Seiji stared.
Ayame Hanazawa didn't look like the school's unreachable idol right now.
She was leaning against the concrete wall, far from her usual proud ballerina's posture. Shoulders slumped, face pale, eyes glued to the floor.
Conceited as she had been toward him, Seiji felt bad for her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
Ayame's long lashes flicked up over her cool, beautiful eyes. When they landed on Seiji, she froze.
She looked at him for a long while, her pupils slowly dilating.
The amulet whirred against Seiji's skin.
"I... um..." Ayame tucked a stray hair behind her ear.
Her fingers are so pretty. They look almost porcelain.
"I… I'm fine," she muttered. "I was just... thinking."
Seiji didn't move. He watched her. A few days ago, she'd looked at him with revulsion when he tried to speak to her. Now, her gaze was very different.
It's warm!
And she couldn't seem to look away.
"Seiji, right?" she said softly.
Wow, today she even remembers my name!
"Yeah."
"I... I wanted to apologize," she continued. Voice calm, but without its usual ice. "That day. In the hallway. I think... I think I was a bit rude… I'm sorry."
Seiji goggled. To say he was surprised would've been a massive understatement.
More like shell-shocked.
The school's "modern aristocrat" was stuttering out an apology to him.
Am I dreaming? Is this the day cows learn to fly?
"It's okay," he said.
"No, it's not," she said. She lowered her eyes. "I've felt... bad about it. It was a mean thing to do."
Seiji didn't know what to say or do.
Ayame was so close to him. And she was sorry!
The amulet jolted him back to reality.
Say something. Don't just stand around like an idiot.
He cleared his throat. "Why are you still here? So late."
"My parents..." She paused, choosing her words. "They aren't home yet. And... I just wanted to wait here... I didn't feel like going home..."
She looked at him with big, sad eyes. Like she was looking into his soul.
She wants to talk to someone.
Seiji's brain froze.
She wants to talk to me???
He felt the warmth around his neck. Go with the flow.
"Okay," he said. "Why don't we sit down?"
He led the way and sat down on the bottom step. The concrete was cool.
Ayame hesitated. She looked at her immaculate skirt, then at him. Finally, she nodded and also sat down, keeping a polite distance.
"You always look so happy," Seiji said. "Did someone upset you today?"
Ayame let out a sad chuckle. "Happy?"
"Yes."
She turned to look at him. "Is that what you think?"
Seiji shrugged. "That's what everybody thinks."
"Well… they can think what they want," she said, and looked at the floor again. "They know nothing about me."
That's true. How can we know anything about you? You're so high above everyone.
He didn't reply.
He just looked at her and waited.
She glanced at him. Quickly. Then sighed. "I'm not like that... I'm… I'm very lonely. The way everyone treats me… I can't really talk to anyone. Not normally."
Seiji was speechless—again.
Can I believe my ears?
Did The Ice Queen just confess to him she felt lonely?
The amulet stung him.
"I thought it was just me who feels like that," Seiji blurted.
Shit! What am I saying?
Ayame raised her eyes. Deep, magnetic eyes.
That was too serious. I need to make it lighter. Cheer her up.
"And that's normal," he kept going, thinking as he went. "I'm allowed to feel like that because everyone's worse off than the 'Great Ayame Hanazawa'."
Ayame smiled! A small, genuine smile. It was a rare and beautiful sight.
Her mouth is even prettier than I thought…
"That's funny," she said. "Thank you for trying to make me feel better."
Seiji nodded. "Trying… So it didn't work?"
Her smile widened.
"It did." Her face seemed lighter. Less elite. But happier. "Maybe we should hang out more," she said, suddenly quieter. Like she was uncertain. "Outside of school. School is... a weird place. So much is… fake."
"Sure," Seiji said.
She breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again.
"We should see that new movie," he said.
"Oh yes... I wanted to see it," she said. She looked at her lap, her face flushing a soft pink. "Maybe on Sunday?"
Seiji felt the amulet hum. The top girl at school had just asked him on a date.
"Sunday works," Seiji said. "The early afternoon?"
"Yes," she said. She stood up, straightening her skirt. "I think it's at one o'clock. I'll meet you there?"
"Sure. I can walk you home," Seiji offered.
"Thanks, that's okay," she said, shaking her head slightly. "I'll be fine. Really. But I'll see you on Sunday."
Ayame picked up her designer backpack that all the girls at school were gossiping about (Did you know how much it cost? It just went on sale in Japan. Did you see the picture of that model wearing the same one?).
She started toward the exit, her perfect legs moving with grace and elegance.
The legs of a true queen.
At the door, she stopped. She turned back and gave Seiji one more smile. Shy. Dazzling.
"See you Sunday?"
"Yes, Sunday."
She disappeared.
Seiji sat alone in the quiet stairwell. He wouldn't have believed what just happened, if his amulet didn't hum against his chest.