dumbass finds love

CHAPTER ONE: pretending

     Dazed and distracted, you look out upon the school's fancy courtyard. Really, you have no idea how you've made it here. In the background, you hear your teacher going on about something or other. It couldn't have made sense to you if you tried.

   When you had first gone through the school's entrance, you felt as though you had stepped into another world. Everything was fancy and ornate, standing tall and proud over you. You shouldn't have felt so out of place, not so small and insignificant, but you really were not supposed to be there.

  Honestly-- "Y/N." Your teacher called. You snapped out of your thoughts.

"Huh-" you felt yourself get embarrassed as your classmates snickered. You probably looked like a fish, with you gaping and your mouth hanging open. Maybe they knew you weren't supposed to be here.

Your teacher sighed, and somehow you felt smaller. "I said, 'what did you get for the 2nd problem in your workbook?'"

It took your brain a moment to process what he said. "Oh, uh," you grabbed around for your workbook, trying to find the problem, "um," you felt the sweat drip from your brow. You heard your teacher 'tsk' before he called on one of the smarter (she definitely looked like she fit in here, you thought, like she's meant to be here) people in your class.

You felt yourself slump into your seat (everybody else stood up straight and proud), and you awkwardly smiled back at your classmates that smirked, gave you a pity smile, or looked annoyed with you.

*

As you were walking down the halls to the cafeteria, you watched as everyone had a friend to walk with. You wished you did, too. But all your friends were at your little, comfortable public school.

"L/N!" Oh, how convenient. One of the girls from your class ran up to you, with a smile on her face. Akemi? Was that her name? She looked like one anyway. With her light brown hair, tied up into a little bun in the back, and her dark gray eyes, she was a hit with everyone. When she got to you, she smoothed out her dress as she spoke to you. "Hey, I was wondering if you'd like to eat lunch with me? I've noticed that you never really talk to anyone. Not so far, anyway."

As sweet as it was, did she really have to put you on the spot like that? You were polite anyway, "Hi, uh, sure," You had to refrain from calling her Akemi, just in case. "Thanks."

"Yeah, no problem!" Her footsteps and yours fell into sync.

"So," She started out, "are you in any clubs?"

"No, I'm not." You weren't going to stay here any longer than you needed to. They couldn't find out.

She hummed, "Are you going to?" You hoped this wasn't going where you thought it was going. You shook your head. She beamed.

Oh, no.

"Would you like to visit one with me?"

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