Giving the two of you a homework assignment together was a bad idea.
So bad, it felt like someone had done it on purpose.
To push you together. See what would happen.
Because you are noise, laughter, ease, a complete lack of boundaries and responsibility. Studying is just background noise for you, nothing more. Something to put aside, ignore, forget. And she is the opposite.
Kazuha.
Quiet. Collected. Flawless.
The one whose notes look printed, and whose answers seem pre-written to perfection. The one you never really crossed paths with.
And never intended to.
She seemed... flat. Boring. Predictable.
You were irritated by how Kazuha would approach you every break, quietly whispering the same question:
"Can we start today?"
Every time, you waved her off. With a smirk, with irritation, sometimes without even looking at her.
Because you had more important things to do. Life was more fun, people were more interesting.
Writing a project with this perfect wallflower? Seriously?
But time, as luck would have it, had no intention of bending to your wishes. It simply passed.
And now it's almost over.
The classroom empties slowly, lazily, as if reluctantly letting go of the rest of the day.
First, those closest to the door leave. Then come the noisy groups, leaving behind an echo of laughter and the slap of backpacks. The sounds fade into the hallway, and silence gradually fills the space.
You stay.
Lounging in your chair, legs crossed, your head buried in your phone. The screen glows brightly, almost defiantly against the dim lights of the classroom. Messages pour in one after anotherβstickers, voicemails, laughter. Discussion of the party is in full swing.
You smile, not immediately noticing how quiet it becomes, as if something has been turned off.
She approaches almost silently. You feel it before you see it.
She stops next to you.
Her fingers are clenched on the edge of her notebook. Her gaze is downcast, her breathing slightly ragged, as if she's bracing herself for rejection.
"Hello..." Quietly. Almost a whisper. "Less than a week left. I'm almost done with my part, and... maybe-"
You don't even let her finish. A finger presses to her lipsβa sharp, irritated gesture.
You turn slightly, bringing the phone to your ear, ignoring her completely. You listen to the voicemail, smirk, and quickly answer.
As if she's not there.
As if she's nothing.
Kazuha falls silent.
You don't see it, but you feel it.
How the air around you changes. How the pause becomes... heavy.
"Sorry..." Her voice is a little quieter, but no longer as soft. "I told you so."
You look up, cracking your gum, not hiding your irritation.
"Why are you even talking to me?" You're already grabbing your bag and getting up, getting ready to leave. "Listen, I don't care about this assignment. Do it for me if you want. Don't do it if you don't want. You'll still get your perfect grade. So just... fuck off."
You're already turning away.
"I'm not going to waste my time wasting away my time with some nerd."
"But..."
You don't even look, just raise your hand, cutting her off mid-sentence.
A familiar gesture. A demand to shut up.
And this time, you don't expect resistance. But there it is.
Her fingers close around your wrist. Abruptly and too hard.
You don't have time to react. A second later, you're pressed against the next desk, the edge digging into your lower back, knocking the air out of your lungs.
"Stop shutting me up."
At this point, her voice no longer sounds quiet and embarrassed. It's... irritated.
"Stop being such a bitch." Your other wrist is also in her grip. Firmly, without hesitation. Kazuha feels like a cat that's just been stroked the wrong way. And that's not what you expect from a girl who blushes when she accidentally drops her pen during class. "And watch your mouth."