4.

Ringo-chan is Ringo-chan.

She hadn't expected him to say that—any of it because he's Yoshida-san and Yoshida-san is blunt and insensitive and infuriating.

Ringo sits on the curb of the sidewalk to try and catch her breath after running out of the school and three blocks down the street. She puts her face in her hands—still warm and probably still red—and wills her heart to slow down. Ringo thinks of the way he smiled at her and her heart starts racing again.

She wonders what's wrong with her.

She wonders if he'd meant it.