POV: Rai Shinsei
After Rylie had explained her absurd requirement in order for me to pass her exam, I left the classroom along with Aria, who decided to accompany me as we left the academy and headed towards the food court.
Amidst our stroll, I noticed Aria kept glancing at me as eventually, I broke the silence with a sigh.
"What's wrong, Aria?" I asked as Aria was slightly startled by my sudden utterance.
"Nothing. I was just wondering if you were alright." Aria replied with concern as we passed by several food shops, noting each one mentally as I was unable to decide on what I wanted to eat.
"I'm fine. Do I look like something is wrong with me?" I asked, confused.
"You seem to be down, that's all." Aria answered as she chose an açai bowl shop for us to eat at, prompting me to follow her as the moment we entered inside, Aria's expression seemed to brighten as she began scouring over every option while the interior had piqued my interest as it bore a colorful, abstract splash art across every wall.
"I wouldn't necessarily say that I'm down. I'm more disappointed in myself than anything as after Ryan's demonstration, I realized how weak I truly am." I replied nonchalantly as I began looking at the options, searching for anything that suited my appetite.
"You of all people consider yourself to be weak? What are you talking about?" Aria questioned incredulously as she began ordering our food, chatting briefly with a female employee amidst her order as I stared at the back of her head with dull eyes.
This girl…
She didn't even ask what I wanted.
Despite the unreasonable prices of the açai bowls, Aria bought our food without any hesitation as she immediately swiped her credit card, inspiring me to glance at it as it was an obsidian black hue with a golden frame.
I don't know why I'm surprised.
She's Aria Akari, an esteemed noble and the granddaughter of Joseph himself.
With her connections, it's no surprise that she's loaded.
~
"Back to your ludicrous statement, what were you trying to say?" Aria questioned once more as we sat down across from each other at a booth furthest away from the few students who also chose to eat inside, but despite our location within the shop, Aria's popularity naturally attracted many unwanted gazes as even a few students approached her with compliments.
At least I appear invisible to them as they're completely ignoring my presence.
Eventually, Aria entreated the students for some privacy as she wanted to enjoy her meal, encouraging the students to respect her request as one of the students from the small group had placed their eyes on me, noticing my presence at last as when I tried to take my first bite, his excessive staring prevented me as his existence was screaming at me within my peripheral vision.
It's only been a few seconds, but why is he just staring at me?
"Hey Aria, I don't mean to intrude any more than I have, but is that guy perhaps your boyfriend by any chance?" The boy asked nervously, pointing his finger towards me as the group that was with him all turned around upon hearing his question, placing their eyes onto me as I was startled by their curious gazes as well as the random question the boy had asked Aria.
I just want to enjoy my food in peace.
"No, we're just friends." Aria replied with an awkward smile, scratching her cheek with her finger as the boy's expression appeared to have lightened from her response, but as the boy tried to ask another question, one of his friends began dragging him away by the hood of his jacket as one of the girls bowed her head towards Aria.
"I want to apologize on his behalf for his rude manners. I'll make sure that he doesn't bother the two of you again and I hope you both enjoy your meal!" The girl said as she raised her head and caught up with her group, scolding the boy for bothering us as Aria found their group amusing, inspiring her to let out a giggle as I noticed there was a slight awkwardness lingering within her expression.
"Hey, Aria, I have a question." I said, taking my first bite of my açai bowl and to my surprise, I found it pleasing as Aria directed her attention towards me.
"What's up?" Aria asked as I pointed towards her with my spoon.
"Who said that we were friends?" I deadpanned with a cold, sharp tone, bringing forth a cold sweat that trickled beneath her temple as my expression caused her face to slowly flush red from confusion and embarrassment until I accidentally ruined my act by stifling a laugh, prompting Aria to immediately regain her composure as she stared at me blanky.
"I was just messing with-"
"Don't do that again." Aria admonished.
"I wouldn't dare." I replied carefully as I took another bite of my açai bowl while Aria's expression appeared to have reverted back to her usual one after she began indulging into her açai bowl.
I'll be careful with my words in the future.
"You know, that boy intended on asking you out on a date. Would you have given him a chance if his friends didn't interrupt him?" I asked curiously, attempting to spark a conversation as the awkward tension from eating in silence would be too much for me to handle.
"No, I wouldn't even consider it. I'm sure he's not a terrible person, but he's not really my type and honestly, I'd prefer to focus solely on my studies as being in a relationship would be mentally taxing since I would be worrying about my partner and my studies." Aria answered as I was surprised by her mature response, which eventually led to a smile breaking through my frown.
I'm sure Iris is somewhere grinning ear-to-ear after hearing that, Aria.
"What about you, Rai? If one of those females were to approach you and ask you out on a date, would you have given them a chance?" Aria questioned as I glanced at the group of students that had previously approached us, watching them banter with one another as I observed the two females within the group before looking at Aria, who was in the midst of taking a bite.
"I would do the same as you. I'm not sure what my type is, but having a relationship would be more of a bother than anything as of now." I answered.
"Have you never been interested in someone, Rai?" Aria asked curiously, her question sending me into a deep thought as I recalled my time growing up.
You know…
That's a good question.
My life was far from an easy one as growing up, I was more focused on surviving and becoming stronger than anything, so I never had the time to become interested in someone other than my years of attending junior high, which were probably the most peaceful years of my life since the death of my parents.
If I had to think of someone that I was interested in, perhaps it would be Iris?
Although she was my senior, she was the only female that I found tolerable within my school, but because I enjoyed her presence, can I really say that I was interested in her romantically?
If I'm being honest, I never looked at her that way, but then again, I was never familiar with romantic feelings to begin with.
"I don't know if I was ever interested in someone as I was also focused on achieving my dream, but since you seem to have one, what's your type, Aria?" I asked as I noticed that she was already halfway finished with her açai bowl.
"My type? Let's see…"
Appearing to be in a deep thought, Aria placed her hand onto her chin as her index finger rested against her cheek, allowing her to ponder on the question freely as she stared off into the distance until her eyes matched my own, prompting me to furrow my eyebrows in confusion as I was waiting for her answer until she suddenly averted her gaze, remaining silent as after a few seconds had passed, her face slowly began to burn red as I assumed it was from an embarrassing thought.
"You know what… let's just change the subject! Remember when you said you were disappointed with yourself? Why was that?" Aria questioned, laughing sheepishly as I found her flustered state somewhat amusing.
I wonder what she could have imagined for her to react like that.
"I'm fine now, but I was just disappointed with myself earlier because I realized how weak I truly am." I answered amidst taking a bite as I found myself contented from the pleasant taste as well as watching Aria's reactions, but my content would only last so long as upon taking another bite, I noticed Aria staring at me in utter bafflement as I sighed from anticipating a long, yet unnecessary rebuttal from Aria.
Ah…
Here we go again.