Soul for a Girlfriend?

Moriko's POV

I was covering my mouth and nose with both my palms and blowing steam to warm my hand and nose after that sneeze as it was way too freaking cold and I was regretting my choice to not wear my hoodie instead of this jacket.

  "Let's walk… we'll be going the same way." He turned around and unwrapped the muffler from around his neck and handed it over to me, "And take this…"

"Heh!? Aren't you cold?" I didn't take the muffler from him, as he tossed it over my head and replied while chuckling, "I'm wearing a ton of layering already."

"And I don't want you to get sick… we still have New Year's Eve approaching."

"Are you sure?" I asked again, hesitantly holding the muffler in my right arm which felt quite soft and warm. He started walking and nodded, "Yeah… feel free to use this."

He didn't say anything further, as I wrapped the muffler around my neck and raised it a bit to cover my nose as well. I didn't realise but there was a subtle smell engraved in it which made me feel like he was close to my face.

Just the thought of it was quite wrong since he already had a girlfriend, but I couldn't help my cheeks from getting hot in the morning.

I was getting way too conscious of him.

"You want the coat as well?" He asked me suddenly, as I looked towards his eyes and realised that I've been staring at him for the past few minutes. Laughing nervously, I retorted, "No! What do you think? I wanna be a walking blanket?"

"I don't know… do you?"

"Shu... achewww!!!" I blew my nose, as he stared at me for a few moments and commented, "Even though it might be a bit too oversized for you."

"Figured…" I said and raised my palm to his head to measure the difference between our heights, "You've grown a lot since middle school."

"You too…" He chuckled, as I sighed and replied in disappointment, "I don't think I grew taller."

"I wasn't talking about your height." He didn't look at me but I knew exactly what he was talking about, as both of us chuckled at the silly joke, "You've become way more sharp-tongued than I remember."

If this was old Saishi, he wouldn't dare make such a comment.

I didn't realise, but we actually walked quite far from the main city already and the noise of chattering and Christmas carols and the busy streets with honking cars were growing more and more distant.

"I was curious about one thing…" Saishi broke the silence between us, as I glanced at him, "Hmm?"

"How come you're in the same high school as me and we didn't even know?"

Well, that's because I've been ignoring you ever since I got to know that Sakamaki Saishi from my middle was in the same year as me. It was during the middle of the second semester last year that I saw him in the hallway.

I recognised him at first glance because his appearance changed a little.

"Ahh… coincidence, I suppose." I laughed nervously, as he said bluntly, "I thought you were purposefully ignoring my existence."

I no longer possessed my long, dark hair. After his rejection, I thought it would be a great idea to cut my hair short and, on top of that; I bleached it before joining high school.

Of course, Saishi wouldn't be able to recognise me.

"Wait, a minute… how did you know it was me?" I asked, as he glanced at me, and I added, "At first it felt like you didn't even know it was me…"

Well, it goes both ways.

Maybe he was ignoring me as well. After what happened between us back then, it would obviously be difficult to face each other.

"Yes, it took me some time to notice something clearly." He answered as I tilted my head in confusion, "What?"

"Your eyes… I remember them clearly."He leaned down towards me and stared into my eyes, "You can cut your hair short or change the colour of them, but you can't change your eyes."

I buried my face deeper into the muffler to hide my embarrassment, and said in a low tone, "I didn't even know you're in the same school as me before this year's sports festival."

I lied.

"Ahh… yes, unfortunately, my friend made me participate…" He sighed, as I chuckled slightly, "Well, look at the bright side, you're kinda popular now."

"It's funny how we spent more than a year being oblivious to each other's presence."

We were so close yet so far.

It has always been like this, and now that you have another girl in your life. Your way farther from me than you ever were.

"Only if I knew about you a year ago." He said suddenly as I stared at him and asked curiously, "You think?"

My feelings from that time never died, that's why I couldn't date anyone else.

"I think it would've been great…" He said with a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

I met a lot of people; I searched for you in everyone, but nobody felt like you.

"Aight then, take care." 

"Huh?" I glanced at him, then my eyes shifted towards my house. I walked towards the main gate and started unwrapping the muffler. "Ah yes, here, take your muffler."

"Thanks for accompanying me today." He said with a rather genuine smile that made me feel terrible for what Suzuha did to him.

"I… I'm very pissed at Suzuha."

She was never serious about him, yet she dated him just because other girls wanted him?

Bullshit.

"It's alright, I told you I'm fine." He chuckled and waved at me. We exchanged our greetings as he went on his way and I went inside my home.

But I know the emotions I was feeling at that moment were completely wrong, but still, I couldn't stop myself from feeling that way when I'm alone with you.

My Christmas Eve turned out way better than I imagined it to be.