I wake up a little late the next day, so I hurry to glob down my pills and brush my teeth before dashing off to class.
I still haven’t warmed up to the idea of relying so heavily on medication, but it’s really the only way, so I’ll just have to deal with it.
I arrive in class only a few minutes before the bell rings, and I only manage to give a small greeting to Ritsu before Mutou arrives in class.
I notice that she waves back with her left hand, even if she has to awkwardly pull it out from her pocket before doing so. The right one probably hurts from yesterday still. I can’t help but feel guilty about it.
Mutou wastes no time on greetings either, as he starts his lesson in the same rambling way he did yesterday.
His lessons aren’t exactly bad, but it’s hard to follow them, even for me, and physics are one of my strongest subjects.
Eventually time comes for group work, and I’m quickly cornered by Shizune and Misha before I manage to decide if I’ll work with Ritsu or not.
Not that I mind, Ritsu doesn’t strike me as the studious type, and Shizune works at a frightening pace.
And Shizune and Misha seem nice enough when they’re not trying to pull me into the student council.
As expected, we finish early, and Misha wastes no time on not conversing.
M: So Hicchan, we noticed you spent almost the whole day with miss Tainaka, something going on~?
I don’t know where Misha (or is it Shizune?) wants to get with this, so I decide to strike back.
H: You were stalking me?
M: Wahaha~ no Hicchan, not stalking, it’s a class representative’s job to ensure all the students are all right, no?
I let the palm of my hand hit my face in annoyance, that has to be the worst excuse I’ve ever heard.
Misha however, seems ignorant to my negative body language, so I decide that a reply is in order.
H: Not to that extent.
M: So you’re going to start a club even if you have only been here for a few days? That’s admirable Hicchan, such initiative, even if you are going way too fast, zoooom~ wahaha
So not only have they been following me, they’ve been listening in on our conversations too.
I think this at least classifies for a restraining order.
M: you definitely have thing for Tainaka~ wahahah!
I glance over at Shizune to try to get a grasp of who I’m talking to, she’s glaring at Misha, obviously annoyed by her forwardness, I guess that means It’s Misha who’s talking right now.
M: You are too cute when you blush Hicchan!
The bell marks the end of the class, and I quickly make my way out to the hallway to avoid further interrogations from officer Misha.
In the hallway, Ritsu catches up with me.
R: Am I popular?
H: What?
R: You guys were talking loudly about me in class, or at least one of you were loud.
H: oh, that. Well apparently they were stalking me yesterday.
R: Shizune is totally into you.
 What? We have barely talked expect for her trying to get me to do her student council duties. Is she just trying to egg me on, or can girls tell those things so easily?
H: Anyway, is your hand all right after what happened yesterday?
R: hah, like a little pain can stop me! My body is 100% steel!
To emphasize her last words, she dramatically drums on her chest like a gorilla.
 Wouldn’t that hurt for a girl? I mean, aren’t breasts supposed to be sensitive?
Maybe not if you’re as flat as Ritsu.
H: Hey, I’m on my way to the cafeteria; do you want to tag along?
R: Not really, I have a boxed lunch.
H: Ok, See you later then.
 
The cafeteria is really crowded, I wonder why.
It can’t be because of the food, if yesterday was anything to go by.
I go to the counter to get my ration of today’s lump-surprise. I take my plate and start looking for an unoccupied seat.
It’s a good thing Ritsu didn’t join me, as far as I can see, there is only one unoccupied seat in the whole cafeteria, next to the shy girl with the long dark hair in my class. She’s reading a book. I decide to sit there despite. It’s not like I have a choice either.
H: Excuse me?
She visibly tenses up when hearing my voice, and pulls her book in front of her face, as if the book will keep me at bay.
H: Is this seat taken?
Ha: N-no…
I seat myself and start eating; it tastes horrible, so I try to start up some conversation to get my thoughts on other things than the food.
H: I’m Nakai, Hisao Nakai, we’re in the same class.
Ha: I-I know, you ha-had an introduction…
Ha: I’m Ha-Hanako
She seems to tense up more and more everything one of us speak, like she’s ready to spring up and run out of the room at any time.
I think I maybe should stop talking, but that would be weird too.
H: what are you reading?
It’s a silly question, She is holding the book in front of her face like a shield, so I can easily read from the back of the book that she is reading “Life of Pi”.
But I want to talk about books , it’s something I like.
Unlike music.
Maybe I should have joined the literature club instead of light music.
Then again I recall Misha saying it was filled to the brim already.
Hanako slightly tips the book down so she can peek over the edge.
As she does so, she also reveals her big purple eyes, they’re almost sparking.
Ha: Li-Life of Pi
Another thing that is revealed is that she has a gigantic red scar covering almost half her face; I can’t believe I didn’t see it earlier.
She catches me staring, before she visibly freezes up for half a second, and then rapidly stands up.
Ha: I-I-I -I GOTTA GO DO SOMETHING
She sprints out of the dining hall, half of her food untouched and “Life of Pi” lying on the table.
I consider running after her, but I don’t want to make a scene, and I probably wouldn’t be able to catch up with her, not with this condition at least.
It makes me a little sad.
Even if I’ve never been a runner, knowing that I can never hope to do something like that is disheartening.
I instead, I throw the remaining food in the trash, and bring both of our empty plates to the counter.
I also grab her book as I’m leaving. I guess I’ll give it to her later today.
The rest of the school day is uneventful, and I find myself struggling to stay focused.
This shouldn’t happen, I’ve only been here a few days, I shouldn’t be this tired already.
Maybe I just never really got to relax in the hospital.
Hanako doesn’t show up for the rest of the day, so I just leave her book in the shelf under her desk so she’ll find it tomorrow.
I hope I’m not the reason for her absence, even if I can understand it.
I’m lucky that my scar can easily be hidden.
 
Almost the second that the bell signals the end of the day, I can feel Ritsu poking my shoulder:
R: Bass practice!
H: jeez, give me one second to pack at least.
I put my stuff into my bag, before I follow Ritsu to the music room.
It seems untouched since we were here yesterday; the bass case is even lying on the floor.
R: Ready for the blood, sweat and tears that comes with being in a band?!
Ritsu straightens her back and lifts her hand in salute, as if she were a general inspecting her troops.
I know she’s joking, but she is a little right too, yet I reluctantly reply:
H: Yes Teacher.