A life with the Author

'Hmmm...'

'Something feels odd.' I thought to myself while I was looking at Marin and Komi stiffly shaking each other's hands.

Frist of, why does Marin looked like she is facing her arch nemesis?

Secondly, why is Komi looking at Marin with such admiration and hope in her eyes?

They looked like they had completely different thoughts about each other.

{Yeah, I am pretty sure there is some serious misunderstanding between them.} the author said wisely.

As if he had been in multiple relationships and had plenty of friends so he knew exactly how interactions between people goes.

Which he doesn't.

{Hey!! I have friends and I have great relationship with my dead dog.}

Pfftt. Sure.

{Even if I don't have friends, I have watched enough anime to know exactly what is going on.}

I thought about his words and examined the situation carefully again and I came to the same conclusion.

'There is definitely a misunderstanding between them.' I thought.

And with the most artificial smile on her face, I think the problem lies with Marin.

I needed to fix that right away.

{Yeah, you definitely should. It would be an interesting story if this misunderstanding goes on for a few more chapters but I never liked that kind of story.}

'Yeah, me too. I hated 'Kaguya-sama-love is war'.'

{Didn't watch it.} The author said.

I turned my attention back on the two girls who were still in a staredown contest with their hands still connected.

I looked around and noticed people watching them with great interest. It was a rare sight seeing the two beauties of Itan together.

"Umm...Excuse me." I said while raising my hand. 

Marin's fake smile morphed into a real one when she turned to me. "What is it Yuito?"

Komi also nodded, agreeing with Marin's question while her eyes also seemed to ask 'What should I do?'

"Kitagawa, Can I talk to you privately for some time?" I asked and her smile went brighter.

If that was even possible.

"Sure." She said, pulling her hand away from Komi and wrapping it around mine before she pulled me up from my seat.

"Let's go somewhere then." She said, being overly close to me for some reason.

Marin was quite physical with everyone and she especially loved teasing me very much so I find it hard to gauge her true intention.

I didn't want to sound arrogant or overthink but..

'Is she...' I watched as she wrapped her arms around mine and rested her head on my shoulder as if we were boyfriend and girlfriend.

'...jealous?'

Again, not to sound arrogant and think that any girl would fall for me just because of my cheap flirting and good looks. But...

'Does Marin like 'like' me and thus jealous that I was talking with Komi?'

{Nah, it can't be.} the author said and I would have to agree.

'The 'Operation : MFFMPC' is barely in the beginning stage. No way she already likes me, right?'

My thoughts were cut short as Marin began pulling me towards the classroom door. I turned around to see Komi looking down on the ground with a gloomy aura around her.

She looked at me and her whole being said, 'I messed up didn't I?'

I gave her a smile and made the 'okay' sign with my hand to tell her she did nothing wrong and it was not her fault. Marin's strength increased when I did that and I was dragged out of the classroom even though I was the one who initiated it.

We went up the stairs and head to the highest floor. We quickly reached a quiet corner which was just beside the door to the roof.

There were no people around since the rooftop was off limits because a few students had fall down from there.

I sat on the stair while Marin stood with her arms folded on her chest which worked as some kind of platform for her breast.

Honestly it was quite lewd. The fact that she had no intention of looking lewd makes it lewder.

"So what's going onbwith you and Komi?" she immediately asked while I raised an eyebrow at her.

It felt like I was not the one who wanted to talk privately. And what's with her question?

"That's what I wanted to talk about." I said, still pondering about why she was acting like this.

Then I decided - instead of constantly wondering like this - I would test her and see whether she really liked me or not and if she really was jealous.

I took a deep breath to make this as serious and real as possible.

"Komi and I started dating." I announced and carefully observed her expression. How she react will tell me the truth!!

...

...

...

She showed no reaction.

{Phahahahaha!! Dude, she's not into you.} the author laughed.

I felt a flush of embarrassment rising from my chest.

She showed no reaction at all. She was totally not affected by my statement!!!

[PS : She was actually too shocked and devastated that she completely froze and her heart had broken into million pieces.]

"Forget it. I was just kidding." I said while trying to hide my embarrassment.

"Huh?" Marin said as if coming out of a trance.

"That was not funny!!" She shouted and I felt like digging a hole and burying myself.

"Yeah." I said, rubbing the back of my head as a nervous tick. "Though I really wanted to discuss about Komi." I said, changing the subject.

Marin sighed deeply, "Go on then. But no more joking like that."

I nodded and got serious too.

"Komi actually has an extreme social anxiety..." I began and told her about what happened and what I had learned about Komi in the time since I met her.

Obviously Marin was dumbfounded by the story and didn't believe at first but after my insistence she gave me the benefit of the doubt.

Then I asked her if she could also try helping Komi and if she could become friends with her.

She said she prove it herself whether Komi really had such social anxiety and she also told me to give her some time to think. 

"I want you two to get along." I said and I was worried if my statement came off too forceful.

She looked at me for a while before she whispered, "If you asked me like that, the question is, how could I refuse."

At least that's what I heard.

Then the bell rang and we both went back to our classroom.

I sit back down on my seat and told the curious Komi that Marin would like to talk to her in the second break and told her she would have to do well to try and become friends with her.

She was extremely happy and she told me exactly how much she admired Marin and her extroverted nature.

'It's like when she speaks, the whole world listen.' Komi told me.

And it was true. Marin had that kind of aura around her and I think it's because of how passionate she was with whatever she said.

She was honest and whatever you hear from her mouth, probably came from her heart.

That was what made Marin different from any other pretty girl. She was real, she used no mask or deceit around people.

And you wouldn't believe how rare that was nowadays.

So until the next break, I spent my time reading a webnovel on my phone while having short interaction with Komi.

The way she would intentionally drop her eraser just so she could have some kind of interaction with me was absolutely adorable.

'Why is she so damn cute even with her stoic face?'

---__---__---__---__---__---__---

[The second break]

Marin, Komi and me were in the empty stair where Marin and I had talked previously.

But right now I was the one standing up while Marin and Komi were sitting on the stair, having a heartfelt moment together.

Komi was using her notebook and pen to communicate with Marin and she was pouring her heart out just like she had done to me.

(I had always wanted to talk to people like everyone else. Talk about the weather. Talk about my favourite show. Tell jokes etc...)

(But the world freezes and I wouldn't be able to talk.) these were written in her notebook and she would flip the page and showed them to Marin.

(Until I met Fujita, I was always alone and thought people hated.)  

Marin watched Komi with great empathy in her eyes.

(And he has been helping me to be better ever since.) she showed her the final page and Marin began crying and she immediately hugged her.

"So you never had anyone? Why didn't you come to me?" she said while tightly hugging her. She was also trying to stifle her cry while she talked.

Marin had always been an empathetic girl. Always being able to deeply relate with others no matter their situation.

So I think it was a really good decision on my part to bring them together.

Komi pushed Marin away from her and began writing something on her notebook again.

Then, with shaking hands, she showed it to Marin while hiding herself with the notebook.

(Fujita had told me talked you may accept this so I want to ask you.)

She turned a page.

(Will you be my friend too?)

Marin immediately wrapped her arms around Komi again, "Yes, YES!! A hundred times yes!! I will be your best friend, Komi-san."

And this time to my complete shock, Komi started crying quietly in Marin's chest.

Maybe finally being able to friends with someone she had always admired like Marin filled her with so much emotions that it completely passes through her stoic body.

Marin held her tightly om her chest while rubbing the back of Komi's head. She then turned to me and mouthed the following words.

"We must protect her at all cost."

I smiled at that. Seems like I was not the only one felt the great need to protect Komi anymore.

I gave her a small salute, like a soldier. Marin nodded in satisfaction before turning her attention to Komi again.

Well ain't this the sweetest thing.

[Special Image]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I think that's all and thank you for reading.