Did someone say Exams?

“So, what happened?”, well, someone’s eager.

I sigh, “Hinata won…”

“Well, that’s obvious!”, Nari retorted quick. I hate the obvious.

“Since Aki was no longer the topper, who took his place?”

“What? Oh, Mary…”

“Right, Mary, then Hinata and then…?”

Why is she looking at me like that? “That’s it?”, I answered back.

Her face was in disbelief, “What?”

“There wasn’t another person…?”

“You’re going in circles.”, but I do get what she’s trying to say in a way. “You’re saying that the elections should’ve been held in-between the top three of both sports and study category?

Nari nodded.

“No… it was only the top two.”, I replied.

“What? Wait… did this change because of you?”, her eyes were kind of filled with rage. She grabbed my hands.

“No!”, I put my hands up. “I had nothing to do with this!”

She slumped her shoulders and pondered, “Aki’s grades also plummeted… I doubt you had much to do that as well.”

“Is Aki an important character?”

She nodded a yes, “The third love interest.”

I did consider him to be one of the love interests but I forgot about it since he barely even talks in class.

“He has shown zero interest in Hinata.”

Nari looked at me, “This arc was supposed to plant the seed…”

“And since he never participated…”, I finished her sentence.

“This story is going off the rails!”, she dishevelled her hair. Quite a good look on her honestly. Permanent bed hair.

“What’s the next arc?”, I go to my main agenda of this trip. Alright the second main agenda after the help needed to forget about what happened today in school.

“The exam arc of course!”

The exam… arc…? Wait what exams?

“You did know we have our exams in two weeks, right?”

“What? Of course I knew that!”, I lied.

“But what school has exams when the first month hasn’t even finished…?”

“This is a prestigious school!”, she smiled.

Right.

I wanted to ask her about Mary and her role in the story but I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready to hear that.

“Thanks. Let’s do our best… good luck.”, I cut the interaction short.

She nodded, “Good luck to you as well!”, she smiled.

We parted ways. I look back to check, just in case but there were no sight of her. I’ll assume that this was character development instead of the alternative and go on my way.

I reached home quite late, I think.

“Akari? Is that you?”, the mother asked me. “Where were you? Do you know the time?”

I do know the time. “I’m sorry, I went to a batting centre and lost track of the time…”

She sighed, “It’s fine. Go wash up. Your dinner is on the table.”

I wash up and go to the table, the dad’s already sitting there.

“So… a battle centre huh?”, he was all smiles.

“Are you finally going to follow your dad’s footsteps.”, he rubbed his nose, all proud.

“You were into baseball?”

“Yes! I even played for my school in the nationals!”

I did not know that. That’s impressive.

“Your brother loved football… and you soon followed.”, he made a rather sad face, almost dropping.

“Honey.”, the mother came near him, “You know we promised that we’ll let them follow their dreams.”, she kissed him on his forehead.

“I know…”, the father smiled a little, as the mother sat down beside him.

“I can play some baseball with you… if you want…?”, I would love to play baseball. It seems much more fun that football.

The father’s eyes lit up, “Really?”

I nodded. The mother laughed and gestured us to eat first.

Oh, how I missed you food. Time to eat!

“Oh, I forgot to tell you, but your brother’s going to come home in three weeks.”, said the mother as she picked up her chopsticks.

Just what I needed.

“Hopefully this will help us jog up your memories…”, she sighed.

“Honey…”

“I know, I know.”, she looked at me and patted my hair. “We love you, no matter what.”, she smiled.

I nodded with my heart stung. The rest of dinner was quiet, the food was good, my emotions weren’t.

Akari’s elder brother will come in three weeks… maybe that’s the next to next arc… can’t wait. I hope he doesn’t realize that something’s amiss but I’ll deal with that when the time comes.

I go hug the bed, I missed you too, you know.

 

I find myself in an empty space.

“Are you sure?”, a voice came from above. It was a giant person, maybe more than ten feet tall. I didn’t have a measuring tape or else I’d have measured them.

It looked like they were smiling… what did they say? Was I sure?

 

The birds woke me up, or the dream I barely remember, that I do not know. I don’t think I’ll fall asleep again so I might as well go to school. I wouldn’t have ever imagined to do this back when I was… me.

No point worry over spilt water. Time to go to school.

Akari’s mother’s great. The breakfast was somehow already ready. I’m really thankful… I really should’ve thought harder when I wanted to go to school early, I really didn’t want to inconvenience her but I think I did…

The roads were empty. Can’t say I dislike the feeling.

The school looked empty too, with just the guard standing in front of the gate. I go in and to the classroom expected it to be empty, which it was but there was a bag in Mary’s chair. Was she here?

Maybe I should go look for her? I will go look for her!

The exams are coming up, so it is kind of obvious where she’d be. One of the places I haven’t visited yet. The library.

The empty school was rather creepy. I certainly hope no ten foot person’s there. The library was on the top floor, they really wanted to make sure that our mind and our body was healthy at the same time.

It was open. There wasn’t anyone there though, no staff. Are we even allowed to be in here? All of those thoughts went out of my mind as soon as I saw Mary sitting alone with books surrounding her.

Should I go say hi? I mean why else would I even come here? Alright, here goes nothing.

I awkwardly go in front of her and sit down on the chair opposite to her. I don’t think she noticed me, “Hey…”, she still hasn’t noticed me. There’s no staff here so maybe I could go a little bit louder.

“HE-“, she suddenly looked at me, which scared me enough to let a little eek.

“Hi!”, Mary smiled, “What are you doing here?”

“I love to visit the library.”, she seemed to be fine.

“Really?”

“No…”, What should I even say?, “I saw your bag on your desk and assumed you were here.”, honesty is the best policy.

“Oh! We’ll here I am.”, she smiled again. I feel like something’s wrong. Should I ask her about the four votes?

“Here you are… indeed…”, I look at her with sad eyes, “About yesterday…”

Her smile sort of faded but she still tried her best to smile again, “Yes?”

I really shouldn’t do this, or should I? Why is this so complicated?

“You received four votes… did one of your friends…”

“No.”, she stopped me before I finished my sentence.

“They all voted for me.”, she smiled again as she looked down to her books.

Then doesn’t that mean…?

“It didn’t feel right to vote of myself, you know? Felt wrong…”, she added.

That does seem true. I don’t know what implications it means for Hinata though.

“And I think Hinata would do a great job, honestly!”, she looked at me, “I’m fine. Really! I just have to plant myself to my books and forget it ever happened!”

That doesn’t seem healthy.  

“Are you really…”

“Yes.”, she looked me dead in the eyes. “I know you’re worried about me but I really need to do something that I’m good at.”, she went back to her studies.

“I…”, she looked up again, “I just wanted to say thank you again… for supporting me throughout in your own way.”, she smiled, “It meant a lot to me.”

I would melt away right now if I could.

“If you ever need my help…”

“I didn’t do it for that…”

“I know! I just wanted to help you…”, she kept smiling before going back to her studies again.

“Right… so…”, alright now what, what should I ask her help for? I know I can wait but… Right!, “I forgot we had exams…”, her eyes lit up. “Can you help me study?”, I let out a soft awkward smile.

Her eyes lit up even more, “Of course!”, she closed her books, “What are you weak at?”

“Everything…”

“That’s no problem, I can help you!”, I haven’t seen her smile this much since the elections started.

This is probably for the best. Let’s help her go even deeper into her books. That’ll probably help her, or so I hope and I get to spend more time with her, which she doesn’t totally hate.

I do feel like she’s escaping from her feelings in a way but maybe that’s what she needs right now? I do not know. I just want to be there for her.

This is fine. I’ll make it be fine. I’ll try to make it be fine.