望み [hope]

" goodluck "

"Kiyoko?"

"present"

"Yuu?"

"present"

"______?"

"..."

"Is _____ absent today? She never misses school normally.. Does anyone know why she's absent?"

"She probably is in that shrine crying over her dead little family"

-class laughing-

"oi that is not nice, you know? She has been throught a lot."

"how is it my problem? That was her fault after all."

" shut up will you? "

" ... "

: : :

I wondered what was happening in class ..

This was the first time I missed school.

I got up and decided to go home as there was no point in sitting here.

I was almost halfway there when I heard my stomach grumble.

I had eaten in the morning, this is unusual. I normally never feel hungry.

I checked my pockets, I barely had any yen. Just enough for a bowl of ramen.

I walked to the nearest ramen place.

I walked in, I asked the cook for a bowl of ramen.

He prepared it in a bit.

"Arigato."

I sat down and started eating. The broth was just the right consistency.

The noodles were soft. The meat was a bit overcooked and the egg was nothing special.

But afterall, it was good.

I paid and was about to walk out when he stopped me

"you are ¥200 short. You can't leave without paying."

"I.. don't have anymore money.. could you excuse me just this once? I swear I will pay you once I get the money."

"No. You have to pay or else you're gonna have to give me a helping hand around here."

I didn't have time for that, I barely had enough time for myself, how am I suppose to give this man a 'helping hand' ?

"I will pay on her behalf." A unfamiliar voice said.

I looked behind out of curiosity.

It was tall figure, a boy I had never seen in my whole life.

"who.. are you ?" I asked

"me? Ah, I'm Ren" he offered a handshake.

"hm. You shouldn't have done that, but arigato..." I said as I ignored his handshake.

"oh um, your welcome." he awkwardly smiled and slowly pulled his hand away.

"What is yours?"

"eh?"

"What's your name?"

"____"

"that is a nice name."

"thanks."

"wanna be friends?"

"no"

I walked away.

"why not !!" he said in an annoyed tone.

Then I heard footsteps, he started following me.

He caught up to me pretty quickly.

"oi, _____ why do you not wanna be friends?"

"I'm not interested in making acquaintances."

"but I wanna be friends not acquaintances"

"Ahh just go away."

"no unless you agree"

What is with this weird guy?

I stopped and turned behind.

"I am not interested in being friends with you or anything, you understand? Thanks, for paying for me but stop following me. I do not wanna be friends."

"alright then, it's probably making me look like a creep."

"hm"

"Welp, see ya later!" He smiled sweetly and walked away

I chuckled.

Wait.

I chuckled ..?

Something is definitely wrong with me today.