Chapter 33 - Helping

At lunch break, Ryou walking in hallway. He is carrying a can of coffee in his hand.

Ryou: "I'm getting used to this school coffee. Haaah...." he sigh.

Then he see a pink haired girl with glasses sitting alone in a bench beside school building.

'Isn't that Sakura Airi? What is she doing over there?'

Ryou: "Excuse me, can i sit here? Its my usual place for drinking coffee..."

Airi: "Y..yes, you can sit there."

Ryou: "Ah sorry, my name is Hiroki Ryou from class 1B. Nice to meet you."

Airi: "I'm.. i'm Sakura Airi from class 1D. N..nice to meet you too.. the..then, I will be going first."

Ryou: "You are not comfortable if sit here? *smile* just say it, i'll be the one who is gonna leave. You are the first one here."

Airi: "N...no, its okay."

Ryou: "Then let sit together. Don't be too formal. We're friends already right?"

Airi: "Fr..friend?"

Ryou: "At least we are friend in name right? who knows what will happen in the future."

Airi: "Yes, friend."

He open the coffee can and drink it.

Ryou: "Sorry, i only bought one."

Airi: "N.. no problem, i have mine." she show him her orange juice.

Ryou: "By the way Sakura-chan, why are you sitting here, alone?"

Airi: "I.. i don't have any friends, so i came here sometimes."

Ryou: "Your classmates?"

Airi: "I'm not good with people and crowd, so its a bit hard to approach them."

Ryou: "Then, i will be your 'real' friend." He smile as he extend his hand.

Airi shocked and look at him.

Airi: "Bu..but i'm..."

Ryou: "Hmm? you don't want to be my friend?"

Airi: "N..noo, its not like that!"

Ryou: "So?"

Airi reach his hand and shake it.

Ryou: "Nice to meet you Sakura-chan, lets get along from now on."

Airi: "I..its nice to..to meet you too Hiroki-kun, lets get along."

And after that, Ryou and Airi sometimes meet at that place.

He introduce Honami, Ringo and Ryuji to Airi.

It is a werid combination of 1 student of class 1D and 4 students of class 1B.

'Fate huh, i thought i will be closer to Ayanokouji because i know he is supposed to be the MC of this story. I never think Airi is the one from class 1D that will be our first close friend from another class. I hope she can be more open to us.'

..

Back from school, Ryou and Honami are talking with Airi at their usual place.

Ryou: "Ne... isn't it weird we never think that this place will be our rendezvous meeting place? Hahahaha."

Honami: "A basecamp meeting with Airi-chan!"

Airi: "This is our first meeting place afterall."

Ryou: "Oohh... your first what Airi-chan?"

Honami pinch Ryou's waist.

Honami: "Don't make any weird question. You make her blush."

Airi: "No..no problem. I know Ryou-kun like to tease people."

Now she's more open and can call them by their first name.

He can remember when they ask her to call them by their first name, her face is so red and she is stuttering so much.

Then she start to become closer to them, she even tell them about her hobby, at first she is afraid they will see her in weird way.

But out of her expectation, they even compliment her.

Ryou and Ryuji got the smack to their head with a book from the girls because they stared at Airi's photo too much.

Ryou: "Airi-chan, why don't you try talk with your classmates. I think they want to be your friend too."

Honami: "Yes, i do think so. Look at you now, despite we're from different class we can be friend, of course your classmates can become your friend too right?"

Airi: "I.. i don't know, sometimes i think they are hard to approach. There are several people talk to me, but i don't know why its like they are just do it out of courtesy."

Ryou: "Look, courtesy or not, it is the first step to a friendship. Who knows if you respond them, you will know them better. Aren't we just doing a chit chat at the first time we met?"

Honami: "Although it is because Ryou's nature you are forced to call us by our first name just a few days after we know each other."

Ryou: "Heey, isn't it better? I don't really mind they call my first name. And aren't you the one who said its not fair only me called by my first name? so you, Ringo and Ryuji followed?"

Airi giggling looking at them.

She never expect to be so close to someone, even more from another class.

Ryou: "You look cute if you smile more."

Airi: "Cu..cute?"

Honamo: "No flirting!"

Ryou: "Ouch... can i pinch your waist too?"

Honami: "No!"

And they laugh together.

Ryou: "Just tell us if you need something, because we're from different class, that doesn't mean we can't help each other right?"

Airi: "Thank you so much Ryou-kun, Honami-chan."

..

(Sakura POV)

'I'm not very good at interacting with other people.

I'm not very good at talking to other people while making eye contact. I'm not very good with crowded areas. I don't know when I started to be bad at those things.

However, the one thing I'm know is that a person can't live completely alone. No matter how much I love being alone, I cannot possibly survive by myself.

So, I came up with a solution. Putting on a facade, I live by hiding my true self. Only then am I no longer me, but rather, become me.In this dark, lonely world, I can continue to survive.

The world is not a beautiful place. While it's common sense, everyone secretly wishes for a beautiful world. A bit of a contradiction.

But here i am, talking with them, my friends. It is because of him, the one that reach me from my lonely world. At first i think its just a one time chance to meet him, but after that we regulary meet each other in that place. He even gave me a chance to know others too, Honami-chan, Ringo-chan and Ryuji-kun. As i talk to them more, i started to undertand them more and i can be more open to them than my own classmates. I don't know what will happen if i never had that encounter with him.

Yes, he is the one that reach me when i need it the most, thank you, Hiroki Ryou.'

..

..

Honami and Ryou walk together to dormitory.

Honami: "But really Ryou, are you only help girls? are you sure you are not a playboy who want to gather girls as much as possible?"

Honami look at him squint her eye.

Ryou: "What are talking about Honami? At that time, i really am accidentaly meet Airi when i want to buy a coffee. Its not like i did that on purpose."

Honami: "Haaaah... what i'm gonna do about your luck with girls." she said in low voice.

Ryou: "Oohh... are you jealous Honami?"

Honami: "Wha... who do you think... "

She stopped in mid sentence.

Honami: "S..so, so what if i'm jealous?"

'Huh? this is not like what i expect. She is bolder now ....'

Ryou: "Don't worry, i have no intention to get girls attention to make them fall for me." he said to the blushing Honami.

He don't know that his act of kindness is the one who lead many girls attracted to him.

..

(Honami POV)

'I have to be bolder, so he can notice my feelings or someone might try to do something before me.

Mou.. Ryou, why you have to attract a lot of girls attention.'

______________________________________

A/N: I am here!!!

Finally after my long slumber.

Rise and shine Airi-chan!

Another hurdle for Honami. Come on Honami, you can do it!!!!

"Gimme a Hi-Five!"