9.8 Meters a Second. [Complete]

6: What a Bat Does

He saw me sitting at the table I had chosen, and... Smiled at me.
I feel all warm inside.
He goes over to the counter and gets a drink and I think a lemon custard stick. I notice he's dressed very well to his body. He has on an orange tee and some jeans that fit him very well. So cute...
His walk is brisk and precise, almost mechanic but more fluid. It's quick, and he's at my table in nearly a second. He sits down across from me and takes a sip of his drink.
"Can you help me?" Orange- I mean, Inaho,- asked politely.
"How?" I ask, feeling a bit too hot in my sweater.
For once, Inaho shows emotion. He looks, well, shy.
And it's adorable.
"I wanna know."
I gave him another vexed look.
"I... Wanna know a lot. I wanna know about you and her."
I open my mouth to speak, but I decide against it, and my head falls, but my eyes remain transfixed to his face. "Are you gonna say something?"
I'm still silent, but look back up to him.
"She and I aren't... Like that." I tell him in full honesty.
He presses further.
"Is she like that with anyone?"
"I don't... I don't know." I sigh, feeling embarrassed.
"Do you like her?"
"No... I like someone else," I admit to him.
"Well then... Uh... Can I ask you a few questions about her?"
"Fire away, fire away." I regain my composition with a sigh.

About 45 minutes later, he's done loading up on information, all about Asseylum and myself.
He's paused for a moment, and then took one of my hands in his own.
"Slaine," he says, a near whisper from his voice... It's alluring.
"I'd like to talk to you more."
My face is on fire, and my hand is in his. Is he doing this on purpose? Is he trying to make me blush?
"Okay..." I mumble out, and his hold on my hand tightens, before letting go.
"I think we can be good friends," he admits.
I watch him closely and I almost think I see a blush on his porcelain skin.
I can tell I'm doing the same.
He leans back in his chair, and sighs.
"What do you do outside of classes?" He asks randomly.
"I read... Write, I guess."
"That all?"
"Yeah."
Inaho looks like he's deciding something.
"What's your favorite breakfast food?"
Before I can answer, a girl with dark hair and bright eyes approaches our table.
"Oh, Hey Yuki." Inaho greets her.
"Hey little bro. You ready to go?"
He looks at me for a second, and smiles at me. I get that warm feeling again.
"Yeah, I guess so. I'll see you around Slaine."
He stands up, and waves goodbye to me.
As he walks away with Yuki, I hear her say;
"Oh, hes a cutie! Do you liiiiike him?" Almost as if she's mocking.
His answer is muffled, I just wish I could hear him...
I text my dad and let him know I'm ready to head out to the Flea market.
I look around and see that at some point Calm and Nina must have left. Weird.
Dad pulls up in a sports car. He steps out in a red suit, and has a black cane.
"Hello, Slaine."
"This is the car you chose for a trip to a flea market?"
"Why not? Is it too flashy?"
"A bit," I sigh.
"Anyways, how did the man-date go?" Cruhteo questions.
"It... It wasn't a date," I shy up.
"Of course it wasn't. Let's get over to the market and you can tell me on the way."
"Daaaaaaaad..." I groan out.
"Aw come on," Cruhteo smiled, getting back in the car. I get in on the passenger side and put one of my headphones in. "Well?" He presses, getting me to talk.
"I dunno," I begin. "He just wanted to talk to me. He wants to be friends."
"Friends, huh? That's good. I think you should be more social."
We're both quiet as we cruise through the streets. I think back to him holding my hand... How nervous I got... How good it felt.

It was in that moment I realize that there is an exception to the Law of Acceleration of Gravity. There is one object that will fall faster than an acceleration of 9.8 meters a second, and that object is love.
I am totally and utterly in love with Inaho Kaizuka, and that may be the most important thing I've ever said.