The Other Half On The Second Floor

Chapter Nine

Monday arrived fast. Over the course of the short weekend, Kaito had seemed to get better, as much as one can in two mere days. But Akemi hadn't contacted Kaito since that Saturday afternoon. I could tell that he didn't want to talk any further about it. So I dropped the subject.

When I walked into my classroom, everyone seemed as though they had been waiting for something, or someone. At first, I was of course confused, then I remembered my teacher's announcement last week. Today a new student was joining our class. I'd been so caught up with Kaito, I had forgotten about the student. Still, I didn't care much about them. Well, that was what I was telling myself until the very moment they walked into the class. The student arrived slightly after the bell rang, because he was a new student, the teacher forgave and forgot. But when he walked into the classroom, nothing could've prepared me for what I saw.

He looked exactly like Nanase. If I didn't know any better, I would've thought it WAS Nanase.

He writes his name in hiragana on the board and bows down, "Good morning everyone! I'm Akiyama Takahashi, it's a pleasure to meet everyone."

The girls immediately begin to whisper about how good-looking he was, they weren't exactly quiet. My eyes widen with horror. It can't be. That person standing before us can't be Nanase, there's no way. But they did have the same last name- Takahashi. The new boy starts to find a seat, the girls are practically begging for him to sit next to them. I'm not sure if this was okay for me to say, but he was handsome. Not as much as Kaito however. Out of all the seats, he chose the seat directly next to mine. He settles down and looks over at me, he must've noticed my petrified look, "Hi Eiichi!"

I don't say anything, I just turn around and the lessons start. Was hell going to start again as well?

I could hardly concentrate during class. Not with someone who looked like my dead, if he even was, ex-boyfriend sitting right next to me. But I was grateful when the bell for lunch rang. I scram to get my stuff into my bag as fast as I could, but Akiyama stood in front of my desk and I stopped almost immediately.

"Eiichi! You didn't say hi back earlier!" He says, giving me a pouty face.

"Uh, hi?" I squeak.

He laughs, "Cat cut your tongue? Come on, I have to talk to you."

"No!" I say sternly, "I'm not going anywhere with you."

He sighs and rubs the back of his head, "Guess it can't be helped. But let me assure you, Eiichi, I'm not Nanase."

"First of all, don't call me by my name so casually. Second, how do you know Nanase?"

He stares me dead in my eyes, "If you come with me, I'll explain."

My curiosity was beginning to get to me. He looks like Nanase and he knew him? I reluctantly get up and follow Akiyama. I text Kaito.

Me: Sorry Kaito. But I can't have lunch with you today, I'll explain later. I'm sorry :(

Kaito: Oh, okay. I'll see you later, no worries!

We go outside on the bench and sit down. Akiyama calmly gets his onigiri out and starts to eat. I stare at him blankly.

"What? You want some?" He says with a full mouth.

"No, thanks. So, are you going to explain or?"

He swallows his food, "Oh, right. I'm not Nanase. I could tell you were starting to think I was by your face, but I'm not him, I'm his twin brother."

"Twin? He never told me he had a twin, not even that he had a brother."

"There were a lot of things he didn't tell you. Of course, I knew about you, he didn't try to keep you a secret much-"

I cut him off, "What happened to him?" I look up at Akiyama and feel tears form in my eyes. "Why'd he leave?"

He composedly looks away and back to his food, "You really want to know, huh? Well then, I'll tell you."