My Neighbor Is A U.A. Student

Chapter 4: Home

I stepped into my apartment, shutting the door behind me. I took one of my trembling hands and put it up to my heart. I couldn't count the beats, going just fast enough that they were too difficult to keep track of. I slipped out of my loafers, stepping further into my apartment and into the living room. I set my bag down on the couch, sitting down next to it and trying to relax.

I slipped my phone out of my pocket and checked the time, 5:39, jeez... that detour took a lot longer than I expected. I was out of school at around 4:10 and usually home by 4:30, but it seemed like the walk had eaten up about an hour of my freetime. Even if the stop was further, that walk really didn't feel like it lasted an hour...

I closed my eyes and tried looking back through my day. I remembered the hassle of my morning and rubbed my shoulder with my opposite hand, sore from having had my backpack on for so long. Suddenly, I jerked forward as I remembered staring into Ashido's eyes when I first met her. For some reason that I kept trying to ignore, I had a vivid image of her eyes staring right back into mine. A blush covered my face again as I tried shaking it off, relaxing and setting my hands on my lap.

I had to focus!

The usual school hours were from 8:25 to 2:10, but certain M.T. freshmen were provided an extra period after school to help them ease into classes. I took advantage of this time, using it to finish up any homework I had been assigned. M.T. was brutal, every class having had an assignment on the first day. I went back class by class, wondering if I had missed anything.

I continued rewinding through my day... Pre-Calculus, Intro to Chemistry, Aeronautic Basics... the wrong stop.

The leg of the bus bench...

Aaahhhh... she saw me without my glasses?! Oh my gosh. I shoved my face into my hands and leaned back into the couch. I couldn't believe it.. I always made sure that these stupid white frames remained glued to my face at all times and I had to be met with the unfortunate fate of tripping.

I sat completely still for a moment, keeping the memory paused as I tried to avoid playing the sequence any further. I closed my eyes, reluctantly choosing to remember.

The exact moment she slipped the glasses onto my face gave me a feeling I just couldn't shake off. I took my hands off my face but it failed to dispel the warmth from my cheeks. I was hopeless.

I always caught myself thinking of impossible things, unobtainable feats, unsatisfiable desires, wishes that could not be granted, dreams that could not be fulfilled...

I covered my face again... for now I should just relax. I should simply appreciate the presence of such a wonderfully talented person, pursuing something would be foolish.

I should focus on what I can do. Even if I want to tell her tha-

*ding, ding, ding!*

I looked down at my phone again, opening the text messages from my mom.

"Hey honey! Sorry for not texting earlier 💚💚💚💚💚💚 How'd your first day go?"

"I hope it went great. Love you lots 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚!"

So many hearts...

"By the way I left you some of my recipes up in the cupboards next to all the stuff I got you. Be sure to try making some meals and don't eat too much takeout junk! Love you 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚💚 xoxoxoxo"

This excessive use of green hearts was a wonderful distraction. Thank you, Mom. I started to text back.

"It went well. I made a friend today."

I shut my phone off, starting to stand up before hearing about a dozen more dings before I got the opportunity to get on my feet. I turned it on again, reading her messages.

"REALLY?!"

"OH MY GOSH THAT'S AWESOME HONEY!!! 💚🥳🥳🥳"

"SOOO?"

"WHAT'S THEIR NAME?!"

"Oh my goodness my little firefly made a friend on his first day... I can't believe it..."

My eyes locked onto my mom's pet name for me and I instinctively covered my phone, proving the name right by lighting up as I read it. I took my stuff into my room and got a little more settled before texting back about my day.