ACT I - Fresh Sakura Breeze

The pleasant conversation with Azuma-senpai had put me on cloud nine, I had even started to get delusional thoughts that maybe, one day, we would get to be friends. Was I overreacting a little? Most likely, but I really was starving for any kind of positive human interaction, so I let myself ride my wave of joy freely.

I hummed a made up melody on my way back to class; I needed to bring back a few books with me to home.

The corridors were empty, as most people had already finished their club activities and had gone back home. Other than the occasional shouts of sports clubs outside, finishing their training for the day, there wasn't a sound to be heard. My humming sounded so loud amidst the silence, but hey, no one was hearing me so it was alright!

However, right before I arrived in front of my classroom, I heard someone talk from inside. I ceased my humming and took light steps, curious to see who it was, but not wanting to be spotted. I heard the laughter of a boy. What—was it maybe a couple who had stayed in for a little alone time together?! Would I be rude by interrupting them if I stepped inside—

"Yuujin-kun, is that you?"

Eek! I had been caught?!

I shyly peeked inside, only my head showing a little from the door frame. I found my classmate, Reo Kajimaru, sitting alone. He waved at me nonchalantly.

…huh? Who was he talking to, then?!

"Why aren't ya comin' in? Oh, perhaps it was too rude of me to suddenly call ya by the first name? Sorry 'bout that."

I let out a breath and relaxed my shoulders. Well, he was alone and he seemed to be in a good mood, so it's not like I had interrupted anything. I stepped inside and walked towards my desk. He watched me with his droopy, soft green eyes. It was true that I hadn't talked with him all that much before, but I didn't mind it at all that he called me by my name.

Actually, it made me feel a little happy.

I laughed, recalling the memories of earlier the day.

"Haha, no, I don't mind it at all. Just today, I kinda got scolded by Rena—sorry, Kogarashi-san about calling her by her first name though… One can never be too careful, I guess."

He rested his chin on his arm, body leaning down on his desk. He really had such a carefree aura to him. His calm, yet warm and welcoming voice replied with, "Oh, I don't mind such things at all. Just call me Reo-kun. We are classmates of same age, aren't we~?"

"Thank you… Reo-kun! I'm glad to hear that. Well, I'm just here to pick up some books, so I'll get to that now. Let's see…"

I sat down at my desk, picking up the books I needed and placed them inside my bag. Earlier, I was feeling bummed about having a lot of homework for that evening, but now that I was in such a good, energized mood—I didn't feel dread for the assignments at all.

Reo stood up and walked towards the chalkboard, and when my eyes followed his footsteps, I ended up seeing something I hadn't noticed before: There was a beautiful, enormous drawing of a sakura tree on the board!

How could I not notice that?!

Just as I was about to ask him if he had drawn it, he reached for the eraser, making me stand up in panic and start towards the board.

"W-wait, do you intend to erase it?!"

He turned towards me and tilted his neck, confused by my reaction. "Huh? Well, yeah, the board should be ready for tomorrow's classes, after all."

Unaffected by my panic, he raised the eraser to wipe out the beautiful tree from the surface of the board. I didn't want him to erase it just yet—I wanted to admire it still!

"Hold on! Please, just wait a bit, Reo-kun!"

He sighed. "Ya know, this ain't anything that important…? I do this quite often actually. Now can I erase it, please?"

I had no idea he was such a good artist, or that he liked drawing at all…! It made me realize, I didn't know anything about my classmate.

I wanted that to change.

"No, hold it. I'd like to… Take a picture first, if alright?"

His droopy eyes widened for a second, trying to compute what I had just said. Afterwards, he grinned.

"Woah, it's that good? Well, I won't be stopping ya."

He stepped away from the board and took a bow, presenting his work proudly. I took out my phone from my pocket in a rush, and snapped a few pictures.

"What are ya gonna use the pics for anyway, Yuujin-kun?"

I checked if the pictures looked clear enough, and then put my phone back in my pocket. I stood for a few moments, burning the skillful drawing into my mind, admiring it deeply. It was as if the sakura tree was alive right in front of me, a gentle breeze entrapping me in all its grace. I could almost hear the leaves moving, fresh air filling up my lungs.

"This is so… Beautiful, Reo-kun. I can just feel the fresh sakura breeze…!"

He chuckled and sat by the window, resting his head on the frame.

"Well, that might have to do with this," his gaze pointing towards the trees outside, "rather than my drawing, but thanks. Really appreciate it."

He let go of the eraser, and then gently picked up a small plant pot by the window and started to examine it. His green eyes reflecting the leaves were works of art themselves, and his evident care for plants made them look even more mesmerizing.

"You really love plants, don't you, Reo-kun?"

He held onto the plant a bit more, and then put it down. His gentle smile almost made my heart skip a beat.

"Why yes, I do. Reminds me of some pleasant memories, I guess. Ya done admiring?"

I took one last glance at the drawing, and nodded. My heart ached a little as I watched Reo remove the tree from existence, bit by bit. I wondered why he didn't feel even a bit of remorse erasing his own work of art. He did say that he was doing this 'quite often', but…

"Do you have any club activities, Reo-kun?"

He kept on cleaning the board without a pause. "Nah. I do hang out in the classroom after school occasionally, though. Just taking care of the pot plants and taking advantage of the chalkboard as my canvas, like today."

His eyes scanned the board to see if he had left out any part. He went over a stubborn area of chalk and then with a sigh of satisfaction, let go of the eraser. There was nothing remaining on the board, as if there never was anything there in the first place.

I wondered how many of his drawings had decorated this board, unbeknownst to the people of our class—and even, the entire school.

He continued.

"...why'd you ask?"

"Ah, it's just… Well, you seem very talented, Reo-kun! We do have a few artistic clubs around the school so I thought maybe you're in one of them…?"

He smiled sheepishly and scratched his neck, the bracelets on his wrist making a sound. They seemed to be handmade, and a bit childlike, but somehow they fit him so well. I had an odd feeling that it was a gift from his sisters—but in reality I didn't even know if he had siblings or not.

"Come on, Yuujin-kun, ya making me blush over here~ This really ain't nothing special."

He lowered his hand and gazed at his bracelets. Maybe it was just me, but I found that his eyes reflecting the pastel colored bracelets were full of pain and longing. My curiosity got bigger.

"It's just… Well, I don't think my family would approve of me pursuing such things. So this little 'Doki Doki! After-School Art Escapade!' is a secret between you and me, alright~?"

He shot me a wink and his carefree aura was back at business. He walked towards his desk to grab his belongings. I couldn't manage to bring myself to ask any further questions about him. I watched his back and marveled at him.

His talent, his family, his interests, his true feelings, the reason for his Kansai dialect and even his bracelets… I really didn't know a thing about him.

Before he left the class, he turned to me one last time and waved. "I'm leavin' ahead, see ya around~"

I waved back.

It's not like he was similar to Rena, who was cold as an icy storm or tough to talk to like Ria. In fact, he was so laid-back and friendly. So why did he feel so…

Unreachable?