章 10: Shiina Mashiro
"What colour... do you want to be?"
"... Huh?"
As if a spell was broken, I was finally back to my senses. I looked at the girl in front of me and noticed her big red eyes fixated on my face, as if looking deep into my soul. Honestly, it was a bit unsettling.
Now that I have gotten a good look at her, she sure doesn't look like a five year old, does she?
.
..
...
Of course she doesn't!
Chihiro-sensei, I know you didn't tell me her real age on purpose! Your tendency to lie while talking about your age came and took in an effect here too, huh?
This girl, she looks completely different than she is in this photo. She is almost three times older. Time has indeed been gracious to her though, she looks like a model now.
Still, I wonder how I was able to recognise her?
"What colour, do you want to be?"
I was once again brought back to the real world by the same monotonous voice. I berated myself for monologuing in my head while this girl was talking, and turned my attention back to her. After seeing that she had my attention, the girl tilted her head slightly, her face revealing nothing.
Man, she really do look like a doll. An extremely beautiful one at that.
"What colour do I want to be? Is that a rhetorical question?"
"Hm?"
Upon sensing the confusion in her tone, I decided to elaborate.
"I mean, is there a deeper meaning behind that question? Or am I supposed to answer about what colour I feel like wearing today, or something like that?"
"No."
The girl shook her head at me, before looking down at the ground, probably trying to think of what to say next. After a while, she looked at me again and explained what she meant.
"I meant, 'What colour do you want to be in the future'."
Isn't that the same thing? You're just repeating what you said earlier!
I have a feeling this girl isn't someone who has experience in talking with people. Not that I'm unfamiliar with people who are socially inept by nature, but in this girl's case, it far exceeds the possibility of simply being an introvert.
I have seen a fair share of loners in my life, I myself am one if you don't know already, but this girl feels like something entirely different. Her expression matches with that of a mannequin; Completely detached from this world.
Sheesh, here goes my brain conjuring baseless theories. Stop assuming things about people, me! That's why I don't have friends!
"...What colour I want to be, huh?"
I decided to ponder her question for a while. I feel if I don't answer this question, I might end up leaving a really bad impression on her. It's just a normal question, there's nothing much to think about anyway, right?
If that really is the case, then my brain, please do tell....
'Why am I thinking so hard about this?'
The girl stared at me from her position with that same aloof expression. Despite the look on her face, I was still able to see something that most people would have missed if they didn't look at her properly. Her eyes, they held a tinge of curiosity in them.
'Which is soon going to turn into disappointment once I give my answer.'
"I don't know."
I answer truthfully. It should have been easier to say any colour that came to mind, but that would have been a lie.
I'm not a saint who never lies. If I'm being honest, I have lied too many times to keep count. And most of them were selfishly told by me because I had something to gain by telling such lies.
In this scenario, however, I was unable to lie.
This 'out-of-nowhere' question has somehow proven to be very difficult for me to answer. I don't know how to explain it, so let's just put it into a normal way so that anyone can understand.
If I was a colour, what colour would I be? Forget about what colour I want to be in the future, what colour I am, at this very moment? This is the thought that has been bugging me since I heard her question.
That's why, I don't know what to answer her. I first want to know what colour I am right now before I could think on what I want to become. Until then, I will never be able to give an answer to this question.
"..."
The girl didn't speak after that. She just stared at me with unblinking eyes, making me wonder what she must be thinking right now. Is she disappointed with my answer? If so, then why? I still don't know why this girl asked me such a question.
Despite her voice being monotone and her face expressionless, I could still somehow tell this girl was sincerely asking that question, simply because she was curious. Rejoice girl, I gave you your answer. I'm sure you're disappointed. Now let me do my job and take you to meet your cousin.
"That was unexpected."
"...what?"
"Your answer, it was unexpected."
"Yeah, I got that, but why?"
"You didn't lie. You were sincere."
She didn't elaborate further than that, not because she didn't want to, but simply because she couldn't. The way she looks at the world seems to be completely unique to her.
I still think I got a slight gist of what she meant. She must have asked this question to others before, and they must have not given her a sincere answer but instead named some random colour. I might be the only person who was thinking so hard about this question. I'm a fool, I should have also answered with 'anything but not pink'.
"... What about you? What colour do you want to be?"
I surprised myself with my question. Why am I trying to get to know her? This is so not like me. The only reason I can think of is for her personality being unique. The author inside of me wants to poke her character a little to see what she is like. I really am a weirdo.
"I have never thought about it."
Seriously? You don't know yourself and you're going around asking strangers this question... man, this girl sure is unique.
"O..kay? I hope you find the answer soon."
"White."
"Huh?"
"Currently, I'm white(shiro)."
Hello White, I'm Yoshihiro, it's nice to meet you.
Alright, sorry. It was bad, I know.
"..Just like your name, huh?"
"?"
She looked up at me, a little surprised. Crap, I talked out loud again! I better explain it now!
"... You're Shiina Mashiro-san, right?"
She slightly nodded. I was right, then. Thank you Kami, I guess you don't hate me as much as I thought you did. Let's have tea together once I leave this world, alright?
"Don't worry Shiina-san. I'm not anyone suspicious. Chihiro-sensei told me to come here and take you to Sakurasou, as she is busy at the moment. She should have given you a call to inform you, right?" For some reason, I highly doubt that.
"Cousin Chihiro? No. I didn't get a call."
Oi, Sensei. Have you no sense of responsibility in that head of yours or what? How in the world did you become a teacher? Not to mention, Shiina's parents should have known how irresponsible Chihiro-sensei could be, so why did they send her to this Amazon? I'm afraid she is going to be taken advantage of!
"That damn Christmas cake..."
"Now that's no way to talk about a lady, is it Yoshimon?"
"....hah?"
I turned my head a little to notice Mitaka-senpai standing beside me. He was standing there with his usual smile. His eyes were assessing Shiina in a way that I could tell was something I want no part of. I don't want to know what kind of calculations he is doing in his head.
"Where were you all this time?"
"I was sitting where you left me. I thought you wanted to ask this girl out, so I decided to wait till you get rejected. Such a shame it didn't happen."
Oi, your perception of fun is no fun for me you hear? And your confidence in me to get rejected is pissing me off! Not that it's not true, but still!
"Tch, she is the girl Chihiro-sensei wanted us to welcome. She is Shiina Mashiro."
I decided to introduce the girl, who was currently watching the both of us converse with a far off look on her face. Upon my introduction, she blinked a few times before giving me a stare. What? Did I say something wrong?
"Oh, it's nice to meet you Shiina-san. I'm Mitaka Jin."
Mitaka-senpai smiled his charming smile, which I could tell had no effect on the girl whatsoever. Heh, I feel like laughing at his face right now, but I must hold it in!
The girl nodded at him, then turned her attention back to me as if accusing me of something. What is it? What did I do?!
"Matsumura-kun, I think she is waiting for you to introduce yourself. I'm sure you forgot to do so earlier."
Oh, right.
"Sorry about that. I'm Matsumura Yoshihiro. It's nice to meet you."
"You can call him Yoshimon for short."
"You keep your mouth shut!"
I glared at Senpai's direction, who simply smiled at me in turn. Before any more words could be exchanged, Shiina-san interjected in our conversation with her eyes glued to my own.
"Yoshihiro... It has a nice ring to it."
She put a strand of hair behind her ear, before looking at me again.
"I like it."
At this moment, as if the god has planned for it, the wind started blowing in our direction. The leaves of the Sakura Tree we were standing under, accompanied the wind creating a beautiful scenery that could make anyone's heart skip a beat. Mashiro Shiina's hair responded to the wind, and danced around the air, but her eyes never left mine.
I was also in a similar state. I couldn't take my eyes off of her. For the first time in a while, I was neither bothered nor embarrassed with someone calling me by my first name. It felt kind of right.
"Kouhai-kun, you really are one level above me."
Silence was the only response I could give to Senpai.
~~~
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