Being bad at socialising, I again ended up as the sore thumb of the group and not engaging in the conversation. I was observing their dynamic; the ones conversing among themselves were Seifuku, Kizhashi and Yukimura.

But I noticed something which felt out of place in that situation. Despite Yasurouka being good at socialising, she was also walking beside them, not taking part in their conversation. I found it interesting.

I plodded up to match my pace with her.

“Hey” I greeted her.

“Yeah?” She looked at me.

“You alright?”

“Hooo… since when… nevermind, I’m alright.” She replied. Seems like she wanted to say something but decided not to stretch the conversation.

“You are acting weird.”

“What do you mean?” She frowned at me.

“You seem a bit down today.”

“You’re noticing me that intently?” This is the first thing she asked. I dug a hole for myself here.

“Well, observing.”

“You’re weird… observing someone who isn’t even your friend.” She narrowed her eyes on me.

“Indeed, you’re not my friend, but you’re someone I’ve made a deal with.” I explained.

“That’s an interesting way of seeing it.” She nodded while looking forward.

“You seem to be good at controlling a conversation.”

“Wha… What?” My statement startled her. She stared at me avidly.

“You didn’t answer my question and instead tried to turn this conversation in a different direction. Pretty impressive.”

“Well, if you’re going to point it like that… ” She blushed in embarrassment and looked in another direction.

“Anyway, if you don’t want to say then it’s completely fine.” I said.

She turned towards me with an awkward smile and said, “No, it’s just something silly. Don’t worry”

“Something silly? Interesting.” I nodded.

“Now What?” She asked.

“I didn’t say anything, chill.”

“Now that I’m talking to you, I realise that you’re pretty weird too.”

“I’m indeed weirder than you.”

“Good thing that you know about yourself.”

“Did you got into a fight with Gaisen-kun or Kizhashi-san?”

“Umm… No… but why do you ask?”

“You aren’t talking with them, that’s why.”

“Ahh well…” She mumbled that in a low voice.

“It’s okay, my bad for asking.” I decided to stop prying into her affairs.

I looked at her to observe her reaction and to act accordingly. She didn’t reply to that, but she just gave an awkward smile to cover something which was hard for her to put into words.

“You’re better than me at socialising.”

“Huh… you think so?” She looked at me doubtfully.

“Yeah, haven’t you noticed your popularity?”

“Me? Popular? Pffttt” She laughed.

“What? You don’t think so?”

“Ah, you’re going on talking about me. I should ask you about yourself.” She glanced at me. Seems like she is again turning around the conversation, but I’ll follow her flow.

“About me?” I asked, pointing the index finger of my left hand at my chest.

“Yes, who else am I talking with?”

“Uh… well… I’m a really boring person.”

“I can tell.” She nodded.

“Hey that can’t be… you must have something worth telling about yourself.” Seems like she has taken an interest in talking with me. Or she might pretend to be interested to divert my attention from her.

“Well, I’m a pretty average person. You can ask Yukimura-kun if you don’t believe me.”

“He is your best friend, right?” She tilted her head.

“Umm, I don’t know if best friend is the term I would like to use.”

“Is that so?” She asked, and I nodded.

“You probably didn’t know about my existence till yesterday, when we met at the library, right?” I let out a small chuckle.

“Ehh, it’s not like that. I knew about you.”

“Really?” I raised my eyebrows.

“Yes, I have heard about you from Gaisen-kun.” She answered with a satisfying smile on her face.

“Ahh, I see.” I nodded.

There was silence again between us. We were both looking in front of us and walking. I don’t know if this much initiation from my side was acceptable or not. But she seemed pretty fine with it.

I glanced at her subtly and noticed her sigh while looking at the three people walking in front of us chatting among themselves.

“In this situation, you’re the same as me.” I commented while looking in the same direction as her.

“Huh!? In what way?” She looked at me curiously.

“Being the sore thumb of the group.”

“Sore thumb?”

I sighed, “Being the one left out of the group. Look at yourself, walking behind them.”

“Well, it is what it is. I won’t deny it.” She shrugged and smiled.

“Despite being good at conversations, this seems a bit odd.”

“I’m not good at talking with everyone.” She let out a sigh. “If I join their conversation, I would just be a party popper.” She chuckled.

I think she wasn’t used to talking with me or Yukimura, that’s why she is feeling awkward but she doesn’t want to show it in her behaviour so she is avoiding talking with them.

She is hard to approach but once you talk with her, then she follows the flow of the conversation. If I’m right about this, then I can pretty much say that she is the one who is more talkative between us. I just have to make her feel comfortable to that extent where she would reveal this side of herself.

“Hey?” I noticed her staring at me with a curious look.

“Is something wrong?”

“Why does it feel like someone gave you a punishment?” Yasurouka commented.

“What?” My glance shifted towards her.

“This is what I’m talking about.” She took out her mobile and captured a photo of my face. I was startled by her sudden action.

“Hey you two, what are you talking about?” Yukimura asked, looking at us with a mischievous smile.

“Nothing much. I just took his photo. Want to see?” She offered it while waving her mobile. I thought she was feeling awkward about talking with him.

Yukimura nodded his head so rapidly that it felt like it would pop out.

“Wait… let me see it first.” I said.

“Here.” She showed me the picture, and I was looking like a dead person inside. And my expression was how my resting bitch face looked.

“Delete this right now.” I said.

“As if.” Yukimura came and took the mobile of her hand, staring at the photo. “Oi, Gaisen-kun, take a look at this.” Yukimura was wheezing.

“…” I was standing there like an idiot, cursing Yasurouka inside my mind.

Seifuku stared at the picture for some moments before bursting out into laughter.

“He looks like he is so done with his life” Kizhashi commented, though she wasn’t laughing but that made it even worse. That means she said that seriously.

“Send me this picture,” Yukimura said as he handed over the mobile back to her.

“Don’t send it to him.” I glared at her.

“Ohh, scary.” She mocked me.

“I’ll make stickers out of these” Yukimura laughed.

“NO” I cringed at him.

“Wait for the surprise, Birthday boy” He patted my shoulder and chuckled.

How did this walk back home turn out like this?