High school life is not very interesting for me.

But, I have to go to school because I heard something from my classmate,

"The foreign student will come to this class"

Am I interested into it? I guess no

"Well, guys. Sit down"

The teacher comes in, with a girl and she is energetic today.

"Okay, guys. Today I will introduce someone who has moved to this class"

All the students are very enthusiast, especially a person who's sit down in front of me.

"Noel, who's that?"

"I don't wanna know, it isn't my business"

"So cold. C'mon!"

Yeah, like I said before, I wasn't interested, just a little curious.

"Hello, my name is Mio Tanaka. I come from Japan. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu¹"

Well, the class became quiet. Nobody understand what she said, and then

"Kochirakoso²"

Yep, that's what I said to her.

And then, Steve said :

"You said you didn't care about her, how liar!"

"Sorry, just a little habit"

"Guys, don't talk!"

The teacher yelled at us.

"Now, you can have a seat, Tanaka"

She bows to the teacher, and she will sit down next to me?

Yeah, there only has one empty seat.

"Arigatou³"

She bows to me and sit down, what is it on purpose?

"Oke guys, come back to the class, please!"

Oh, I almost forgot. I'm in the classroom.

*Lunch time*

"Noel, where did you learn that?"

"Learn what?"

"The Japanese"

"Oh, I'm just watching some anime"

"You do?"

"Yes"

"I'm doing too, but in English dubbed"

"Oh"

"What do you think? I'm a weirdo?"

"A little bit"

"Because I watched the English dubbed?"

"Nope, since I meet you. You're the weirdest person I've met"

"What a strange"

We laugh at the same time, and I realized something, she's eating alone at her desk. Why?

"Noel!!!"

"Sorry, what did I miss?"

"I'm going to the park, don't you wanna go?"

"No, I-"

"Okay, fine. I will go alone there, bye!"

Nobody want to talk to her, even the girls didn't want to be close to her.

Maybe I will try to talk to her

"Yo, genki desuka?⁴"

She shocked.

"I'm fine, thanks"

She answers it.

"Are you having trouble with the girls?"

"No, nothing. I'm just a little shy with these girls"

"Nande?⁵ You're a beautiful girl, what's the problem?"

She is blushing? I don't know why her face's turning red.

"Because I have a problem when I talk to others"

*Bell ringing*

"I will talk to you next time"

What's in my mind, do I have a crush to her? it's not like me.

But, I think she was a popular girl in her school before.

Until the school study was over, I didn't talk to her anymore.

Because...

I don't know what I feel, it's very difficult to explain.

Mio Tanaka, she's just a shy girl who take a seat next to me.

I'm curious about her? Maybe yes, but....

She is a foreign student and has a beautiful personality.

But, she has a communication issue.

Maybe I can help her.

The next day, in the morning. I saw her from above.

Did she live here? That means She is my neighbor.

I've heard of someone moving, but I didn't expect it to be her.

"Ohayou gozaimasu¹"

I give her a morning greeting.

"Ohayou gozaimasu. Noel-san"

"Ara, dare desu ka?² Micchan?"

Micchan? Is the nickname?

"Okaasan³! Don't call me like that"

Her face turned red.

"Eh, nande? Kawaii desu yo, ne?⁴"

Does she talk to me? What would I do?

"I think so"

"He is my classmate, Noel"

"Ara! Just a classmate?"

"Okaasan!"

"Just kidding, take care of my daughter, Noel-kun"

"A-a, Yes. I will be taking care of her"

"Good boy"

"Noel-san?"

"Oh, sorry. We going to school, Good bye!"

I didn't expect can talk with her mom, but maybe will be my new habit from now on.

We came to the classroom, and many classmates locked their eyes on us.

And then :

"Noel, how it can be?"

"What?"

"Are you dating with her?"

"What do you mean?"

"Just tell the truth, Noel"

"Guys, please stop. I didn't get what you're talking about, and please give Mio room to take a seat"

Everyone in the class became strange because I coming with her.

She just smiled when the girls asked about that, and then this happened

"You are a big liar, Noel. I can't trust you anymore!"

Why?

"What's wrong with you, Steve?"

"You, are you dating her?"

"No, and-"

"Okay, so can I date her?"

Oh, I see. Steve has a crush on Mio.

"If you can speak Japanese well, you can date her. I think"

"What that?"

"I think her parents will accept the person who can communicate with them so well"

"You're right, I will learn Japanese right now"

"Shall I help you?"

"Nope, I didn't want you to help me. Because you're my rival now"

Rival? This is so interesting became a rival with Steve.

*Lunch time*

"Micchan!"

"Ah, No-kun. What's wrong?"

Her face didn't turn red again, and No-kun?

"Nope, I just want to talk with you"

"Oh, souka⁵"

"By the way, you have a problem with these girls? Do you not feel comfortable around the girls?"

"Not like that, I just confused. They give me a lot of questions about you"

"Oh, can you tell them about me?"

"No, I didn't know anything about you"

Yeah, it's true, she and I never met before, and we can't going a date if we don't know each other.

"Can I help you, Micchan?"

"For what?"

And she realizes what I mean, her face turning red.

"No-kun no, Baka⁶"

She hides her face from me.

And then

"Noel, you have a lot of talk with her"

"Oh, Catherine. Sorry, I used your chair without permission"

"No problem, but. The class will begin soon"

"Oh, sorry, I didn't hear the bell ringing"

I back to my chair, and I hear something

"Do you like him?"

She's teasing Mio, and then Mio answers...

*After class*

"Noel, I will become stronger than you, just wait!"

"Yeah, do your best. Steve"

He is a serious man.

"Micchan, shall we go home now?"

"No-kun, I want to visit the park before going home"

"Oh, may I come with you?"

"Y-yes"

Her voice, I never noticed before. Her voice is so small.

And then, we walk to the park, the place can be visited when you get tired.

"I want to buy something, can you wait for me, Micchan?"

"Oh, sure. I will wait here."

I buy a drink for her, I don't know what her favorite drink is, so just buy it and back to her, don't make her wait too long.

"Micchan! Here, for you"

I give the drink

"Arigatou¹...?"

"Nande?² Why you doubt. Douitashimashite³"

"No, just...."

She's spacing out.

"Micchan, kocchi⁴"

"Ah, gomen⁵"

"You've been spacing out since earlier, why?"

"Oh, I just felt so nostalgic"

"Do you have visited this park before?"

"No, it's my first time. But, back then when I lived in Japan, I always visited the park with my little brother"

"You have a brother? I didn't see it. He's good?"

"He passed away, a long time ago. When he at 4th grade, because he has complicated injuries"

"Oh, sorry about that"

"I'm fine. No-kun, Will you listen to my story about my little brother?"

"Yes, I do"

She takes a deep breath before starting the story.

"My brother's name is Itsuki, he is just two years behind me, and he likes football. He always told my parents about his dream,

'I will become a professional football player'.

He always plays football with his friends, and he always talks about football to me. Even though he knows I will not understand, he always talks to me.

And, the tragedy. His ankle was broken when football practice, and something happened"

"What's that?"

"His head gets crushed when his ankle is broken, and he falls. At the same time, someone stepped on his head. Blood flowed over his head, at this time my dad knew he passed away, and my mom just crying. He was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late. He's passed when his head gets crushed"

What a tragic story.

"And, I have an issue with my communication with others, Itsuki's gives me traumatic memories when I trying talk to others. I don't want the people to become closer to me, and then they just go"

"That's why you didn't have any friends at school?"

"Yes, I am afraid of others. But, when I moved here, I didn't feel afraid anymore. Because I met-"

Suddenly stop, what wrong?

"Who's that? Just said it"

"I can't say it now"

"Why?"

"Nothing"

Can I tell her now? About my past.

"A-ano"

"What's wrong, Micchan?"

"Don't tell anyone about it, okay?"

Oh, that will be a secret between us.

I see