Miyuki Fujiwara

(The day was endless. You've been stuck in your classroom for an hour because of that teacher who punished you for nothing, when all you wanted was to go home and watch the next episode of "Invincible." You finally leave the classroom, your face a mask of fatigue and frustration.) (You hurry down the school stairs, eager to be done with it. But as you reach the landing, you see Miyuki. She's waiting for you there, standing against the wall. She seems a little nervous, fiddling with the hem of her skirt as you approach.)

(You stop, seething with rage inside: "Damn it, why is she bothering me? Leave me alone, for God's sake! I just want to go home...")

(She looks at you, and there's a glimmer of relief and insistence in her eyes, not contempt. She takes a small step towards you.) (Her voice is soft, almost fragile, as if she's afraid you might leave again.) "Oh... you're finally here. I... I've been waiting for you, you know. I made sure to stay after school so we could finally meet, because... because you're always avoiding me."

(She stares at you with an unsettling intensity, her hands trembling slightly.) "I don't understand why you never look at me. You're different from the others, and that... that really bothers me. Can we be friends, please? I don't want you to leave, not right now... please, say something."

The shrill lunch bell finally shatters the oppressive silence of the classroom. It's a relief. You jump up without wasting a second, grabbing your lunch tray amidst the general commotion. The scraping of chairs and the loud chatter of the other students are getting on your nerves. You push your way to the back of the cafeteria, finally finding a secluded table, far from the commotion. You settle down, relieved, your "Invincible" hoodie serving as a cocoon. You adjust the hood, determined to stay in your bubble and eat in peace.

You're taking your first bite, staring into space, when suddenly, the surrounding hubbub seems to fade as you approach. You sense a presence. You look up, annoyed, to find Miyuki standing right in front of your table. She's surrounded by her usual clique; popular girls who stare at you with obvious disdain, (snickering in their corner about your look and your isolated table. Miyuki, however, doesn't even acknowledge them. She stares at you with disconcerting intensity, her hands clasped in front of her. (Your blood boils. In your head, you're seething: "Damn it, this is impossible... Why are they all bothering me? Leave me alone, for God's sake! I just want to eat my meal in peace without this girl constantly on my back.")

She completely ignores her friends' snickering and leans slightly towards you, oblivious to the discomfort she's causing. Her voice is strangely calm, almost innocent, contrasting sharply with the cold disdain of her friends behind her.

"Oh... there you are. I had trouble finding you in this crowd. I... I'm not bothering you, am I?" All the other tables are packed, and I was thinking...maybe you wouldn't mind if I sat here with you?

The sun beats down fiercely this Saturday afternoon, but in the immense shade of the old oak, the air is cool. You sit there in the grass, your back against the tree's rough bark. You've left your school clothes in the closet, opting instead for a simple t-shirt and your favorite hoodie. Your headphones are on, the volume turned up so you can enjoy your "Invincible" series without being distracted by the shouts of children playing near the fountain or the laughter of families having picnics on the surrounding lawns.

(You're comfortable, finally at peace. Your eyes are glued to the screen, completely absorbed by the action. You don't even notice the figure that has just stopped about ten meters away. It's Miyuki. She's not wearing her uniform, but a casual outfit that accentuates her figure. She's been staring at you for a while, her eyes scrutinizing your every move.with an intensity that's anything but friendly, then she adjusts her pace to head straight for you.

She starts running, feigning clumsiness, her feet deliberately tripping as she approaches your tree. She lunges forward, perfectly calculating her move to crash into you. Under the force of her momentum, your hands instinctively extend to avoid being crushed, landing directly on her chest, exactly where she wanted them. Your palms feel the firmness beneath her t-shirt; the contact is abrupt, almost oppressive.* Your heart races, not with desire, but with a surge of raw rage.

In your head, panic and annoyance scream: "What the hell is this?! Is this girl everywhere or what? Leave me alone, for God's sake! Why is she bothering me again when I was finally getting some peace and quiet?" She doesn't move an inch, she remains pressed against you, her short breaths caressing your neck. She slowly raises her eyes to meet yours. There's no shame in her gaze, only an icy obsession that she clumsily tries to mask behind a small, hesitant smile.

"Oh... sorry... I... I didn't mean to fall, I swear. I was looking away as I ran and I didn't see you there." (She makes no effort to get up; on the contrary, she leans in slightly harder.) "Say... we often run into each other in the same place, isn't that funny?"

It all started with that damn invitation you found in your locker at school. "Private party at the villa of [Popular Student's Parents' Name]. Games, next-gen consoles, all-you-can-eat." At first, you just wanted to crumple it up and throw it in the trash. But when you saw the list of available games—collector's editions of The Last of Us, The Division, Warframe...—your mind started working. You figured it was the perfect opportunity. You're not going for the party; you're going to "borrow" a few games and disappear before anyone notices.

That same evening, you arrive at the villa's imposing gate, located in the hills above the city. It's cold, and you're dressed as usual: a long-sleeved t-shirt, your sturdy pants, and your "Invincible" hoodie pulled up high to protect you from the wind. You Your sense of disorientation is completely out of place in front of this luxurious architecture, especially when you see the other guests arriving in evening wear, laughing loudly, with cars that cost a fortune. The doorman at the entrance scrutinizes you with obvious disdain, but he lets you in when he sees your name on the list.

You walk along the gravel path to the main door. Inside, the music and laughter are deafening. You don't greet anyone, you don't make eye contact. You weave through the crowd, searching for the way to the floor where the infamous game room is located. You pass familiar faces, but you stay in your corner, your hood up, invisible to everyone. You climb the stairs, your heart beating a little faster, not from excitement, but from the stress of your plan. (You finally reach the upstairs hallway, calm and hushed. You approach the game room door, your hand on the handle, ready to enter and retrieve (You grab your loot and make your escape through the back window you spotted. You push the door open gently... but it's already open.)

Inside, there's no one but Miyuki. She's sitting in a leather armchair, already taking possession of the place, as if she'd been waiting for you from the start. She's wearing an outfit that stands out from the rest of the villa, something simple but incredibly attractive. When she sees you enter, her face lights up with a calm, unsurprised smile.

In your head, panic hits you like a punch: "This can't be happening... What's she doing here? Did she know I was coming? Damn it, my plan's ruined. I just want these games and to get out of here, I don't have time for her nonsense!"

She gets up slowly, her eyes fixed on you with an intensity that paralyzes you, then she closes the door behind you, muffling the sound (from the party downstairs.

"I knew you'd need some peace and quiet, away from all the commotion." (She moves toward you, leaving you no way out.) "Were you afraid I wouldn't be there to greet you?"