Dzƒ”†‘‡Ǥƒƒ•ƒ“—‡•–‹‘ǫdz Once more, there was no need for me to search for the source of this voice. Seriously? I thought. Once again, she was right beside me, only this time, I knew her voice. I looked over to see her hand yet again boldly raised. The lecturer this time was far kinder to her. DzŠǡ•—”‡Ǥ‘—ǯ”‡’ƒ›‹‰–—‹–‹‘ƒˆ–‡”ƒŽŽǡ‹‰Š–ƒ•™‡ŽŽ’ƒ”–‹…‹’ƒ–‡‹ –Š‡…Žƒ••ǤŠƒ–ǯ•—’ǫdz•ƒ‹†–Š‡–‡ƒ…Š‡”ǡ’‡”‹––‹‰Š‡”–‘•’‡ƒǤ DzŠƒ›‘—ǡdz•Š‡•ƒ‹†ǤƒŽ”‡ƒ†›Šƒ†•‘‡’”‡diction about what it was she was going to ask, but when that prediction came true, I regretted having thought it. Once more, her voice resounded throughout the room with a statement of childlike opinion, disguised as a question. This time I did not silently belittle herȄI was merely stunned. That time in the cafeteria, I had come to believe she was at least somewhat of a normal person. However, my bewilderment was a little premature. From elsewhere, I heard words of disbelief. Dz‰ƒ‹ǫdz I understood the sentiment, one hundred percent. It was time for me to revise my opinion about Akiyoshi. Akiyoshi was not just annoyingȄshe was dangerous. She was not someone to associate with. I pretended to focus on the lesson, taking care not to glance even once at this dangerous person sitting beside me. I understood now; this was why no one approached her, why she would even bother to remember me and •–”‹‡—’•—…Šƒˆ”‹‡†Ž›…‘˜‡”•ƒ–‹‘Ǥ’’ƒ”‡–Ž›ǡ‘–Š‡”’‡‘’Ž‡ǯ••‡•‡•‘ˆ danger were even more finely honed than mine. There was, perhaps, still time to get out of this. While I half-watched as, like before, the lecturer rebutted Akiyoshi with a grimace, I began contemplating some evasive maneuvers. For now, all I could do was simply run. The moment class ended, I stood up, handed in the impression survey that I had already filled out during class, and left –Š‡”‘‘ǡ‘–‘…‡Ž‘‘‹‰‹›‘•Š‹ǯ•™ƒ›ǤŠƒ–™‘—Ž†ƒˆˆ‘”†‡ƒ–Ž‡ƒ•–ƒ ‘‡–ƒ”›‡ƒ•—”‡‘ˆ’‡ƒ…‡ǤŠ‡‹–…ƒ‡–‘‡š–‘†ƒ›ǯ•Ž‡…–—”‡ǡ when we would cross paths yet again, I would simply wait until the very last moment to enter and take my seat; same with the class we had just finished. Then, sooner or later, Akiyoshi would forget about me. There were tons of other people at this school. There was no reason that it had to be me.