His Equal

A Smile

After spending the entire day with Teruhashi, I did go home to finish my summer work. It was unexpectedly a fun day, though I would never tell her that. It was nice, not to just work like I usually would. Although, it won't be happening again anytime soon, not with the work I have to complete first. 

That Teruhashi seems to be much more poetic than the average student. Just with the way she views things, it's interesting to watch. Nonomura isn't even poetic like Teruhashi is, which is interesting on its own. Who knew that there was someone who romanticized the world so much?

But that won't get her anywhere, not unless she had the intelligence to back it up. Although, her scores are always the same, so maybe there's something I can use to exploit for my advantage. Things are certainly getting interesting, even without dealing with my father's educational philosophy.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

It was the day before school started, and I was out getting some extra paper to use for schoolwork. Imagine my surprise, when I see Nonomura looking at a gift shop. I haven't seen her once this summer, which is normal. She wore a short dress, with a jean jacket to adorn it. I shook my head, walking over to her with a glare on my face.

"What are you doing around these parts, Nonomura?"

She turned around to look at me, her eyes widening at the sight of me. But then she gave me that smile, the one that I hate seeing. I glared, controlling my facial expression, so she wouldn't know what I really thought of that smile. If only things were different, I wonder what would have happened between us?

"I was getting a gift for Asuka, she got hit by a car a couple days ago. I just don't know what to get her. What have you gotten her, Asano?"

I blinked in surprise, feeling myself go pale at the thought. She managed to get herself hit by a car? Her? 

"I didn't even know she was in a car wreck. We really aren't that close."

Nonomura furrowed her eyebrows, confusion evident in her eyes. She tilted her head at me, and I couldn't understand how she could act like that. She acted so innocent, it couldn't have been real, right?

"Really? But I saw you two awhile ago hanging out. You two looked like you were having a blast, since you weren't even glaring when I saw you two."

I felt my eyes widen slightly, but I fixed that quickly. She saw us that day? 

"You saw her dragging me around the town, with no choice in the matter. Is she seriously hurt though?"

"I'm not sure yet. I haven't had the time to go in to even see her. I just got back from a trip with my mother, and this is the first place I came to. I just don't know what to get her honestly."

I glanced at the items I could see around the shop, and none of them seemed satisfactory. No, she wouldn't like any of those, she doesn't seem like the type. I looked down the road, and saw a camera shop. She would probably prefer something like that, since she's always carrying that camera of hers around.

"Get her something from that shop down there. Have you ever seen her without her precious camera?"

Nonomura looked at what I was staring at, and she smiled seeing the camera shop. Why does she smile so damn much? 

"You say you two aren't that close, and yet you know exactly what to get her. Sounds like you two are closer than you'd like to admit, Asano!"

I scoffed hearing that from her, irritated. I'm not close to her, it's just plain as day what she would like. She never leaves her camera behind her, it's annoying to see that camera. 

"No, it's just obvious. Don't you need to get that gift to her or whatever?"

Nonomura stared at me for a moment, before she began shaking her head and giggling for some reason. That's something I hate hearing, cause it hurts to hear it. I stared at her, seeing her like this, isn't something I get to see that often. She's always with her boyfriend, Akabane. 

"Her hospital is the nearest one to that abandoned park, if you want to go see her. Have a good afternoon, Asano!"

She waved goodbye to me with that smile, while I just glared at her. I watched her walk away towards the camera shop, going inside it. I pulled out my phone, not believing what I was looking up. I'm only visiting a fellow classmate, and give my condolences, then I'll be on my way home. 

I looked at a nearby cafe, and I thought about the awful food that a hospital has. I should bring something for myself, I'm starving as it is.

⊱ ────── {.⋅ ♫ ⋅.} ───── ⊰

I stood in front of Teruhashi's door, holding a bag of sandwiches. Just what the hell am I doing? I should be at home, prepping for tomorrow, instead I'm here with food as if I'm dating her. No, this is just my way of thanking her for taking time out of her schedule to drag me around the town. That's all it is, then I'll be on my way back home.

I opened the door, and I felt my eyes widen at the sight before me. She had nasty bruises on her, along with bandages wrapping around her head and arms. She seemed to be working on something, with the way she hadn't noticed me walk in. I walked over, glancing at what she was working on to see that it was schoolwork.

She must have gotten it early, so she could stay caught up with the rest of our grade. I set the bag down, which gained her attention. She looked up, and I saw the surprise in her eyes.

"Well, would ya look at that? I wasn't expecting any visitors until tomorrow, since it's a school day tomorrow. How did you even find out about me being here?"

"Wasn't hard, especially when I ran into Nonomura, who was getting you a gift. She told me you were in the hospital, so I decided to give my condolences."

She grinned, while arching a brow at me. There was a silence between us, before she shook her head, setting her homework on her nightstand.

"Alright, Mr. Asano, this is pretty nice of you. Although you didn't have to come here at all. But I want to know what is in that bag, so gimme!"

I rolled my eyes at her excitement, handing the bag to her which she dug through. She gasped and grabbed the sandwiches, handing two to me and one for herself.

"I got you the extra sandwich so you could eat it tomorrow, so save it."

"I wouldn't be able to finish it, I don't eat much as it is."

I narrowed my eyes hearing that, but I didn't say anything. We both ate in silence, and she was right about her not eating that much. She didn't even get halfway through her sandwich, before she wrapped it up. Did she just have a small appetite, or did she have a eating disorder of some sort? I'll find out more about that later.

"I know that look. What do you want to know, Asano?"