The meeting

Chapter 2

I remember the day when I first met him. It was during our fourth year, we were 16. It’s the day where all parents came to school to get our mid term report card and see how their child did in school. The day before the parent and teacher meeting, the class was decorated and clean to spotless, getting ready to welcome parents for a report card event. Some students were given a lot of compliments for their outstanding and good performance in school, some were scolded by their parents right in front of our eyes for their very bad performances. But the parents and teachers were there to give them support and advice on what to do and what not to do. Parents get to meet and know their child friends, parents and teachers. Overall it's a fun day indeed. But Unfortunately for me, my parents couldn’t come because they have work to do. So instead my brother came.

I saw my brother talking to a guy. A boy next door. I think I’ve seen him with Akane before. But I don’t remember his name. “Hei Sakura!” Akane greeted me. “Hai Akane!, I said. I’ve already taken my report card Sakura, thankfully I did not do so bad this time or else I will get a handful from my mother like the other kids”, Akane said. I laugh and agree with her. “Eh isn’t that your brother Sakura? He’s talking to Kirigaya-san”, she said. Kirigaya?, I thought. My brother came to me and said “Yo lil’ sis is this your classroom”. “Yes brother”, I reply in a deadpan tone. “So do you know that guy? He is my friend’s little brother. He did really well in the exam, 1st place. What about you sis?”, he asked. “I don’t know yet brother since you haven’t come and pick up my report cards yet!” I exclaimed.

The results were out. It did not turn out good but not too bad either for me. Just passable, an average. I ranked 74th out of 200 students in my year and Akane was in 10th place. Hahaha, my brother laughed at me. He hit my head with the report card and said to me to work harder nextime so that I wont embarrass him for having such stupid sister. “You should try to beat that guy in your next exam”, while pointing at Kirigaya Haru. “I beat his brother all the time you know, my brother bragging in front of me”. Well he's not wrong, it's a way how my brother tried to encourage me to do better. I should set a goal and a role model to achieve. “Since you did terribly this time sister, you have to buy me lunch today okay?”, he said. I take it back, his a terrible brother.

The second time I met him was in the library. I was studying hard for my upcoming test. I want to do better to make my family proud this time and for myself of course. I will definitely beat that guy this time. “Yosh! Let’s start with history”.10 minutes later… “Akane-chan\~ I can't do this anymore! This is too hard. I hate this. Why do I have to finish reading the textbook. Can’t I have any cheat notes or just memorise only the important parts instead. Like for example, if it's a 6 marks question, can I just write 3 answers to get half of the mark for every question?”I whined. “Sure, sure you can but you can only get C or D in your exams if you keep doing that Sakura. I thought you wanted to do better Sakura. And the only way for you to improve is by finishing learning all the syllables. Do you understand Sakura?”, Akane nagging me. “Yes, yes, I understand. Geez you sound like my mother sometimes”, I said. “Well that's what best friends do”, said Akane. “Sakura I need to go back home now and pick up my brother. You must make sure you finish reading one chapter before going back home”, Akane reminds me. “Yes ma’am”, I replied.

Stretching my arms, I moaned, finally finished reading one chapter and only 3 questions were answered 37 questions to go. Well at least that’s better than doing nothing. I look at my watch,it is 4 o’clock in the evening.“Hmm, it is still too early to go back home, let’s take a look at some books.” More like a comic book, hehe hehe. Walking aisle by aisle looking for an interesting book to read.” “Aha! Found it Takamiya Satoru comics. It’s the Voice of Sky! I’ve been looking all over for it”. Why is it so high up? She tried tip toeing and stretched out her hand as far as she could to reach it but to no avail. A shadow entered her vision, a hand hovered on top of her head, another hand on her side.

“Is this the one?”, it spoke. A cold tone voice coming from behind .”Y-yes”, I stuttered. “So you like to read cheesy manga huh”, he smirks. I blushed so hard hearing him say that. I turned around and said, “s-so what it is s-still an interesting story p-plus with a handsome character to die for unlike in real life”, I stuttered. “Otaku”, he replied. My face was fuming red out of embarrassment or by anger, I snatched the book away from his hand and went straight to the counter to borrow the book. I didn’t give a single glance behind me. I wonder if he's mad at me for being rude leaving him just like that. My heart kept thumping hard for 5 minutes. Take a deep breath and cool yourself down girl.

Third time the charm as they say, is when the first time I get to introduce myself to him. It was on my 16th birthday, Akane and I went out for a movie to celebrate my happy occasion. Coincidently we bump into him while lining up to buy our tickets. “Eh! Isn’t that Eiji and Kirigaya-san”, Akane said. It seems that Eiji noticed us. “Hello ladies what are you doing here?”, Eiji said with his flirty tone. Unfortunately, he was only greeted by a smack in the head by Akane instead. They start bickering non stop after that, with Akane locking his neck. I watch them with amusement seeing their ‘sweet’ interactions. Well they are childhood friends. It must be nice to have someone to grow up together until now.

I heard someone sigh to my left. I took a glance to my side, it's that guy from the library that day. So it seems his friends with Eiji-san. Does he remember me?, I thought. I was too embarrassed to look at him that day. But as I look at him now, his looks are not that bad, pretty handsome actually. The cap prevented any further detail but I could clearly see the colour of his hair picking out underneath it - his rich black hair with a highlight of dark blue hue under the lights, ocean-blue eyes deep enough to swim in and with casual white t-shirt that can actually see his fine muscle underneath it, paired with stressed navy jeans and sneakers, so simple and yet so handsome. How can a person look so alluringly attractive and effortless at the same time. Is this even legal?

“ Do you like it that much?”, he asked. “W-what?”I raised my brows. “You’ve been staring at me for 10 minutes now. Do you like matcha ice cream that much?”, showing his cup of ice cream in his hands. “Huh?” I blink. “Or is it the one eating it and from the looks of it, I think it is, seeing the way you, who is about to be drooling if I didn’t say anything to you. Do you like what you see that much?”, he said with killer smirks. “W-what, n-no I did n-not, d-do you think you’re that g-good looking? What a jerk”, I replied with a baffled voice and swiped my drools off. Way to go Sakura now he knows you have been admiring his looks, I mumble. “Wait a minute, aren’t you that girl from the library that day? The one with the comic book? What was it again, Rain in the Sky or was it Sound of the Sky”, he said, trying to figure out the right title of the book. Feeling irritated, ''It is Voice of Sky!” I yelled at him. “Ah that’s right, the cheesy comic book. Otaku girl?”he said. With a sudden urge of bravery to cover up my embarrassment, I stretched out my hand for a hand shake and introduced myself with a timid voice. “My name is Kiritani Sakura, nice to meet you!” With a smirk,”Kirigaya Haru”, he said.

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