Masks

Hajime sat down, chin resting in the palm of his hand while he contemplated what happened yesterday. Nagito Komaeda. It was obvious to Hajime that there was something going on with the guy. The smile the pale boy put on was way too forced to be a normal one. The first small smile that Hajime noticed on the boy was a genuine one that could probably light up the night sky (at least that's what Hajime thought to himself).

Nagito was going through something, that was a fact that Hajime automatically knew. He knew that Nagito was wearing a mask. It wasn't a light one, it wasn't one that Hajime could ignore, it wasn't one that was just used to hide something from other people. No, this one was different. It was like, like, Komaeda was trying to hide something from himself.

Hajime continued to ponder about the white haired boy and the large possibility of problems he has. There has to be something right? After that smile and sudden leave there has to be something, right? Unless Hajime’s thinking too much into this….no. Hajime never has overlooked something that involves his talent. He’s never read a person wrong. Ever. He was positive Komaeda was hiding something.

But what? He seemed happy and joyful at the beginning of their conversation but it was as if something in his head clicked halfway through that made him panic. Was he really going to be that late for something or was it something else? Did Hajime do something wrong? Did he scare Komaeda? Was he a little freaky? Okay, he was acting like a stalker and all but that was only momentarily and because he wanted to talk to the nice looking boy who wore a Hope’s Peak uniform.

Oh yeah. Nagito went to Hope’s Peak Academy. Right where Hajime was right now. How did this big, crucial detail slip Hajime’s mind? What was he thinking about that was so important that he forgot the reason why he talked to the boy anyway?....oh right. The reason was because he was too busy thinking about the boys mask to think about anything else.

Hajime was about to mentally slap himself but he was slapped in real life, which actually brought him back to reality. He blinked three times before he looked in front of him to see Chiaki puffing her cheeks out with an annoyed look. “Hey Chiaki, when did you, uh, get here?” Hajime asked carefully and curiously. He didn't know that Chiaki was sitting in front of him at lunch, like she normally does….he was too busy thinking about a white cloud that may be darker than it seems.

“I've been here for five minutes,” Chiaki played with the strings of her uniform jackets and leaned back in her chair. She munched on some chips and took a sip of her soda. “What were you thinking about, Hajime?” She asked staring at him with tired eyes.

“I honestly don't even know,” Hajime said as he picked at his untouched lunch. How much longer was there of this lunch hour?

“Oh…..really?” The gamer asked quietly as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “It looked like you were in deep thought, at least I think that's what a person in deep thought looks like. Plus you totally ignored me sitting down and talking to you, so you were thinking about something, right?”

Even though she doesn't seem like it Chiaki can very well tell what's happening. Especially if Hajime is involved. Her and Hajime have been friends since their first year (they've spent lots of free time talking) and they've gotten to know each other well despite being in different classes.

“I was thinking, I just….don't know why.” Hajime said choosing his words carefully. “Do you ever just have someone on your mind for no reason?” He looked over at Chiaki to see her humming in thought before her cheeks turned a light pink and she nodded with a warm smile on her face and a dazzle in her eyes.

“Yeah. I know that feeling and those thoughts.” Chiaki said with the smile still on her lips as she played with the strings on her hoodie some more.

“I don't know if you do…..I'm not ‘totally in love’ with this person like you are with the person that you're thinking about.” Hajime said as he shook his head lightly. “I just met them and they seem different from other people but at the same time they're just…..they're…”

“Good different or bad different, Hajime?” Chiaki asked.

“Both.” Hajime said without thinking but after the look Chiaki sent him he thought for a moment. “They're just so different from other people I have seen. I would want to get to know them and talk to them but I can't. They have a mask, Chiaki.” He was so serious at the moment that Chiaki was a bit worried about his face getting stuck the way it is.

“What kind of mask?” They've talked about this before. It was Hajime’s talent and Hajime was Chiaki’s best friend so it's something that comes up normally. It's also the reason they've gotten to know each other.

“It's like one I have never seen before. It’s thick and….dark? I don't know how to explain it. I wanted to talk to them because they had a uniform on but halfway through the conversation they left in a hurry. Right before they left they sent me a smile and a few words and it was there I could tell what kind of mask this person had.” Hajime licked his chapped lips and sighed.

“Did you get their name?” Chiaki asked. Hajime nodded.

“It's-” the bell rung and the lunchroom seemed to grow louder.

“Ah, time to go to class. We can talk about it later. Don't worry too much Hajime.” Chiaki said with a smile. She waved, turned, and headed towards a certain purple haired detective and left, leaving Hajime.

Hajime sighed to himself and stood up heading to class with Nagito’s fake, masked smile in his head. It wouldn't leave his mind no matter what.