⭐️ starstruck

🤍bonding - 4

"I'm better off all by myself

Though I'm feeling kinda empty without somebody else"

—🤍—

Over the course of many days, Akarui continued to approach (pester) Kanaka. During break, during lunch, even afterschool, he was always there, talking to her. As nervous as the boy was, he started to find it fun to speak to the quiet girl. She actually made for a good listener.

Here's how that went.

...

{3 days after}

As Akarui entered the courtyard, he approached the oak tree that had become the two's hangout spot. Well, at the very least, Kanaka never tried to go anywhere else, so he just decided to designate that as their "hangout spot" in his head. Anyway, he had now grown accustomed to walking over there without feeling too awkward. Looking up, he saw Kanaka hanging out on a branch as always, eating her lunch.

"Isn't that risky?"

No response.

Akarui smiled a bit before sitting down under the tree, taking his packed lunch out of his backpack and starting to dig in as well.

They quietly ate, the faint murmur of their classmates playing in the background. It was a bit more windy than usual today, the sound of leaves rustling being somewhat calming. Grass swayed in the breeze, tickling Akarui's legs. It felt.. nice.

That was until a nearly dead leaf fell down, landing directly on top of Akarui's lunch. He grimaced, not noticing Kanaka's golden eyes staring down at him.

"Why do you keep approaching me?"

"Huh? Well.." he mumbled, not paying much attention to her question as he quickly flicks the leaf off. He carefully examines his PB&J, double checking that there were no stray bugs or bits of leaf on it, before replying, "Didn't I tell you before? I want to know more about you. Besides—" He took a brief glance up at Kanaka. "—I've been starting to enjoy your company."

"That's.. not how—"

She cut herself off. Akarui continued to eat his sandwich, blissfully unaware about how silent Kanaka got after that.

...

{6 days after}

"You're going to fall eventually, y'know."

"I'll be fine."

Akarui rolled his eyes in amusement before sitting down against the tree trunk. He had started to learn that his words often fell on deaf ears, but that never stopped him from trying to warn the stoic schoolgirl.

In the silence, Akarui started to wonder more about Kanaka. In fact, he noticed that Kanaka had actually be answering him more. While she may not have noticed, he did, so he wanted to use that to his advantage. Of course, he'd only ask a few minor questions.

Akarui thought for a moment before glancing up at the girl and questioning, "Hey, how do you always get to this place before I do?"

Kanaka, hearing his voice, opened her once closed eyes. "My class is right next to the courtyard."

Akarui made a small circle with his mouth before nodding and saying, "That makes sense, actually. Though wouldn't that mean you have to climb this tree quickly?"

"Yeah."

Akarui looked up at the girl again. Her figure was slim enough to the point that he could believe she was agile. But, he just had to ask, "How do you do it?"

Kanaka crossed her legs as she pondered it for a moment. The girl then shrugged. "I just have a lot of experience with it, I guess. I've been climbing trees since I was a child, so it should only be natural that I'm good at it."