Chapter 3: Maybe too soon

It was the first day of class, so I had to build a solid first impression. I put on every clothes and went out to let my brother judge; however, he always said it wasn't good.

"I arranged every clothes you have with their perfect pair, you know, and you still manage to get the wrong pair," he said, sighing, and he pushed me back to my room. I could hear the sounds of the hangers, and he was so loud when picking the clothes.

"Here. I think this will make your classmates see you all day," he said with a very proud and arrogant voice.

"I don't want them to do that; they might stalk me forever," I told him, and he laughed while he walked out of my room.

I just put on the clothes he picked and went out after fixing it.

"Oh, nice! You can be a model yourself, you know," he replied

"Yahhh~ my daughter is so pretty~," our mother said while I felt their voices were genuine.

"You can also wear the shoes over there. I placed it in front of the couch," my brother told me.

After that, we both went to the train station, and he got off first, as usual. I stood up after I heard the next station and waited for the other one.

"Excuse me~," someone said in English.

I didn't know who she was talking to, but I ignored her. I heard the sound of a pamphlet, and she must be showing me something from the guide.

"I would like to know which station I will stop when reaching this one," she said, but deep inside, I didn't even know where she was pointing.

"I---" someone interrupted us from talking.

That voice… I heard it before…

He spoke fluently in English, and I understood what they were discussing.

"Thank you very much!" the foreigner said, and I heard her footsteps slowly fade.

That person was standing beside me; the umbrella was always with me, but I was unsure if that was him.

"Thank you very much for explaining to the foreigner," I told him in English.

"You can speak Japanese now. And that's alright," he said, and I felt my personal space was again being invaded.

"Ohh, eyes!~" He said, and I again felt hotter than usual; I felt his face was too close to mine again. Does he need to learn what a personal space means?

My cheeks were turning red, and my heart was again beating fast. I have a sensitive nose, and I again smell his spring odor. He smelled so good; it wasn't perfume, but how could I only smell it on him?

I heard his calm voice and his spring odor, and just to make sure, I wanted to feel his warm hands.

"Ohh~ your hair is tangled," he said, immediately fixing it by caressing my hair again. I might die of a heart attack if he continues to invade my personal space.

"Uhmmm…" I can't get the words out. I want to ask his name. I held his hand out of nowhere, and it was warm, that warm, safe place I had been waiting for for many months and years.

"I am sorry about that~ I was just trying to help," he said, and I don't know why, but I cannot say no to this guy.

The train stopped aggressively, making me about to fall, but he wrapped his hands around my waist. A 'warm embrace'

Now I felt like I had a fever, a heart attack, and yes, I am dying!

"My apologies for the sudden aggressive stop, but you arrived in _____ station," someone announced.

"I am sorry about that again," he said.

"It's okay~ I don't bother," I replied and smiled. I do not know his reaction, but it made me see a light again.

"Okay then…" He said while slowly letting go of me and going out.

I did not manage to ask his name again.

I forgot how many steps it took to get from this station to Waseda University this time.

I stepped out first and started walking. Everyone was pushing me around, and I didn't even get the time to count.

'How many steps from here to school?' I asked myself. I was about to panic when someone grabbed my hand, interlacing our fingers.

That warm hands. My heart was again going wildly fast.

"Do you perhaps go to Waseda University?" he asked, and I nodded in response.

"Okay then… Let's go," he said while dragging me with him. There were a lot of people pushing us, but he managed to prevent them from touching me.

"Do you not know how to go there?" he asked again

"I know how," I replied

"And seriously! Why are you so red? Do you have a fever?" he asked, placing his hand on my forehead, and his face was so close that I could feel his breath.

"You're burning hot. Are you okay?" He asked

"I am okay; it's just that it is hot, you know," I replied and avoided him.

He was holding my hand to school, and I heard a lot of girls and boys whispering about us.

"I envy her," girls said

"Is that his girlfriend?" they were all curious, but he just placed something on my head.

"Sorry for gathering so much attention," he said.

"That's okay," I always kept telling him. Is it really okay for him to do that to me?

"I'm here~ send to Hana," I said, and he was curious about what I was doing on my phone.

"So… where are you heading?" he asked.

"My friend asked me to meet her in the garden," I replied, and it was like he never intended to let go of my hand.

We held each other's hand from the station to school, attracting much attention.

"Aki-chan~" I heard Hana calling my name; her voice was full of happiness.

"Ohhh~ Wait! What?!" this time, her voice was full of shock.

What's happening? Does she perhaps know who he is?