Love Trials of the Introverted

Chapter 13

I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't quite right when I awoke today. The fact that I awoke late due to my alarm not going off was proof enough that something bad was going to happen. I went about my morning routine as usual at a quick pace, but I couldn't shake the sense that I was forgetting something important while I was preparing myself.

Eventually, I was able to get myself together with my usual bedhead and slightly wrinkled uniform. My signature slightly crooked tie was also in place, completing my slightly disheveled look.

When I opened the door to my room to start walking to class, a pit in my stomach formed as I realized that today was going to be a disaster.

"Hey, Ayanokouji-kun, would you mind if we could walk to class together?"

I was met with the cheerful visage of Kushida and as soon began weighing the pros and cons of just shutting the door in her face and hiding myself in my room for the rest of the day.

I realized that the cons would be too great, which was mainly in the form of getting an earful from Horikita for purposely missing class. I heaved a sigh to gather my strength and answered Kushida.

"Sure, I don't mind."

"Oh, thank you, Ayanokouji-kun. I promise not to be a bother."

'Don't worry, you are a bother, so you don't have to worry about being one or not. Also, how long has she been waiting here for me? I hope she wasn't out here for too long, or else some unsavory rumors are going to spread. '

After agreeing to Kushida's invitation, a smile broke out across her face that had enough warmth behind it to light up the hallway. Despite this, I felt nothing from her angelic smile.

I then exited my room, while locking the door behind me. I began making my way to the elevator with Kushida by my side. Despite her invitation and eagerness to walk to school with me, we continued on in silence until we made it to the elevator.

We waited quietly a few steps away from the elevator doors, patiently watching the elevator descend to our floor. I noticed Kushida was trying to figure out what to say out of the corner of my eye. With a small expression of concentration creeping across her features, she appeared troubled. Her eyes grew sharp and steely, then vanished as her customary smile framed her face.

Right after her smile graced her features once more, she turned towards me and began to address me.

"Ayanokou-"

Thankfully, I was saved by the opening of the elevator and began to walk into the elevator before the doors even finished opening. However, this nearly led to disaster as I almost ran into someone.

"Do you have functioning eyes in that skull of yours or was your plan to bulldoze me with your idiocy?"

Greeting me was none other than Horikita, who was leveling a glare at me with her ever-present scowl. I gave her a quiet apology and awkwardly moved around her to stand on the other side of the elevator.

"Oh, wow, you're also running late, Horikita-san? I wouldn't have expected that from you."

Horikita briefly looked my way and shot me a look of anger, which then shifted to one of disgust and contempt, before turning towards Kushida.

'Oi, it's not like I had her in my room. It's not my fault that she knew where my dorm room was located and waited for me. Actually, how does she know where my room is?'

"I don't see how the time of my arrival to class is of any concern to you. Also, I'm rather curious; what were you doing on the level of the boys' dorms?"