2

Never had I tried seriously asking Mai why she didn't go to class. The reverse was also true. We had simply happened to both come here at the same time and, feeling a little bored nevertheless, tried playing table tennis to see if that would help.

I flicked away the ping-pong ball I had kept in my hand. It made soft clacks as it bounced on the floor before hitting a wall and stopping. Those sounds resem bled the sound of knocking on the door of another's heart.

Mai took off her shoes and, dangling them off her fingertips, spoke. She was completely focused on that activity, and the look on her face was really stern. Her lower lip was curled and pushed forward, like she was really giving it her all.

"Ping-pong is pretty fun, huh?" "True that. Individual sports might be a better fit for me after all."

While I did enjoy basketball too, I had realized in my third year in middle school that I just wasn't suited for it. I was the kind of person who, when it came to competitions, always wanted to test how far they could get with their own strength alone, and I knew well that that would just end up ruining the dynamic in team sports. I also regularly got told off for hogging the ball.

"But, you know. If they said we were having ping pong in gym class, I still probably wouldn't go."

"Same here. I'll be hiding somewhere else if that happens."

Mai agreed while stretching her hand up. She waved it in the air before cracking her elbow and let ting out a yawn. I hear that's just how her body was. Apparently, it always made that kinda sound when she stretched her elbow. Strange.

"We sure agree on the weirdest things, Shina."

Mai had said my name, and though she probably was unaware, just hearing it annoyed me. I really hated my last name: "Shina". The first thing that came to anyone's mind when they thought about "Shina" was the fashion store by the same name, and I couldn't help but to feel that whenever people referred to me, that's what they were imagining. Being something would've be much better.

As we sat there relaxed, our legs stretched out, the chime indicating the end of class played. It echoed through the gym which should have been empty, and soon enough, my stomach joined in on its melody with a growl.

"There's the chime."

"Yep."

"Off you go now."

 Mai waved goodbye at me, and so, I reluctantly stood up. I put on the jacket that I had taken off, as well as my shoes. Then, after checking that I had my wallet, I headed to the stairs. Before I got there, I took a look back and saw Mai stretching for her bag to grab her phone and, not quite reaching it, flopping back down into her original position. Though I could totally sympathize, I still decided to taunt her with a quick, "Heh, sloth". She protested a little by drumming the floor with her heels, but I simply shook my shoulders and walked down the stairs.

Just who Mai had registered in her phone was yet another in the endless pile of mysteries that surrounded her. I had never seen her talking with anyone in school, besides me of course. Well, I guess that made sense, seeing how she barely came to school in the first place.

We had been meeting here a lot lately, though, so maybe she was coming to see me. Realizing that could actually be the reason made me feel a little uneasy. And for some reason, it felt like if I were to bring that up with her, Mai would never come to the second floor of the gym again.

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