The Girl of No Words

Secret

The next day, and the day after that, Akane made lunches and always sat with me in the classroom. We talked a bit outside of lunch, too. The students look at me a bit funny, since it was odd that I had become friends with the new student so quickly. I don't mind it too much, though. She told me she doesn't like hanging out with the other girls in our class, as they always talk about guys they like; among other things. Apparently she's not interested in that. Not that I'm judging.

And, not to be rude, but, something's... strange about her. Akane doesn't seem like any of the other girls I know. It's not just the fact that she doesn't like stereotypical 'girl' things. I'm not sure what it is. She just seems... different.

"Takahashi-kun?"

Oh, crap. That's right. I'm in the middle of class.

"Um, yes?" I didn't hear anything Miss Monokumo had said. Man, I should stop thinking about so many things at school!

"Spacing out again, I see." She smiles gently. "I was asking you to read the first paragraph."

"O-Of course. Sorry."

The class snickers. They always laugh at anyone who doesn't pay attention, even if it was their own friends. I guess they find it funny whenever the teacher calls on someone. High schoolers are so immature sometimes.

I sink down a bit in my chair as Miss Monokumo hushes the class, and I start reading out of the textbook.

Well, that was embarrassing...

I always seem to space out in class. Actually, not even just in class. No matter where I am or what I'm doing, I always seem to think about too many things at once, causing me to ignore anyone, and anything, around me. I wish there was something I could do about that.

"Hey, Kenji." Akane's voice reminds me it's lunchtime. She sits at her desk next to me and hands me her lunch.

"Um, thanks," I say. Even though she's given it to me a few times, I still take her lunch hesitantly. I didn't like accepting these kinds of things from people -- such as money -- because, I guess I just feel like I'm taking the things from them. I don't know why; it's just a feeling, I guess. "Are you sure you can keep doing this? Don't you ever eat lunch?"

"I eat at home. Plus, I don't eat all that much, anyway."

"What d'you mean?", I ask. I'm still a bit confused as to what she's talking about. Every time she answers this type of question, it sounds like she's hiding something.

"I, uh... I just mean... That I don't eat as much as I should, I guess. But don't worry about me. I'm alright." Just like before, she responds with an odd answer. She always seems hesitant when it comes to food.

"... That reminds me: why did you avoid my question the other day?"

Akane glances at me, to see if my question was rhetorical or not. I mean, of course I meant it. I'm really concerned about her. She never eats, and she's always doing work in class and reading like there's no tomorrow. It seemed she wanted to finish her work as quickly as she could, like she had something important to do after school.

After a moment of silence, she breathes out and speaks.

"Meet me after school, outside the front entrance," she says. "... Just don't be late."

She pulls out a book from her schoolbag and starts reading.

"... Um, what do you mean by--"

"Oiii, Kenji!!"