Humans are social creatures.

Humans are social creatures, as the saying goes. I, too, am one — a human. But never social. Personally, I don’t believe so, as I, a loner, have been striving without yearning for social connection — or so I thought.

…

A girl’s voice called out to me from behind—

Ao Hoshikawa.
A friend I recently made.

Well, good job, me. I guess…
I actually made a friend.

…

“What ya thinking about?”

She’s curious. Or just wanted to start a conversation. Like hell I’d know. I never talked to people.

“Why human yearns for connection,” I replied.

“That’s too deep even for you, Ichijo.” She giggled.
I was being serious, though. 
“Well, but that’s just so you, y’know?” she added.

“I do think it’s ridiculous, though,” I said.

“Yet here you are, talking to me again.”

Good point.…She was the first one to approach, though.

The dawn chorus grows louder each step I take on the sidewalk—continuous, rhythmic, along by her side.

…

The school’s entrance is as lively as ever. Classmates waiting, greeting—they start their day as energetic as they could. It’s like a social gathering.

Totally not for me.

But what if—just what if one day, I, too, would experience things like these?
Not a chance. Why would I bother now? Just because I made just one friend?

You’d better not be cocky, Ichijo. I still remember that one time I accidentally waved my hand to someone thinking they were calling me…

…

As I walk through the hallway with Ao, I felt a stabbing presence from behind…
I don’t try to look back. But I could feel someone’s staring daggers at my back.
Ao stops her tracks and stares at me.
“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“Nothing,” I replied.

“There’s no way,” she said. “You’re being awfully quiet.”

“I’m always quiet, no?”
Indeed I am. I have never been someone who talks a lot, Ao.

“You’re right, but…”

“But what?”

“You just have a different vibe, I guess?”

“…What do you even mean by that?”

…
“I’ve always noticed that about you, y’know.”
“You’re always quiet, but sometimes I could just tell if it is a ‘normal’ quiet, or an ‘I-have-a-problem’ quiet..”

We continued walking. Didn’t know just talking to someone would make the hallway trip feel longer…

“I don’t think such thing exists, though.”
“I mean, if it did, I wouldn’t be a loner ‘cause I’d understand people way easier.”

“That doesn’t mean that I can’t read you like an open book, though.” She chuckled, and went ahead to the classroom as she smiled.

An open book, huh?

I’ve never been “open”, though. That’s what I think.

Whatever. It’s no use thinking about it.

…

After that, it’s just another series of boring lectures, and such…
Time passed by like the wind. Lunchtime. After tirelessly hearing the teacher’s yapping and the chalk scratching on the board, I can finally get up and mind my own business at the rooftop.
The canteen’s lively as well. Although, this time, people are fighting for food—much like animals in the wild. It was hellish—being pushed around... 

I even got slapped across the face by a piece of bread.

I expected Ao to approach me from behind again, but it seems I was wrong. Though it’s better if she didn’t, anyway.

…

I sat down at the rooftop’s bench.

It’s awfully quiet, for some reason…
I’ve always liked quiet places, but without Ao around, it’s… just odd. Like it’s empty.
Have I really gotten used to her presence?

While thinking about it, I could hear someone humming a tune.
When I turned to look at them, they were sitting by the edge of the building…
It was another girl I didn’t know. Her white hair was like a curtain reaching the ground, swaying along the tune. She was facing the sky, looking at the horizon.

She stopped humming, “Is something troubling you?” she turned to me.

I didn’t know what to say. Why would that be the first thing you ask, anyway? Why not: “What are you doing here?”

“I don’t know. Do I look troubled?” I replied.

She turned back, looking at the sky again, “No one comes here at the rooftop if they’re not troubled,” she said.

“So a guy can’t just eat their lunch here?”

“...Do people really eat lunch here?”

“There is someone. He’s standing right behind you.”
I paused for a moment, “I’ll return the favor. Why are you here?” I added.

“As I’ve said. Troubles. But that’s not for you to pry, is it?” she replied.

“No thanks. I’m tired of playing Mr. Good Man for now.”

“I see. And I thought you’d be sticking your nose into my problem.”

“I’m not the type to do that.”

She fell silent.
She turned her gaze back to me. “Why not?” she asked.

“Only RomCom protagonists do that. I'm no protagonist. Also because you look like you wouldn’t want to be meddled with.”

“So you normally just meddle with people?” she asked, looking at me like I’m a drag.

“I choose not to. But life’s the one choosing, not me, so it happens anyway.” I replied

“You must really be well-liked, then?”

'Well-liked,' you say? Trust me. No one has ever said that about me. Nor I even know someone to tell something about me.

“Wouldn’t people normally get annoyed by that, though?” I asked, suggesting the opposite.

“Could be. But sometimes, people just want someone to break their shell, even if they say they don’t want to,” she replied.

“That’s… quite confusing.”

"You'll get used to it eventually."

Don't say it like I'll be meddling in a lot of people's business.

...

After a silent moment, she just stood up, saying nothing. But before closing the door, she looked at me, smiled and then finally left.

What a weird girl.
…I feel like I’ve been meeting some weird people recently. Not like they’re a lot, though.

I just stopped thinking about what happened and continued on my business.

…

The rooftop was quiet again. Just me, my thoughts, my lunch. The wind swept past me, restless and persistent. Same as yesterday, yet different, somehow.

And once again, I thought; “Humans really are social creatures.”I never thought it’d feel this empty just because of someone’s absence.