The moment she sees me, her expression changes three times in a row. First surprise, then her eyes open wide, and finally a shy but bright smile forms on her lips.
She runs toward me with a small, messy trot.
"Arata-san!"
"Hey."
"I-I thought maybe you weren't going to come."
"Why would you think that?"
"I don't know... ah, sorry, that was weird to say, I didn't mean to say I thought you wouldn't... I mean, it's just that... um..."
She lowers her gaze and starts playing with the tip of her skirt. A pretty shy girl, this Meiko.
I laugh to myself.
"Thanks for waiting, Meiko. I had to dispatch some energetic people."
"E-energetic?"
"My sister and a friend."
Meiko laughs a bit.
"Sounds fun, having someone energetic around."
"Heh, I won't deny it. Want to walk?"
"Yes."
We start walking down the sidewalk. The street is calmer now that the students have dispersed, only a few passersby remain hurrying past, and the sun is starting to slant, so the light has an orange tone I like quite a bit.
Meiko walks beside me but a step behind. Isn't she sure if she can go beside me or should stay behind? Noticing her insecurity, I slow down a bit so she can get in rhythm with me.
"How have you been these days?"
"Um... good. Well, better."
"Better how?"
"The girls... the ones who bothered me before... now they avoid me. They don't talk to me, don't come near me, don't even look at me. It's much more pleasant this way."
She says it smiling, and though her smile is small, it's genuine, so I feel good hearing it.
"And classes?"
"Good, I guess."
"Do you have friends?"
Her smile stays still for a second.
"...No."
"No?"
"Mm. I don't have friends."
She says it looking at the ground, and the tip of her shoe gently kicks a small stone that's on the path, a stone she's been kicking the last few steps. Then she adds in an even lower voice.
"Sounds pathetic, doesn't it?"
At that, I laugh.
"Haha, hahaha."
It's a big laugh that seems like a guffaw, and Meiko raises her head to look at me with surprise and confusion, and probably also some pain because she must be thinking I'm laughing at her, which would make sense given the situation.
"Wh-what?"
"No, no, I'm not laughing at you, sorry. It's just that... it's not pathetic. Not at all."
"But..."
"Friends don't just happen. It's a matter of coinciding with the right people, and if until now the ones you've had nearby have been idiots, it's logical you wouldn't want to hang out with them. Nothing pathetic about it."
"Mm..."
She nods while her fingers keep playing with the tip of her hair.
As we walk, I stay thinking for a moment at the same time an idea appears in my head.
Meiko is alone at her school, her classmates have ignored her or bothered her, and though they now leave her alone, loneliness isn't cured by them stopping fucking with you, it's cured when you have someone to be with. And I don't go to her school, I can't be there every day, but I do go to another school, and there I have some girls who although they might be seen as problematic by others, aren't bad people.
"Meiko."
"Yes?"
"Would you mind leaving this school?"
She raises her head and looks at me. I see her silver eyes open a bit, and her eyelashes move two or three times in a row.
"Huh...?"
"If you'd mind leaving it, to go to mine."
"Yours...?"
"Umu. I don't mind coming to pick you up every day, but I don't attend this school, you know? I go to another one. I have some friends there who are pretty nice, well, time will tell you. If you go, you won't be alone, even if I'm not in class with you at some point."
"But..."
Her eyes move from side to side as she processes what I'm saying, and I can see the moment her face changes several times, whether confusion, some doubt, and finally what seems to be hope.
"But... would it be okay? I... I don't know if I'd fit in with your friends, Arata-san..."
"You'll fit in, don't worry about that."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm telling you you'll fit in."
I smile at her, and Meiko stays silent for a few seconds, her cheeks turn a bit red, and then her expression gradually changes toward joy that rises to her face.
"...I'd like that."
"Really?"
"Yes. But... I'd have to ask my mom."
"Mm. Of course."
I press my lips for a second unintentionally, and stay quiet as we keep walking.
"Arata-san?"
Meiko is looking at me.
"Is something wrong?"
Ah, I must've made a weird face without realizing it. I smile at her.
"No, it's nothing."
"Sure?"
"Sure. Ask your mom, and if she says yes, we'll talk to my school's administration and arrange the paperwork transfer, shouldn't be difficult."
"Yes!"
She smiles brightly, and we walk a bit more while talking about unnecessary things until we reach an intersection where our paths separate, she has to go to her house, and I have to return to the Takagi mansion to prepare for tonight with Saya and Rei.
"Well, I'll walk you this far."
"Yes."
"Let me know tomorrow what your mom says, okay?"
"I will, without fail."
"Take care, Meiko."
"You too, Arata-san!"
She waves her hand and starts walking toward her house, and I stay for a few seconds watching her walk away before turning around and starting to walk too.
While I walk, I briefly glance at the All-Seeing Eye in Meiko's backpack. That eye has been accompanying her since she wanted to be my friend, that is, since we met, in case she encounters dangerous situations.
Human life is very fragile. It can break the next second if you're not careful.