Karamatsu - Learn
𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘴𝘤𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘭!𝘒𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘴𝘶 𝘟 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘲𝘶𝘦𝘯𝘵!𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳
Karamatsu was sweating bullets as he fidgeted in his seat. He could feel a burning gaze directed to the back of his head, and he wanted the Earth to open up and swallow him whole, right there and then.
Fidgeting with the wrapper of his snack bar, lower lip caught between his teeth, he couldn't help but to continue glancing to his left, just able to see the tip of a black boot resting on a stair behind him.
Muddled words and sentences flew through his mind, all immediately being brushed away with a deep sigh. His blemished cheeks tinted pink, he wet his lip, prepared to speak.
"I ain't doing anything, y'know."
Tensing up, Karamatsu slowly, shakily, turned his head over his shoulder, brown strands flopping over his warm forehead. There you sat, narrowed eyes boring into his hunched figure.
"...huh?" Karamatsu squeaked, flinching as you sighed. Leaning forward, you rested an elbow on your bare leg, catching Karamatsu's attention as his gaze flickered to your hiked skirt, blushing furiously.
"I said," you drawled, "I ain't doing anything. I don't get why you're shakin' so much." You rolled your eyes, huffing as you stood up. Reaching into your cardigan pocket, you pulled out a pencil and placed it between your teeth, clamping down onto the wood.
You eyed the boy with a glare, annoyance bubbling up inside of you.
"Unless you want me to kick your ass, I suggest you stop lookin' at me like a wuss." With a final grimace, you stomped back down the staircase, making sure to throw one last glare towards him as you disappeared behind the school's walls.
Karamatsu sat in silence, a white-knuckled grip on the empty wrappers held in his sweaty palms. His reddened cheeks were puffed up with air as he hit hard in his lip.
'Sh-She was... so cool!!!'
His mind and insides were on fire, both from an absurd amount of happiness and the lack of air. He was so in love. So helplessly in love. Even though he had only spoken to you once.
»»----- ♔ -----««
"H-Hey! Give that back!" Karamatsu begged, reaching out to grab his bag that was held above his head. Taunting laughter was the only response he received, making him frown angrily.
"Toss it over here!" Someone else called, catching the grey bag as it was thrown through the air. Karamatsu ran back and forth between the teasing bodies, puffing as he attempted to jump up and grab his belongings before it landed in someone else's dirty hands.
His body collided into another, stumbling as pairs of arms waves wildly to regain balance.
"The hell you think you're doing?" An angered voice sounded from above him, not seeing who then pushed him harshly to the ground, the concrete rubbing against him roughly and scratching his skin.
"You're a freak, don't you get it? We're just teaching you your place."
Multiple shadows wafted overhead, leaning closer towards him to grab at his school uniform.
"Then I'll teach you yours, too."
In an instant, the hold on Karamatsu was released as they were knocked to the ground with a yelp. Karamatsu hesitantly raised his head off of the ground, peering from behind the few legs to see you, standing fiercely with a metal pipe resting on your shoulder.
"What's a girl like you gonna do? You're just as weak as him!" A boy cackled, only for it to be quickly replaced with a cry of pain as the sound of hollow metal rang through the courtyard.
Karamatsu watched with wide eyes and a slacked jaw as you continued to punch, kick and hit away at anyone standing in your way, never once backing down as fists collided with your cheeks and stomach.
Once you were sure the last figure had disappeared far down the street away from you, you turned to Karamatsu, who hadn't moved an inch, only allowing his eyes to follow yours as you knelt in front of him.
"Why are you still on the fucking floor? You plannin' to stay here?" You scoffed, raising a brow. Snapping out of it, the boy scrambled to sit up before you, posture stiff as he desperately tried to maintain eye contact.
You watched with slight amusement as he opened and closed his mouth multiple times, small squeaks and broken letters leaving his throat.
"..You're still afraid." It was more a statement than a question. With a resigned sigh, you stood from your spot, dragging your metal pipe behind you.
"You're welcome." You turned on your heel, returning to your 'intimidating' posture as you began to leave the school grounds.
"No! Wait!" Karamatsu's voice echoed around the both of you, his hand outstretched to you as if he could catch you from where he sat. He quickly stood up and stood in front of your stilled figure, taking a deep breath.
"I-I'm not afraid of you!" He began, clutching his uniform to stop his fingers from trembling.
"I'm not afraid! It's the opposite, actually..." his brows turned upwards as he glanced away from your confused eyes. "I... I really admire you, [Y/N]."
"...huh?" You squeaked. How the tables have turned.
"I have for a while, now. You're just.. so cool! And confident! Strong, amazing, b-beautiful!" He exclaimed with a bright grin, which slowly faded into a small smile.
"You're everything I'm not. But you inspire. I want to be more like you. I want to... spend more time with you." His eyes suddenly widened as his entire body burnt crimson.
"I-I-I mean!! As in, t-to learn from you! To be cool and stuff! That must've come out really weird, I'm so sorry-" his arms waved around as he went from fidgeting his fingers to rubbing the back of his neck, babbling excuses and nonsense.
Your own face and body felt like it was on fire, too. Just as much as Karamatsu's. Your mind was running hundreds of thoughts at once, as well as a never ending screech of excitement.
You? Cool and amazing? And beautiful? Was this guy even talking to the right [Y/N]? You were far from it! Didn't he know it was just an act? Something you decided to put up as a front to give yourself the confidence boost that no one else wanted to give you?
Of course he wouldn't know, how would he know? He doesn't really know you. No one does.
'But he wants to know you. He's willing to know.'
"Fine."
All noise seemed to stop in that small moment. Karamatsu's brown orbs stuck to your body, seeing that you had turned away from him entirely. Your shoulders were extremely tense, posture no longer slouched but straight.
"You definitely need all the help you can get, anyway, seeing as you were pushed around so easily by those wimps."
You were already walking away from him, never once turning to look at him. You missed the elated look that immediately crossed Karamatsu's face, his flushed cheeks and trembling smile as his eyes shined like he was the happiest person alive.
Which he was.
"You mean it?! For real?!" He ran towards you, following like a lost puppy looking for genuine answers.
"Don't make me repeat myself," was all you replied, allowing him to follow you down your path home.
Finally stopping at a crossroads where the two of you would part, you turned to him.
"Did you mean it?" You asked, catching the boy by surprise.
"Um, mean what?"
"What you said. About wanting to spend time with me. Did you mean it?"
Karamatsu heard it then. A slight notion of vulnerability. A small tone of worry. A slight hint of fear.
You were like him, in a way. His heart sped up a little more.
"Of course I did. I wouldn't have said it if I didn't."
The warm smile he sent your way was the last thing you saw of him that day, as you hastily said your goodbyes and walked away home.
Maybe there was something you could learn from him, too.