Asterisk

“What?”

Takumi spitefully questions, as if Yuna committed a crime by not knowing him.

“I said we should get to learning…oh right. Do you wanna pick the starting subject?” Yuna asks back, ignoring the entitled tone.

Takumi begins looking at the page, starting with the first question.

“How did the events of World War 1 begin?.”

I thought she said I’d be picking the starting subject, but history? This is just completely…

Takumi’s thought is interrupted, as when he looks over at Yuna’s notes, he’s met with a wall of text.

“What’s all this for?” Takumi picks up Yuna’s notebook, flaunting it around.

“Studying. What we’re supposed to be doing right now.” Yuna coldly snaps back, attempting to grab her notebook.

Takumi lifts it higher than she can reach, letting a smug laugh.

“How about this? Why don’t I give you an autograph and your notebook back, and in exchange you tell my mom I don’t need a tutor”. Takumi can’t help but contain his smirk, after all…he’s won.

Took a bit longer than expected, but this’ll be the breaking point. I’ll finally be fr-

“You really know how to make excuses”

Takumi’s caught off guard by this, looking down on Yuna.

“And who’re you to tell me what to do? Nothing you say can tell me otherwise.”

“That reminds me of something from class… you wouldn’t of course. It’s a saying”

Another meaningless rant, spoken by nothing more than a number.
“Is this saying going to suddenly talk me down? Let’s hear these wise words then!” Takumi taunts Yuna, smirking confidently the entire time.

“Actions speak louder than words” Yuna states calmly, looking directly into Takumi’s eyes.

Is she trying to guilt trip me? Into stopping. Just like her, her efforts are completely meaningle-

Yuna punches Takumi directly in the chest, winding him.

He drops the notebook, and writhes on the ground in pain.

“I’ll pass on your offer…besides…”

Takumi looks up into Yuna’s eyes, completely stumped and in pain at the current turn of events.

“...why would I want some guy in my classes’ signature?” Yuna finishes her sentence, grabbing her notebook off the floor.

Takumi’s eyes widened. Color drains from the world, one shade at a time.

So I’m just some guy? You have no idea who I am…I know that’s not true! Look around you…are you blind to your surroundings?

“Since when does one person make a difference? Since when can you look at a singular other person and have them change your life?”

Takumi, genuinely meaning these words, stands off the floor. Yuna can’t find the right words to say, so says nothing.

Takumi’s face appears defensive, like he’s trying to prove his words.

“One person can’t change anything. Not a person like you. You’re just another number, someone who gives attention because it’s the only thing they can do.”

Takumi exhales deeply, satisfied with his explanation.

“Now if you understand, let’s make that deal” Takumi coldly states, the warm exterior of his media personality fully gone.

Yuna sits in thought for a moment, then reaches a conclusion.

“You…”

Takumi doesn’t smile this time. His cold gaze is fixed on Yuna.

Say the words. Your only job is to be another number for people like me. There’s nothing more you can accomplish.

“You really need to start going to class if that’s the way you think” Yuna speaks up, finally getting the words in order.

Takumi blankly stares at Yuna, unsure of how to process it.

“You’ve been staring at the spotlight so much you’re practically blind to how the world is”

Yuna gathers her things, and stands up in front of Takumi.

“Being known doesn’t make you important, just like being unknown doesn’t make you worthless” Yuna continues.

…what is she talking about? Of course it does. Attention to you makes you important, it makes you significant.

Yuna heads for the door, Takumi still standing in the middle of his room.

“If you don’t know what that means, try paying attention”

Yuna leaves the house. Takumi’s mother goes to check on him, but he’s sitting at his desk blankly staring at the posters, his accomplishments.

Takumi’s mom closes the door for him, not wanting to disturb this mood he’s in (for better or worse).

Takumi’s day continues, with his blank and expressionless face lingering.

…

Nighttime rolls around, and he goes back on his phone, scrolling through posts about him on social media.

As he’s scrolling through posts, his phone suddenly dies, but he faces this with no reaction.

The black phone screen reflects his portrait back to him, and he stares into his blank green eyes.

… just who are you, Yuna Yamaguchi?

At school the next day, Takumi strolls into class to be greeted by fawning and envious looks, and he shoots a smile back into the faceless crowd.

As he walks to his seat, he notices someone in the seat next to his.

He stares at her for a moment, blinking in disbelief.

…Yuna Yamaguchi’s seat…was next to mine this entire time? I’d never noticed.

“How’re you doing today Yamaguchi-san?” Takumi asks, his polite and kind voice resonating through the class.

A long silence follows this, something he’s not used to.

He politely smiles and leans down, closing the gap between his and her face.

“It’s not nice to ignore people, Yamaguchi-san” Takumi continues this tone, his words softer than ever before.

Yuna’s ear perks up, but goes back down instantly, like the voice wasn’t worth a reply.

Yuna exhales, then looks up to meet the eyes of Takumi.

“Sorry, Sora-kun. I was so focused on school work I didn’t notice you! What’s up?”

Takumi’s eye winces, but he smiles warmly again.

“I asked how you were do-”

Takumi’s cut off by the bell, signaling the start of the period.

Takumi takes his seat, opening a book but looking back over to Yuna.

Too focused on studying? That’s absurd. When someone who shines as bright as me comes around, people like you can’t help but look.

Yuna writes notes down, listening to the teacher. Takumi has no intention of letting this enigma of a person escape his understanding.

Takumi looks away from Yuna for a moment, staring at the board blankly.

…so how come you can’t see? How are you unable to understand the difference between us?

“...ak..i……Ta…..u……TAKUMI!” the teacher yells to get his attention.

He stands up, ready to answer the question

“What external factors influence satisfaction?” the teacher asks

What kind of question is this? Whatever, I have to make it look like I know what I'm talking about…

Takumi looks over to Yuna’s page, seeing “Figure it out” written for this section.

Takumi looks a bit irritated at this, like it was meant for him to see.

“I’d have to say…assurance?” Takumi questions himself in this question, coming off a bit skeptical.

Assurance…right? That’s what they think satisfaction’s from, right?

He sits down before the teacher has a chance to respond, then continues the class like it’s nothing.

If it weren’t for her notes, I’d have had a better answer than that. It’s her fault.

Takumi looks over to Yuna’s sheet again. This time it’s different. “Figure it out” isn’t the only thing written, but a full response:

“There is no set of external factors that influence satisfaction, as that is for the person themselves to figure it out”

The rest of the day passes without incident, but as Takumi leaves the school he remembers that his phone’s still on his desk.

He heads back to the classroom, completely empty.

Crap, I forgot what time my conference is at. Should be on my phone somewhere.

As he scrolls his calendar, his focus shifts to the desk next to his. To Yuna’s desk.

He grabs a piece of chalk from the board, and draws a small, white star on the corner of it.

You’re nothing… so why is someone as insignificant as you still in my thoughts?

Takumi leaves the room, sliding the door shut.

Someone like me doesn’t have time for meaningless words. Stay out of my head.