Please Understand

Inei wakes up, gets up, goes through his typical morning routines, then heads down the stairs, a primary breakfast plate placed on the table in front of his seat. He sits, eats, and leaves for school. When he arrives, no one approaches him as he walks alone to class.

None of the girls has approached me yet; this is strange.

Inei sits down in class, opens his textbook, then waits for class to start. As he reads, no one disturbs him, the bell ringing. When it rings, he closes the book and looks up—no one in the classroom but him, a couple of other people, and Yasu. The Dean enters the classroom.

"Hello, students. I'm making trips to every class, and today is the annual study trip day. Those who need extra work on their studies take a trip somewhere to focus on nothing but studying. If you are here, your grades are acceptable, classes are canceled for you today, and you may relax or study to your avail. Have a nice day!"

With that, the Dean leaves the room, moving on to the next room. The two people leave the room, leaving a surprised Inei and a silent Yasu. Inei looks over at her, then gets up and goes around to her. She looks up at him from her book.

"Oh, Inei, hello."

She looks around, unaware of what has happened.

"Where is everyone?"

Inei pulls out a calendar, looks at it, then points to a date showing her, and it reads

"Thursday: Annual Study Trip Day (Your grades are always good, don't think about it)."

Yasu examines it and looks up at him.

"I guess we are the only two in our group that get at least decent grades. I mean, some of them get decent grades, but not great. This school focuses a lot on their students and their academics."

Inei nods.

When it's just her and me, it's like her personality is the opposite when there are more people.

Inei looks at her book, and she notices instantly.

"It's called The Enemy; it's about these teenagers that try to survive after a disease worldwide turns all adults into zombies. There are a lot of characters, and it's cool to see how they utilize them all. There's a whole series about these books too. If you want, you can read it with me."

Inei nods with approval, then sits next to her, pulling a chair close, both looking at the book. She looks over to Inei.

"Are you a fast reader?"

Inei looks at her, then moves his hand to say, so or so, and then looks back at the book.

Yasu does seem to like an interesting book, but I don't want to slow her down.

Yasu smiles.

"Well, okay, but don't rush. If you can't read as fast as me, I'm not worried about slowing down. I mean, from the looks of it, I don't know when you have to leave, but if it's for normally when you have practice, we have probably around eight hours to kill, so we're in no rush."

Inei looks at her, then back at the book. They read for a while, Inei still looking at the pages. His eyes scroll across the words with high speed and show deep interest.

Wow. Yasu does have an interesting taste in books. This book is excellent. However-

He glances over to Yasu, whose eyes look heavy.

Is she falling asleep?!

Inei taps on her shoulder, and she looks at him.

"Huh? What is it?"

He takes a piece of paper and writes on it.

"Are you alright?"

She nods.

"Yes, I'm okay. Are you ready to switch to the next page?"

Well, if she says she's okay, then she's okay.

Inei nods, and they both look back at the book. As Inei reads on after some time, he feels a small weight against his shoulder. To his surprise, it seems Yasu has fallen asleep on his shoulder.

What do I do?! If people walk past, they'll think this is so weird! But it's tutor trip day. There's probably no one on campus and no one in the halls. Maybe it would be okay to let her rest. Besides, perhaps I can continue reading to get ahead while she's asleep.

Inei takes the book, reading it as Yasu dreams, her head against his shoulder. As time passes, she slowly begins to wrap her arms around his arm, holding it tightly to her, his arm pressing against her chest and stomach. Inei turns beat red, now not able to focus on the book.

Just stay calm. Just stay calm.

He takes a deep breath, sighs, then refocuses on the book. A couple of hours go by, and Yasu squirms in her sleep, getting more comfortable. Still clinging to his arm, she cuddles up closer to him, his arm pressed tighter against her body.

Every time I relax and focus on reading, she squirms and makes my arm touch her body more every time! I can't stay focused this way! Not that I like Yasu that way, but she's not exactly a girl who is not built like a guy's dream!

He looks at her for a moment, her sleeping, then suddenly gains a smile in her sleep.

Well, even with what she's got, she does have a cute smile. However, she does still confuse me.

Inei looks out the window of the building, looking at the empty courtyard.

When she's around all her friends, she is always super quiet, doesn't engage, and rarely wants to be the center of attention.

He looks back at her.

But when it's just her and me, she's the opposite, always talking, willing to chat with me, and wants to be noticed, even if it's just a head nod to what she asks. I don't think it's anything more than friendship. But I wonder what it is that makes her act so freely.

Inei looks back at the book.

Oh well. I shouldn't overthink it. Even though Yasu keeps squeezing my arms between her chest repeatedly, this is still quite a relaxing day. I'll keep reading for a few more hours.

As more time passes, Inei quietly closes the book, Yasu yawning and slowly opening her eyes.

"Inei..."

She looks at him, and he does her, then tilts her head.

"Why are you so close?"

She then realizes she's holding his arm in hers, and his arm pressed against hers. She gains a super large blush, then gets up, stumbling away momentarily.

"I'm, I'm sorry!"

She gets up and begins running but remembers the book and looks back at Inei, holding it in his hands. She then avoids eye contact, slowly walking toward him, putting her hand out, not looking at him.

"T-the book."

After a little bit, she feels something in her hand, and then she looks at it, a little note in her hand.

"Can you please answer a question for me before you run off? Also, I didn't mind what you did; if it helped you sleep and relax, then all the better."

She blushes more, looking away.

"Hurry up and ask so I can go and forget this embarrassing encounter."

Inei hands her the following note.

"Well, two questions. Why is it embarrassing that you relied on your friend for comfort? And why do you act so different with me than the others?"

Yasu looks at this note momentarily, then at Inei, who looks at her. She sighs, the rose on her cheek staying. She sits beside him, scooting her chair a little away from him.

"I cuddled your arm as I slept. Is that not enough to say why it's embarrassing? And for once, I have a friend who is like me. Quiet, smart, and caring. The other four are usually loud. Always loud. The reason I tried running when Azami wanted to introduce you to me, I thought she was going to introduce me to another loud person, and I couldn't take that anymore. And then I realized you do not talk after Aneko made Azami sad about it, so I stuck around. And even though they are always so loud, I still care about them because they're my friends. Just like you are my friend, so I care. Plus, you're quiet, like me. You don't want to be the center of attention, like me. You relate to me the most of all of us, and even though you're quiet, you can still be and have fun. I don't talk much around the others because they're always too busy talking."

Inei listens to Yasu as she talks.

It's like she has wanted to get this out for a while.

Yasu continues to talk.

"But you know, sometimes I take their talking for granted because I can't imagine such a quiet boring life like that. No offense to you, of course. And I think that's what Azami saw in you, was that quiet boring life."

Inei looks at her, at a loss for words, even in his thoughts.

"So that answers your question along with the tangent. Can I have my book now? By the way, how much of it did you read while I was sleeping?"

Inei pointed at the back and handed it to her. She smiles.

"Wow, you do read fast, huh? I'll have to find the next book of the series for you. Well, enjoy your practice. And don't tell anyone about what happened today! That stays between you and me."

And with that, Yasu leaves the classroom. Inei is left in the room alone, looking down at the desk, and lays his head down, now taking a nap.

Inei exits the locker room and enters the gym, grabbing a ball rack and warming up with basic jumpers. As he shoots, he hears another voice.

"Is this what you did to take my spot?"

Inei makes a jump shot and then looks to the side, Azami's older brother standing there.

Tch. I don't have time for this.

Inei ignores him and continues warming up, then goes over to the side, setting up some cones for dribbling drills. As he sets them up, he hears scooting, Azami's older brother moving the cones around after Inei put them where he wanted them.

"Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you wanted them there."

Inei gives him a dirty look, then fixes the cones back, and as he does, Azami's older brother steals the ball from Inei, dribbling it mockingly in front of him.

"Come on, hot shot, get it back."

Inei looks at him frustrated, then exhales, going to the ball rack, grabbing another ball to find his cones messed up again. Azami's older brother stands beside them, looking at Inei as he kicks the last cone out of place. Inei looks at him.

What is his problem?

Inei goes to him and quickly steals the ball back, spinning it on his finger tauntingly to Azami's brother.

You want to play; let's play.

Azami's older brother smirks aggressively, then plays strong defense on Inei, Inei dribbling super-fast and elegantly. He performs a hesitation, then a crossover, one step, and then a spin in the opposite direction. As he does, on the reel, Azami's brother falls to his butt, and Inei shoots his fading three, the ball hitting the backboard and going into the hoop. Azami's brother gets up.

"Game of twenty-one! The loser quits the team!"

Inei takes a couple of steps back in shock.

No way! I don't like him, but I don't want him to quit!

Inei shakes his head. Azami's brother put his hands on his hips.

"Then I'll talk to the coach about your little sleepover with my sister and her friends. I don't think the coach would be happy to know his player is, sleeping with a group of girls."

Inei squints aggressively.

You good-for-nothing jerk. You know that's not what you're making it sound; it is not dirty like you are portraying!

Inei then nods. Azami's brother smiles.

"Fine, then I start with the ball."

Inei hands him the ball, and the game begins. Inei starts by stealing the ball immediately and shooting a three, it falling straight through the net after he had shot it in her brother's face, 3-0. He hands Inei the ball again after going and grabbing it. Inei at once drives, then steps back, shooting a midrange shot, and it falls straight through the net, 5-0. They check from the top again. Inei makes his moves, crossing the ball between his legs a few times, pushing the ball between her brother's legs, then steps back, making him fall to his back, shooting a midrange jump shot, 7-0. Her brother gets up angry from the play, grabbing the ball and nailing Inei in the chest on the next check. Inei furrows his eyebrows, fake stepping a couple of times, performing a hesitation, driving in about fifteen feet, stepping back, and going to shoot. As he does, her brother jumps to block him, but it is a fake shot; Inei drives in and performs a simple lay-up, 9-0. He checks the ball to Inei once again. When Inei catches it, he pulls up for a three, flushing it through the net, 12-0. Finally, Inei drives, on his two steps, moving the ball behind his back, trying to lay up the ball and misses. Azami's brother grabs the ball and runs to the three-point line. When he does, Inei plays perfect defense, forcing him to pick up the ball after three dribbles, and he performs a fadeaway jumper; Inei jumps up high enough to still block the ball. When they restart from the top, Azami's brother smirks.

"You messed up."

Azami's brother dribbles, and as he does, something strikes Inei, a scent of some sort hitting his nose. Inei kneels, his eyes expressing terror.

What is this?! What is this feeling?!

Azami's older brother makes a lay-up and scores his first two points, 12-2. Inei gets weak and checks the ball, getting a defensive stop, rebounding it, and dribbling it out. As he tries to drive, the scent hits him again, stumbling and dropping the ball out of bounds. Inei gets up and checks the ball with her brother. He dribbles forward, steps back, and shoots a three, making it due to Inei's incapability to react quickly due to the scent, 12-5. When Inei checks it to him again, her brother hits another instant three, 12-8. He laughs at Inei.

"See? You're not all that you show off to be!"

Inei furrows his eyebrows, then checks the ball.

It's because of this ridiculous scent! I don't know why, but it hurts!

Her brother shoots another instant three, but Inei steals the ball as he goes to hit and runs, laying the ball in the basket, 14-8. Azami's brother passes the ball into play again. Inei dribbles a little less efficiently but still pretty well, spinning towards the side of the court and then dribbling behind the back, performing a floater, the ball going in the net, 16-8. As the ball bounces to Inei and Inei attempts to shoot, the scent distracts him, the ball hitting the backboard and no rim, the brother rebounding and putting the ball back with a put-back, 16-10. Inei looks at her brother angrily, and her brother stands, waiting for Inei to pass him the ball. As Inei gets up and checks the ball to him, the scent hits him again, allowing her brother to hit another three, 16-13. Once again, Inei passes the ball, the smell distracts Inei, and her brother scores another three, 16-16. He laughs at Inei.

"What's wrong? I thought you were super talented!"

Inei has veins appearing on his forehead with anger as sweat drips down over the veins.

I have to focus; no more messing around. No scent is going to prevent me from whooping your ass!

Inei checks the ball and plays defense, forcing her brother to turn the ball over. He gives the ball to Inei, who at once dribbles, driving straight to the basket. He goes at a curved angle; as he goes up, her brother jumps to block his shot.

"Gotcha!"

Before he blocks the ball, Inei goes around and under, Inei performing a reverse lay-up, 18-16. Azami's brother slams the ball down in anger and then checks the ball to Inei, who begins backing him down. As he does, Inei fakes a drop step, then turns the other way, fading away, banking the basket off the backboard, 20-16. As the game ends, the score ends up being 20-19, it being Azami's brother's ball. He smirks as he watches a weak Inei guarding him.

"All I have to do is score twice and play defense if you get the ball back, and I win. The winner must win by at least two points."

Inei nods, and when the brother dribbles, Inei makes a risky move, reaching in for the steal, taking the ball instantly, and turning for a three. When he does, he fades and shoots, landing on his back, the ball hitting the backboard, and going in. Azami's brother looks at Inei, shocked about the play and the shot himself. 23-19, Inei wins. Inei lies, breathing heavily and feeling weak.

What is that smell? I don't remember where that damn scent comes from, but it is so familiar! It's driving me crazy, hurting my head even to think!

A thud hits the floor beside Inei. Azami's older brother has taken a seat beside him.

"My name is Connor. Very non-traditional, American name. I was joking about the loser quitting."

Inei looks at him, and the scent is now gone.

"I was just the leader for so long, and then some sophomore comes and takes it away out of the blue. Plus, you constantly flirt with my sister, making it even worse for me. I have to care for her like being her dad, and you're making it hard."

Inei tilts his head.

Yeah, where are their parents anyway?

Connor looks up to the ceiling breathing heavily.

"I won't ever accept you. No matter how hard you try, you have already taken so much and want to take all of it away from me."

Inei looks on.

I have no interest in your sister that way, man. She's just a good friend.

They sit quietly for a moment, then Connor speaks more.

"Heh, you don't talk, huh? It makes me feel stupid. Like I'm talking to myself. Rather than talking to someone else. You really should learn to talk; we're in college."

Inei looks at him with an annoyed look.

I can talk. I choose not to. How many times do I have to say it to myself?

Connor doesn't notice but keeps talking.

"The fact that that still didn't stop you from winning shows me that you're a much more talented player than I am. I miss my starting spot. I hate being a sixth man, but I guess I'll accept it if it's for the greater good of the team. But don't mess this up for us in the first game. The team, coach, school, everyone is looking onto you to get us our first winning record in at least a decade."

I don't know if he is trying to scare or encourage me because he's been so mean to me for as long as I've known him, and he knows me.

Connor gets up, putting a hand out to Inei.

"Let's go; you got to practice."

Inei takes his hand, and as Connor pulls him up, he drops Inei, walking away and chuckling.

"I told you, I'm never going to accept you."

And with a smirk, Connor leaves the gym floor, putting his hand up as a wave. Inei gets up on his own, stretching and getting water. As he trains, he begins cooling down with some free throws. As he shoots them, he thinks to himself.

There's so much going on compared to before that I wish I could stay calm about, but there's not. This entire week has been a shit show. I hope that when Saturday rolls around, it doesn't destroy me, and I get injured. I should thank those girls for allowing me to get to this point. If it weren't for them, I would still be the old me. The dull, quiet, old me, and there's nothing wrong with being quiet, but at some point, you have to have some fun, right?

That last question hits him as he shoots a free throw, it bouncing off the back of the rim back to him. He reshoots it, draining it. Inei sighs.

Just relax and focus on what is in front of you. Free-throws. Just concentrate on the free throws.

As he shoots them, his calm focus supplies him a 193/200 free-throws. When he finishes them, he sits down and looks at his phone. There are no messages.

I honestly miss the craziness a little bit.

Inei sends each girl a message. Yasu is the first to respond.

"Wow, you messaged me? After what happened today?"

Yeah, I should have figured she would be a little shy right now.

Then Chura.

"Hi, Inei! I missed not getting to see you today! How was your day?!"

As enthusiastic as I could have imagined from Chura.

Aneko responds next.

"How did you even get my number, you pervert?!"

I didn't know, but Azami put it there when she had my phone recently.

Then Yui.

"Hey Inei, I heard you spent some time today with Yasu. I hope you two didn't have TOO much fun."

Yui, that's your sister.

Then finally, Azami.

"Hey, Inei. How are you?"

That is a bit of a weird response from Azami.

Inei responds to all five of them, all five responding in the same order.

Yasu: "Well, I got home safely and napped, so I'm good."

Chura: "That sucks! Quiet is boring!"

Aneko: "So you saved it and didn't delete it?!"

Yui: "Oh, come on, I'm only teasing you! I teased her plenty when she got home, and you should have seen her face!"

Azami: "I'm fine."

Inei stares at Azami's message, very concerned. This Azami seems utterly different than the Azami he knows.

He stops responding to everyone but Azami.

"Azami, are you sure you're okay?"

...

"Yes. I'm fine."

...

"You sound very different."

...

"How so?"

...

"Like you are sad and out of it."

...

"Even the happiest few get burnt out eventually."

Inei stops and thinks to himself.

Right. The study camp.

Inei packs his stuff and starts walking home. Inei had sent another message to her but got no reply.

She probably fell asleep if she tried to study and learn on the trip.

As he walks home, a truck passes him and comes to an immediate stop; a couple of people hopping out and taking pictures of him, and a man with a microphone approaches.

"You are Inei, correct?"

Inei nods, continuing to walk as the microphone presses to his face.

"Are you excited about the game Saturday night?"

Inei nods again.

"What are your plans to bring this cursed program from the underground into a top-of-the-food-chain monster?"

Inei doesn't respond, continuing to walk.

"Can you please answer the question?"

Inei looks at him, points to his mouth, and makes a slicing movement at his neck, showing that he doesn't talk. The man understands.

"Ahh, a non-talker; this is even more interesting than we thought!"

Then, the door is slammed on him as Inei enters his home. He heads up the stairs, showering, brushing his teeth, and lying down. As he lays in bed, he continues to worry about Azami.

Why am I so worried about her? She's a big girl with her brother; she'll be okay. She's more than likely just tired. Just tired.

And with that, Inei falls asleep.

"Inei...Inei,please..."

Inei sees nothing but white, then black.

"Inei, help me, please..."

Azami? No, that's not her voice. Is it?

"Help me...please...Inei..."

The faint scent from Connor starts to exist.

"Help me...please remember..."

Remember what? What am I supposed to remember?!

With that, white slowly becomes the dominant color.