Transition and Restart, book one: Arrivals

Chapter two, 2016, buddying emotions, part three

"Ageruman-san, you have a visitor."

You could as well have said yet another visitor if you're thinking it so clearly. Christina rose and looked for the face that was about to appear.

A second year this time. She walked to the classroom entrance. The convoluted dating game here required her to follow him somewhere less crowded where he could make a verbal pass at her and she could decline without too much of an audience. Stupid rules! But those were the rules, so she tagged along after him down the stairs and across the school yard to the bike stand where they could share a modicum of privacy.

A bike stand by a shabby, concrete school building from the 60:s or 70:s as a refuge for lovestruck youths. Yikes! This is where they want to hide their feelings from others.

An illusion of course. By now dozens of eyes were following them through windows on all three floors, and she felt just like the prize her suitor most likely wanted to win.

I really didn't need to risk missing class for this crap.

A second year. Last time it had been a third year, and he had yelled an insult after her when she returned after turning him down. At least the freshmen only gulped silently and studied their shoes. Older students were more comfortable with the school, and they were also a year or two more experienced when it came to the confession game.

"What do you want?" Christina deliberately made her voice as haughty as possible. With a bit of luck he would understand that he wasn't wanted before she was forced to explicitly tell him so.

No such luck. He stared directly into her eyes.

Good looking. A player most likely. He probably thinks I should feel happy to catch his attention.

"I like you. I want you to be my girlfriend."

About as subtle as a rhino.

"I'm sorry, but I don't want a boyfriend."

"I'm a lot better than that Wakayama guy. Please reconsider!"

Some guys just didn't understand a 'no'. But this was a new development. It was the first time anyone had made a direct reference to Ryu.

"I'm not going out with him. I said I don't want a boyfriend. That includes him."

She wasn't surprised to see her suitor's face turn disappointed, but there was an ugly glint to his expression.

"You sure spend a lot of time with someone you're not seeing."

"Still not my boyfriend," Christina answered. She knew her voice had gone defensive and hated it. Ryu was a fun friend, along with his sister and the combined forces of their respective admirers. It was just a large gang of freshmen who silently agreed not to show their affections too clearly.

Even though things would have been simpler if Ryu and she did pair up. She knew that would have been accepted.

"Bitch! You think your foreign looks make you special, don't you?"

"Whatever." She didn't have to accept any more insults.

Christina turned and walked back towards the school building.

She heard his parting words from behind: "I won't forget this, you know."

She threw her hands into the air in a gesture of raw irritation. Then she turned. "Queen Victoria called and wanted her gender values back." Idiot!

On her way back across the school yard she met Ko-chan. A worried Ko-chan. Something was definitely amiss. Christina studied her friend's somewhat stocky frame before accepting her hands.