The two of them were now standing, their arms resting on the railings, small chatter escaping their lips as they talked like old friends reuniting.
"Are your parents back from their trip?"
Keith asked while looking at the blue sky on the horizon, which looked like a radiant glittering ocean. The clouds weren't present, it was as if they had gone on vacation, leaving the sky in its lonesome.
Akira's facial features were complimented by the beautiful view of the horizon as she looked at it alongside him. The clear blue sky reflected in her eyes that held the color of life in them as she replied sweetly.
"Yeah, why?"
"No reason, I was just wondering." Keith murmured as he grabbed his bento box. "I think we should head back before the bell rings."
"Good idea… Oh no!"
"What's wrong?"
"I was supposed to go to the restroom, and return to my friends for lunch, but just as always, I got sidetracked…"
Akira laughed awkwardly while scratching her cheek with her finger, a small nervous sweat sliding down her forehead.
Keith watched her as he realized that he had never seen this side of her. It occurred to him that there were a lot of things he didn't know about her, in fact he didn't know her at all. His heart seemed to beat calmly as he pondered silently.
So she can laugh awkwardly too, I guess there's a lot I don't know about her. I wish there was a way for me to get to know her better. Wait what if—?
Keith's thought was cut off by a gentle voice that echoed in his ears as he returned to reality, deviating from his thoughts.
"Earth to Keith, are you still with me?"
"Uh… yes, sorry. I got lost in thought."
"Pfft—hahahaha… Dude you should've seen your face, you looked like a cat begging for his mommy, hahahaha…"
I forgot how much of a tease she is. Keith thought, his face looking embarrassed.
"No I didn't." He said looking away from her, his face burning with embarrassment.
"Yes you did, and you looked so cute too, hehehehe…"
Akira continued laughing as Keith opened the roof door for her. She walked in and Keith followed. They walked down the stairs as Akira finally composed herself while wiping a tear of joy from her eye.
While Keith was still embarrassed but now for a new reason, he was embarrassed because one word was stuck in his mind.
She said, I was cute… How could she just say something like that without getting embarrassed. Whatever, she didn't mean it, she was just teasing you dude, get a grip.
While Keith was still lost in his head, Akira finally asked, her voice was like gentle waves as she held her hands behind her back, taking each step down the stairs with grace.
"Hey, Keith."
"Mhm?"
"Where do you live? I've been kinda wondering all this time, but you don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable with it."
"It's fine. I live in Kabukichō."
Akira's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at him with a funny face, then she said, her voice both calming and full of warmth.
"Really? Well I guess that makes sense when you think about it."
Keith then walked faster and stopped in front of Akira as they were now midway down the stairs. He exhaled, his eyes looking into hers. Now he reflected in her eyes and she reflected in his as he finally let out his words.
"Uhm, Akira-san, I… I was kinda wondering and uhm, well… will you… would you like to be my friend? Of course you don't have to, but…"
"Hehehehe… What are you talking about… hehehehehe…"
"Did I say something wrong?"
"No, you goober, hehehehe…"
"Why are you laughing at me then?" Keith inquired, his cheeks reddening yet again.
"Nothing, forget about it. Look, you and I are already friends as far as I'm concerned, unless you didn't see it that way."
"Well I just thought that you need to ask in order to be someone's friend, isn't that how it works?"
"You really are a goober, huh. Listen Keith," Akira purred, looking him straight in the eyes. "To me it doesn't matter whether we met yesterday, today or maybe even if we met tomorrow."
Keith listened to her, his eyes shimmering in awe. The way she talked, the way her face glowed while looking at him, and the sight of her petite athletic build, all of these combined made his slightly frozen heart race.
"As long as it was you, then I'm sure that we would have become friends without any kind of friendship ritual or whatever, because even though it was brief… You and I have been through a lot together. So there's no need for you to ask. We're friends, okay… goober."
Akira murmured as she closed her right eye and lifted her right hand and pressed her finger against his cheek. She smiled, her grin brighter than the sun, but still as beautiful as a sunflower in the golden light of the giant star. Keith smiled a little as she removed her hand, then he demanded kindly.
"Alright, but please stop calling me that."
"Calling you what? A goo-ber, hahahaha…"
"Yes, that. I'm nowhere close to being naive, and I'm definitely not foolish."
"Why, though. It fits you perfectly, because to me it means cute-kun. My goober-kun."
"In what world does it mean cute. Jeez, you've been teasing me since we left the roof, haven't you had enough already?"
"Nope, I'm having too much fun, Tee-he-he"
"What are you, a middle schooler?"
"Who knows… maybe I am… Hehehehe…"
As they quarreled down the stairs they finally made it to the second year's floor and walked through the hallway while still continuing their childish banter. Then they made it to her class.
"I'll see you after school, okay, goober-kun."
Keith blushed and frowned playfully.
"I told you to… forget it, I'll see you later, I guess."
Akira entered her class looking happier than ever, more happy than she had been in a week or so. While Keith sauntered down the hall and made it to his class, then he opened the door, which was closed for some reason.
He walked to his seat and sat there by himself, casually looking out the window. His face steamed as he thought of their earlier conversation.
That's all it took for us to become friends. I didn't think it would be so… Well, easy.
Keith's eyes transitioned to the sky as he continued his introspection in his thoughts.
I wonder, would she reject me if I asked her out. Wait, what am I even thinking, she's way out of my league… But what if she actually said… "yes"? No, I shouldn't get my hopes up, or else… I'll end up like last time.
Having thought that, a girl with champagne blonde hair and blue eyes appeared in his head. Immediately a sad and pained look crossed his face.
In that instance, he lay his head on the desk, as he relived a moment where he lacked the courage to do what can only be described as confessing his feelings.
While Keith was still wallowing, Sophia walked into the class and headed straight towards him. She stood in front of his desk and took a deep breath.
"Hello, Kei. It's been a minute. How have you been?"
Keith rose and saw Sophia standing right there in front of his desk. An elegant smile tugging at her beauty, her blue eyes resonating with his own. Their reunion had finally begun.