⭐️ starstruck

🤍persistent - 3

"You just want to talk it all out

But I ignored your call"

—🤍—

Akarui had continuously tapped his pencil on his desk throughout the entire hour and forty-five minutes Homeroom and English took. He knew it drove his classmates absolutely insane, judging by the looks that he was oh-so-kindly gifted. Especially that one poor girl who shared both classes with him and had glared at him even while the bell rang (indicating that break time had started).

With an admittedly awkward attempt at feigning obliviousness, he packed up his notebooks before leaving the empty classroom, not talking to anyone on the way out. After all, Akarui was persistent to get some answers out of Kanaka.

As he walked down the crowded halls of the bleak high school, the walls and floor a matching off-white and lockers painted mauve, Akarui pondered where the expressionless girl would be during break. He then thought of the two times he had encountered her before, his azure eyes darting to the courtyard doors.

Akarui scanned the field, trying to find any sign of Kanaka in his line of sight. The courtyard was generally pretty empty if there were no sports games or practices going on. During break, there wasn't much to see besides the few groups of people huddled here and there in corners along the fence, likely gossiping about stuff that Akarui would rather not hear. He couldn't find even a trace of the girl as he walked past a couple shamelessly making out, which he tried to ignore.

Akarui started to doubt himself, wondering where else she could be. Surely she wouldn't be in the crowded halls? Kanaka didn't seem like that type of person. He tried to imagine her with a smile, strolling at a snail's pace down the corridor and chatting with her friends.

Yep, definitely not. There was also the possibility that she was inside a classroom finishing homework or something, but for some reason, Akarui had the feeling she was a straight A student. Besides, someone who's that quiet would prefer the quiet, so there was no need to doubt himself in the first place.

..Right?

Akarui sighed sulkingly, subconsciously taking a seat against the trunk of one of the many trees. This was stupid. This was really, really dumb. Why did he care so much anyway? He didn't want to give up, but maybe this was for the better.

He heard a slight rustle above him, which he ignored, but a few seconds later, a leaf fell into his vision. Akarui grumpily caught the brown leaf, inspecting the stems. He crushed it a little and threw it off to the side before blandly looking up at the tree to see Kanaka.

Akarui wondered—wait, Kanaka?!

His eyes widened as he did a double take, and sure enough, there the brown-haired, pale-skinned, golden-eyed girl was. Casually sitting on a tree branch, eyes closed, with no cares in the world. First the fence, now this? She must've been a cat with how much she climbed and how eerily good she was at it, Akarui mused internally.

Getting back on track, he stood up and crossed his arms with a huff. "I've been searching for you!" He waited for a moment for her reply, but there was no response. Assuming she didn't hear him, he spoke up again, his voice a bit louder this time, "Hello? Are you asleep?" He shifted in place. "...Kanaka?"

"I heard you the first time."

"Well," he tried asking politely, his eye twitching at the girl's reply, "Would you please mind answering, then?"

"No."

Akarui let out a breath he was holding in. Surprisingly, Kanaka spoke again, her voice as robotic as ever: "Didn't I tell you that it was a waste of time talking to me?"

He thought about it for a moment. "Well, I did tell you that I wanted to learn about you, right? I'm not taking that back. And, besides, I don't believe talking to someone is a complete waste of my time." A smile appeared on Akarui's face but faltered soon after he looked up and saw Kanaka's blank gaze at him. He quickly added, "Of course, that's only what I think."

Akarui's hands started to get a little antsy at her lack of reaction. He tried his best to keep his calm as she reflected on his words, still sitting on the branch.

Akarui glanced away before questioning in slight concern, "Hey, isn't it dangerous up there? Aren't you going to fall?" No response. She must've been very confident.

The bell rang, ending the five minutes of "conversation" the two had.

Akarui sighed upon hearing it before watching in shock as the schoolgirl nonchalantly jumped down from the tree branch 10 feet up in the air. Before he had time to process what just happened, Kanaka walked back towards the school, so apparently her legs were unaffected. After barely regaining his composure, the determined boy called out, "I-I'll see you later!" No response.

Very confident indeed.

"Man, she's cool," he muttered to himself before letting out an exasperated sigh and walking towards the building as well.

...

Kanaka looked up at the starry sky with a sigh, adjusting her position on the rock she was lying on. She didn't know how to feel about this whole situation. Akarui had idiotically said that he was trying to get to know her for some reason. She buried her face in her hands and shut her eyes. Kanaka couldn't deal with this right now. This was so dumb. This was super, super stupid. This was a change of events she did not want to welcome with open arms into her life, and she hoped Akarui at least knew that before pulling all of this.

Whatever. She just won't let him get close. At all. Six feet away at all times. No need to even consider opening her arms.

Okay, she was exaggerating, but still. This'll all turn out dandy. Kanaka's scared people away in the past; this isn't any different. But the rational part of her told her that something was different. It was his personality—or rather, Akarui himself.

Akarui was a semi-popular, friendly guy. He didn't have any particularly close friends from what she saw, but he was acquainted with a lot of people in their grade. And he wasn't confident at all; he hid that badly. So basically, he was the exact opposite of her. That was what confused Kanaka most. Why would he bother trying to "learn" about her, someone who's been actively pushing him away?

There was no use in contemplating this any further. She felt like she'd get a headache if she tried deciphering his thoughts any more. It was around time to head back anyway, so Kanaka wearily stood up, her brows furrowed.

As she trekked back to her house, Kanaka hoped Akarui was not as committed as he sounded.

—🤍—

"White is described as cold, bland, and sterile. Rooms painted completely white can seem spacious, but empty and unfriendly."