8. Chapter 8 (1/2)

next morning when she wakes up, the day just seems

ighter. she feels like she is the first one to solve a big puzzle of life. knowing the reason behind all of mikoto's weird actions lightens her mood. she dresses and goes to school with that same happiness.

unfortunately, the day does not turn out well for her.

firstly, she is called up to the principal's office due to what happened during the field trip. apparently, one of the older girls has come home complaining to her parents, who then called the principal to ascertain that their daughter is not at fault. the principal does not punish her. she, however, gets warned not to do that next time, leaving her baffle at all the absurdity of the situation. she then comes back to class to all the snickering and remarks from some nice classmates.

secondly, she finds out that she forgot her bento at home. with no other choice, she decides to go to the school's cafeteria instead. do not misunderstand; the school's food is good. after all, tokiwadai is one of the best and most expensive schools in the country. she just prefers homemade food. sadly, the school just has to decide to have another school visit, and there is little food left, most of which are not her taste (she's the kind of person that would rather eat nothing at all than eat what she hates). giving up, she goes to the roof, hoping to see a certain girl and rant about how awful her day has been.

mikoto is not there.

she does not know whether the girl is absent from school, or she waits for too long and decides to leave. maybe mikoto just doesn't want to meet her.

she would think so before yesterday. now, she doubts that's what happens.

she sighs and goes back to class.

after school, she decides to just go home. she does have patrol duty today after all. she is about to leave the school when she sees a faint trail of smoke on the roof and before she even realizes, she is already on the way to the roof.

"hey."

"hey."

silence.

mikoto is sitting in the same position as the other day, head low. kuroko notices one of her hands fidgeting with the helm of her skirt.

"i didn't see you here during lunch." kuroko

eaks the silence.

mikoto looks up with an expression of surprise.

"didn't think you would come."

"i admit i was a little bit late, but after yesterday the least you can do is wait for me fifteen minutes, right?"

with all honesty, kuroko has expected mikoto to smile or roll her eyes and say something in defense, but all mikoto does is looking down again. she is fidgeting with her skirt again.

"about yesterday…"

kuroko's eye

ow shoots up in surprise.

did she regret telling me all that?

"i'm sorry…i didn't mean to drop such a bomb on you…" mikoto scratches her head.

oh.

so she's afraid that she has chased kuroko away. now that makes sense.

"it's okay. it actually makes me happier to know more about you, and why you are so ridiculous sometimes."

"no i'm not!" mikoto yells, her face is all red to the ears.

kuroko can't help but laugh.

she's cute. fun to tease. then she suddenly remembers.

judgment patrol.

uiharu.

and saten.

"hey…mikoto?"

"what?" says the older girl, her face still faintly red.

"do you maybe want to meet my friends? they are not from this school." suggests kuroko.

now if mikoto wants more friends, what's better then integrate her into kuroko's group of friends? uiharu, though may have some kind of weird fantasy about ojou-sama, will not treat mikoto differently like the others. saten is the kind of girl that accepts and befriends people easily, so it will be fine. it will be great, even.

mikoto is staring at her, head cock to the side like she is confused. kuroko knows she's not. she looks more like she is trying to solve the puzzle that is shirai kuroko.

"sure."

next afternoon, they sit together in the familiar café kuroko's group always go to. sitting opposite to kuroko, mikoto sips her tea like a true ojou-sama then exhales in satisfaction. her whole face and body relax. the younger girl, however, knows that she is nervous, if the finger lightly drumming on the table is any indication.

"they are nice, so no need to worry." kuroko speaks up.

mikoto's finger stops. she looks at kuroko with those calculating eyes again.

"i guess it's okay," she speaks up after a while, "if it's your friends."

kuroko feels warmth blooming in her chest and can't help but beam a smile at mikoto's direction.

"you'll love them."