Chapter 3

They both sat at the stool chair in the combined kitchen and living room. Bullets of sweat start to form on the corner of her face, it was as if she was being interrogated by cops. Her nervousness worsens as she felt his deadly gaze at her. If only she could disappear in front of him like magic or if the floor would open up and swallowed her whole just to avoid this… guy. Her plans to escape were interrupted when she heard him cleared his throat.

“Just to make clear, you’re not following me are you?”

Her eyebrows raised in disbelief.

“No! Of course not! Who would follow a pervert like you?!”

Ryo saw him frown and she responded by covering her mouth with her hands as if she said the forbidden word. After hearing his answer, Souma stood from his seat and walked towards the door. Ryo copied him and followed him to the door.

“Wait! I’m so--.”

“Just don’t tell anyone I live here.”

“O-Okay.”

She wanted to know why he was keeping it a secret but didn’t bother, the question seemed inappropriate for someone who’s not related to him. Souma was almost at the door when Ryo stopped him.

“Wait. W-Would you like to have dinner?”

Souma stared at her with his deep blue eyes. The suspicion on his face was too obvious that it made her want to retreat.

“D-Don’t misunderstand. It just a small thanks for saving me the other day and for bringing the box. T-That’s all.”

Ryo’s face turned red as he gazed at her more. Maybe it was a mistake to offer him dinner.

“I’ll take your offer next time. Thanks”

Souma smiled at her and waved goodbye. Ryo stood still in the entry hall after Souma left. Somehow, she saw a different side of Souma. The first time they met, she thought he was nothing but a mischievous pervert and earlier he was serious and cold but now he was a bit friendly. Then she remembers her long chat with Nishimura Airi.

“Souma doesn’t want to be around people so much. When we were in High School, I rarely see him with anyone except his friend…”

“Maybe...that’s the reason why he wants to keep it a secret.”

* * *

Ryo caught sight of Nishimura Airi in front of a club recruiting booth in the first-floor lobby.

It was after the fourth period, moreover on Friday, and many large groups of people were streaming to club welcome parties for new members. All the booths that were nothing more but long tables lined up, were getting a lot of traffic. It was already almost impossible to see where one club started and another ended. The lobby was jammed with students from all college years mixed together in great turmoil. As they were distractedly walking and chattering, some girls stepped on Ryo’s feet. She shouted in pain. When she looked back, they weren’t there. It was so deafeningly noisy in that confusion, that Ryo’s voice sounded like a whisper.

Airi saw her getting swallowed by the crowd and decided to take her out of there.

“Thanks for helping me, Airi-chan.”

“Crazy huh?”

“Yeah. Who knew club recruiting can be that scary?”

“Oh, have you decided on what club to join?”

She shakes her head hopelessly. Airi took a piece of paper from her handbag and showed it to Ryo. It was a flyer from the Film Club.

“You...want to join the Film Club?”

“Yes, I’ve always dreamed of becoming a filmmaker.”

Airi’s eyes sparkled as she talks more about her interest in filmmaking. In some way, she feels envy towards a person who remembered their ambition from when they were young while she can only remember her present. She didn’t notice that she was showing a dark expression on her face.

“Ryo, are you okay?”

“Y-Yeah. I’m just worried that I might not find a club to join.”

“Why don’t you join the film club with me? That would be awesome! We can go to club activities together and have fun.”

“I...I don’t know.”

“Well, you can change your club once you find something that interests you.”

Airi looked at her with pleading eyes and Ryo doesn't have the heart to reject her so she ended up joining the Film Club. After they completed the forms for the registration, they went to the club room to pass their registration forms.

Upon opening the door of the room, an exploding sound and falling confetti greeted them. They were both surprised with such a warm welcome from the seniors. A guy approach them at the entrance, he was a few inches taller than Ryo and Airi and wearing a green sweater. To Ryo's surprise, it was the guy she bumped into during the entrance ceremony. Even though, this was their second meeting, she can still distinguish that kindness and warmth from his amber colored eyes.

"Welcome to the Film Club, freshmen."

"Thank you senpai!" 

Airi was the only one who responded with so much anticipation then the man's eyes turned to Ryo.

"Hi, it's nice to see you again."

Airi thought her eyes would pop out when the guy suddenly asked Ryo. Ryo was caught off guard and gasped for a word to answer him. 

"Ah… yea… I-It's nice s-seeing you."

"Ryo and senpai knew each other?" 

Ryo gasped from Airi's question.

"No. We just met at the entrance ceremony."

"E-Entrance ceremony?" 

"I'll explain later."

Ryo mumbled and Airi winked at her in response. She could feel her cheeks heating up as they all look at them. She didn't expect to see that person again but she was glad that she did. The guy from behind him came closer  and leaned against him as if they were buddies. 

"You're teasing the new recruits, Akira. Let me introduce myself first, my name is Endo, Daichi. I'm the president of the Film Club and this is Kaneko, Akira. He's the Vice-Pres."

Her eyes twinkled as she learned the name of the guy she bumped into. Somehow, Akira was giving her a calm feeling that she can't explain as if she knew him before she had lost her memories.

"Come on, I'll introduce you to the other members."

They didn't notice that there are other students inside the club room. The other members greeted them in unison as if they practice it so many times. Ryo's eyes wander around but ended up noticing Akira again. Somehow she can't keep her eyes off him. He was such a warm person that everyone around him can't stop smiling and enjoying his company.

"Enjoying the view, huh?"

Ryo was startled when someone whispered through her ear. She turned her face to see who it was and saw Souma's face.

"F-Fujiwara-san?"

The red blush on her cheeks disappeared as soon as she saw his face.

"What kind of face is that?" 

"Y-You're a member too?"

Before Souma could answer, Akira cut in between them putting an arm around Souma's shoulder.

"So nice of you getting along with the new recruit. Don't worry, Mori-san. Souma's a nice guy."

Ryo forced a smile. She can clearly see Souma's irritated face. Then she recalls the person Airi was talking about, the person that's close to Souma.

'I see. He must be Fujiwara-san best friend.' she thought as she watched them. With Akira around, Souma looked like a different person. He was more normal and the usual cold surrounding him disappeared.

Akira returned to the group who he was talking to earlier and left Souma and Ryo in the corner. Ryo ended up being alone since Airi was so interested with the Film making activities.

"So… you're interested in Filmmaking?" 

Ryo's eyes widened, she didn't expect Souma to have a conversation with her. 

"N-- To be honest, No."

She gazed at the other members who were enjoying themselves as they share their interest with everyone. Ryo's eyebrows draw together.

"It sure is nice to have something to share to other people."

Souma noticed that sad expression on her face or rather there was a slight hint of envy.

"Then why don't you share something with them…"

She chuckled sarcastically.

"What can I share? I know nothing about filmmaking. I have no club to join so I just tag along with Airi."

He smirked.

"Same here. I don't have the slightest knowledge about film making."

"Ehh… then why were you here?"

His eyes narrowed as he looked at Akira's face. Ryo waited for his response and notice that he was looking at someone so she followed his eyes and the answer hits here.

"I see. I guess we're both stuck here for a while."

They both sighed at the same time. 

***

It was almost evening when Ryo arrive at her apartment. The quiet environment drained the energy out of her body so instead of having dinner maybe she'll just go to bed early. She slammed her tired body on her bed, facing her flower bed sheet. During the club hours, she ended up talking to Souma and unexpectedly she found it comfortable.

She was completely confused about his true identity. Sometimes he' s cold then arrogant and then friendly. All of the sudden, her mind was filled with Souma. She buried her face against her bed sheet. 

'No. I have to be careful around that guy. He's a sneaky fox.' she reminded herself. 

***

After fourth period, Ryo went to the library to borrow some books. Even though it's only the second week since the class started, they already have so much homework and exams. As she handed out her ID at the counter, she proceed to the business section to get the books that she needs. She took all the books that she thought would be useful and didn't notice that they were already piling up on her hand. She puts the last book that she wants to borrow and was about to return to the counter to have them registered under her name when suddenly the books fell one by one.

She panicked and bent down to gather them again.

"Doing some research?" 

She saw a man leaning towards her. His ebony black eyes gaze at her that she was able to see herself reflecting on it.

"K-Kaneko-senpai!"

His lips curved in a short smile. 

"Just call me Akira. Since we're in the same club."

Ryo's heart went overdrive. She couldn't understand why her heart behave this way. She tried her best to fight the blush from showing over her cheeks but it was difficult especially when Akira was smiling at her. Akira gave her the books that he picked himself. 

"T-Thank you, A-Akira-senpai."

"Don't mention it. I gotta go. See you at the club."

Akira ran off towards the library entrance where two girls were waiting for him. By the looks of those girls, they seem to admire Akira like Ryo does. Her eyes grew larger when one of the girls wrap her hands around one of his arms as if they’re intimate. She suddenly felt a sharp blow in her chest, that it made her confused. Her face becomes distorted because of the mixed emotions that were occupying her mind.

"D-Do I like Akira-senpai that much?"

She murmured in confusion since all the emotions that she felt were so foreign to her. While Ryo was distracted, Akira and the two girls disappeared from the library entrance and she felt relief since that scene was making her uncomfortable. She was relieved that no one was around to hear her at that time.

"So you like Akira, huh?" 

Her whole body froze as she heard a voice coming from behind her. Her hands that were holding the books starts to tremble in fear. This was the consequence of saying your thoughts out loud. Her heart that's pounding with excitement turned into fear like it's about to jump out of her chest. Her knees seems to wobble like jelly and tiny sweat forming on the corner of her face. Ryo tried her best to control her fear and slowly turned her face to see who it was.

Souma greeted her with a playful smile on his face.

"F-Fujiwara-san! What a coincidence."

Souma's faced returned to his usual indifferent look while Ryo was trying her best to flash him a smile.

"Are you here to borrow books as well?" 

Souma didn't answer her but instead he glared at her with suspicious eyes. For the second time, Ryo felt like being cornered by a cop. Ryo retained that fake smile on her face for a few minutes until Souma let her off the hook. He didn't bother asking about Akira and left the library without boring a single book.

She took the books at the counter for registration. While waiting, she thought about what happened a few minutes ago and let out a heavy sigh.

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