Hanako was positive she had it all planned out this year…The first cultural festival, she had been caught completely off guard and had to hole up in her room the entire day to avoid it. The smell of fried foods wafting into her room tortured her empty stomach. The second year, She tried to venture out to see some of festival, but misjudged the time and was trapped, unable to cross the campus at the height of soba slinging lunch. It seems the entire town population had crammed into Yamaku’s gates.
But this year, it would be different. Hanako woke with the birds and the sun, showered and dressed in a hurry to move freely around the campus before the festival was in full swing. With the other early students caught up in last minute work and set up, Hanako could easily slip around unnoticed, or at least with minimal attentions. Simple black slacks and soft shoes, her small jacket with the collar turned up to help mask her neck. She wore a long elegant top that Lilly helped pick out, a muted pink colour accented with little black buttons and a ribbon. Simple, casual, blending in clothes.
And with her face furrowed in resolve, Hanako rigidly ran everywhere in the Academy, lugging a heavy pack over her left shoulder. A survivor kit, for where-ever she ended up. A fresh stack of fantasy and fiction from the library. Vending machine drinks, some juice boxes, and some tea packets. Snacks, breads, Professor Penguin for company, the chess set to pass the time, her phone fully charged with Lilly and Akira on speed dial…Hanako was nothing if not prepared this year.
She braved the main strip of stalls to wish Lilly the best of luck before deciding to settle first in the tea room, retreating from and slipping through the commotion with her signature awkward speed. Through the main building, up the stairs and facing out into the quiet, empty hallway, she gave a slight sigh, the results of hours of work finished. Hanako’s plan had gone perfectly, and she was completely…
"Hanako!" A voice panted from behind, instantly making her back stiffen. She’d been followed…she was completely not prepared for this. The dark haired girl spun on her heels to face Ryou and gasped loudly, her bag dropping hard on the floor by her feet as she saw his pained face. Clutching his stomach, gasping for air, stumbling over breathy words…it was the tired boy from the lunchroom…only he seemed a lot worse than just sleepy.
She reflexively took a step back, hands curled into fists by her mouth as she watched with wide, frightened eyes. “A-are…you…o-okay?” Hanako squeaked, her breath starting to rapidly gasp as loud as he was, shaking her head slightly side to side. “I’ll…I’ll get th-the nurse…” She only managed another step backwards before freezing in place, rigid and terrified that Ryou, this stranger with some unknown inner condition, was going to keel over right in front of her.
Ryou waved his arm, lungs screaming for air. He gasped, sucking in the few breaths of air necessary to assuage her fears.
"No- fine, just... running, out of breath..."
He pulled himself into a standing position. Months of fatigue-induced inactivity did not put Ryou in the best place for a burst sprint. Nevertheless, he did his utmost to recover, lest Hanako panic even more.
"Sorry about that," he said, light panting interrupting his words, "I just, er... I wanted to talk to you. Well, not talk. Apologise."
He gauged her reaction. As it was, Hanako seemed a few seconds from fleeing again. Her body shied away from him, her head trembled, the only visible eye wide with fear. It glistened, deep purple that Ryou had hoped to instil calm in, if not a single spark of friendship. "I'm - I'm sorry. When we met, and I... y'know. I wasn't thinking. I didn't mean to stare or- or to scare you off. I really did just want to talk.
He bowed low, in part because the stitch in his side wouldn't permit him a straight posture any longer. "Please, um, please accept my apology!"
