Solving Cases is My Daily Life Now: Volume 3

Chapter 10

    Masaru Fukuhara's second year of high school had been considerably more dull than he imagined it would be. Then again, all of high school had been rather dull for him. It wasn't exactly as though he tried to make good friends, he never felt that he needed them, but not having people to talk to during the day sometimes had a tendency to make school life slow to a crawl. So he found himself walking to school alone that morning, tugging at his school uniform jacket and then running his hand through his shaggy pale orange hair. He had his school bag in his other hand, hoisted over his shoulder. Masaru was never one to be enthusiastic about his education, but carrying his bag around to pretend he intended on doing something seemed to appease his mother, at least.

"What's this? Masaru Fukuhara is arriving to school early?" He heard a voice behind him say.

Masaru turned his head slightly to see Momoka, a classmate of his and probably the only person he would call a friend besides his sister.

"Not intentionally, I assure you." He replied casually, "My mother had to leave early today and hanging around at home alone has a tendency to depress me."

"Doesn't being at school always depress you too?" Momoka asked with a smirk.

"It sure does." Masaru replied with sarcastic enthusiasm.

Momoka giggled.

"Your life is a struggle for sure." She said with a chipper voice.

"I'm glad someone else finally sees it." Masaru said, looking up at the sky.

"You know if you're searching for purpose, you could always join the band club with me." Momoka suggested, "You've mentioned that you can play piano before, and I'm going to be trying for club President next year!"

Masaru shook his head.

"It's been years since I've even tried. And besides, it'd take up too much of my time." He said.

"Oh yeah?" She looked over at him, "What do you do with your time that can't be missed?"

Masaru felt his mood dampen, the only way he ever got through the day was by not thinking about it.

"Something important." He replied simply, hoping she wouldn't pry.

Momoka looked him up and down as they entered the school building, before giving him a shrug.

"Suit yourself. But the offer will always be there." She said, "It's early in the school year, so you have plenty of time."

"Thanks, Momoka." He said, keeping his gaze forward to avoid letting on that his mind was wandering.

"You know, everyone else calls me Momo." Momoka pointed out, looking away from him.

"I've never been much for nicknames." Masaru replied, finding himself growing tired of conversing.

"That didn't stop you from calling me by my first name as soon as we met!" She shot back.

"I've also never been much for formalities." He said simply.

"I think you're living in the wrong country, then." Momoka said, looking back at him.

"Maybe so." Masaru said, idly looking at the students as they walked by.

Momoka simply looked at him for a moment.

"You're a strange one, Masaru." She finally concluded.

"Am I?" Masaru asked, not expecting or wanting an actual answer.

Thankfully they entered the classroom around that time, so Masaru hurried to his desk and sat down, leaning back in his chair and staring at the ceiling as he waited for class to begin.