LIKE VERY MUCH! [INCOMPLETE]

3.SecretTechnique!

'THERE I said it!'

'Well there goes my courage... Is it just me or is it harder to stand up right now... like I've been Jet Gatling Rob Lucci- THIS ISN'T THE TIME FOR REFERENCES BRAIN! Okay- okay, stay strong Kanzashi, just follow through... what would a protagonist do now?'

In hindsight Kanzashi probably shouldn't have watched JoJo's Bizarre Adventure last night because her next action was to...

'J- Joestar Secret technique: RUN AWAY!' She took off in panic!

Ichika was left at his doorway, perplexed.

"What's her deal?" Ichika gently smiled. 'Giving me a gift like that, almost like she was confes- Ichika's brain halted entirely, or maybe it melted considering the heat rising in his cheeks. 'Idiot! Delusional much? Just thinking about what I want... WANT?! D- do I want that?'

Ichika's shy messenger was long gone and he was at a loss for what to do, Contradicting every thought he had. Was this a simple peace offering or a declaration l- lov- y'know.

The reason Ichika had been doubtful was because he'd been wrong about reading relationships he had before (Not that he'd ever tell the girls that). In all honesty it was a painful endeavour when it didn't work out the way they did in the past.

He recalled in his old school after Rin left he still hung out with his old friend Dan Gotanda and his younger sister in the year below theirs. However more girls flocked to him near the end of his year there, like some barrier had been lifted that was preventing anyone else of the opposite sex having more than the odd friendly conversation with him?

In anycase, things had progressed with a girl who shall not be named, but she was considerably popular at their school, a sweetheart one might say despite some unsavoury rumours surrounding her. But Ichika never took interest in other's alleged drama. At one point they were on the verge of dating, even started hanging out more and more by themselves and then... He couldn't remember when; maybe sometime after one of Chifuyu's brief visits back to their house. Ichika, Dan and the girl who shall not be named were hanging out in the living room. They were pretty close now and this girl's intentions showed up like a stain in his Chifuyu-Nee's eyes.

What happened after that was a little unclear for Ichika but he and Dan went to the convenience store, leaving her and Ms Orimura alone for... let's say ~15 minutes. Tops.

15 minutes... that's all. Ichika couldn't imagine what happened in those 15 minutes but whatever it was it made sure the girl wasn't there when they got back. Not only that she'd blocked all contact with Ichika and anyone he associated with.

At the time Ichika was still coping with his closest friend at the time; Rin, leaving him as well. What happened? Was it a coincidence people he grew feelings for just left? Or was it him? It just followed him. Since then he kept his friends close but never more than that, it was probably habit at this point, it wasn't so much "Being dense" as it was a defence mechanism, but it took a toll on him. Why couldn't he let someone share intimate feelings with him? Ichika wouldn't mind but his only family wasn't exactly emotionally receptive with him at the best of times.

Ichika was well aware of what it's like not to have something... someone to escape to. He knew Kanzashi felt the same, but whether she felt the same... He gulped clenching the paper bag, he'd be willing to take that chance he told himself, blushing with determination.

Kanzashi was a safe distance away, hiding behind a corner in the hallway.

*Huff huff*

"That was okay right? I didn't say anything weird?" Kanzashi asked herself, recalling the mentally strenuous event. But, like a crack in a submarine; the doubt that was seeping into her mind began to flood her thoughts, drowning her miniscule sense of accomplishment. "Wait... I think I told him I like ANIME not HIM!"

She returned to her own room and slid down her door as it closed behind her, legs still shaking as she came down from her rush of adrenaline. She wiped her slightly sweaty palms down her skirt as she tried to regulate her breathing. Kanzashi wasn't the most athletic student in her class... but she wasn't sweating from running (at what seemed like I.S speed), she was still in a cold sweat about how her plan went down, honestly she felt like crying a little but held the urge down. "Have to... calm down." This wasn't the first time her mind had bombarded her with a series of horrible outcomes but as an I.S pilot she needed to remain calm; she tried to convince herself, lower lip trembling.

"Right, I just need to take my mind off it for now" Kanzashi exhaled taking off her black uniform boots and heading to her closet; she'd swapped her white uniform for a pair of black lounge shorts and a T-shirt with a white hoodie, discarding her yellow stockings on and tossing her uniform on the spare bed in the room.

Since the room was Kanzashi's alone she often kept the curtains closed, making the room cool and dark, it was calming for a self proclaimed shut in such as herself, as she dove into her bed covers. Not that anyone else would think of Kanzashi as a shut-in. Even if she wasn't a social butterfly, she was one of the hardest working students in there year, not that she realised as she always compared herself to much higher standards than just their year group 

For the rest of the day Kanzashi drowned herself in anime to avoid any visitors at her door. Anxious as she was, there was still a hint of disappointment with her relief when there weren't any visitors that night... Her stomach let out a winey growl. Kanzashi looked up at her alarm clock from her awkward resting position she'd slumped into. 1:27AM. She opened her cupboard only to be greeted with a sad sight. A of a lack of well... anything. Not a pot noodle in sight. "Avoiding all your human needs for a day will do that I guess..." She sighed tiredly.

"I'll grab something from the vending machine near the cafeteria." It was a walk but Kanzashi did not joke when it came to food, recalling the sandwich Ichika had seized, she pouted with her gentle downward slanted eyes looking a little gloomy thinking about him. 'Better leave now before the staff start patrolling at night.' She thought, distracting herself whilst putting on a pair of white sneakers.

As Kanzashi crept down to the vending machine she'd crouched down to inspect its contents drowsily. The light from the machine reflected off her glasses dazing her Sleepy eyes. She stayed there for a while, with her melancholy resting face drowsier than usual, when out of nowhere her heart had yet another near death experience as an authoritative voice addressed her...

"That needs money, you know." Startled, Kanzashi turned her head to find the last person she expected to see. The Miss Orimura!