Everything All At Once

Your first day of high school is supposed to be chill and relaxing. Introductions here and there. New people interacting with each other. Start forming new groups. Some even go home together, or to a nearby café for fun.

For me, it was a brutal day.

The weight of that day was still lingering heavily in my mind. I had so many jumbled-up thoughts. It had started to make me feel restless.

As one would expect, no one would come this early to school. I was the only one present. Coming to school early and leaving in the night. One would think I'm some type of prodigy who constantly works to get my teachers' approval. The real reason being that I want to spend as little time at home as I could.

Taking my seat at the back, the morning wind breeze slipped past me, lifting the curtains in a quiet, effortless motion. Some bits of the sakura blossoms flying through the wind landed in the room. I didn't bother to notice it. I was lost in thought from the previous day.

Why was Aoi Hana still in school?
How did she find my diary?
Why was she so interested in my personal feelings?
And the most important question of them all — are the rumours about her true? And if they are, what should be my approach the next time we meet?

Out of those questions, I think I can answer one of them.

My diary was lying on top of the front desk. Anyone with good vision would notice it. The problem is, other people would have ignored it, thinking it's someone else's notebook. She took interest in it. Without even knowing about it. No, it's more like she had a hunch about it. No wonder she forced me to admit about it.

I still feel a little discomfort when I think about it. Like you know you can't trust a shady person like her. What are the chances she won't expose my secret to everyone? Admitting you write about your true feelings is a little too embarrassing.

Before I could wonder more about it, a voice broke my thoughts.

"Good morning, Haruki. You still lost in your little world of make-believe?"

The second problem I faced, other than Aoi Hana — Haruto Kurosawa, my seat neighbour. Showing up out of nowhere when I was confronting her. I was taken aback when he used my first name.

"Huh… Haruki? Who said you could go and use my first name?"

"Wah… You flustered or something hearing your own name?"

He was smirking, indirectly trying to tell me I was playing in his hands.

"Do you do the same with girls as well?"

"Damn! I didn't think of you as the person who would like to know more about someone."

"I'm not, just asking a question."

"Well, obviously I wouldn't do it with any girls unless I want to be called a creep or be slapped by them."

He was smiling the entire time while he was answering.

"That still doesn't permit you to use my first name."

"You do remember I have a photo of you with that girl."

A smug expression appearing over his face. A battle I never had a chance to begin with.

"So you're gonna blackmail me now?"

"Yeah. You know I'm the type of person who'll do anything for his goals and motivation."

"You're really a piece of garbage."

"I get that a lot. Besides, one man's garbage is another man's treasure."

"What will you even achieve by exposing this picture? Are you some kind of sadist who enjoys seeing people in pain?"

My brain was working in overload. Somehow I needed to find a way to make him delete that photo.

"Noooo… Do you really think so low of me?"

He said, his face twisting into a look of mock hurt. He clutched his chest, pretending to be wounded deeply in his heart. Even putting his head down on the desk. Feigning sadness in such a professional manner. If this would have been my first encounter with him, I would've been fooled by him undoubtedly.

"Can you stop with your absurd acting?" I replied with a little annoyance in my voice.

"Ohh, come on. It's somewhat believable."

His mock expression slowly turning back to his smiling face.

"Were you part of the drama club in middle school, or did the nurse drop you when you were born?"

I was trying to inquire, but honestly it felt more like I was mocking him.

"No, I was part of the basketball team. We even reached the regional finals."

Seeing him brag about his past achievements did put a small smile on my face.

"Wait! Wait — did you just smile?"

He excitedly intruded into my personal space.

"You're seeing things!"

I tried to push him away gently. He was frigging strong. Confirming his claim of being on the basketball team. I had to put in an effort to push him away.

"You're just an embarrassed kid under all that don't-approach-me vibe."

I was overwhelmed for a second. His observational skills were off the charts. I had this gut feeling about him from the beginning when he was able to read my intention of leaving before introductions.

"Just delete the picture."

The outright look I gave him when he made eye contact with me suggested I was serious about him deleting that photo.

"Okay… Okay, I'll delete it, geez… buttttt on one condition."

His beaming face stipulated another one of his plays.

I took a deep breath and asked him, "What condition?"

The sun shining on his already radiant face gave him another level of stature as he proceeded to say—

"Let me call you Haruki from now on."

His huge dilated eyeballs looking at me like a newborn baby.

"Whatever. Just delete it."

I knew it was useless fighting him anymore. It was better to give up.

"As promised, photo deleted."

He showcased his phone in front of my face before clicking delete.

"Thank you."

I took a breath of relief.

Before we could continue our conversation further, one by one students started entering. The homeroom was starting in a few minutes.

"Bye-bye, Haruki. Let's talk some other time."

His grinning face had started to annoy me.

"You're literally sitting next to me."

He just laughed it off.

The classes went by as normal till it was lunch break.

If you want to have your lunch with peace, then I would recommend having it at the rooftop. Our school was not really strict about students spending time on the roof unless we were using it to skip classes.

Climbing the stairs to the roof, I saw an unusual sight. The gate was half opened, which meant someone had the same idea as me.

Entering, I saw the same jet-black hair, sharp chiseled eyes, and that slim build I had seen the other day.

"Aoi Hana!"

Her name spilled from my mouth without warning. I tried to cover it, but it was too late by this time.

There was a bench on which she was sitting. Her eyes locked onto my figure.

"Ooh, you're that child who still uses a diary."

Her mood drastically changed from a lonely bird to a teasing maniac.

"I'm not in the mood today."

After that early morning encounter with Haruto, my energy was already at its limits.

"Ohhh… Really…"

Though she wasn't listening to a word I said and kept smirking.

"I came here to have lunch in tranquility. You just had to ruin it."

My jaws tightened.

"I never said you couldn't."

She said with a playful grin as she tapped the little space on her bench, inviting me. It was like a lion setting a trap for a rabbit.

I didn't resist much, falling right in.

The next thing she asked was something I didn't really expect from a person like her.

"Do you like eating your lunch here?"

She was curious about me, or was this another one of her tricks? Honestly, even I didn't have the answer to that myself.

"Yeah, I do like it here."

"Why is that?"

Her eyes gleaming with unanswered fascination.

I took a slow breath to calm my racing nerves.

"Well, if I had to say — first of all, eating in the open air gives a new sense of freedom. Moreover, this is the quietest place on the entire campus."

"Hmmm… interesting… That's a solid answer considering it's you."

I assumed her mind was immersed in deep thought by the look on her face before she said the last part.

My eyes narrowed down seeing her smug expression.

"You answer now. Why the hell are you here?"

I asked with a little fury in my voice. Her constant playing was getting to my head.

"Ohhhh… no need to be furious."

After that her expression changed from a smirk to a serious face.

"I come here to always stay connected with reality. I don't wanna get lost again."

Hearing her answer, my eyes widened. I was taken aback by what she had just said.

"Hey… what did you mea—"

Before I could complete my sentence, the bell rang, emphasizing the break was over.

"Umm… look at that. Your time ran out. We could continue this later."

She ran off faster than I could speak.

Did I find an emotionally vulnerable point of hers? I wondered.

Returning back to the classroom, I was met with the grim look of Haruto.

"Where did you vanish during lunch?"

"Was on the roof."

"Woah really. Were you alone or was there someon—"

Before he could complete his sentence, I smoothly lied to his face with full seriousness.

"There was no one, and I mean it — no one."

He didn't say anything more.

The rest of the day passed as normal. Haruto left earlier saying he had to help out his family.

The once bustling classroom was now filled with silence.

As usual, I stayed late.

But today, after a while, I heard a loud and resounding sound coming from the gymnasium.

On instinct, I packed my bag and went to check it out.

The door to the gym wasn't locked. Someone was still here.

The basketball hoop was broken.

A girl holding the ball was standing beside it.

"Are you fine, miss?" I asked in worry.

Her only answer was—

"Who are you…"