Chapter Text
I try to find you during break, but I hardly ever see you in class. Were you busy talking to your group of friends? Or maybe are you preoccupied with the popular boys? People around me keep saying that you're a loner.
Don't lie to me, you were glancing to me in the corridor. My shoe locker was filled with envelopes after last period. You make it seems like I have got many secret admirers. But I know that you did all of that. Did you do it out of pity? During Valentine's Day this year, I was the only one who didn't receive chocolate from my class.
On beak period today I saw you around my classmates. It feels weird seeing you actively talking. When you're writing to me, you seem so mysterious. To think about you were reading out loud all the things you wrote. Like when you say how fast your heart races when you see me. How does it feel being in love with guy like me? I think you’re being annoying.
But it frustrates me when I saw you with him, giving a gentle smile with that type of glance. He's just another guy from the track team. I literally have better record than him, he's just a substitute player. Him taking your attention away like how he obtained the higher rank that I want from last competitive game mode.
I opened my shoe locker today. I notice there's a singular envelope. It's pretty strange to look at empty spaces in between when I'm so used to you sending in large amount. I'm guessing you have move on to the substitute player. Maybe you're just messing around after all.
I saw you at the school hall yesterday, you looked so cute with a messy hair. I wish I could see you more often. Meet me at XYZ streets near the convenience store, it's important.
-your secret admirer-
So, you told me to meet at a place? Are you also planning to set a prank on me? When I arrive at said place, am I going to leave while him and you burst out laughter directed towards me? isn't it going to be him and you throwing turd at me? I think I much rather hear you saying all those words you have written.
-
I went to the location she meant us to meet. The street is beside a roadway that led to capital city. Cars is moving at a fast speed even though it was a weekday afternoon. She was leaning to one of the guardrails that I’m worried she might fell. On her grasp, a worn-out copy of Moby Dick is spread for her to read. Her hair is blown by the wind like cherry blossom petals during fall.
The tense silence was broken when I call her name. She turns around and I decided to walk forward to her. That girl looked satisfied with my arrival.
"Good evening, hello Saitama-san. I have heard about school track team won nationals this year. A member has set a new record despite being a newcomer. They even wondered who the person really was because his talent remains an enigma. I think I am looking at the person in question"
Genoko is starting the conversation between us. I could see the corners of her mouth bend upwards. So, she is going to pretend everything never happened.
"It's not that impressive, anyone could achieve that result with training"
"Please accept my appreciation for the excellent talent and hard work. One can only help them to do better if-"
"Why did you send me all the letters?" I cut her off.
"What letters are you talking about? It could be just some fans liking you for the sport skill. I think it's fair to assume that Saitama-san, the school star athlete is gaining popularity and through fan letters, people could express-"
"Doing multiple love letters out of pity, stop doing that."
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I think you’re just not used being noticed by the limelight. I never give anyone letters of admirations in large amount.”
“How do you know that, there are a lot of letters send to me?”
“You said ‘multiple letters’, so I assume is in large amount. I do think you have a lot of students that admires you on the field. You’re always so dashing when you’re the first in the line. Not to mention, you barely look tired.” She said, but didn’t she realize that she slipped up a compliment?? Yet, I don’t feel fulfillment.
“Didn't you notice in one of the letters you wrote to me, there’s one with your name literally written on it?? That's a used draft laboratory paper, isn’t it? you're not as thorough as I thought you are” I said, I was getting impatient with this pretending.
“Anyone could be using a leftover lab paper exercise. They could probably pick it up after my class used the laboratory. I think you’re mistaken me for one of your fans.”
“Did you forget that you said in one of your letters that you are confused as to why the principal office has ‘Administration Room’ nametag?? The administration room was moved to the second-floor last year. Most of students here already know that!!”
“How are you so sure about that? most of student who already enrolled last year do not need to do errand in the administration. They are not going to go over back and forth to that room. You’re mistaken me for- “
She doesn’t realize that she just accidently muttered the explanation.
“That could only be one thing, the one who write the letters was a new student. Last time I checked, there was only one transfer student in the second grade. You’re the one who keep sending me weird letters, aren’t you?”
"Saitama-san, could you guess what color of the panties that I'm wearing today?"
"I don’t know. Black?"
"No."
"White?"
"No"
"You're not wearing one, aren't you?"
"What makes you think like that, Saitama-san? I do wear it right now”
"Even if you're not wearing one, I'm not interested in finding out.”
I started walking away from the supposed spot that we held this weird meeting. All this act just for it to avoid talking that should be been said. I wonder why she is interested in me in the first place, wouldn’t be even surprised If this Is a prank. Still, sending a good chunk affectionate letter continuously and asking to come for a two people meeting seems like an elaborate joke.
"WAIT!" she yelled, gripping my left hand and make me turn on to her side again.
"I actually want to ask you something, Saitama-san." She continues.
"What is it? I don't remember borrowing money from you." If she is eager to tease by acting nothing happened then I supposed I could do it too.
"I like you. Would you go out with me?" She confessed. Despite knowing on what was coming, I just look at her and cringed.
"No, I'm busy besides I don't have time on Saturday and Sunday. Aren't you also from class 5 and most of the students there go to cram schools?? " I said, not wanting to bother someone who barely knows me. I pulled my left hand that she grasped, Genoko immediately let go of me.
"I would make time for you, even with cram schools and additional classes. We could study together on Saturday or Sunday, I even help with you to study and homework." She said, maybe at that time she realized she could charge me payment for every lesson.
"I can't pay you with that."
"I'd do it for free. Just for you." She spoke. Her face remains neutral, and unbothered because I was expecting her to look bashful.
"Look, I really appreciate the offer but I much rather do it alone. But I guess we could try to make it work? You and me? But we should keep it a secret." I was too embarrassed to let my classmates know about my new partner.
"That's what I thought when we start going out. I need to focus into schoolwork, and you too. Frankly, the study session that I have been doing is lacking progression. I found myself on stagnant state. Stagnant results make me lose motivation, maybe being accompanied by a handsome boy can make it less tedious." She explained to me, her tone of voice changes.
"Genoko, I'm not the person you should be seeking in that subject. My grades are-."
"I know about that, maintaining maximum result between athletics and academics skills requires further effort. I am free this Sunday. Does Saitama-san have spare time on Sunday for me?"
Ah, I heard that slip.
"I do, around 1pm, I will give my address then. Do you have paper and a pen?"
Genoko shovel through her school bag, and lend me a small notebook and a pen. She thanked me after I gave her my address.
"Then, I hope we can start our session this week."
She ended the conversation while looking at me with a sweet smile. I was charmed by her pretty face, I'd just wish she has a longer hair. That would be more inclined with the type of women I usually like.
"Thank for being cooperative, I need to go now." She said again.
Leaving me alone on the street. As she walks away from me, the strong wind blew her skirt. Briefly I could see a glimpse of what's underneath it. It is a white lacey panty, so she was lying after all.