Strawberry flavoured milk... or atleast I think it is

With the class over by the teacher's ominous words “Hope you do well in tests “ which clearly showed how everyone's preparations were on their face it was time for a break before the next class.

Most will gather around their friends to talk or turn around and talk to seatmates. I did what I most of the time do, head resting on the desk. And doing this at my seats gives you a freebie also, which is the stupid conversations of a group of boys 3 desks beside me.

While they were busy a wave of chatter went through the hallway in front of the class. Girls and boys surrounding a person whom I couldn't see at all was the centre of all their attention.

“Seriously, why are they all this noisy?” one of the boys showed his irk towards them.

“Right, can't they be aware of their surroundings,” another one nodded in agreement.

That doesn't suit coming out of your mouths.

“They all fell for his sweet talk.”

The person in question of this whole talk was a senpai, who oddly enough transferred at our school just today.

I didn't see him but the praises of his kind behavior had already reached not only mine but the whole school.

It's not strange for students to transfer yet, the timing is very strange and also, he is in third year.May be some special circumstances.

Well wondering about it won't give me something.

<>

During the Lunch break I went out to take a stroll. Walking aimless into the outdoor corridor by the courtyard, my eyes pulled me to the vending machine.

I don't know why but my eyes ran through all the samples for me just not to buy anything in the end. It was quite hot but not much for my mouth to cry for somethin..

Walking away from it, I kept glancing around.

Just when I was about to turn around the corner, a guy running with the same speed as someone escaping from a crime scene crashed into me.

And only I was the one who fell a little further on the ground. Even I questioned myself, am I this light?

Opening my eyes after the scary impact, my eyes caught the view of the reason why my butt was hurting.

“Ah! Sorry!” with a soft tone he offered me a hand.

The moment he pulled me up I figured out the reason why I was the only one who fell. He pulled me up with such a strength and easily too, that for a moment I thought he was going to throw me away like a rag.

“Are you hurt?”

I was.

“N-No.”

“Sorry, It was my fault. I shouldn't run around.”

“No worries. But please be careful next time.”

“Yeah I will be.”

He peeked over my shoulders and said,

“Let me treat you to a cold drink.”

“I-It’s okay you don't-”

“Don't be shy, just accept it.”

My resistance was futile. He dragged me back to the vending machine.

<>

Sitting on the bench under shade, we both had different cans in our hands.

Where he had a melon soda in his hand, my hand was unwillingly holding the cold strawberry flavoured milk.

“It's perfect for a hot day,right?”

No it's not. I don't hate milk but….

I simply nodded. Cradling the milk can, I took a sip.

Is this really strawberry flavoured?

“You know, dealing with people is too exhausting.”

Suddenly he started speaking.

“It's only my first day and most of them are not leaving me alone.”

First day?

Is he the popular transfer senpai?

“Some girls were even giving me love letters even though I only said Hello to them…”

Is he ranting or boasting?

Like an unskippable cutscene in video games he kept talking and I unwillingly kept listening.

When his melon soda can emptied his mouth also stopped.

“Oh, looks like it's time to go back.”

He stood up and throwed the can in the dustbin near the vending machine.

A random gust of wind blew and my bangs swayed leaving the scar wide open in display.

Instinctively I closed my eyes to prevent anything going in. Opening the lids again I got reminded of the scar again by the shocked expression of that senpai.

It lasted for a second.

What's next? No point thinking. Everyone has different reactions.

And it was proved by the senpai.

A malevolent smile crept up and his eyes lit up. Like a child finding a new toy.

That brief smile turned gentle in a second as it was not meant to be shown. Bringing forward his right hand he said,

“We will meet again if possible and Thanks.”

The words were strange. With the confusion I shook his hand.

<>

I was staring at a couple on the other side of the road cuddling with each other.

Pulling me back to their ongoing conversation she asked,

Kiyoko: Will you be joining us?

“Ha?! Ah , sorry I didn't listen to what you were saying kiyoko-san.” I was already on a first name basis with them because they told me to do so.

Kiyoko: We are going to a karaoke after the exams are over, will you join?”

“ I will check if I have a shift that day, I will let you know later.”

Uragao: Should we hit the arcade after it?

Fumiko: Sure, why not?

“Then, see you tomorrow.”

Stopping around a turn we parted ways with uragao-san.

I still had a few more steps to share with Fumiko-san and Kiyoko-san before I separated from them.

We were chatting like usual. Until Fumiko-san said with a serious tone,

“Hey Mae-kun, What do you think of Ari-chan?”

I still haven't told them my name was the thing which I should have thought but I didn't and answered while counting on my finger,

“Ha?!... Ah, Uragao-san is a cheerful, kind -”

“I don't mean it like that”

I cooked my head and asked,

“.. Then like what?”

“Like… actually nevermind.”

“Umm… just do your best!” Fumiko-san commented as I was puzzled over kiyoko-san’s question.

Walking the different route I waved bye to them.

“Hey Kiyoko, why didn't you discuss that with him?”

“Didn't you see how he responded to my question? It's obvious he doesn't know about it himself. We just happened to notice it before he did. And if we did tell him that, it would have been like digging out a newly sprouting plant.”

“Still, we can only hope for him to succeed. If it's him I wouldn't mind, he is a lot better, nicer cuter and much more.”

“We can't do anything about it. The matter is not in our hands. It depends on Ari-chan.”

“Love-stuck people are blind sometimes, right?”

“True, And it's not a good thing.”