Admire

I thought about the painting for a long time, and I thought about Hikari's reaction. I'd never seen him actually get mad at anything before. It surprised me. And then, he also pressingly said, it wasn't me in the painting. It couldn't have been me, because Chiharu and I had never met or talked, so it made sense. But then, who?

None of it mattered when Yamato waved towards our classroom door, and Hikari was back.

"Souma, don't you think Class Prez keeps glaring at Hikari?" Yamato pointed out. I quickly glanced in her direction and caught her looking our way. Before I could say 'Hi', she hurriedly turned her head the other way. "See what I'm talking about?"

I sort of know now, that Hikari doesn't get along with her much. They'd even had some sort of misunderstanding before, something about the handicrafts club, which must have caused her to get a bad image of Hikari. I don't know what he was like before, but right now he's a harmless guy. Kobayashi just needs to see more of him to be less wary of him.

"This guy got caught in some mess last time." I pointed towards Hikari. "She was there too and that's why, maybe she's uncomfortable?"
"Why do you keep taking her side? I told you, I didn't do it." He folded his arms in protest.
"I know you didn't do it. She just doesn't know that."

Again, Hikari didn't like that answer and just like the previous day, he looked... hurt. He really did not get along with Kobayashi, no, he actually seemed to dislike her.

He said a thing about the teacher calling him back for something important and told me he'd meet me later. Maybe. That didn't settle right with me... because we still hadn't discussed what we'd do together next... or if there would even be a next thing. It's embarrassing, but I didn't hate seeing the painting. Or seeing different sides of him... wait, it's not about him. It's supposed to be about Saeko.

Yamato whispered into my ear and pulled me out of my thoughts, "Were you guys talking about the poster thing? They made such a big deal about a poster, that's so stupid. So, did the B-class kids get punished? I didn't know what happened after I left."

"What are you talking about?"

"That day, you said you had somewhere to leave early with Hikari, right? Only me and Kobayashi were left in the classroom, and we heard noise from outside the staff room. Three guys from the other class were tearing apart that poster or something. The whole story is actually that, the guy was dating a girl from the club, but she broke up—"

"Get to the point."
"Ugh, fine fine. Kobayashi said she'd take care of it, so I left. Those guys were punished?"
"Was Hikari among them?"
"No, of course not! I'd have stopped him immediately if I saw him do something like that. That poster was about some event they were planning to invite students to participate in a competition. I get that it was an important poster, but still, they make too much fuss over the handicrafts club! Who even joins such a lame club..."

I knew Hikari didn't do it, because why would he? But, this felt wrong too.

"Kobayashi told the teacher Hikari did it," I told Yamato and that startled him.

I stood up and walked up to our Class President's desk. "There's still time till the teacher comes." I looked at the clock in our classroom. "Can we talk outside for a bit?"

She nodded and we went to find an empty spot near the staircase. "What's wrong?" She asked.

"I'll get straight to the point. Why did you lie to the teacher about the poster?"

She did not respond right away. And the longer she fidgeted with her blazer collar and nervously tapped her shoe, the more I started to lose patience and respect for her. "Why?" I insisted on knowing an answer. Because I told Hikari it's not her fault, but in reality it was her fault..

"Ayato, I-" She hesitated. "Well, I've always admired you as a fellow classmate." She lowered her head, and I couldn't see her eyes behind her bangs. She circled her finger around her straight black hair, the same colour as Hikari's.

"Thank you, but that's not what I asked." My voice must've sounded more annoyed."

"I told you last time... he had strange rumours about him in Middle school. Some said he came from a weird family, others said he talked and acted like a girl. No one used to like him back then." She took another pause to look me in the eye, and I signalled her to go on. "It's just that... maybe if you'd see how he really was, then you wouldn't spend so much time around him."

What the hell was she talking about? "But he didn't do it. Why'd you get him in trouble?!"
"..."

She may have come up with another halfhearted response but I didn't give her the chance. "If you have nothing to say for yourself, then I'll go back now. But I will say this, Kobayashi, I'm disappointed. I used to admire you too." I turned around.

Passing by the hallway, I checked into Hikari's classroom and saw that he still wasn't back from whatever he was called in for. I decided to go back and meet him after school. Even if he didn't want to see me anymore, I would still have to apologize.

I waited till the bell rang, and then went to his classroom. I heard his classmates talking about him, even though he was still inside and could hear all of their loud 'whispering'. "He always stays all by himself, as if he thinks he's better than us." And, "Then he goes and ruins something important. He's so weird." And, "I've even heard—"

I slid the door startling the entire classroom. Even Hikari seemed surprised.

I quickly got to his desk and pulled him by the wrist. I took both our bags on my shoulder, and I dragged him to the locker area. "Change your shoes," I told him and he quietly did so.

We started walking towards our homes.

After a few seconds of silence, I couldn't keep it in anymore. So I stopped walking abruptly and bowed my head down, "I'm sorry."
"Eh?!" The passerbys on the road made remarks about my behaviour but I did not rise my head. "Souma— what are you doing? Stop it! Stop it right now!" He pushed me to stand straight and meet his eyes again.
"Kobayashi was wrong. I'm sorry." I said again.
"It's done! I did everything they asked me to, and they didn't call my parents either, it's fine—"

"No, it's not fine. Those guys got away without any repercussions. Yamato saw the whole thing too. If we tell the teacher now, they'll still get punished."

"No need for that. It's over now, Souma." He laughed at me. "Why are you so worked up?"

"Don't you think it's unfair that everyone will think you did it?" I asked him seriously.

"I can't make all people like me. Why not just be around those who already do?" He said sheepishly. "Your sister said that to me when she was sad." He pulled his bag from my shoulder and wore it properly on his shoulders. "She didn't tell me what bothered her, she never did. But she always faced it with a smile. Isn't that amazing?"

"But... wouldn't that hurt her?" Wouldn't that hurt you?

"If I have people who care, why should others' opinions matter?" He giggled and pulled my hand to walk faster. I looked at the little wrinkle on his nose that appeared every time he smiled so happily. I wished I could keep seeing it again and again.