My purple love

***

She looked at the quiet boy in the corner of the room, who was peacefully reading a book. His eyelids were half drooping, his gaze sliding from one line to the next. Purple freckles shimmered on his face in the sunlight, as did his hair of the same shade — slightly unkempt, but with soft curves. He wasn’t into much, only books and the occasional trip to the gaming club. Gema Taku watched as the boy played intently at the laptop on the table. His face reflected only faint glimmers of emotion: a frown, a slight chuckle, a disgruntled squint. But he didn’t seem to care. So when Gema felt the unexpected touch of his classmate, he flinched, muttered something to himself and walked away with her. She watched the boy again, who was now reading a book borrowed from the library. He sat cross-legged at the ankles, slightly hunched over. Soon he straightened up and looked up at her, the girl sitting at the second desk in the middle row. She squeaked in surprise and turned away sharply. - Strange… — he muttered under his breath, so quietly that she didn’t hear him. And only with the beginning of the lesson came a little calmness. The boy was peacefully writing down the topic of the lesson, trying not to get distracted and generally behaving quietly, sometimes collecting fleeting glances of the girls on himself. And finally the teacher’s voice came to his ears, announcing the topics that could be taken by the students to work out.

***

The classroom was silent — only the hum of the other students' voices could be heard, discussing their topics. There was a faint smell of paper and crayon in the air. Maiko Sato tapped her fingers on the wooden table, watching her partner, Keitashi Madoka. He sat across from her, cross-legged at the ankles, with a book in his hands. His purple hair, slightly dishevelled, shimmered softly in the light of the sun streaming through the window. He was reading calmly, measuredly, as if he didn’t care at all that Maiko was waiting for any reaction from him. His eyelids were half-lidded, his gaze clinging to each line, his thin fingers twitching as he turned the page. Maiko puffed up her cheeks and leaned back, finally unable to stand it: - So… what are we going to do? Keitashi didn’t even look at her, lazily turning the page. - We work as instructed. Research the topic, gather information, write a report. Simple as that. - Oh, come on, that’s boring! We could do something different! Like… make the project look like a theatre piece! She stepped forward, waiting for him to be at least a little interested in her idea. But Keitashi only hummed as he finally looked at her, his violet eyes flashing for a moment, but then fading again, like a man who doesn’t care about anything. - It’s a history project. The play will distort the facts. - So what? It’ll be interesting! - I don’t see the point. Maiko rolled her eyes, clasping her hands together on the table. - Are you always like this? Or is it just when you’re in a group with me? He tilted his head slightly to the side, studying her intently. - Are you always this pushy? - Only when I see someone stuck in their own world,’ she said, folding her arms across her chest. Keitashi paused briefly before smirking slightly. There was something lazy, lingering about that smirk, as if he realised what it was about but wasn’t going to show it. - If you want, you can take care of the paperwork. I’ll take care of the factual part. - Yeah, so you want the dry theory and I have to make it pretty? - Exactly. Maiko squinted, not quite believing her ears. - Okay, if that’s the case… But if you think I’m going to leave you with just dates and boring paragraphs, don’t get your hopes up. Keitashi smirked again, but didn’t answer anything. He just went back to his book, as if their conversation had already ended. Maiko frowned. She couldn’t tell if it was his aloofness or his certainty that she couldn’t shake him. But there was something strangely appealing about the silence. She didn’t even notice how she began to follow his movements-the way he turned the pages carefully, the way he wrinkled his forehead when he read something difficult, the way he tapped his fingers on the cover when he thought about it. Suddenly he looked at her again, and Maiko abruptly averted her gaze, hastily turning back around. Keitashi chuckled faintly. - She’s weird… — he muttered to himself, delving into the book again. This project wouldn’t be boring, considering their personalities… And mannerisms… And their mannerisms. Maiko, sighing slightly, tucked the notebook into her bag and stood up from her seat. A strand of hair fell over her face, but she quickly tucked it behind her ear, fixing her high yellow ponytail. Sunlight streamed through the windows, making her silhouette even brighter against the dimmed lights of the classroom. She stepped out into the corridor, where the hum of voices was already resounding as the students began their break. But that wasn’t what was on her mind. As she stepped over the stairs, she thought about her project, but Keitashi’s image kept popping up in the background. Why is he so closed off? What’s on his mind when he’s staring at a book so intently? Maiko didn’t even immediately notice when she reached the outdoor dining room. It was spacious, with a light aroma of freshly baked goods in the air. She took her lunch tray and sat down at a wooden table in the shade of a spreading tree. She took out a notebook and made a couple of notes, but her thoughts were still slipping away. Her eyes lifted on their own, searching for someone in the crowd. And sure enough, she spotted a familiar dark purple head. Keitashi had come into the dining room as well. He took a seat at the far table, moving slightly away from everyone, as if he wanted to shut everyone out. He had a book in his hands again. Maiko bit her lip. What if… he could help with the project? The thought even surprised her a little, but the more she looked at him, the more she realised there was something appealing about his reticence. She twirled a strand of hair around her finger, wondering if she should approach him. Maiko was still pondering whether to approach, absentmindedly swirling her spoon around her plate. A light breeze ruffled her ponytail, and the sun was shining through the crown of the tree, creating soft shadows on the table. But then, just a little to the side, she noticed movement. Keitashi, without even looking into the dining room, walked past the small cafeteria, subtly adjusting the strap of his backpack. He looked like he was completely immersed in his thoughts, and the book in his hand still didn’t seem to be closed. Maiko raised her eyebrows. Had he not eaten in the dining hall? Or had he just not had the time? Her gaze slid behind him. Keitashi turned away, passing the manicured flowerbeds and heading towards the gardening clubhouse. She frowned. A gardening club? She’d always thought Keitashi was the kind of guy who wasn’t particularly interested in school activities, much less gardening. He’s always either in the library or the gaming club, after all…. Curiosity got the better of him. Quickly finishing her juice, Maiko stood up, slung her rucksack on her shoulder, and headed in the same direction, trying not to hurry, but not too slowly either. As she got closer, a cosy courtyard opened up in front of her, hidden behind the school buildings. Inside were several wooden tables with pots of plants, and Keitashi was leaning between them, scrutinising one of the green branches. Maiko involuntarily froze in the shadow of the doorway, watching. Keitashi touched the leaf gingerly, as if testing it for strength, and then muttered something to himself. At that moment he raised his head sharply, and their gazes met. There was silence for a moment. - Are you following me? — His voice was calm, but there was a slight interest in his eyes. Maiko opened her mouth, but didn’t answer right away. - Um… just… — she glanced at the flower in his hands. — I didn’t realise you were into gardening. Keitashi blinked slowly, and then, unexpectedly, hummed. - Well, now you do, — he replied briefly, continuing to look at the plant. Maiko still didn’t know how to respond. Her thoughts were once again tangled between the project, her sudden interest in him… This was very strange of her. She definitely hadn’t felt like this before, for sure. She remembered all of herself. Himari Fujita, who had approached, greeted the guys with a smile, offering to help out a bit with the gardening club and watering the beds. Maiko looked at the girl with some bewilderment, but still, tucking a curl behind her ear, agreed. Following her, Madoka agreed as well. The girl led them to the beds in the left corner of the garden, showing them what to do. Sato glanced at the boy’s calm face. Maiko couldn’t help but notice how confidently Keitashi took the watering can, as if he had done this more than once before. He silently watered the beds, concentrating on the thin stream of water that soaked the soil. She watched him for a few seconds, then shook her head and went about her work. - Do you come here often? — She asked, filling a watering can from the water barrel. Keitashi raised his eyebrows slightly, as if surprised that she had spoken first. - Sometimes, — he answered, keeping his eyes on the task at hand. - What kind of things? Is it once a month or once a week? - As when, — he answered calmly. — Depends on the mood. Maiko squinted slightly, but remained silent. They worked in silence until Himari came up again, praising them for their diligence. - You know, you’re doing a pretty good job! — She smiled. — You can come more often if you want, the club is always in need of helpers. - I’m not sure I’ll have time, — Maiko mumbled, looking at her palm, which was slightly stained with soil. - I’ll think about it, — Keitashi said suddenly. Maiko turned sharply towards him, almost dropping the watering can. - What? He shrugged. - It’s… peaceful here. We can distract ourselves. She blinked, not knowing how to respond. Distracted? From what? But before she could ask that question, the sound of the bell announcing the end of recess came from outside the school building. - We have to go, — Himari said. Maiko nodded, casting one last glance at Keitashi. He had already turned away, once again preoccupied with something in his thoughts. As she headed for the exit, she thought he looked at her for a moment. But she wasn’t sure. Why does she even care? — he frowned. Maiko was concentrating on watering the beds, watching the dark earth soak up the water. Somewhere nearby, Himari was talking cheerfully, but Sato wasn’t really listening — her thoughts were drifting back to the project… and to Keitashi. She furtively glanced at him. He was working silently, concentrating, with the same easy detachment that he had when he was reading in the library. He didn’t seem to care where he was or what he was doing — he was on his own, in his own world. At that moment, Maiko swung forward slightly, and her elbow accidentally touched Keitashi’s arm. He froze abruptly, as if he had been electrocuted, and immediately looked up at her. - Oh, I’m sorry! — She said hastily, yanking her hand away. Keitashi blinked, his violet eyes lingering on her face a little longer than they should have, but then he nodded: - Nothing. He continued to water the plants as if nothing had happened. But Maiko felt a slight blush come to her cheeks. Why did this even bother her so much?! — the young man wondered, peering down at the girl from above, barely turning his head at her. She clutched the handle of the watering can with force, pretending to concentrate on the flowers. However, she was unnerved by the strange, almost weightless warmth at the site of their casual touch. Maiko gently lowered the shovel into the ground, watching the earth tumble to the side. Her hands were a little dirty, but she ignored it, concentrating on her work. Keitashi nearby, a little louder but also in complete silence, was carefully levelling the bed. - Are you sure these tomatoes are good for this plot? — Maiko asked, throwing a glance at the bushes she’d just planted. - They should. The soil here is good, you just have to watch your watering, — Keitashi replied without raising his head. He delved into the bed, continuing to spread the fertiliser with care. Maiko nodded, though there was a slight doubt inside her. She had always thought that caring for plants was a whole science, and often got lost in the minutiae. But with Keitashi by her side, it was easier not only to work, but to think of ways things could be improved. They had both started helping out at the gardening club recently, but seemed to develop their skills with enthusiasm every time. I do think you’ve applied too much fertiliser though, — Maiko continued, trying not to embarrass him with her observation. She knew how he could take criticism, but in this case she thought it was still best to give him a warning. Keitashi slowed his movements and sighed. - You’re probably right. I’m worried they won’t grow. I want the club to be proud of what we grow.

***

Time passed, and Keitashi and Maiko continued to work on the gardening club project. Every week they met to discuss what still needed to be done, what needed to be fixed, and what plants to add. There was a special harmony in their work together — Maiko brought a lot of creative energy and enthusiasm to the process, while Keitashi kept an eye on the details, stabilising all the work so that there were no accidental mistakes. Not only did they improve the site, but they became more and more confident in their project. When the project was completed and they turned it in to the teacher for review, both of Maiko’s hands couldn’t hold back her excitement. She hugged Keitashi like she couldn’t believe it had turned out so well. Hugged her tightly, almost with gratitude for all the support he’d given her all this time. Keitashi froze, not expecting such a gesture. He stood there a little confused, not knowing how to react. It wasn’t until a few seconds later that he gently placed his hands on her shoulders to gently pull her away, trying to smile. - It’s okay, — he said, quietly, calmly, though there was visible confusion in his eyes. — You did fine on your own, didn’t you? We both did. But Maiko felt his reaction change the atmosphere slightly. She pulled away, as if she felt herself reacting too impulsively, and there was something awkward about it for him. There was an uncomfortable heaviness in her heart, and she immediately felt as if she had overloaded it with her emotion. Keitashi’s gaze was unfazed, and Maiko realised that he wasn’t used to such expressions of affection. - I’m sorry, Keitashi, I… didn’t mean to embarrass you, — she said with an awkward laugh. — It’s just… you’ve really done a lot for both of us. Keitashi nodded slightly, but his eyes remained calm. He didn’t say anything extra, just let the silence fill the pause. Maiko sensed how hard it was for him to be open, but that didn’t mean he didn’t appreciate everything they’d done together. A few months had passed. Time had made its adjustments, and while they both still worked together the same way and did their jobs with full commitment, something had changed. More and more often they sat side by side, sharing small moments that remained important only to them. Sometimes Keitashi would just sit quietly listening to her, and she felt more and more each time, as if they were not just partners in a project, but something more. But both of them avoided talking about it out loud. One day, six months later, they met again after a long day of work. The sun was almost setting, and the evening light filled the room. Maiko looked at Keitashi, and something unknowable pushed her to take a step forward. Quietly she approached and, feeling his surprised look, she gently hugged him again. This time was not as impetuous, but full of understanding and perhaps something else. Keitashi didn’t pull away, and his breathing became a little deeper. He shook a little, as if unsure of how to respond, but he still gently placed his hands on her back, allowing himself to trust her at least a little. - You’re really close to me, — he said quietly, but there was still some hardness in his voice, as if he still wasn’t used to such close gestures. — You and I are… Like a team. Maiko closed her eyes, feeling a slight warmth from his words. They were so different… One cheerful, the other calm… There was something about it for sure.

***

A few more weeks passed, and despite their differences, Keitashi and Maiko began to realise that despite their differences, they complemented each other. Their personalities seemed so different: Maiko had always been impulsive, with swings of emotion and always genuinely open about her feelings, while Keitashi was more reserved, even cold, preferring to hide his feelings. But it was this very opposite that was beginning to create something interesting between them. Maiko began to notice how his gaze sometimes lingered on her a little longer than usual, and how his lips would almost subtly pull up into a smile when she said something funny or unexpected. Though Keitashi rarely revealed his feelings, Maiko could sense that there was much more lurking in his calmness than he was willing to show. He began to support her more often, despite his seeming aloofness. He didn’t seem so alien anymore, and conversely, she had learnt to appreciate his silence — it was that stable anchor that helped her calm down when she was too difficult or tumultuous inside. Maiko tried to guess what was going on in his head. There were moments when she suddenly felt that they were almost the same in their strange silence, in the stillness they created for each other. At such moments she realised that she was actually attracted to him, and he to her, in their quiet, careful way of interacting. And yet, when the two of them were together again at the gardening club, about to finish another project, she stepped closer and said quietly: - You say so little sometimes that I feel like you have the whole world inside you. Isn’t it scary to be so quiet? Keitashi chuckled a little, and without answering immediately, he looked at her carefully. - Sometimes silence is better than words, — he said, almost without changing his intonation, but there was something hard and warm in his eyes at the same time. Maiko felt how suddenly they were closer to each other again, how this silence became their common language. Their differences in personalities sort of played into their hands, creating space for a balance that only they could understand. And so after a time, already at the end of the month, as the evening grew gentle and quiet and the air filled with the chill of spring, Keitashi and Maiko stopped next to each other, looking at each other. Their silence was something deep again, something unspoken yet comfortable at the same time. - I guess we’re like opposites, — Maiko said quietly, and this time she wasn’t looking for an answer in his words. Keitashi nodded, his face still calm, but his eyes increasingly reflecting the warmth they were so carefully hiding. - Opposites attract, — he added, his voice was calm, but there was a slight warmth in it. Maiko smiled. They were different. But for some reason, they were drawn to each other.