☼ the healer of hearts

In any case, since he was supposed to do his homework, he was currently looking for a quiet place to do some reading first and then start on his essay. Ogami was holding a book on Japanese military history and he had a paper inside it with the notes on what topics he was supposed to make the essay and the details of the work when suddenly a gust of wind blew the paper away from him and he decided to follow it but couldn’t bother to run so he just walked at a bit of a fast pace towards it until it was stuck on some girl’s face.]

Ah, I’m sorry, could I get back that paper?

"Oh no, I'm sorry...! This must be important to you..." She picked it up and held it out, smiling back at him. Of course his fake smile was enough to fool her. Kobato was too dense to see through it.

With a sigh, he placed a hand on her head and looked the other way. “Oi, look, I was just kidding. I didn’t think you’d actually cry,” he said calmly, not seeing a reason to use sarcasm at this point. 

Sighing, a tiny smile pulled on the corners of her lips as well. She knew he didn't really intend to hurt anyone, and it was in his nature to be obnoxious and facetious. She could learn to deal with it, and not take it all to heart. She would have to, after all, if they were going to be friends. And of course, that was something Kobato was already set on. 

“Ah…” The albino paused, expression almost gaping. His only red hue stared directly at the girl in front of him with confusion as to why the hell is she acting like some kind of an air-head. Ah, what a way to making him turn his own offer down at the girl. Though, he is a guidance counselor, it is not proper to show that he doesn’t like a certain student. They are inside the school premises, he should follow the rules even if how boring every rule written was.

“My, my~ What a lovely encounter it is!” Break chimed in, reverting back to his old cheerful self as he skipped down the way the girl was standing and stopping just about a few inches from her, his height towering over her. “I must say I owe you this pleasure~ What can I help you, young lady~?” Hm? The albino paused, standing straight and blinking, hands falling down to his side with a small pout developing on his features. But then, as quick as it arrived, as it quick as it vanished. Nevermind the paperworks, he could just make Reim do them all later.

All the same, he seemed like a nice enough man, and he was seeking out a student to guide. If anyone needed guidance, it was Kobato herself.

Things lately had begun to pile up. She was attending all of her classes, and giving her best effort to learning new things, but it just wasn't enough. Without having any sort of schooling before now, due to her other-worldly circumstances, jumping right into high school probably hadn't been the best idea. Her grades were slipping, she hadn't helped anyone at all, and things were going downhill.

He couldn’t even take himself seriously. Comforting a person was not his strong suite, and it always ended up as some offsetting remark in these types of situations. If he laughed at his own joke, he’d be seen as some lame comedian. Restraining his laughter, he was taken aback when he say the girl’s eyes tear up. He staggered back. Aw, shit. 

“H-Hey, Hanato-san, are you seriously crying? Huh? Ah, no, you’re plenty cute compared to some of the she-beasts I know. Keep your innocence and you’ll always be up there by the sunflowers.” Trying not to act like it was a big deal, he scratched his face. His eyes lazily looked at her, not moving out of his gaze.

“H-Hey, Hanato-san, are you seriously crying?"

The tears were beginning to well up in her eyes, and it didn't take long for him to take notice. She felt embarrassed when he did, too. Kobato wasn't the sad type, and she wasn't usually one to cry. But under the stress of classes lately, it only took one minor thing to push her over the edge. Nothing seemed to be going her way lately.

To make matters worse, he was laughing at her pain, the pain that had been brought on entirely by him! She quietly griped over it, sniffling and rubbing the point of impact.

Kobato was completely taken aback when she felt his warm hand on her head. She had hardly even noticed him approaching her and kneeling down beside her, and now here he was, within such close proximity trying to... comfort her, maybe? She wondered if this was his intention, until he opened his mouth and blurted the cruel words. Then she was sure that was hardly his intention at all. 

"U... ugly...?" She repeated, her voice wavering like that of an upset child, on the verge of tears.

Still sleepy from having just woken up recently anyways, he groggily opened his eyes half-way. “Oh, it’s… Ato-san,” he struggled to say, pretending to have forgotten her name.

  Leaning forward from the tree, he began to get up. “What’re you doing up, it’s still ni-“ Stupidly, he hit his head against hers and sent himself right back to the ground. He grabbed his forehead in an over-exaggerated fashion. A groan escaped.

Stretching his arms as he came out of the building, he looked around at his surrounding. Not a soul in sight. Shit. He’d overslept again. 

“O-Oi… Hello? Anyone here? It’s not past 9 at least, right?” he called out, his voice strained. An awkward grin spread across his face. He pitifully laughed to himself, trying to ignore the situation. What was this, his seventh day oversleeping in the past month? There’s no way he would be able to keep this job. 

After a minute of standing there, hunched over, he realized that he wouldn’t be getting a reply to his question. A dark look overcast his face.

All of this weighing down on the girl's shoulders, she made her way out of the classroom building and stretched. Much to her surprise, hardly anyone wandered the courtyard, and it was silent. Silent, all but for one voice, a deep, distressed voice, that echoed. 

"Hmm...?" She looked around, curiously, when she spotted him--the staggering, nose-picking sensei that she hadn't seen in days, not even in class. He was slumped against a tree, and he was talking to himself. Maybe something was wrong? She was going to find out!

"Sakata-san?" She was already making her way over to him when she called out. "Are you alright, Sakata-san?" The same warm smile lit up her face as she leaned over, examining the older man.

Hatter bows and introduces himself.

Hatter narrows his eyes at the new face.

If you want to be added into an SoF Group chat on skype— either send me your usernames or add mine— it’s dashdardly.

This girl was way too nice for her own good! I mean, why couldn’t she just accept Hikaru’s offer and get it over with just like that? Hikaru sighed quite loudly as she insisted in buying him ice cream. ‘Oh, so she can buy me something and I can’t?’ He thought as he stared at the girl.

“Hm..”  There was a moment of silence. This girl was starting to irritate him. How many more times did he have to insist so she could finally accept it and move on?

“If… if you really must buy me a new dress… then I’ll let you do that! But after, you have to promise that you’ll allow me to replace your ice cream!” 

“Huh..?” Hikaru looked at the girl wide-eyed.  Hikaru was quiet for awhile, it seemed like he couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He then let out a loud sigh of relief and smiled at her.

“So you finally gave up.. heh.” He smirked. “Well sure, whatever.. I promise. Let’s get going.” Hikaru remarked as he placed his arm around her shoulders and walked.

"Ah...?" When he put his arm around her, she just blinked and looked up at him, curious and confused. Was this what people generally did when they became acquaintances or friends? Walk this close in proximity? It must be! He's acting so normal about it, anyways.

Once she got past the internal question and answer with herself, she tuned back into the conversation, listening politely as they walked together.