Did I just talk to Her?

When I looked up, it was a girl.

I froze.

This was the first time I had ever bumped into a girl like that. I don’t even interact with them at all.

When I saw her, the first thing that came to my mind was—

"Kawaii…"

Wait...

Why am I analyzing a random girl this much?

I couldn’t understand what was happening.

And then came the worst part.

I had to say something.

"Gomenasai…" or "Sumimasen…"

If I didn’t, she would think I’m rude.

I tried to speak.

“Go-go-gome—”

“Sumimasen, I didn’t see you at all. And hold on a second… are you also a first-year student?”

“…Ye-ye-yes.”

I said it.

I actually said it.

How did I just say ‘yes’ to a random girl like that?

I barely talk to girls at all. 

Why am I thinking this much on my first day?

I tend to get lost in my own thoughts like this.

Coming back to reality, she said—“Oh, then we might be in the same section.”

And just like that, she walked into the school building.

I actually survived that interaction?

I went to the board where the first-year sections were listed.

And there she was again.

The girl from before.

Or… I bumped into her… or she bumped into me… whatever.

"What if she’s in my class?"

No. Focus.

Find your name first.

Yuki Sato… Yuki Sato…

WHERE IS IT?!

Then I found it.

…Sato Yuki.

…and I was searching in the Y row.

Nice.

My class was 1-C.

And boom.

The girl from the morning was there.

All suspense, gone.

Now I just had to check my seat.

(Why are all kinds of lists always on a board?)

I found my name.

Window corner. Last row.

Of course.

I sat down, wondering who would sit next to me.

Then—A girl came and sat beside me.

I looked.…It was her.

"I should check my horoscope today."

How can I encounter the same girl three times in a row?

Bump. Board. Now seat.

Is this normal?

What is her name?

I wondered.

The first class began.

The teacher introduced herself as Kuroda-sensei.

And then—The worst part began.

Self-introductions.

...

My heartbeat skyrocketed. My hands became sweaty. I felt nervous. I almost got a headache.

And then—It was my turn.

I'm gone.

I stood up slowly.

“S-S-Sa-Sa-Saaaa-Sato Yuki desu… douzo yoroshiku.”

…Did I just manage that?

Even though it felt like five seconds, it probably took thirty.

I think it’s because she was looking at me.

Then, it was her turn.

She stood up calmly.

“Tanaka Aoi desu. Douzo yoroshiku.”

No stutter.

Not even a little.

I was shocked.

She sat down like it was nothing.

Tanaka-san… got it.

Can anyone talk that smoothly?

The first class ended.

I turned toward her.

"Just say something."

But—I couldn’t move my tongue.

My mind went blank.

And then suddenly—

My head started spinning.

My vision blurred.

What is happening?

Why now?

I started remembering something from my childhood…

And then—Everything went black.

...

...When I woke up, a faint smell filled the air.

The ceiling above me was unfamiliar.

Where am I?

Then I remembered everything—The classroom. The dizziness. That memory.

I turned to the right.

She was there.

Tanaka-san.

“Wh-wh-where am I?”

“At the nurse room. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine now… but why are you here?"

“Someone had to stay. So I did.”

Then she asked—“Why did you faint?”

I stayed silent for a moment.

I couldn’t tell her the real reason.

“Umm… I don’t know. I just got dizzy.”

But something felt strange.

Very strange.

What is it?

We left the nurse room together.

Even while walking, something felt off.

I just couldn’t understand it.

Then—We met Kuroda-sensei in the hallway.

She asked if I was okay.

“Y-y-yy-yyy-YES, ma’am!”

And then—

I realized something.

I didn’t stutter in the nurse room.

Not even once.

But…How?

Did I change?

No…

That couldn’t be.

...

“Are you coming?”

Tanaka-san’s voice brought me back.

“I-I am coming.”

We walked back to class together.

I sat down.

But my mind wasn’t in the classroom.

The nurse room incident kept replaying in my head.

I didn’t stutter.

Not even once.

So why?

“Sato-kun, are you listening?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Then read the next sentence.”

…

...Oh no.

I stood up.

“T-t-th—”

Nothing came out.

Then—I looked to the side.

Tanaka-san was looking at me.

Encouragingly.

I tried again.

“Th-th-the q-qu-quick b-br-brown f-fox j-jumps over th-the l-l-lazy d-dog.”

…

I did it.

I actually read it.

I’ve never done that before.

Even with stuttering… I finished it.

Back in my junior high, I couldn’t even go past “Th—” and people used to laugh.

But now—I read a full sentence.

And once again…

I think Tanaka-san is the reason.

Because she looked at me.

I think she is—

“Students, focus on your books.”

The teacher’s voice echoed across the classroom.

Everyone looked down.

…

I didn’t.

My eyes moved—to the right.

…

She wasn’t looking at me.

She was just reading.

Like nothing had happened.

My chest felt… light.

No—Empty.

I looked back at the book.

The words didn’t make sense.

Why…?

I just read a sentence.

I actually read it.

Then why—

I—

am confused.

The teacher looked at me, her expression softening slightly.

“Okay, Sato-kun… Tanaka-san will read instead.”

I sat down slowly, like I had just escaped something terrifying.

Tanaka-san stood up, calm as ever.

“Sphinx of black quartz, judge my vow.”

That was it.

My mind froze.

It was so short.

I didn’t even realize the sentence was that short until she finished reading it.

I couldn’t read that.

But earlier, I read a full sentence.

In front of her.

And now… nothing.

I stared at my desk.

So it only works when she’s looking at me.

…

That’s strange.

When she finished it, she sat down and turned to me.

I thought…“Is she looking at me?” 

“Did I do something wrong?” 

“Is it the sentence I took long to spell?”

“Will she laugh at me?”

“Why am I over-thinking too much?“

"It’s just my childhood…”

“Making me think like that…”

She looked at me and said,

“Daijoubu desuka?”

All my bad thoughts flew away.

“Hai, Daijoubu desu”

“I thought you were not okay, since you stuck at the 2nd sentence.”

Ah yes, She doesn’t know that,

“I Can’t Speak Properly… Unless She’s With Me”

Or...

Does She?