Classtime

"Please listen to what I have to say." Kurosawa scanned the classroom, aware that almost everyone had their eyes on her and Yuta. Turning her attention back to Yuta, she made her request. "Could you help me study for the exams?"

Understanding now that nothing was going on between the two, their classmates returned to the conversations they were having earlier.

"Are your grades that low?"

The question stung Kurosawa like a hornet. Judging from her body language, Yuta could tell her grades were struggling.

"Well, you probably haven't had much time to study with all the sports you're involved in."

"No, unfortunately. I try my best during class, though!" Her positive demeanor returned.

"Sorry, but I don't think I'll be able to have time to help you, since I need to–"

Kurosawa crossed her arms. "We'd be studying together, you know. You can't use studying as an excuse."

"But I can't take time to explain everything to–"

"It doesn't take long to answer a question. Also, explaining a concept to someone else helps you remember it better."

He sighed. All of her points were valid. Every time he brings up an issue, she shoots it down. The longer he continued, the more of a fool he would look. "Fine, I'll help you study. As long as you promise not to ask too many questions."

She uncrossed her arms and relaxed. "Just so you know, I can't learn anything if I don't ask. I'm not asking for your help because I want to spend time with you. I'm asking because I'll learn more with you there than on my own."

Before Yuta could utter a response, the bell rang. "What class do we have first today?"

"P.E. is first. Let's study together during lunch, okay?" Kurosawa returned to her desk and picked up her bag.

He watched her leave before grabbing his own bag.

…

Every student, except for Shiori, was running the track. She bunched up under the tree, staring at the ground in front of her. The doctor told her that she should take it easy for the next while.

Sweat crawled down Yuta's forehead as he jogged the loop. Most of his classmates were ahead of him.

One of the guys in front of him wiped the sweat from his face and pointed to the other side of the track. "Look at Kurosawa!"

The other student looked where his friend had gestured to and immediately admiration filled his eyes. "She's so fast!"

"And beautiful," the first guy added. "Look at the way she moves…"

Yuta rolled his eyes. Most of his classmates admired or liked Kurosawa for reasons he couldn't understand.

Before Yuta reached the starting point, the bell sounded.

"That's enough for today. Good job, class. Keep it up," the teacher congratulated.

Shiori looked up as Yuta approached her.

"I'm surprised you don't have your book with you."

"I wasn't able to bring it," she vaguely explained in her usual quiet voice.

"Glad to see you're doing better, though." He offered a hand to help her up.

She stared at the hand for a seemingly long time before carefully reaching her hand out to take it.

Yuta pulled her to her feet. "Come on, we don't want to be late for history."

Other than the teacher, everyone else had already gone inside. Shiori stayed a few feet behind Yuta.

Inside, they parted ways. The rooms used by the boys and girls to change were on opposite sides of where P.E. was held.

By the time Yuta had finished changing, there were only a few students left in the room. To his surprise, Hitomura had already left. Whenever he wasn't hovering over Yuta's shoulder, he would be one of the last people to finish changing.

Second period rolled around, and the chatter of high schoolers died down. The history teacher strutted into the room with her chin high. At the podium, she slammed her hands down. “Good morning, class.”

Ms. Suzuki, everyone’s least favorite teacher. She always walked around the school like she owned the place, and looked down on all the students. Everyone has a bad time in her class. If it had been any other teacher, Yuta would have paid full attention to the lessons. Fortunately, there was a textbook that covered everything in the curriculum.

She flipped her long black hair behind her and grinned. “Today we’ll be going over history. The reason we teach history is so you suckers won’t do the same dumb things people have done in the past. Now open your textbooks to page ninety-four…”

As instructed, Yuta opened his history book and opened to a page that was filled with small text.

For the rest of class, he ignored Ms. Suzuki and read through several pages of text, taking notes on everything he read.

“Ichikawa, pay attention!” A book flew past his desk, startling him. Ms. Suzuki was staring daggers into him. “I don’t care if you’re studying. Pay attention, or else I’ll send you to the principal’s office.”

Yuta jumped out of his seat and saluted. “Yes, Ms. Suzuki! I promise I’ll pay attention!”

“Good. Now sit down. You’re disrupting the class.” She waited impatiently for Yuta to be seated before continuing instruction.

A few students gave Yuta apologetic looks. Quickly, they all turned back to the front of the room before Ms. Suzuki yelled at them, too.

…

A collective sigh of relief filled the room when class ended. The students had waited for Ms. Suzuki to leave before portraying their thoughts.

Hours passed and soon it was lunchtime. Yuta took his usual place in the library to eat. In front of him was an open history textbook. Since the teacher didn’t let him study on his own, he would do it during lunch. Though he loved studying, history was his least favorite subject, because it’s just memorizing events and pouring them out during the test. His cheek rested on his fist while his other hand held the corner of the page. 

Movement caught his eye and encouraged him to tilt his head up.