I wonder what it is that makes someone human. Is it consciousness? Is it the ability to feel empathy? Is it the ability to adapt? Is it the ability to trust?
Is it being able to feel love?
Although, in a way, maybe hate is a much more fitting symbol of humanity.
***
“Riku-kun, let’s**** up the arcade again today! I’m finally feeling good after that chemistry exam. I want to ride this high if you know what I mean.”
“Sounds good.”
“Ah, you know what though? I’ve been thinking that maybe I should try a bit harder to get a girlfriend. I read that not having one during high school really diminishes your confidence. Do you have anyone you’re interested in?”
“Not really.”
“Seriously? None of the girls in our class? I feel like Aoki-san would be your type. You’re both quiet and studious.”
Haruto-kun’s phone vibrated. As he looked at it, I slowly began packing away my things. There were only a few minutes until the end of class; it wasn’t like the teacher really cared anyways. I didn’t have any textbooks or most of the stationary that many other students had, so it didn’t take too long to put everything into my bag.
“You’re packing up already? Wait for me, okay?”
“I will, don’t worry.”
As Haruto-kun scrambled to pack his things away, I slung my unfittingly-light bag over my shoulder. The bell rang as he continued to shove things into his bag.
I looked around at the other students who were gathered in several groups. The most prominent one was clumped in the middle of the room. There were both boys and girls surrounding one person in particular. Like bugs attracted to a light, they all fluttered around her—a girl who could light up an entire dumpster at night, a girl who shined like glitter splattered on the ground—Hamasaki Clara.
She was definitely the idol of the school, for what it was worth. Without even going out of my way to witness it, I knew that she was often confessed to.
“Um, Riku-kun, I need to quickly go to the toilet. Can you wait in the classroom for me, please?”
“Yeah.”
I decided to take a seat again as I waited for Haruto-kun. The other students were slowly trickling out of class as time went on. I took out my phone.
There was a new game that Haruto-kun had told me to try. Apparently, he had gotten addicted to it over the weekend.
“You’re wasting your time, as always.”
The school ‘idol’ was looking down at me with a sharp, scathing glare.
“If you hate me so much, wouldn’t you want to avoid me?”
“Don’t get me wrong; I can’t stand you. Still, I would prefer to keep the class orderly. As the Vice-president of the Student Council, I have an obligation to do such things. You can get that through your head, can’t you?”
Testing some things in the game that Haruto-kun recommended, I realised that there was an easy way to guarantee victory every time. Well, most games were like that, but I still wanted to find one that really challenged me—even when I’m trying.
My phone was swiftly snatched out of my hand.
“What’s this? You like looking at digital girls, do you? You’re creepy.”
“Can I have my phone back?”
She tapped it a few times.
“I can’t believe people actually play games like this. Go out and actually talk to some girls in real life.”
“I’m talking to one right now; you’re not really selling your idea.”
“Whatever. By the way, I’m assigning you cleaning duty this week for our class. I’m sure you won’t mind it since you never do anything else useful anyways.”
She dropped my phone back into my hand.
A few moments later, Haruto-kun returned to the class. Taking it as her sign to leave, Hamasaki-san joined up with a few of her friends and made her way outside.
“Were you taking to Hamasaki-san just then?”
“I guess.”
“What were you guys talking about~?”
“Basically nothing.”
“Ah… alright then. Actually, Riku-kun, do you have a crush on her?”
“No.”
“Well, you talk to her quite a bit. Especially since she hardly talks to anyone outside of the girls in her group. Also… she’s really pretty, don’t you think?”
“I don’t exactly talk to her by choice.”
“What do you mean?”
I picked up my bag once again.
“Come on. At this rate, the arcade will be closed by the time we get there.”
“I hear you. Let’s get going then.”
Finally, the two of us left the classroom, making our way through the bright, crowded schoolyard. Most of the other students were standing along the footpath, waiting for their buses. We continued to chat as we walked toward the city centre, where the arcade was located.
“I think I’ll put in forty dollars today. I’m feeling good, especially since I’m almost at twenty-thousand points—I’ll finally be able to get the limited-edition figurine.”
“That’s good.”
“How many points do you have again?”
“Around thirteen-thousand.”
“Oh yeah. Are you saving for something or just don’t know what to get?”
“I don’t really have anything I want, in particular.”
After a short walk, we arrived at the front of the arcade. Looking around, it seemed that we weren’t the only students from our school here. Like a secondary gathering place, our uniform was everywhere inside. The blaring noise leaked out into the street, the sound of arcade games.
“I’m going straight to the fruit-cutting game. I already topped up my card online.”
“Alright. I’ll go top up my card then.”
I made my way to the counter.
“How much would you like to put in your card?”
To be completely honest, I wasn’t all that interested in arcade games in the first place. It was less that I disliked the idea of them, it was more like they seemed mundane to me, although that was true for most things.
In the end, it was just a way for me to pass the time.
“Just ten dollars, thank you.”
