Just like any other day in class the room was filled with: Sounds of pencils and pens going against paper, the sounds of students whispering, and the rustling of notebook pages.
But what was most unusual was that Kaito was actually writing in his notebook for once.
The teacher catching a view of this rare sight couldn't help but put on a small grin.
I thought I would never see the day that he actually does something in class. This is truly a wonderful day, she thought.
In reality Kaito wasn't actually focused on the lesson at all, but focusing on a separate matter.
Kaito dragged the pencil across the paper until he brought it to a halt. He continued to just stare at the paper until he let out a sigh and slump back into his chair.
I think I finally understand what I need to do. Matching her with someone else was always a no go from the start. So the objective was to always have her move on and provide a proper closure. The problem was that I had no idea of how to get her to move. I'm not exactly well versed in breakups so I have no experience within it. Though thanks to Ryota I remembered an important fact. The reason Mio fell in love with Hiroshi in the first place was because he was able to bring her out of her shell. Although it was really only Hiroshi she really spoke too. So my theory is that once I help her overcome her shyness she'll open up more and just maybe she'll somehow find closure with it.
Kaito brushes his face with his hand and lets his mask of Hiroshi slip displaying a face that couldn't be seen. "What a gamble I'm making."
The teacher turns away from the board to take a look back at the class to make sure they're focusing on the lesson. As she looked around she spotted Kaito, but what the teacher saw caused her face to turn pale and whip around facing the board again as sweat dripped down her face.
That face...how could someone look so horrifying... it's as if he was staring into my soul. Maybe I should avoid talking to Sugiura from now on.
As lunch rolled around everyone settled into their usual spots and cliques. Kaito didn't do much but kept his head down while taking glances towards Mio to see if she planned to do something. Mio just kept to herself burying her face into a book clearly very engrossed within it. After more time passed Kaito finally sat up and turned towards Mio in his seat.
Might as well take advantage of this moment instead of waiting, Kaito thought.
"Hey Hanazawa," Kaito said with a smile.
Mio jolts clearly spooked, after being called out so unexpectedly and lifts her head away from her book to look towards Kaito.
Kaito puts his hands up with a concerned smile. "Sorry didn't mean to scare you, but I noticed you weren't hanging out with your friends? Did something happen?"
Mio hesitated to speak and looked away from Kaito. "I-I just wanted to read today."
That doesn't sound like a complete lie but-
Kaito looks at the book shes reading and notices the cover and just sighs.
Kaito attempts to look over her shoulder with a curious look on his face. "So what are you reading?"
Mio's eyes widened in panic as she scrambled to come up with a possible title to tell Kaito. "I-I'm... reading..uhh-"
Before Mio could respond Kaito interrupted her by holding out his hand which caused her to come to a sudden pause.
Kaito rubbed the back of his neck with an expression filled with regret. "Sorry for teasing you, but I already saw the cover. It's a book about tips for being confident."
Mio just stares at him shocked and hesitantly nods before looking at the ground not daring to look Kaito in the eyes.
Kaito stared at the book that was sitting on her desk facing down. "Is there something you don't have confidence in Hanazawa?"
Mio clutched her skirt tightly while staring at the ground. Her face was completely hidden by her hair.
They both continued to sit in silence as Kaito waited for a response that was never going to come.
As the silence grew longer Kaito finally noticed she wasn't hesitating to speak, but just couldn't. "Hanazawa I don't know what you're struggling with. I also don't know what you're afraid of. But what I do know is that...you can tell me what's troubling you and I'll do my best to help support you through it."
Mio lifts her head up to look at Kaito with softened eyes.
"Of course I don't want to force you into telling me that's fine. I just want you to know that I'm here to help you whenever you need it. Because that's what friends are for," Kaito said with a smile.
Mio just stared at Kaito bewildered.
Maybe I should've kept the study sessions going for a few more days, Kaito thought.
Mio looks back down away from Kaito's gaze and grips her skirt, as if it would offer her some kind of support. "I-I just want to be able to hold a proper conversation with others and make friends," said Mio hesitantly.
Mio waited and by each second that passed she gripped onto her skirt even tighter in worry for what Kaito's response would be.
Kaito grinned while pointing at himself. "If it's just something like that then I would gladly help you."
Mio looks back at him once again. "What?"
Kaito crosses his arms. "Sounds like you don't believe me?"
Mio waves her hands back and forth trying to reassure him. "No no! that's not what I meant at all, it was just... unexpected is all."
Kaito placed a hand on his chest pretending to be hurt. "I went on a long talk about being your friend and you seriously thought I wasn't going to agree to help you overcome your shyness."
"Sorry it's just that I'm used to people brushing it off as something I can fix and handle on my own. Which I would admit they're not wrong," Mio said softly.
Thought Ryota was supposed to be helping her in exchange for helping him land a chance with her friend. Maybe something happened within the span of a few hours or maybe she just decided he wasn't a good teacher, Kaito thought.
Kaito shoved the thought aside for now. "Well you don't have to handle it alone any longer. Just think of it as a payback for helping me study."
"Ah- but I only did that out of my free will. Not because I expected help back," Mio said, panicked.
Kaito just shrugs. "Don't worry I realize that and besides if you truly did want something back I would've noticed it."
Mio could only sit in silence as a small little smile formed on her face. "Thank you, Sugiura. I really mean it."
Kaito sat there in silence.
I wonder...Just what face am I making right now.
"You're welcome, Hanazawa."
Later that day, they both found themselves sitting in the corner of the library. Discussing plans on how to help Mio overcome her shyness and make more friends.
Kaito leans back into his chair. "So as I come to understand you already have friends don't you?"
Of course I already know this, but I can't just make that known or else it would make me look like some kind of stalker, Kaito thought.
Mio fiddles with her fingers. "Yea I do, but even so I still find myself still struggling to talk to them and the conversations don't last long before they just move on."
One of Kaito's eyebrows arched as he looked at her in curiosity. "Really? Have you not been able to hold a conversation with anyone?"
Hesitation crosses Mio's face as she struggled to speak up.
I guess she still isn't ready to talk about Hiroshi. Well there's no need to push for it right now anyway, Kaito thought.
"You don't have to force yourself if you can't speak on it right now. But I am curious about something."
"O-Oh what is it," Mio said softly.
Kaito put a hand up to his as he thought back. "Well you seem to be able to hold a conversation with me currently, but not only that you also seem to be able to talk freely when you was helping me study."
Mio tilted her head to the side a bit trying to rack her brain for answers. "Well I don't really know myself. The way you act and talk reminds me of something that I can't quite put my mind on. In a way it causes me to feel less shy around you so I'm a bit more able to talk to you freely than most."
If she was more closed off this wouldn't have worked considering even if I change much about myself I still remain the same when it comes to movement and mannerism. I really didn't expect it to work this well.
I think I can finally see the end of this situation. It should be smooth sailing from here. Helping her make friends is just a matter of her overcoming her shyness slowly which in turn helps her build confidence. This kills two birds in one stone. But knowing that Goddess she definitely has something staged to prevent this task from being easy. She did mention I also need to be a guardian angel. But this is just a high school romance manga. What trouble could possibly brew where Mio would need me to protect her?
Aphireia watching the scene from her domain with wine in hand smiled. "Oh Kaito Sugiura~ you continue to surprise me... but if it keeps going like this then you won't learn. So I send you my regards in advance."