"Sir?" Even trying my hardest to understand the situation, I couldn't, and the fact that she was holding my face with her hand like a teddy bear and calling me "sir" was really confusing.
"I'm sorry to say this, but I don't know you, so if you could take your hand off my face, I would be very grateful."
The smile on her face was fading, revealing an expression of pure bewilderment, but she still hadn't removed her hand from my face.
"Sir, you're kidding, right? You have the exact same face and... Wait, your energy is different? Even though there are many similarities, it's still quite different, like a piece is missing or something." I wanted to answer her, but she was holding my face so tightly that I could barely move my jaw.
"Ah! Sorry, you can't speak because of my hand holding your face!" She quickly removed her hand but didn't move away.
"So, so, ahmmmm... are you sure you don't know me?"
"Absolutely sure," I quickly replied.
"Ahem, okay, okay, let me think for a minute." She moved away at impressive speed to the other end of the roof and put her hands over her ears, muttering with a very serious expression. After about a minute, she made a sudden movement that landed her next to me. I wondered what she was going to do as she looked at me with a sly smile and held out her hand.
"If you want to be my friend, shake my hand!" It was rather suspicious, and besides, my lack of experience was evident, given that I'd only had two friends in my entire life. After what happened with them, I didn't think I could have any new ones even if I wanted to. But I don't know why, I couldn't bring myself to let her hand hang in the air. Maybe that's what they call charisma?
"Okay, from now on we're friends," I said, finally shaking her hand, which made her jump for joy.
"Well~~~ I have to go! See you soon... uh... What's your name?"
"Zack. Call me Zack."
"Okay, doki! Anyway, see you later!" And with that, she disappeared in the blink of an eye.
~~~~
The next morning, James and I had breakfast while Taeki trained, which apparently he does every day. I could only applaud his perseverance. Once he was finished, he took a quick shower, and we finally set off. The least I can say is that the journey was quite eventful because of the usual arguments between those two, but I couldn't help noticing they didn't have their things, and curiosity led me to ask them, "Guys, where's your stuff?"
"And you? You don't have yours either, remember?" James replied.
"I don't plan on staying here forever, while you guys must have been here for years, right?"
"Well, just because we're going doesn't mean we're interested in the classes, you know that?" "So why do you go there? It's not like studies are the priority here."
"Well, because we have a dream, or more precisely, my dream," Taeki replied this time. "I want to improve this place so it becomes a warm and welcoming place where everyone can live happily. I go to school to make sure people don't cross the line, while the other guy just goes to kill time."
"Yep, exactly." "A dream, huh... I've always wanted to say I had one, but I haven't found anything I could call a 'dream,' and I'm not even sure I fully understand what it is. In reality, I don't understand many things that people find normal..."
James pulled me from my thoughts by putting his elbow on my shoulder and saying,
"Anyway, you'll never be able to change this place if you're not the strongest. That's logical, isn't it? Maybe one day I could surpass that crazy girl, but what about you?" Hahahaha, forget it, you're not cut out for this! James was really being provocative, but Taeki ignored him as if he were used to it.
"And here we are!" said James, looking at the school they had just arrived in front of.