one [sachio ueda]

o n e : m a i

Sachio Ueda. The most beautiful person I've come across in my life. I've never spoken to him. I could only dream of meeting him one day. I find myself feeling all giddy and high when I glance at him even though I rarely get to see him.

Perhaps, most of the time I see him is because of Fujio. Sachio comes to Oya High because of Fujio. They're good friends. Fujio was my neighbour when I was a child. I tried my best to avoid him at all costs. I was not only an introvert, but also someone who was socially awkward. I probably still am but I feel like I have grown out of it. All thanks to Fujio though. He kept pestering me throughout our childhood and we ended up knowing each other's secrets. He knew all my secrets except one. That I had a huge crush on his friend, Sachio Ueda.

He's always looked heavenly. The way he walked, the way he flipped his hair when they covered his eyes too much and the way he smiled every time he met his close friends.

I've heard rumours about how confident and smart he is. All I truly wanted was just talking to him. Just one chance perhaps. I've only ever seen him from afar. I want to see him. Like actually seeing him. Looking into his eyes, brushing my fingers through his soft hair. Even a kiss will do. He's the type of beauty that will ache you to stare at him more. It physically hurts.

Either he's all that or I'm just too obsessed with someone who doesn't know me.

But he was too good to even know me. I needed to be prettier, thinner and much nicer to be his friend. One part of me wanted him to know me and the other part wanted to lay low.

I was walking back home from groceries one afternoon and saw students of Housen coming out from the subway. There weren't many people so I assumed they weren't in Oya to fight.

My eyes immediately started searching for him. Sachio Ueda. He was right there. My eyes had been blessed. My heart fluttered.

He was so gorgeous that I even ran into a pole. Almost. It wasn't a pole. It was a person.

"Eh?" Suddenly I heard a familiar voice. "Mai? You went to the market?" It was Fujio. The person I bumped into was Fujio.

Housen had already spotted Fujio and had started approaching us. If I don't run away in time, I'd have to face Sachio. Definitely, I wouldn't want that.

"Did you buy the bubblegum candy? It's new in store." He kept babbling. "You should've got some for me but you don't have that much sense or kindness. You probably didn't even notice the candies-" He turned around to look at Sachio. "Oh, Sachi!" He waved both his hands over his head.

This is the right moment to run away. Run, Mai, run. Run as far as you can.

Without hesitation, I walked away casually. If I actually ran, it would catch their eye and they would suspect me. Especially that weird Yuken dude. He is a really good observer. Nobody knows that except me. It's because I've observed him observing others. Sounds bizarre but it's true.

"Mai!" Fujio called me from the back.

I am doomed. I should've prepared myself for this moment. It was inevitable anyways. Sachio will find out about my existence. Not just him. A few other guys from Housen too. Odajima Yuken will judge me and if he finds out about my crush on Sachio, I will be ruined forever.

"Mai!" Fujio called again. "Come here!"

I turned around slowly with a fake smile plastered on my face.

"Guys, meet my bestest friend Mai. She's literally my soulmate, alright?" He turned towards them. "So basically we were neighbours as kids and she had a crush on me and I decided to befriend her because I am a really nice person."

I could feel my face heat up. Why is Fujio trying to embarrass me? If I didn't say anything, I would be labelled as Fujio's girlfriend. On the other hand, if I said something, it would attract the attention towards me. However, the attention was already on me.

"Fujio." I stopped him. All eyes turned towards me. "Nobody in this town ever had a crush on you."

Fujio stared at me with a blank expression. "How mean!" He finally muttered, making the Housen students scoff out a laugh.

"Remember that time when I saved you from falling when you climbed a tree? At least return the favour!" He blinked dramatically. "Could've at least went with the flow." He mumbled, crossing his eyebrows.

Meanwhile, I could already feel Yuken scanning my entire existence. He had a lollipop stuck between in teeth which went up and down along with his eyes.

"I'll leave now." I said monotonously, not looking at Fujio. I waved goodbye at Housen so that it doesn't seem as I'm uneasy, which I totally was.

"You can't just leave! I'm not even done introducing you to them." Fujio stopped me again.

"No need. I already know them." I blurted out.

There was a second of silence before we all digested what I said. It took me longer than the others to realise what I said myself.

"You..." Fujio's eyes widened. "You've met them before?"

I looked at them. They all seemed confused. Except Sachio. He had a poker face. That's what made me even more terrified. I had to come up with an acceptable excuse. Something is that they will easily believe.

I sneered. "Everyone knows Housen. I might not know their names but I can tell who the leaders are by their hair."

Wow, I didn't know I was this great at acting until now. The way I scoffed without stalling? Oh my... Sometimes I really was proud of myself no matter how stupid I am.

"That's true." Fujio nodded. "Except for Shoji, everyone has hair."

"It's called a buzz cut." Shoji pointed out from the back.

"That doesn't count." Yuken looked behind him, putting a hand in his pocket.

Honestly, I adored Yuken. His style was admirable. He had this blond hair which he would tie in a ponytail or a man bun. Also, his spectacles were like shades. It made him seem like some popstar. And the way he walked and talked? Men wish they were Odajima Yuken. Sometimes even I envied him.

... But he didn't need to know any of that.

"Mai," Fujio put his focus on me again. "We're going to eat. You should join us." His eyes were gleaming brightly. He really was hoping I'd say yes.

I need another excuse.

"But the groceries-" I picked up the packet.

"What did you even buy?" He snatched it from me and looked inside. He started digging beneath it.

"Yoghurt? Apples? Are you on a diet or something?" He grimaced as he rummaged through everything.

"How does it matter to you?" I crossed my arms over my chest.

He was embarassing me in front of Housen. Maybe it's normal for him to act like this in front of them but it was unusual for me. I don't even know these people. I mean, I did but I wasn't well acquainted with them.

Suddenly he pulled out a pack of sanitary pads.

He stared at it before he realised what it was. Immediately, he dropped it. I sighed and rolled my eyes. I saw everyone from Housen's breath hitch. Except Sachio's, of course. And Yuken somehow too. Sachio had a sister. He probably knew everything. Two gentlemen.

Fujio gulped and picked up the pack, dropping it inside the packet.

"Are you done?" I lent out my hand.

"Yes." He smiled nervously, giving the packet back to me. "Well, the point is, you don't have to keep these at home right away. So, you can come with us."

Another excuse. I need another excuse. I've run out of believable ones.

But as I looked into Fujio's puppy eyes, I changed my mind.

"Fine."