From the roof top, I could see someone being surrounded by a large group of people. Two people to be exact, were in the center of it all, however there was only one person in particular who stood out the most.

"Waaaaaah, is that Minamino-san ?"

I turned to my right to see Airi peering down at the crowd. She was leaning on the black fenced railing which kept anyone from falling off of the roof. Murai Aimi. A classmate and close friend. Enthusiastic and lively. "Hm, Shiori !?", She exclaimed, "Minamino-san sure is something else, Don't you think ?" I was also leaning my back on the fence, my arms crossed together. I looked down at the crowd and sighed. "In a way", I mumbled, "Why do you ask ?" I watched Airi move from the fence, only to stand in front of me with a somewhat confident look on her face. She had a hand on her hip. "Not only does he have the grades and the looks", she addressed, "But Minamino-san also has all of those girls wrapped around his finger." I uncrossed my arms and slowly sat down on the ground. "Like flies", I replied bluntly, "But what about him and that fan club of his ? Don't tell me that you like him or something...?"She shook her head and laughed. "And get myself involved with a bunch of girls like that ?", she responded, "No thank you." I grinned. 'Of course.'

"What do you think about him Shiori ?", she asked me, taking a seat on the ground as well. She sat in front of me, her legs crossed. "About who ?", I asked, slightly leaning back on my arms, "Minamino-san ?" "Bingo", she replied. "What do you think about him ?" I thought about it. "It's not that I dislike him or anything", I mumbled, "It's just that I don't talk to him. I see him around and we do have classes together, yes, but that doesn't really mean anything to me. Besides, I'd prefer to distance myself with people like him." I watched as a look of disbelief and amusement appear on Airi's face. "Ouch", she said, "I feel bad for anyone that falls in love with you." I reached over and slightly pushed her shoulder back. "As if", I replied, somewhat chuckling. "Besides, what's so good about wanting to be with someone ? Especially someone like him ?" Airi sighed, and I stood up, dusting myself. Just as I did, I felt a soft breeze blow by. I turned around to look out at the ground floor again. And when I did, I thought that he was looking up.

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When school ended for the day, it was 2:10, like usual. Airi and I were both at the locker halls when I suddenly remembered something.

"Airi", I called out, as I heard a 'click' and opened my locker, "What's today ?" A few lockers down, there was another 'click' as Airi opened her locker. "Today ?", she asked. I looked towards her as she looked at her feet. She looked up shortly and organized something in her locker. "Isn't today Monday ?", she proposed. I reached into my locker and pulled out a small, flip calendar. "Why do you ask ?", I heard her say. I heard her locker close as she moved towards me. I put the calendar back and closed my locker. "Nee", I mumbled, "Did Sensei ever tell us who was on cleaning duty this week ?" An uncertain look came across Airi's face. "Did she ?", she asked. "I don't recall her saying anything about it...' I shrugged. The both of us stood in the locker hall and thought about it. "Maybe..."

"Hanamura-san. Murai-san."

The both of us looked up to see one of our classmates standing at the end of the hall. "Ah, Kuse-san", Airi said, "Nande ?" Kuse-san, who was in our class, walked up to us slowly. "Ah, there was nothing really", she replied, but she looked my way. "Hanamura-san, did you know that you assigned cleaning duty this week ?" I shook my head. "I wasn't told", I replied. Airi placed her hand on her hips and grinned. "Kuse-san", she said with relief, "You just saved us. Shiori and I were just talking about it." Kuse-san smiled. "Is that so ?", she asked, "Then it's good that I was to be of help. I ran into Sensei earlier and asked me if I had seen you. She said that she forgot to talk to you." I smiled. "Thank you, Kuse-san", I said. She nodded her head and smiled back. "Jah", Kuse-san said, "I'll see you tomorrow." Airi and I both nodded our heads. "Jah nee", we replied, and watched her leave.

I turned to Airi. "I guess I'll be headed to the classroom then", I mumbled, "What about you ?" She tilted her head and then looked towards the library. "I'll walk with you halfway", she said, "I have to stop by somewhere." I nodded my head. "Okay."

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By the time I reached the classroom, there wasn't really anybody around. Maybe a few people, but not a lot. Those with club activities, sports, some teachers, and some staff members. I was about 10 minutes late to where I was supposed to be.

"Ano....", I called out when I opened the classroom door. When I looked inside, I didn't see anyone but I did see someone's school bag on a desk. I took one step inside and looked around. No one was here, but I'm sure that someone was just here a few moments ago. I sighed. 'I wonder where they went...' Just then, I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and flinched. I stood there for about 10 seconds before I slowly turned around to see who it was. I smiled hesitantly when I saw who it was. "Ha...ha...ha..."

He looked at me with surprise. In his hand, a broom stick. "Gomen", he said with uneasiness, "Did I startle you ?" I took a deep breath and shook my head. "No, not at all", I fretted, awkwardly waving my hands in front of me, "I was just... practicing or something..." Minamino-san tilted his head and then smiled hesitantly.

'Strange', I said to myself, 'I didn't even sense anybody behind me...'

I looked at him and placed a hand on my neck. "Ah, actually", I said, "I should be the one to apologize. I was late." He moved past me and walked over to the chalk board and picked something up. Nearby, were the windows that were all opened up. "It's alright", he replied softly, "Sensei told me that she forgot to tell you, so it's alright. " "Oh, I see", I mumbled, looking around the room. "At least you showed up", he reminded me. I chuckled. "Yes, that's right."

"You're Hanamura-san correct ?", he asked. "We have a few classes together but I believe that this is the first time we've ever spoken." I looked at him and nodded my head. "Yes, that's right", I replied. "This is the first time we've spoken to each other." I walked over to a desk and placed my things down as he watched me. "It's nice to meet you then, Minamino-san." He looked at me for a moment and then smiled. "It's nice to meet you as well Hanamura-san", he said. "Let's get along ?"

"...So then, is there anything you want me to do ?", I asked shortly after our introduction. I watched him walk up to me and hand me an eraser. "If it's alright", he said, pointing towards the board, "Could you erase the chalk board ?" I looked at it and then nodded my head. "Of course", I replied, and walked over to it. Minamino-san walked somewhere to the back of the room and started sweeping there. In the process of cleaning the board, countless questions appeared in my head.

So this was the famous, 'Minamino Shuichi' that all the girls in the school fawned over. Scarlet colored hair and Emerald eyes. How strange, to see how he and I got partnered up for cleaning duty. His fan girls would kill for this spot. Moreover... I paused for a moment and stood there, staring blankly at the board. Earlier, when he touched my shoulder, I didn't even feel a presence. I didn't even realize that he was standing behind me. But now, I can sense that he's behind me.

So why...? Why was it that I couldn't sense his presence earlier ?