Misuzu blinked twice, then quietly asked him to repeat his question.
"Today, I saw a girl on the roof. Singing. And it was...the most beautiful thing I'd ever heard," Tsubasa's voice has this dreamy tone, and it embarrassed Misuzu.
"O-o-oh, you mean, you ah, h-heard her?"
"You know what I'm talking about?" Tsubasa questioned.
"Th-th-th-th-there's this rumor! There's this mysterious girl that sings on the rooftop sometimes, but know one has ever found out who she was! B-but um, I'm sure you can find her!"
"...Huh. I wonder why I've never heard of this."
Misuzu countered quickly. "Well, it's probably because you're so busy with your friends, Yukimura-kun."
Tsubasa doesn't think twice about this explanation because it's true; he was always talking to his companions and being surrounded by different girls every day. He was pretty sure the female half of the student body had a list and switched out who got to cling to Tsubasa that day. But he'd never really felt anything for a girl. Until her.
"Hey, will you help me look for her?"
"Eh?" Misuzu was flustered. "Um, I can make a list of all the girls in school with that color hair and um...cross off the ones you think are not her?"
I will not put myself on the list. I can't.
"Oh. I didn't think about that. You're smart."
"Um, thanks. I can have that list to you by tomorrow."
I'm happy.
Misuzu felt that Tsubasa liking her voice wasn't sufficient. Because it's somewhat artificial, like the way most girls "love" him for his looks, or his popularity. But what was the difference between that and Misuzu's admiration for him? Could she really say she was any different? It's possible that she didn't know him at all. His current personality could be a façade.
Though, for some reason, Misuzu felt she would continue to like him anyway. For the wings he carried on his back, for the freedom that he seemed to emanate.
* * *
As Tsubasa walked home that day, he tried to think of the various caramel-haired girls that clung to him. She could be any one of them, but he felt that she...would be different from them.
* * *
Misuzu was awestruck that she hasn't been noticed by Tsubasa from her clumsily falling in front of him, or something else humiliating. She had been embarrassed about him finding her singing, but it was a good thing. He'd said her singing was beautiful. A part of her felt very warm, much like when she talked with her mother. It was both comforting and encouraging, and it brought a small smile to her face. But it also made her sad in a way, because she felt like she would not live up to the standards of Tsubasa's image of "the girl on the rooftop".
The two troubled teens went to bed that night, thinking of each other but one was oblivious to that fact.
* * *
Misuzu had compiled a list of all the girls with long, golden brown hair, and there were exactly fifty-seven of them, including Misuzu, who decided to leave her name off the list.
"Here, Yukimura-kun," Misuzu said that morning, handing him the paper. "There's your copy of the list. I can cross them off for you as you go."
"Wow, you're really diligent. Thank you."
"N-no problem," Misuzu stuttered. She couldn't believe there were so many compliments he'd given her already.
"Ah. That reminds me. I never asked for your name."
Misuzu pushed up her glasses, a nervous habit of hers. She took a breath so as not to stutter.
"Kobayakawa Misuzu."
Tsubasa stared at Misuzu and mulled over her words.
"Ko-ba-ya-ka-wa?" He says, slowly.
"Yes," Misuzu shifts up her glasses again, self-conscious about the length of her last name.
"Ahhh, that's too hard," Tsubasa sighs, then looks up again. "I'll just call you Misuzu. It's easier."
Misuzu started slightly. There weren't many people that called her by her first name. It made her happy, caused her to touch her chest at the warmth spreading through her.
"Okay. Whatever you prefer, Yukimura-kun."
He made a face at Misuzu.
"What's with that formal talk? Tsubasa is fine."
"Ah, well...I feel like I should wait until I actually am more familiar with you," she said, looking away.
Tsubasa looked Misuzu over, confused about the humble girl before him, and the way she acted. It triggered a flash of memory, but it was gone before he could decipher what it was she reminded him of. Regardless of what or who she resembled, he was grateful she was willing to help him find a girl that he'd supposedly been the only one to see.
But her sweet voice never left his mind. He wanted to hear her again. The quickest way to eliminate girls was to see who clung the most. The ones who didn't leave him except during the times they had separate classes obviously never went to the roof. He was their highest priority, and that saddened him. Being popular pressured him to fit the image of how they pictured him.
It was somewhat of a chore.
Within the course of three days, Misuzu had already crossed off a little less than half the list. Tsubasa would relay the names to her, then she'd pull out his list, along with her own, and cross off the names.
Misuzu and Tsubasa were not seen together much; they only talked in the classes where they sat next to one another. And it was always about the girl, or the list. Misuzu was a little sad that he barely even made small talk with her, and felt almost like a tool. But she couldn't complain either because in a way, she was using him. She didn't have the courage to tell him who she was, and instead, was waiting for him to give up. It was cruel in a way.
Tsubasa was so preoccupied thinking about the girl, thinking about how many people were already gone from the list. He sighed, frowning. Misuzu poked his cheek with the eraser of her pencil, and he turned to her.
"Don't worry, you'll find her, knowing you. You only do what you want, right?" She said.
Misuzu was surprised that she'd said something so friendly to him. He smiled at her, and Misuzu felt happiness course through her. Tsubasa was now paying attention to her as if they were friends.
"Yeah. Thanks, Misuzu."
Misuzu smiled slightly back at him, pink tinting her cheeks.
Tsubasa's eyes widened, heart skipping at the momentary soft smile she'd given him. Genuine smiles were apparently attractive to him.
Then, his cheeks were tinted pink as well.
A/n: I hated this chapter its going to be edited so much later it feels so choppy lol bye
