Make me popular!

Two hands gripped my chubby shoulders from behind, and I whipped my brown hair around. Shock was written all over my face. Someone interacting with me, of their own will?

Ah, of course. Understanding dawned on me when I saw who it was.

Chika smiled at me, her fingers laced through Ichikawa's. "Thank you!" she said, blond bangs floating around her face. "We wouldn't be together without you, Maru!"

She seemed so earnest. So happy. Her face was flushed- just like Ichikawa's, who seemed physically unable to tear his eyes from hers. It was so easy to tell they liked each other. All I had to do was leave a note on his desk, then one on hers. One of my easier cases.

She let go of his hand for the briefest of seconds to hug me quickly. She smelled like a sort of stinging, alcoholic perfume. I clenched my hand into a fist to keep from sneezing. 

She didn't cling to me long. Probably didn't want the "uncoolness" to rub off on her. 

I gave her one of my lopsided smiles. "No problem."

She nodded, smiled again, and turned taking Ichikawa's hand again. He gazed at her with those green eyes, the same as he had been from doing for months from his desk. Stepping in had been more instinct than choice. They would have stayed in love forever without doing a thing. I had just pushed them along.

It was those types of couples that practically forced me to help them. Two oblivious high schoolers, blindsided by love. It was ideal, but only as a concept. Something that stayed on pages and in TV screens. Definitely not for someone like me. 

What if I was someone like her? That thought had crept into my brain. I banished it. I wasn't like Chika, or any of the popular girls in my school. I shouldn't have any interest in being like her, either.

I was Maru the Matchmaker.

 I was why everyone else was happy. 

Did it matter, really? In a couple years, this highschool drama would all be an unpleasant memory.

I walked into my classroom, sliding my bag at my feet. I pulled out the necessary books. Each page was filled with careful notes and tabs and extra credit. I had a lot of time on my hands. 

And then, he walked in.

Otani Arima. 

I swear, it was like something out of the anime and TV shows I was always watching. The girls turned their heads and swooned, all in sync. Some of the boys too. He was just that mesmerizing. With dark hair and eyes like that, and the way he walked... who wouldn't want him?

Besides me of course.

I wanted books. My ideal night was a hot steamy bath, some dark chocolate, and a cozy reading session spent with me, myself, and I. Not me and some overrated guy. 

Though, from where I watched him over the top of my notebook, I watched him.

He seemed friendly- that was what made him different. His fans in my class weren't mindless zombies. They didn't just like his looks- while I was sure those helped. They liked the way he flashed everyone with that charming grin. The way he picked up dropped things, helped someone when they didn't understand the problem on the board, laughed easily. Their eyes drew to him like magnets.

Of course, I only looked because he was a good inspiration. I could see him becoming a book character. God, that jawline would look good on the cover...

He glanced up. Saw my eyes on him.

My face instantly heated from embarrassment and my chin jerked down. I was acting like I had been caught doing something illegal- when really, I was only observing. Still, I hadn't managed to look away before his eyes had smiled at me, like a whisper. Or something poetic like that. 

That's a great line for a book. Nothing else. 

Class started, same as always. School wasn't bad- I did enjoy learning, after all. It was just... all the people. It got tiring. I occupied myself by either writing some sort of fantasy novel on the margins of my notes... or people watching. 

Today, I chose the second. Mrs. Uzumaki droned on about politics, and my gaze wondered. I was glad I sat in the back of the classroom- stories were everywhere if you knew how to find them.

Sure enough, I saw Naomi's eyes drift slowly to Rikan's. They both blushed and looked away, suddenly fascinated with the spiral lining of their notebooks. I resisted the urge to laugh. Some people were seriously such cliches. I would give them a nudge tonight.

When the class ended, I did what I always did. Wait for the mob of people to die down, then weave my way between people and out the door. Straight to freedom. Briefly, I wondered what I would cook for dinner. With mom working late and dad's business trip... ramen. Definitely ramen.

I walked out, still thinking. I wished I was home already, cozied up reading my new romance novel.

It was lodged safely in my backpack, ready to be devoured late into the night. I double checked it was there, then gasped. 

Where the silky cover had been, now was a plain textbook, the same red color as my romance. That was where the similarities ended- it was about European History, not a star crossed love story. I had been so distracted thinking about Naomi and Rikan that I had forgotten my precious book.

"Damn it," I cursed softly. "I have to go all the way back."

I wasn't mad about the extra time, or the extra steps. It was just so awkward to pass by everyone going home. I always felt like they were staring at me, judging me, hating me. I ducked my head down, suddenly thankful for my cloud of brown bangs.

I ducked into the room, plowed straight to my desk. I chucked the red textbook back into my desk, and grabbed my cute, velvety one. I sighed and relief, opening it as I walked-

And slammed into a brick wall.

Only it wasn't a wall. It was a set of broad shoulders and deep, dark eyes. A couple books tumbled from his hands and he froze, staring at me. It was Otani Arima. 

Why was he staring at me? I tried to side step him, and noticed the books he was carrying. Pink covers? Little cartoon hearts? And the title... My Kawaii Girlfriend is All Over Me!  I read it once, then twice. Were they his girlfriend's books? A sister? 

I looked at his eyes again, searching for answers. He had a pained expression on his face. All at once, he unfroze, picking up his books in a rush. "You didn't... see my books, did you?"

Something in his pleading eyes made me want to lie, and shake my head. But my brain paused on a word- "my." Those were his? Those cute manga, aimed at little girls... were property of the most popular boy in my class?

"I saw them." I said bluntly. 

He blushed, his face going red like something out of a cartoon. "I... um."

"I really won't tel-" I started to say, but he cut me off. 

"Maru!" He exclaimed. Surprisingly, he knew my name. "Maru, I'll do anything. Don't tell my friends, or yours, or... or anyone!"

On the last word, his hand hit the desk he was standing over. I flinched back. 

He softened, his voice quieting. "Sorry. Just... I can't let anyone know about this." His eyes shifted around the ground. "Is there anything that would make you stay quiet? Money?"

Money would definitely be nice. But it just seemed wrong. "Listen, I read embarrassing stuff all the time. It's your business." I shrugged a bit. Then I showed him the book in my hand. "Look. This is ecchi. That's a genre-"

"I know what that is," he said, smiling, sparkling a bit. Then he froze again and looked down. I noticed the books he was holding were manga. I hadn't pinned him for the type. Honestly, he wasn't what I expected at all. 

Silence stretched. I picked lint off of my cardigan.

Quickly, he shoved those manga into his backpack and zipped it. I only watched, clutching my romance novel to my chest. 

I should have broken the silence first. After all, if I got home early, I could do some dishes. Catch up on the laundry and my favorite anime. Eat instant ramen and maybe dip into my stash of junk food. But I didn't. 

"Well. I have baseball practice. Student council. Maybe band," he said, running some fingers through his hair. I noticed for the first time that he looked tired. There weren't just dark circles- he also looked worn out, like an old book whose pages had been turned until they were yellowed and bent. I nodded at him. 

"So if there really isn't anything you needed," he said, his walls of charm coming back up strong, now that his books were out of sight. "Then I'll just have to see you around."

"Yeah," I said, trying to think of something to say. I mean, I needed to study him more if there was really a chance I would write a romance novel about him. I racked my brain as he turned, his long stride carrying him to the doorway. 

"Actually!" I squeaked, when one of his feet was out the door. "There is something you can do for me."

He turned back immediately. Like he'd been hoping. "What is it, Maru?"

Him saying my name made my tongue trip. This man was dripping with charm. No, that was an understatement- he was a pouring waterfall of it. "Um. Otani."

He tilted his head a bit, and I squeezed my eyes shut. I didn't want to see his reaction to what I was about to say. "Make me popular, please!"