A Familiar Stranger

New Connections

Chapter 3: New Connections

---

Kakeru's POV:

I stand outside the school entrance, lost in thought, when suddenly—

"Whoa, sorry about that!"

A careless push sends me stumbling backward. I regain balance, frowning at the perpetrator.

A charismatic but slightly arrogant-looking boy, flashes an apologetic smile.

"Dude, I'm so sorry! I got caught up in the conversation."

His friends chuckle and tease him, unfazed by the minor collision.

I brush off the encounter, though my instincts tense.

"No worries," I reply curtly, adjusting my sleeve.

Akira's eyes sparkle with curiosity, but I'm not interested in small talk.

I nod curtly and turn to leave, dismissing the apology.

Akira calls out, "Hey, I'm Akira!" but I didn't look back.

I weave through the bustling hallway, anxious to escape the commotion.

Takeru's familiar face appears in the crowd, a concerned expression on his face.

"Kakeru, what's wrong?" he asks, falling into step beside me.

I shake my head, not wanting to make a big deal.

"Nothing. Just... crowded."

Takeru's eyes linger on me, sensing there's more.

Takeru nods, respecting my boundaries. "Okay....by the way, did you check the class schedule?"

I shake my head, grateful for the change in subject. "Not yet. What's our first class?"

"Math," Takeru replies, making a face. "But at least we're in it together."

We exchange a brief smile, and I feel a slight easing of tension.

.

.

.

Takeru and Kakeru sat in math class, Room 204, surrounded by the familiar scent of chalk and scribbled notes. While the teacher, Ms. Nakahara, explained complex equations on the blackboard, Kakeru's attention drifted.

Instead of focusing on the lesson, Kakeru's gaze wandered to Takeru, who sat across the room, intently taking notes. Kakeru's eyes lingered on Takeru's profile, noticing the faint furrow between his eyebrows as he concentrated.

Ms. Nakahara's stern voice cut through Kakeru's reverie. "Kakeru, pay attention! You're not following the lesson."

Kakeru's cheeks flushed as he hastily returned his gaze to the blackboard. Takeru glanced over, concern etched on his face.

Ms. Nakahara continued, "You've been warned, Kakeru. Stay focused."

Takeru subtly nodded encouragement, and Kakeru forced himself to concentrate on the math problems.

Kakeru's gaze drifted again, his mind wandering despite his efforts to focus. Ms. Nakahara's voice became a distant hum as he thought about Takeru's concerned expression.

Before he knew it, the bell rang, signaling the end of the period and the start of morning break.

Takeru packed up his belongings and approached Kakeru. "Hey, you okay? You seemed spaced out."

Kakeru rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Just... couldn't focus."

Takeru nodded sympathetically. "Want to grab some fresh air? We can sit outside."