Blood Within Love [Editing And Checking For Errors]

What Are We? {7}

The students turned their heads as the back door of the classroom slid open. Kotoro and Sawako took their seats and tried to avoid the gaze of others. Sawako kept pulling down her skirt and tried to hide the rest with her bag. She didn't like the idea of others looking at her body. Kotoro placed the bag with the cakes on the floor and sat in his desk, keeping her in his peripheral vision. She stayed quiet and kept looking at her desk until the bell rang for lunch, she didn't want to stay in the classroom. She got up and placed her bag over her shoulder, heading for the roof to be alone. He followed her nonchalantly, the roof was his normal eating area. He went quietly to not disturb her. She looked around and found a place far away from the other groups, an empty bench was available on the far side of the roof. Walking over to it she sat down and leaned back against the wall. He knocked on the wall beside her "you look like you could use some company," he said calmly. She looked over at him and scooted over, allowing him to sit. Leaning back she closed her eyes and let out a silent sigh. He sat beside her and set the box containing the cake down. He looked at her and gently pushed it towards her as an offer.

"What you did today was already enough," she said, looking over at him.

"We both know I'm not going to be able to eat these on my own," he said convincingly.

"Maybe you can, I just don't feel completely better after what happened today, I don't even know your name," she looked at the floor.

"It's Kotoro." he said with a smile.

"I meant last name, I can't exactly call you by your first name," silence and awkwardness were a few words to describe this conversation.

"After what happened," he sat back against the wall and put his feet up on the bench "I feel like you can. If you don't want to, my last name is Nagasawa."

"That's better," she said feeling more polite.

He smiled "I'm glad." He spoke kindly, like he usually did.

"So, do you know my name?"she asked, it was weird not being known.  

"You're Iwasaki Sawako, correct?"

"Yeah, thats my name, is that the only thing you know about me?" she was nervous.

He smiled a little. "Relax. I just put faces to names during role call," he said as he chuckled.

"It's not that, you didn't see the video, did you?" looking back on it, it might have been recorded at the same time as it went live.

"What video?" He looked confused, but hid the truth well.

"Nevermind, just ignore it."

"understood" he said as he looked towards the sky.

She adjusted her skirt and put her bag on her lap. "Sorry, I'm just not used to people talking to me."

"Not a category I'm unknown to." he said as he exhaled

"So why exactly are you here?"

"I can't make friends?"

"I'm not sure if making friends with me is the best idea."

"Why is that?"

"When you saw me on the floor, you saw the marks on my stomach?"

"What are you referring to?"

"Id show you but, there are others around. My reputation at this school is tarnished. I don't have any friends because of it."

"Well that's not true." he looked at her after he spoke "I'm right here." he said with a smile.

"I just found out your name, I don't think that's how friends work. This is also the first real conversation we've had."

"You're turning down one of your only options for friendship here. Judging by how you speak of your reputation, I'd suggest taking it." His tone was still kind despite such a serious sentence.

"This isn't for me, this is so the problems I have don't go after you Nagasawa. You've already put yourself at risk by helping me today."

"Do I look like I care about social status? Besides, I'm more damaged than you are. I know you've seen the metal on my hand."

"I was startled by it. I still don't think it's a good idea. Either way, if you do become my friend, you'll probably end up leaving."

"For now I'm here to stay. If i know myself, that won't change."

She pondered it for a while, debating if she should trust him or not. She didn't have much to lose. "Alright Nagasawa."

He held out his hand "Friends?"

"Friends, but I'm not used to physical contact either."

He slowly and awkwardly retracted his hand "Sorry."

"It's alright, you barely know me so I don't expect you to be perfect with these sort of things."

"Good, because I'm not."

"Anyways, why the cake?"

"It's because I had no time for breakfast and the bakery was the closest area for food."

"The school has food though, I did help Oliver pick this one out yesterday."

"well I was hungry and school food is trash. Do you want some cake or not?"

"Sure."

He opens the container and lets her pick out her own slice, pulling out the plates and forks he brought. She grabs a plate and a fork, placing a slice of cake onto the plate. She took a bite and wiped the frosting off her lips. He took a piece of his own, eating it in a very low amount of time. She thought about how Oliver put his heart and soul into making the cake. He began eating his second piece of cake. She had just finished her first piece, she didn't really feel like having another. He set the rest of the cake in his bag and set the forks and plates in the trash

"We need to get back to class."

He nodded an agreement "Let's get going then"

Walking back to class she got more dirty looks from the girls in the hallway, she felt uncomfortable. He walked beside her in an attempt to reassure her, his stature intimidating to those who weren't on good terms with him. Being paranoid she felt something graze the back of her leg, she panicked quietly and kept walking. He kept pace with her though tried not to seem like he was trying to keep beside her by rushing. Walking into the class she sat in her seat and started reading her book. He sat in the seat beside her and set the bag under his desk. Hearing the bell ring she took out her notebook and pencil, trying her best to concentrate on the lecture. He sat and watched the lecture bored, as he normally did. Once class was done she placed her things into her bag and walked downstairs to her locker to change her shoes. He walked with her with average small talk along the way, waiting beside her and her locker to ensure safety. She put on her shoes and walked home. He walked with her until he had to split up to head to the nearby foster home. She headed home and took out her keys, unlocking the door. Feeling her phone vibrate she looked at the message she received. "Who's the new guy?" Ignoring this she placed her phone in her bag and went to take care of Sapphire.  From the bag fell a small sticky note that read "Call/text if you need anything." and listed a phone number, with the signature "-K". "How was he able to do this without me noticing, it's kind of creepy." Meanwhile life at Kotoro's foster home was never really easy, taking care of the many young foster brothers and sisters he mostly took care of since his foster mothers worked most of the time. Sawako placed her bag on the floor and took off her shoes, cradling Sapphire in her arms, the small girls blue eyes looked around the room. Kotoro was busy feeding a child and monitoring the other ones as they finished their homework and played around. She set Sapphire in her crib for the night and went to shower. The warm water made her feel better until she realized she'd have to wash the uniform she wore today and the one that got ruined. She washed her hair and dried off, stepping out into the cold night. Going into her room she got changed and sat on her bed, watching her daughter sleep soundly. She couldnt take it. She put on her shoes and a jacket, heading to the river under the bridge. The sound of the rushing water was beautiful and calming. No better time to be here than at night, as long as she kept an eye out, she'd be safe. Running her fingers through her damp hair, she looked at her reflection in the water, only to see someone right behind her.