As Professor Kareth opened the classroom door, students spilled outside, talking with their partners about what they would do. With the rest of the day free of classes, every student went their own way.
Meanwhile, Shiro and Arien remained sitting in the classroom.
Shiro: Can I—
Arien slowly cranked her head toward Shiro. A series of sharp pops came from her neck.
(Crack crack crack)
Arien: Shut up. Who gave you permission to speak?
Her eyes were dead serious. There wasn't a hint of a joke. Shiro slowly looked away.
............
A heavy silence filled the room. Shiro, not liking the atmosphere, slowly stood up.
With her head still on the desk, Arien said:
Arien: Where are you going? Sit. Down.
Shiro: Well, the class has been over for so long, soooo—
Arien: Ah. So you choose death?
Shiro: No, ma'am. Please forgive me.
(He slowly sat down again.)
Thirty minutes crawled by. They didn't move a muscle. Finally, Arien stood up.
Arien: Let's go.
Shiro: (Confused) Ah— o— ok.
Without a backward glance, Arien marched out. Shiro trailed behind her like a lost puppy.
Arien: This is the second time.
Shiro: Ah— second? Second what?
Suddenly, Arien stopped and spun on her heel, marching straight toward Shiro. Shiro, sensing the danger, instinctively started walking backward.
Finally, she snagged him by his collar and started shaking him like a ragdoll.
Arien: Why does this always happen to meeeeeeee? First day, I'm late! Second day, class gets cancelled and we get stuck with a partner assignment!
The shaking got rougher, making his teeth rattle.
Arien: Whyyyyyyyyyyyyy?!
Meanwhile, Shiro's brain was spinning inside his skull.
Shiro: Stooooooooooooooooop!
Finally, after punching Shiro a couple more times, Arien calmed down. (It took another 20 minutes or whatever.)
Arien: So, before we get started on this assignment, let me tell you this. I don't have a single clue about you.
Shiro: Well, same to you.
Shiro stared at Arien, his eyes locked on.
Arien: (Lowering her eyebrows) Why are you looking like that? Are you some kind of—
Shiro: No. I just— (He paused, having second thoughts.) I was thinking about how fast your expression changes.
Arien: Ahhhhh! WHAT DID YOU SAY?!
Her eyes were wide open. Her head was tilted. You could feel the murderous vibe rolling off her in waves.
Shiro: (Nervously letting out a smile) Nothing.
Arien: (Letting out a sharp sigh) Well, there's only about one more hour until the break is over. So, talk. Tell me about you.
Shiro: Me? Can't we do this later?
Arien: No.
Shiro: (Sigh) So... I'm Shiro Asahina, 17 years old, and... that's it.
Arien: (Looking utterly disgusted) What kind of brain-dead moron introduces themselves with just a name and age?
Shiro: (Shouting) Well, what do you want me to do?! If you want to know something, ask it! (Quietly) Idiot.
Arien: What?
Shiro: Why? Did you hear something? (Quietly) Idiot.
Arien: Fine. Why you don't have an art style?
Shiro: Don't know.
Arien: You don't know? What about your parents?
Shiro: Don't have any.
Her intense expression softened slightly.
Arien: Do you have any siblings? Or anyone?
Shiro: Siblings?
Shiro's eyes darted to his left and right, as if checking for someone who wasn't there.
Shiro: Siblings? No.
Shiro: (Scratching his head in frustration) Ahh, this is boring. I'm going to sleep.
(Without another word, Shiro turned and left.)
Arien: Wai—
(She thought about stopping him, but a strange feeling in her gut told her not to.)
Arien spent the rest of the break wandering the school grounds, aimless and irritated.
The bell rang. Arien rushed to the canteen to find Shiro—he was a big eater, after all—but he was nowhere to be seen. She scanned the entire room but came up empty.
She was torn between hunting him down and just leaving him alone. In the end, she spent the rest of her day alone.
Time passed. On the academy grounds, behind a big tree, Shiro was taking a peaceful nap. He woke up suddenly.
Shiro stood up, stretching his arms high into the air.
Shiro: Is the academy over? Better head back to my room. I wonder if Arien went to her dorm?
Even after sleeping the whole day, he was still drowsy as he walked to his room. At the door, he heard a noise inside.
Shiro: It's probably him, right?
(He opened the door.) Didn't I say—
Roommate: What?
Shiro: Nothing, nothing.
Just as Shiro sat on his bed, the boy spoke up.
Roommate: I don't think I got your name.
Shiro: Hm. It's Shiro. Shiro Asahina.
Roommate: Oh. That's a nice name.
Shiro: What's yours?
Roommate: Me? I'm Satoshi Kobayashi. I'm in LR 1st year, B class.
Shiro: Me too. SR 1st year, B class.
Satoshi: Oh, that's why I haven't seen you around.
Shiro: You were looking for me?
Satoshi: Well, not really.
Shiro: Well, Sato, good to know you, finally.
Satoshi: Sa-to?
Shiro: Ya. Sato. We're friends, right? So I'll call you that.
Satoshi: Friends? Yeah... I guess we are. Well then, happy to know you too, Shiro.
After the conversation, the lights turned off.
The guy who was genuinely scared to be friends with Arien had just casually called Satoshi his friend. Something was off. This wasn't the real Shiro. It was because he was in that half-asleep state, his true, guarded self nowhere to be found. The one who became friends with Satoshi was just a sleepy version. The real drama would begin when he woke up for real tomorrow.