ため野矢の: Because of Noya

ヒーロー Hero

And here I found myself,

back again at the start of a new day, in the same classroom- the same dull atmosphere.

As of where I left off? Rather, the start of a new WEEK.

Exactly a week after Yū-kun's confession.

And trust me, have my English grades been dropping to an all-time low because of new, infested thoughts swimming through my mind. All not about the school subject in the slightest.

I twirled my pencil lazily within my thumb and index finger, while staring with a blank expression out the window- although, the scenery still wasn't enough to distract me.

A week... a week and I still hadn't done anything productive to strengthen the relationship.

Pah, I was more destroying it than anything. Like the times where both Yū-kun's and my eyes met for a split second in the halls when walking to lunch- and how I would hurry away instead of even wave or acknowledge him. Or the times during practice, where I would leave margins blank for the libero's advice column- downright too embarrassed to gaze at him all together.

I'm so pathetic. Really. Was my will THIS ridiculously weak?

I was still so caught up in the fantasy of his confession, that I wasn't even able to face the reality of it- and I ran instead.

"Heroes are sometimes rewarded with a kiss."

The pencil I was twirling idly in my hands fumbled within my suddenly clumsy fingers- clattering and sliding on the ground.

My reaction wasn't much, given that I was still in a trance, so it took me a while to process what had happened.

I rubbed my dry eyes while scooting over and bending down to reach the pencil.

Of course, until I noticed another incoming thing that wasn't only my hand, but another person's

I recognized it in an instant, and the soft skin brushed against my knuckles before I could react quickly enough.

"Kameko-chan, I like you."

I jerked my hand away, like if I touched hot iron instead of skimming Yū-kun's fingers.

But, I couldn't stop the memory of those hands wrapping around me, like a protective blanket that one Monday afternoon.

I sat up and turned away from Yū-kun, his hand still lingering above the pencil as he looked at me with confusion.

"It's.. yours."

He mumbled at gently set it on the corner of my desk- as I still reluctantly withdrew myself from gazing at his hand once again.

I couldn't muster anything to say, as my mind went completely and utterly blank.

The terrible, terrible irony.

I only gulp and nod my head as a discreet 'thank you'- not even looking him in the eye while doing it- instead, hiding my face within clumps of my unevenly strewn hair.

He turns around cautiously, as I could still felt a pair of curious eyes watching to see if I would do anything more.

To which, I didn't even bother to breathe at that point.

When his attention shifted from me to the lesson reluctantly, I exhaled the held in breath quietly in one blow.

I heard slight shuffling of seats, and people closing their books and shoving them into their bags. I glanced at the clock myself and started to do the same.