In Komi's Room

For the first time in a long time, two were sitting on Komi’s bed.

Though the usual silence still sat there with them.

Komi was confused. A clear indication that she was supposed to initiate what was to happen next, but no idea how to continue with a situation she’d never experienced before. Nor had she ever read about either. Why was Tadano here?! What did it have to do with that writing on his arm?! Why did her mother let him in so easily?!

So many questions. Some Tadano could have even answered, but having a boy, alone, in her room, just short circuited her. Komi didn’t have the strength to write anything down, just choosing to stay sat there staring until her body stopped being this way.

Tadano was chilling. There was a little blush present but nothing major. He looked like he knew that this was where he was supposed to be, and was content to sit here in silence because that’s what Komi wanted.

But thanks to Tadano’s legendary soul reading, he knew that Komi WANTED to say something. Though without mind reading to go with it he couldn’t know what. Instead he hoped that she just wanted him to fill the silence, perhaps with something he needed to ask her anyway…

“Um…” He began, sort of pausing when Komi’s head snapped to him. “T-there’s something I wanted to talk to you about Komi-san… I-IF that’s allowed!”

The girl could only nod.

“S-so, would it be okay if I… still went to school with you?”

Komi blinked.

“Of course”

“Whew!” He exhaled in relief, “That’s good. Thank you Komi-san.”

Like a broken record, the narrator once more told you that Komi was confused.

“Why would you think I wouldn’t let you go to school with me?”

Tadano shrugged a little, “Well, you know, maybe you wanted me to stay at your house from now on.” He admitted looking around the room, “I’m not really sure how this is going to go, I’ll be honest.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, you know, you own me now.”

Tadano uncovered his wrist once more, showing off ‘Komi Shouko’s’ to the girl who owned him, just under the black splodge that was supposed to be Tadano.

“See? This is proof that you own me completely." He said with a nice smile, "I’m sorry I didn’t realise it sooner. Guess I'm not very observant, am I?" Tadano awkwardly scratched the back of his head. Komi had infinite more questions though.

"But it's just writing!?"

"Yeah, writing to say you own me."

"Are you pranking me?"

"No. Unless... you want me to prank you, somehow?"

"What do you even mean 'own'?"

"Well... I'm not sure really either. If you're not sure then I guess I can be like your butler? I'll follow you around and make sure that you're safe and stuff..."

Tadano's face went a little red from the thoughts of following around Komi-san, but knowing he should quit that line of perverted thoughts very quickly.

Alternatively, Komi's face went very red, but mostly from confusion. She had searched for answers but found none. This situation was unlike anything from any of the thousands of scenarios she'd read up about on friend-making.

So Komi did the thing she'd done so often over the months, she asked Tadano to explain the situation to her.

"It's as it says on the tin, Komi-san. I belong to you now." He cheerily replied, looking down at the mark on his arm with something akin to pride. "I'll always be by your side. Making sure you're staying happy and healthy, protecting you from scenarios that you hate or people that might harm you. I'll sleep in your room, help you at school, go to events with you..."

The two looked at each other. Their electrical energy surging between them as the realisation of Tadano's words hit them both.

"I-It'll almost be like we're a c-couple!" He nervously laughed, "I-If you want me to do all that, that is! If you want me to do anything else then please tell me!"

Komi stared at him. Stared long and hard with the eyes so many had misinterpreted. It was one of the few times Tadano couldn't tell what she was thinking. Giving a red faced blank face back to her while awkwardly patting his knees.

The seconds dragged on for minutes, and the minutes felt like an eternity.

But at the end of it all, Komi scribbled something down and raised it up. Her nerves and fears so high that the prank would happen any moment now... but trusting Tadano enough to know he wouldn't lie to her.

And on that paper read: "I'd like that."