"What are you up to?" Risa asks you, smiling. She has gorgeous green eyes, you always thought to yourself; they always seemed to sparkle when she smiled. She sits down next to you on the bench and peeks at what you're reading: Flowers for Algernon. "Reading during your free time? We should be at the mall or something, not on the campus all the time haha. English?"
You smiled, "Not really. It's a pretty good book actually," you said. She looked a little interested and seemed to want more from you. "Well, it's about a man with a low I.Q. who basically goes through a procedure to become intelligent. You see how his perspective in everything changes with his newfound intelligence."
"What do you mean?"
"When he didn't know any better, everything seemed in place and he was always content. Once he got smarter, he had reason to suspect people and ideas in negative ways. Like, when he didn't know any better, if I said something about politics he would nod in appreciation but when he knew better he would think I didn't know enough to be entitled to that opinion." You paused for a second. "I guess ignorance is bliss, and knowledge can be a burden."
Risa shrugged and opened her mouth to comment but then you bot h hear high pitched voices scream, "It's Misa-Misa!!" You both turn to look and soon enough, crowds of students gathered in a focused spot. Even a few teachers tore out a page of their textbooks to stumble around for Misa's autograph. Risa's jaw was wide open and she said "No way!" She taps you on the knee and looks you excitedly in the eye, saying your name, "Sorry, I'm going to see Misa!" She ran off so quickly!
Maybe you supposed it wasn't a good idea to risk getting trampled in the crowd. Maybe you were hoping you could catch Misa when the crowd dispersed. Maybe you just weren't interested. No matter what the case, you stayed seated. Eventually everyone left; Misa-Misa was getting pulled away by her agent. You saw her waving to Light Yagami, calling him her boyfriend. So many shocked gasps and jealous eyes... Who was luckier? Misa-Misa or Light? The crowd was divided on that opinion.
Risa ran over to you with her golden hair in a frenzy, "I couldn't get her autograph but someone was daring enough to grab her butt, haha!" She grinned. You looked at her surprised.
"Who did that?! Don't tell me it's Mr. Yu... he was plastering on that chapstick when he ran up to her." You laughed. Risa grinned.
"I'm not sure but hey, I'll catch you later. I have to catch class." She gives you a firm hug and left. You put your book down and stretch your arms. In the distance you could hear a cell phone ring, and a man going Oh that's my phone this time. Yes, hello? I'll be right down. It wasn't a big deal though. After all, people use their cell phones all the time on campus. You look up and see Light Yagami walking away, looking serious as always, but who's that pale guy next to him? His hair is untamed and his eyes are dark. His clothes were worn and he had no shoes on. What an awkward posture... but even so, you couldn't take your eyes off him; it wasn't of disgust, but of curiousity. The only time people look like that is during finals. This is the toughest school in Japan (Light got in, after all) so it's no surprise that people study more than anything during that week.
Then you see his eyes dart at you. You felt your heart jump and you let your eyes scramble back to your book. Shoot, that must've been weird of me. I can't believe I just STARED. "Flowers for Algernon? What do you think of that book?"
You look up and those dark eyes were looking right at you. His hands are in his pockets, his body hunching over slightly. His gaze was so focused you could hardly concentrate; wow, why's this so pressuring? Ugh. "I mean," he continues, "is intelligence that much of a burden?"
You popped up with an opinion in mind but he interrupts your thoughts of trying to put a sentence together, "Am I intimidating you a little, perhaps?" He's so direct with words. He rubbed his foot on his other foot freely.
"Er, you are hovering over me," you couldn't seem to look at him in the eyes. Then you felt weight on the bench; did he just sit next to you? You don't even know each other!
"Sorry about that," He said with his eyes looking off into the distance. "So I guess you're wondering why I'm even here next to you. At the same time I want to know why you were looking over at me so intently."
"Um," you started. "Well you were with Misa-Misa and Light Yagami and I've never seen you before I guess."
"So you know Light?" He asks with a little bit of interest.
"A little, I guess. He's the number one student in Japan..." you mumbled. A short pause slithered by.
"I'm actually here because I'm a new student and I don't know where the nearest cafe is. Do you know a good one that serves plenty of sweets?" You raised your brow and looked at him. That's when you first noticed his strange way of sitting. He's kinda crouching on the seat with his chest close to his knees.
"Uh, yeah. There's Cafe O'Cerra just a block from campus."
"Would you want to go there sometime?" Your eyes got wider. He turned his head towards you with a blank look. A rush of warm blood rose to your cheeks and you knew how you must've looked. "Here's my number." He pulls out a pen and paper from his pocket and scribbles down a few digits. You took it meekishly. "Call me if you want to take up my offer. My name is Ryuzaki."
You nodded, still blushing. It was as if his eyes were grazing into yours even more with every passing second--with every passing shade of red your face became. Ryuzaki hopped off the bench and turned to you, standing hunchedly. He waited for a while and you didn't realize it, but you were staring again. His lips barely moved but it looked like a small smile.
"It's okay, I can find out your name if you want to come to the cafe with me." With that, he turned and walked away. You couldn't help but stare after him. He seemed like he would be a quiet guy, but that surprised you. Maybe he was just full of surprises? Ryuzaki... you thought to yourself, pocketing the piece of paper.
