we’re back to ‘Yuuji-kun~’ mode?”

“Please don’t call it that.” He grins.
“You know what I think?”
“No. And I don’t want to.”
“I think she’s into you.” I laugh out loud. Like, actual loud. The girl behind me jumps.
“Did I say something funny?” Airi asks suddenly, poking her head between our desks.
“Uh—n-no. Just Daiki being stupid.” Daiki gives me a thumbs up.
“Stupid but right.”
Airi giggles and walks back to her seat.
Daiki leans in again. “Dude. You’re doomed. This is some tsundere anime level stuff.”

I shake my head.
 “I don’t even know if she likes me or wants to emotionally damage me.”
He nods wisely. “Maybe both.”
At lunch, Daiki and I sit outside again, under the same tree.
“Okay,” he says. “Let’s talk.”
“About what?”
“About your will-they-won’t-they-will-she-kill-you relationship.” I groan.
Daiki takes a bite of his soggy "regret" and points his fingers at me.

“She’s either into you… or she’s practicing for drama club.”

“Daiki. Yesterday. remember?”
He gasps. “Yeah. That's rough.”
“And today she’s acting like we’re best friends.” He shrugs.
“Girls are confusing.”
“That’s not helpful.”
“Hey, I’m here for moral support. And to eat your side dishes if you’re too stressed.”
He reaches for my karaage.
I slap his hand away.
“Touch it and die.”
He grins. “See? This is how you should talk to Airi.”
I sigh.
 “I wish it were that easy.”

We sit in silence for a moment. A bird poops on the ground next to us.
Daiki looks up. “That’s a sign.”
“A sign of what?”
He points at the sky. “The universe is saying, ‘Watch out, Yuuji.”

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry.
Daiki pauses. “Okay, but real talk what if she’s doing this on purpose?”
“Why?”
“To keep you guessing. You know. The classic romance tactic.”
“Since when is emotional damage romantic?”
He shrugs. “Works in anime.”

In the afternoon, we get our group project assignments.
Of course, I’m paired with Airi.
Of course, Daiki’s in our group too.
Of course, the universe hates me.

“We’re going to make such a great team!” Airi says with sparkly eyes.
“Yup,” I say, dead inside.
“What should we write about?” she asks, already doodling flowers in her notebook.
Daiki suggests, “How about embarrassing childhood memories?”
I nearly choke.“Uh… why?”
“Because they’re cute!” Airi says. “Like, we can all write about something funny we did as kids.”
I stare at her. Is she trying to kill me with irony?
Daiki smirks.

“What about the time you ate an eraser because you thought it was candy.”

Big mistake, telling your highschool friends your childhood.

I glare at him. “I was three.”
“You were eight.”

I turn to Airi. “Please forget that immediately.”
She laughs. “That’s so cute!”
Why is this happening to me?


After school,
 I make a run for it.
But she catches up.
“Yuuji-kun! Want to walk home together?”
I hesitate.
She blinks. “You don’t want to?”
“It’s not that. It’s just…”
You confused the heck out of me yesterday and now you’re acting like sunshine and rainbows. Again.

But I didn't say that.

“…Sure,” I say instead.
We walk.
She’s humming.
I’m sweating.
Then she suddenly asks,

“Hey… were we close in elementary school?”

I stop walking.

“…You don’t remember?”
She looks confused.
“I remember being in the same class. But I don’t think we talked much. Did we?”

I look at her face.
She’s serious. And I don’t know what to say.

“Nope. Not really,” I lie.
She nods.
“Thought so. Let’s make better memories now then!”
She smiles and runs ahead.
I just stand there.

My heart is confused.
My brain is confused.
Even my feet are confused.

I eventually get home and find another note in my bag.
It says:

“Today was fun! Let’s work hard on the project together! –Airi ♡”

I stared at the note.

I reread it.


Yuuji’s Mental Diary – Day 3:
Airi Status: ???
Mental State: Shaken
Food Rating: My karaage was good
Mystery Level: Scooby-Doo tier
Conclusion: Either she’s trolling me... or I’m living in someone else’s dream sequence.


[Bonus Scene – After Class]

As I was about to leave the classroom, something blocked my way.
Specifically, a human obstacle.

“HALT!” Kenta yelled, standing with his arms crossed like a security guard who takes his job too seriously.

“…What now.”
“I come bearing urgent questions!” He held up a tiny notepad labeled “Yuuji & Airi: Romance Watch.”

“I’m not doing this today.”
“Too late, Rumors are already spreading.”
“What rumors?”
“That you and Airi-san are secretly married, have two cats, and went on a picnic over the weekend.”

“WHAT—”
“Don’t worry,” he said, patting my shoulder. “I only believe half of it.”
“Which half?!”
“The cats.”
“I DON’T EVEN HAVE A CAT!” Kenta nodded thoughtfully.

 “Exactly what someone hiding a cat would say.
”Then he scribbled something in his notebook and ran off yelling,
“THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!!”
I stared at the door he disappeared through.
Daiki walked past me, chewing gum.
“So how’s married life?”
“I’m gonna set this school on fire.”


Extras info :
Kenta Nishiyama.
Messy dark brown hair, brown eyes.
Height is average, but acts like he's 6'2 also likes gossiping.