The silence between us was absolute. I looked up and saw Tamaki-san APA in front of me. She had left it in sleep mode just like the old computers when they were not in use. This meant that Tamaki-san was doing her part of the work from the other side while her APA was in this mode.

I took a quick look around the classroom. All of my other classmates APA were also in sleep mode including our teacher too.

I let out a sigh of discouragement as I wondered, “how could this be called pairs work?” No one in the entire classroom even made an effort to exchange words with their partner even though their APA were facing each other.

I returned my eyes to their starting point which was the face of Tamaki-san APA. In the same way, the two of us didn’t stand out much for talking either. More than thirty minutes had already passed and I still haven't had any other verbal exchanges with Tamaki-san since we started doing the pairs work.

Crossing my arms, I paused to think for a few minutes while still staring at his APA. “Should I ask her...?” I had already lost count of the number of times I have been rejected by Tamaki-san. “How high are the chances that she will accept this time?” The more I thought about it, more and more I questioned it. I remember that of all those times I have asked Tamaki-san, the answer I always get is a resounding I'm not interested ...Still, “do I lose anything by trying?” Anyway, I've already been rejected so many times by the students of this school that being rejected once again shouldn't mean anything to me.

I shook my head, trying to shake away all my doubts. Then with determination I spoke to Tamaki-san.

—Excuse me…, Tamaki-san.

After a couple of seconds, I heard that familiar high-pitched sound coming out of his APA.

Piip—

Coming out of sleep mode, her APA eyes watched me at the same time as I began to hear Tamaki-san voice.

[Did something bad happen? I hope you're not having trouble doing your part of the work.]

—N-no, no, not at all! It's something that has nothing to do with work....

[Then, why are you interrupting me? If you don't have something to tell me that has to do with pairs work, please don't talk to me.]

—I-I'm sorry, it’s just... I wanted to know if...

From the way Tamaki-san was responding to me, there was no doubt that she was going to reject me once again. However, I decided not to be cowed and ask her anyway.

—Do you have any free time today after school in the afternoon!?

[…]

[…]

[…]

Tamaki-san did not deserve to respond. His silence was instantaneous and lasted for several seconds.

—¿T-tamaki-san…?

Showing no reaction from her, I decided to ask directly.

—I just wanted to invite you so that the two of us could have a chance to talk and get to know each other better. Who knows, maybe we might have something or other in common.

Following a long sigh, Tamaki-san finally spoke.

[Is that the reason why I should accept your invitation? That’s just a complete waste of my time. Besides, I doubt that you and I have any topic of conversation or anything in common...]

Despite what Tamaki-san was telling me and without taking a single step back, I continued to insist while showing a crooked smile on my face.

—Come on, don't say that... Just think of it as a new experience for both of us. It will also help us to clear our minds and forget for a few hours about all our responsibilities at school. I assure you that you won't regret it! So... What do you say?

[…Thirty-two times.]

—¿Eh?

[You have made me this kind of invitation a total of thirty-two times so far this school year and, I have rejected each of those invitations without objection... What makes you think that this time I will accept?]

Immediately the already crooked smile he was showing Tamaki-san twisted even more. In this exchange of words, it was now my turn to remain silent.

“…No”. A fleeting thought crossed my mind. There’s still one more thing I can do.

I looked up again while clenching my fists tightly and with a serious face, I told Tamaki-san what I really thought.

—Tamaki-san, you and I have been classmates for almost two years now and the only thing I know about you is just your first and last name and that you are the class representative. Maybe you know a little more about me than just my first and last name, but still, I don't think that's right…

Although I knew that my words could anger Tamaki-san or make our already distant relationship even worse, I didn't hold back at any point.

—Don’t you think it’s strange that two people who spend more than eight hours together every day in a classroom know so little about each other? You don’t even make the effort to exchange words or maybe look at each other. Aren’t we classmates? All I want is for you to give me a chance to get to know your real self!

Until I finally became completely honest with her.

[I'm already sick of you.]

Then all the words that came out of my mouth were crushed by Tamaki-san reply.