How About a Little Deal? - Part 2: Enough Emotion for the Two of Us

"In short, I had a brain tumor when I was five years old, and after the surgeries, I lost my emotions."

"What? How is that possible?" Saya tried to understand what she had just heard.

"Well, there's also the possibility of death, not being able to breathe, and conditions like epilepsy, but technically, yes, I don't experience emotions."

"So you don't feel anything at all? No emotions at all?" Saya looked at Mika in shock.

"Not at the moment, no. However, when I was seven, we were in a serious car accident with my mother and she was seriously injured. At that time, my father noticed tears streaming down my face, but I can't remember exactly what I felt."

"But you felt something!" Saya searched for a suitable explanation.

"I don't know, I'm just saying... I waited by my mother's side in the hospital for weeks. I visited her every day after school. After my mom recovered, my dad took me to the doctor and told him what he saw. The doctor said, 'In complicated cases, although the chances are very low, some or all of the emotions can come back, but it's still very difficult.

"Why are you not talking about your own experience?"

"Maybe it's because I don't remember since I was younger..."

"Y-Yes, right, sorry. So you never felt anything else, like protecting me from the rain today?"

"Instincts and feelings are different things. Besides, I try not to rely on emotions when making decisions. I make decisions based on logic."

"Hmm... So you have an instinct to protect a girl, huh? Hehe."

"Well, actually, my main concern was keeping the groceries from getting wet rather than protecting you."

"You're such a brute, Mika! So rude!" Saya's voice shook as tears filled her eyes.

"W-What's wrong? I apologize if I was too harsh."

"No, not about that, not about that!" Saya cried and tried to wipe away her tears with her hand.

"What's wrong?" Mika asked directly, trying to understand.

"You should have told me from the beginning that you don't feel emotions... How could I have known? I've spent some time with you thinking you were happy and energetic. I never imagined that you could feel sadness." Saya's voice trembled as she spoke, and she began to wipe away her tears with a handkerchief.

"I didn't feel sad, don't worry. I mean, I don't have emotions like that."

"I KNOW!" Saya interrupted and took a sip of her coffee.

"The second problem is..."

"Wait, Mika, isn't it too early for that?"

"Right, I'm sorry..." Mika looked at Saya while Saya continued to cry next to him. Suddenly, Saya hit Mika's shoulder with her left hand.

"Ow! What are you doing? That hurt!"

"Why didn't you answer me when I asked you why you were so emotionless, you idiot?!"

"I-I didn't feel the need to explain..."

"You could have told me sooner!"

"Um... We just met today, but it's up to you..."

"Ugh, Mika..." Saya looked at Mika, her face blushed, her eyes filled with tears and a slight smile formed on her face.

"Thank you for being sad for me. I can't do it myself."

"What do you mean? I'll be sad enough for both of us, don't worry." Her face lit up with a big smile and she let out a little laugh. They stayed in silence for a while, waiting for Saya to calm down.

"So, are you okay otherwise? Are there no other illnesses or anything like that?" Saya asked curiously.

"Well, yes, I'm fine. I just have to go to the doctor every two months, that's all."

"I can come with you."

"W-Why would you come with me?"

"I have some things to tell the doctor," Saya said with a hint of annoyance.

"No, don't do that..."

"Ugh, at least let me come with you."

"But why? We haven't even met yet and today you come to my house and act like a girlfriend."

"G-G-Girlfriend? W-What nonsense are you talking about? Do you even know what a girlfriend is?"

"Well, people like me who exist in real life are not clueless boys like you who have never experienced anything real. I guess I can watch and comment as well."

"Oh, is that so? So you think I'm a dominant person..."

"Um... I don't know if I would call you dominant, but you give that impression."

" Mika... Normally I'm not that close to guys."

"Hmm, really..."

"Mika! You're exaggerating because I knew you from before-"

"From the internet?"

"Can you let me finish? Sometimes I saw you outside in the neighborhood. Of course, I didn't know who you were, but occasionally, on my way to or from school, I sometimes see you in the park, at the markets, or helping the elderly..."

"Are you stalking me?"

"No, you idiot. Don't you see the same people in the neighborhood every day? You made an impression on me back then. I tell you, I didn't even know you. But I couldn't understand why sometimes in the afternoon when I came back from school, or even in the early morning, you would go to practice."

"Because that was the only time I could wake up."

"Don't you have a real schedule? Anyway, why are we talking about me? Answer the second question."

"If you don't interrupt me, can't you? The simple reason I didn't go to school is that I don't feel emotions, so I don't have any future career aspirations or the desire to have crazy fun like teenagers, so I don't go to school either."

"But isn't that a bad thing? At least in school, they focus on academics..."

"My grades were good, but like I said, I'm not interested in it and it's a waste of time."

"Hmm, I see. If you ever decide to start, I'll wait for you to come to my school."

"Why?"

"You know... well, we have an empty seat in our class because a student left."

"Thanks, but I'm not interested."

"Oh... since it came to my mind, I have to ask..." Saya suddenly stopped and started thinking, her face turning red.

"What's wrong?"

"N-Nothing. Well, I wanted to ask, don't you feel any kind of love or emotions like that?"

"No."

"But you say you watch movies and anime. Why do you watch them then?"

"To improve me."

"In what way?"

"To learn how to fake facial expressions and understand social etiquette."

"Hmm... that's a bit of a strange reason. Then smile once. I've never seen you laugh before." Saya asked curiously, looking at Mika's face.

"Fine." Mika tried to smile.

"WAIT, OKAY, I GIVE UP."

"What happened?"

"Please don't do that. It doesn't suit your pretty face at all."

"You're being rude... Besides, am I pretty?"

"Are you crazy? Of course, you're handsome. You're like a mystery to the girls in this neighborhood at our school."

"Really... Well, it's better if I don't go out for a while."

"No, it's okay. They wouldn't dare approach you anyway."

"Hmm, that doesn't give me much confidence... What about you? Were you in that group too?" Mika asked directly. He continued the conversation as if there was no trace of curiosity on his face. But Saya was surprised.

"W-Why would I be with them? I admit I saw you and got curious, but that's all."

"I see." Mika ended the conversation abruptly and silence fell between them.

"Well then, can I come to the doctor too?"

"Do you still want to?"

"Of course, we are friends."

"Friends, huh..." Except for elementary school, Mika had never considered anyone his friend. Most of the people who tried to befriend him were those who tried to be his friends with the encouragement of a group of teachers who tried to support him.

And now, a girl he had just met today had invited him to her house, they had eaten together, talked over coffee, and she even wore his strange clothes. By the way, whose clothes were they? Now it was Saya's turn.

"I'll get your clothes out of the dryer," Saya said.

"Wait a minute," Mika said. Saya turned around in surprise.

"What's going on?"

"Now it's your turn."

"M-My turn? What turn?"

"To reveal a secret."

"Yes, but first let me get your clothes so you can change."

"Oh, right. That would be good. Can I take the coffee cups?"

"Sure. I'd appreciate it."