Strawberry Season [Karushuu]

Chapter 3

(P.O.V : Asano)

"You know, I waited for like 30 minutes at the gate-"
Akabane said, while dropping his bag next to his desk.
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"Stop complaining! I told you I had to attend the meeting."
I explained, while writing down some notes.
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"I don't understand why you're at school this early! It's 6:30 am..."
The redhead sat down, placed his head on the desk and stared at me.
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"Unlike you, I have to do very important things at this time. I didn't ask you to come this early. It was your own decision. What are you doing here anyway?"
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"I just wanted to talk to you-"
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I looked up and met his eye.
"Talking to me about what?"
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"Nothing special- I just wanted to ask if you're free next weekend..."
He said and looked away.
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"Why?"
I couldn't figure out what he was thinking.
He never asked me about the weekends.
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"You'll see!~"
The grinning boy got up and walked towards the doorway.
I watched him leaving the room and sighed.
"Meet me saturday morning at 9 am at my place- And now excuse me, I have a very important meeting with my beloved strawberry milk. Maybe I'll be back for the 3th lesson."
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'Why is he always so complicated?'
I asked myself.
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During lunch break, I kept looking for him but he didn't show up.
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I met him at the gate after school when he called out to me.
"Late as always!~"
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I ignored what he said.
It's pretty normal for the student council president to stay in school for a bit longer than normal students do.
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"I told you. You don't have to wait for me, if it's such a burden to you, Akabane."
I said and walked right past him.
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"You are no fun-"
The redhead said, while he started to catch up to me.
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"I don't see why this should be 'funny'."
I told with a cold expression on my face.
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"Do you even know what fun means?"
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I was about to say something, but he continued.
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"I kinda feel pity for you tho."
I looked at him and few seconds later I met his glare.
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"I mean you are faking your expression, emotions and feelings EVERY DAY."
He said, without even caring how I would react.
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I sighed.
"Why'd this matter to you anyway?"
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He looked away and it took him a while before he said something.
"I just want you to know that I care."
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"Care? For what?"
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He looked at me with a slight smile on his lips.
"For you, Asano."
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I stopped, making him to turn around in confusion.
I didn't know why this hit me but something about his words bothered me more than it should.
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"I don't need you to care for me. I'm perfectly fine."
I explained, looking quite annoyed.
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He opened his mouth to say something, but decided to shut his lips back together and glared at the floor.
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"Look, I-"
I begun, but he cut off my words.
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"That's not your decision."
He stared at me with a certain look on his face, which made me feel kinda uneasy.
It was the first time I saw this expression of Akabane.
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"Wh-"
He cut me off again.
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"That's the reason I never said this to anyone before."
He whispered and turned around again, leaving me behind to think about his words.
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I couldn't figure out what I did wrong.
I couldn't figure out why he even told me such a crap.
I wasn't able to find the true message behind his words.
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The moment I arrived at home, my father had already finished eating his lunch and worked on his laptop.
I took my plate out of the fridge and sat down at the table right in front of him.
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We never talked at lunch or anywhere except for school.
After I finished I placed the plate on the sink and went upstairs to my room.
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My room wasn't anything special either, except I kept it clean.
My walls were painted in a light shade of grey and my furnitures were decorated with some similar colors.
I never used my wall-mounted TV and I barely used my phone, which seemed to be the latest on the market.
Most of the time I concentrated on my books or my laptop to review my notes I've written down during class.
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I didn't want to experience another disgrace.
I wouldn't let Akabane beat me again.
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While I thought of him, I reminded myself of his words.
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'Why do I even care?'
I thought, sat down on my bed and started scrolling down on my laptop.
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I've never cared for anyone except for myself and my own feelings but I felt something strange slowly changing inside of me.
I just couldn't figure out what it was.
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It really bothered me that it bothered me so much.
I didn't want to care for other persons.
'It would only make me weak and distract me.'