It had been a few days since i went to Yuuko''s house and got slightly closer to Anri.


    Since then, my days have changed quite a little bit.


    I''ve been running into Anri more frequently on my way to school, to begin with. And the most surprising part about it, is that i''ve been waking up a bit earlier recently, and getting to school on time.


    She''d take a slight detour to wait for me at the station with Yuuko, and they''d wait for me, so we could walk to school together.


    Today, was one of those days where that happened. And currently, im doing nothing but recapping to myself on the day i just had.


    I don''t get any less weird, don''t it?


    —Mizuno, read the next lines, please.  —our literature teacher spoke up and demanded me to read.


    I was already lying down on my desk, so i covered my face with my bangs and closed my eyes, pretending to be asleep.


    Honestly, it''d be way easier if i just stood up, read out whatever i get asked for quickly and just go back to zoning out, but for some weird reason, i just don''t feel like seeing everyone stare at me in some way.


    I feel a bit uncomfortable, ever since i left my house. Even when walking with Anri and Yuuko, something felt a bit off.


    And i can''t really shake this feeling off, or pinpoint what''s exactly causing it.


    After our teacher gave up in getting through to me, i checked the time on my phone through the corner of my eye, and it was about to be 12:00PM, which meant...


    I heard the bell ring before i even finished my thought. It''s lunch break, and i have absolutely nothing to do, so i guess i''ll follow Yuuko around today.


    —Haru, want to come with me to the cafeteria?  —Yuuko asked as she was putting her notebook away inside of her bag.


    —Sure. Wait, won''t it be really full? —i asked a bit concerned, given i don''t really like crowds that much.


    —It should be fine. Unlike you, i always go there so don''t worry about it.


    Yuuko''s words gave me a little bit of peace of mind, and i walked behind her smiling.


    As we were making our way to the cafeteria, a small idea popped up in my head, so i decided to act on it.


    —Yuuko, can you grab a seat for us? I''ll go get Anri. —i ran back quickly as i finished speaking to her.


    I made my way to the 2-B classroom, and as i peeked through out the door, i noticed most people were eating in here.


    I heard a few whispers which were along the likes of "isn''t that Mizuno-senpai" and "Its her" but i really paid no attention at all towards them and looked with my eyes for...


    Found her!


    —Anri, come with me for a little bit!  —i made my way to her desk, as i practically dragged her by the arm outside of the classroom.


    We swiftly made our way to the 1st floor, and before we went into the cafeteria, i wanted to have a small little chat with her.


    I don''t know why, but i didn''t want Yuuko to see this side of me.


    —Mizuno-senpai, what''s wrong? —Anri exclaimed, surprisingly calm.


    —Nothing. I was bored, so i looked for you.  —i had my back turned towards her, and i told her my genuine intentions.


    —Then, what do you want me to do exactly?


    I turned around to face her.


    —Just keep me company for a little bit, that''s all. I do get pretty lonely, don''t you remember? —i made the same gesture i did back then, leaning in close to her while smirking.


    Only that this time, Anri was pretty calm about it, and she just smiled back at me.


    —You''re a bit of a handful, Mizuno-senpai —Anri complained with quite the cute smile in her face.


    Oh. I called her cute.


    —Maybe i am. Well, im not forcing it on you, so if you want...


    —Im not leaving. Besides, anywhere''s better than that classroom for me, and you know it.


    Her expression turned a bit gloomy as she muttered that quietly.This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.


    I grabbed her arm again and pushed her slightly closer to me.


    —Then, i''ll just have to drag you out like i did today every day, right? —i smiled gently at her. My heart was starting to beat a little faster, but i paid no attention to it, and tried my hardest to drag this small little moment of us as long as possible.


    —You''re actually a bit of a pain in the ass, Mizuno-senpai.


    I got on my knees exaggeratedly and pretended to be in severe pain.


    —That hurts! And i was being serious about it, i really did feel a bit lonely!


    And when i stopped doing my stupid act, Anri started laughing like i''ve never seen her before.


    I don''t really get it, but she just got a lot... brighter.


    —I''ll play along, don''t worry. I didn''t mean it.


    I got back up, and i grabbed hold of her arm again.


    —Then, come with me.


    This time, i was a lot more gentle, and soft with the way i dragged her.


    "It wasn''t a bad idea at all"  i thought to myself, as i was grinning from this small moment we shared together.


    —Took you long enough, Haru. Also, nice to see you too, Hanamiya.


    Yuuko was waiting with a slightly annoyed look on her face.


    —I went to get Anri. Can you at least pretend not to be annoyed at it? —i told Yuuko, trying to poke fun at her.


    —I knew you were going to get Anri, yet you still took pretty damn long to just go towards 2-b, Haru.


    Anri locked eyes with me, and i tried my hardest to tell her with my eyes, not to mention anything else.


    —Yuuko-senpai, i was a bit busy when she came to get me. Im sorry —she apologized pretty damn sincerely for it to be a small lie.


    Im a bit scared of you now, Anri...


    —Well, whatever the case is, its fine. Let''s eat quickly, both of you.


    Anri and i both sat down in front of Yuuko.


    Yuuko and Anri both pulled out both of their bentos, and started eating.


    —Hanamiya, do you make your bentos yourself? —Yuuko asked.


    Anri nodded, and she didn''t really elaborate any further. She feels a lot more guarded now than she was before, with me.


    Maybe im overthinking things, but...


    No, it''s fine. Haruna, don''t start trying to guess other people''s business.


    —Yuuko is really good at cooking, Anri. You should steal a few bites of her food if you can. She doesn''t let me.


    Anri stared at me quietly for a few seconds, and as if she noticed something very wrong, she got a bit concerned instantly.


    —Mizuno-senpai, i just realized that you aren''t eating anything at all. Are you okay?


    Ahh, so that''s the case. Oh well, i get why she''d be concerned about it.


    —I get pretty sick if i eat around this time, so i never do. Its...


    Yuuko covered my mouth with her hand, and stopped me from elaborating any further, probably to throw a jab at me.


    —She''s been this way since she was around 6, she says. I don''t believe her for a second at all. Worst of all, she''s taller than me and she''s very slim. It''s unfair... —Yuuko started pouting as she complained about it.


    —The reason you get sick is probably because you never eat early in the first place, Mizuno-senpai. You can''t do that.  —Anri added with a pretty serious voice.


    She was also staring at me pretty closely, and she didn''t seem to have any intention of backing off at all.


    It was a bit... bittersweet to have her worry about that out of all things.


    —Im sorry...


    —No. Don''t say that you''re sorry. Instead, please try to change that. No matter what''s the case, you have to take care of yourself.


    For some reason, her words hit a bit of a weak spot within me, since every single time i mention this, people just make fun of me for being airheaded, lazy or something else.


    But this girl, she''s actually just concerned about my wellbeing.


    This genuine kindness... it kinda stings a little bit.


    I know damn well i can''t do these things for myself. So with someone by my side, bringing out the best in me, and straightening my spine...


    "I can''t take the weight of two people at once, Ruu-chan. You''re too much."


    A chill went down my spine, and before i could answer, i froze in place, with my breathing quickly getting faster and faster.


    Anri and Yuuko both just stared at me without mentioning anything, but... im sure they noticed something''s wrong with me.


    I took a deep breath, and made sure to properly meet Anri''s eyes before speaking.


    —I can''t promise anything, but... i''ll try. —i barely got my voice out, as Anri took a bit of distance from me and smiled gently.


    —I''ll settle with that, for now. —she proudly accentuated the "for now".


    Yuuko didn''t say a single world through out this entire exchange, and i could feel her gaze being fixated on me.


    I don''t know exactly way, but the way Yuuko reacts to certain things when Anri''s around... it makes me feel like something''s there.


    But i can''t really grasp what it is, so i''ll just bury it deep in my head, and move on from it.


    The rest of the day went pretty uneventful. Yuuko rarely spoke to me through out the day, and i could really feel that there was something wrong with her, but i didn''t have the mental strength in me to speak about it.


    I played a really bad prank on myself by having the worst possible memory come up in my head at the worst moment possible.


    After i left from school, Yuuko was nowhere to be seen, so i just left on my own, to find a familiar face waiting for me at the entrance.


    I know where this is headed. But am i really okay enough to play along with her?


    I don''t really know. I''ll just pass by, and if she reaches out to me then i''ll oblige.


    —Mizuno-senpai, wait a second. — Anri grabbed my hand very softly, as she did reach out to me.


    I didn''t answer back, but i stopped moving, and waited patiently for her to talk.


    —Can we take a walk, for now?


    I nodded, and she let go of my hand, making sure to stay in front of me.


    She didn''t say anything, but i knew where she was heading. We were walking along the beach side, nearing the same spot where we first talked to each other.


    —Lets sit down here.


    We both sat down on the sand, while staring at the ocean nearby and i took a deep breath, to hopefully be able to do this right.


    —It''s been just about nothing. We don''t really know each other really well, and im well aware of it. But, i feel like i can grasp you pretty well, Mizuno-senpai.


    She took a few seconds of silence, to observe my reaction, which was sadly just a plain expression.


    Regardless, she kept speaking.


    —You''re playful, you''re airheaded, and you''re pretty sly. That''s how you act at school.


    —That''s right.


    —And while you are that way, you''re also pretty... fragile.


    I couldn''t answer that question, because i didn''t feel able to.


    —The first time i thought you looked pretty lonely, was when i brought up Nishida-senpai.


    Another few seconds of silence. I didn''t feel like confirming or denying anything, since it hardly mattered to Anri.


    —I thought it was just my imagination, but the way you try to joke around with feeling lonely, and the way you reacted earlier today... you really aren''t alright, aren''t you?


    She''s right, but... I can''t just tell her straight up.


    —It was just a memory. I''ll cheer up in a little bit... — i subconsiously tried lying my way out of this way knowing well this girl was different.


    Then, Anri grabbed both of my hands and pulled me closer towards her.


    —I can tell more than anyone, since im the same as you. For these next minutes, and just for today... you don''t have to pretend. No one else can hear us, and if you want me to i''ll never bring this up again. But be honest with yourself, please.


    It took me about a minute to process what she''s saying.


    Do i even have a true reason to trust her?


    I can''t deny that i''ve felt a lot more comfortable with her than even with Yuuko, but... i don''t need to do this.


    I''ll be fine by myself.


    This has happened before, it''ll hapen again...


    I''ll just...


    —I can finally see what your real expression looks like. —Anri took off my glasses and pushed my bangs out of the way as she drew her face near to me.


    I could feel a few tears fall down my cheek, and i realized that i fell completely into her grasp, for this moment.


    Right now, i didn''t even get the time to decide if i truly wanted to show this vulnerable, and pitiful side of myself to her... she just dragged it out of me.


    I started crying.


    How long has it really been since i felt like i could get this weight out of my chest?


    I don''t really know.


    But while my tears keep falling down... the thought that maybe someday i''d get back to who i used to be didn''t seem that far off.