Lilly and Hanako quickly go about making lunch. It is about this point that I realize I do not have a lunch of my own, but it would also be awkward, I think, to bring this up. Lilly is busying herself with thermos and teabags as Hanako sets out their food.

When Hanako gives me an odd look, I rapidly shake my head back and forth before bringing a finger to my lips. She seems to understand, but I'm willing to bet that Lilly will be hearing about this later.

That's okay. As long as it doesn't create issues now. I feel bad about taking advantage of Lilly's blindness, but I really don't want to impose.

Instead, I think back to my conversation with Lilly - was it really only yesterday? So much has happened since then.

"Fairly often during lunch times, huh?" I muse, almost silently, but Lilly picks up on the whisper from across the table.

"Yes, Hanako and I usually have lunch here. It suits both of us, so we use this room regularly." I can understand immediately why such a quiet area would suit them. I take a seat by the window and Hanako tentatively takes the one next to me.

This seems to be of interest to Lilly, who raises a delicate eyebrow for a second before clearing her mind, passing out the tea as she sits.

There is a brief moment of silence while both girls start eating and I casually sip my tea.

"So, how are you faring in Yamaku, Hisao?" Lilly asks, chasing around a piece of meat with her chopsticks while 'looking' directly at me.

"Well, I must admit that the welcome reception could have been better. Being crash-tackled wasn't how I expected things to go, but, truthfully? This place is better than I thought it would be." I say, half-jokingly.

Hanako gives me a look, like she's trying to figure out whether or not she should ask something. She seems to hold off on it.

Lilly, however, does not.

"You seemed pretty hurt before. Are you sure you're alright, Hisao?" She inquires.

I'm touched that they seem to care so much, but I don't think I'm ready to spill. That being said, I should at least try to assuage their worries so they don't dwell on it, then we can all move on.

"Things like that don't really get to me. She didn't hit me hard enough to put me out or break anything so I'm basically okay."

I'm actually not sure about that. There's a period between the initial impact and waking up on the floor that I should have remembered, but didn't. Was I knocked unconscious from my head hitting the back of the ground? No, probably not; no blood, implying that there likely wasn't enough force to put me out.

Perhaps my eyes recognized what was happening before I did and I reflexively closed my eyes. It did happen pretty fast; in fact, that's probably what happened.

There's no reason to talk to the Nurse about this.

"I...understand." Lilly replies.

Neither of them do, that much is obvious. But they don't press the matter, which I am grateful for. You don't ask, because you don't know the story behind any of it. It's better to be safe than sorry. Pretty much everyone has stuff they don't want to talk about. Hanako, for example, actively avoids talking to people in what I assume is a way to preemptively stop people from asking about her scars.

"So...uh...how long have you been in this school? You both seem to know your way around pretty well." I say, eager to move on. Lilly latches onto the subject.

"Hm...well, I've been here since the start of high school, but only moved into the dormitories a year ago. Hanako joined at the start of high school as well, and moved to the dormitories when she did, if memory serves me right." The girl in question nods her head to confirm, before thinking better of it.

"Y-Yeah..."

"So you've known each other since then?"

"Since I moved, yes. Hanako lives next door to me, so it's only natural, right?" There seems to be some kind of private joke that only Lilly is privy to.

"R-Right." Hanako confirms, after swallowing a mouthful of rice.

The conversation continues along this route, basic small talk between Lilly and I with Hanako occasionally participating. Before long, the bells are signalling the end of the break. Lilly and Hanako, however, don't seem to be interested in leaving. After a moment's deliberation, I pretend not to have heard the bell as well.

The bell rings again, signaling the beginning of classes. But it's a few more minutes before Lilly stands up.

"I guess I'd better be off. Are you going to go with Hisao, Hanako?" Hanako looks up at me, deliberating for a short second.

"Y-Yes." I smile, lightly.

"We should hurry, then. Class has already started." Lilly gives a nod of farewell as she bends down to take her cane, Hanako and I filing out before her.

We walk quickly down the empty halls to our respective classes. As we reach the door to Lilly's classroom, she turns towards me.

"Hisao, thank you for sharing lunch with us today." I wince, slightly, because I didn't really do that, but it's the thought that counts in this matter, I think.

"Er...no problem. It was nice." Lilly gives a smile of appreciation before entering her classroom, leaving Hanako and I alone.

"Shall we?" I ask Hanako, motioning towards the door. She nods in reply and we walk in silence down the hallway.

I suppose it's a good thing that she's returning to class at all today. The hallways are empty, a result of classes having already started.

I push open the rear door to the class and walk in. The teacher looks up at me, and opens his mouth to say something. As Hanako follows me in and closes the door, however, he simply nods to us and continues his lecture.

I counted on that much. It seems Hanako's truancy is normal enough to where no one pays it any mind.

I guess that Lilly and Hanako waited for the hallways to empty out before coming back to class, to make it easier on the latter.

The class drags on. I idly pass the time, attempting to sketch a picture of Lilly while half-heartedly listening to the lecture. The subject is simple enough, but the method of teaching is so...odd. I can see where he's going, but his lectures don't seem to follow any kind of order. I can only imagine how confused some of the other students must be.

The final bell rings and I trade goodbyes with Hanako before deciding to continue reading. I suddenly realize that there is still a lot of time left in the day. Hm...I don't believe I have any obligations, but a lot of ideas...

I could just read. With the dimming sounds of the crowd, that is becoming an increasingly attractive option. I could head down to the library. Perhaps Hanako is there.

Hm, yes. I should get some food, perhaps. See if I can get permission for the fridge idea. All of that sounds like something I should be doing now.

But at the same time...I'm halfway through a really good book.

Hm...what should I do?

My line of thought is interrupted by the classroom's door suddenly slamming open.

"Teacher!" Misha crashes in enthusiastically, her voice loud and lively enough to wake the dead from their graves. I wince as Mutou, visibly dismayed, slumps in his chair.

"Mikado."

Misha stops in her tracks and blinks, as if she's sensing from his tone that something's wrong but has no idea what it is.

"Yes?"

"We have talked about volume control." Mutou says, scoldingly.

"Yes!" Misha replies. But she doesn't lower her voice at all, and the teacher just rubs his eyes. I grin and sit back, sliding the book away. I've found something even more amusing.

"So, what is it?" Mutou asks.

"I...we need help! We are running out of supplies for the festival stalls! This is a distress!" She waves a pink slip of paper she's holding around.

"So...go get more supplies from the art room. What's the problem with that?"

"Plywood! Plywood is always the problem! Last time we wanted more there was only a little, but that time we just took it all we went with that. Now there's like none left there, so do you know where there is some?"

"Why are you asking me?"

"Shicchan...I mean, the president thought that a teacher would know if there is plywood. Was she wrong?"

So Misha came to Mutou? Oh, this is perfect.

"I'm afraid I have no idea if there is any plywood in the school, let alone where it would be if there was any. You should try to find Mr. Nomiya. I'm quite sure he would know where to find everything you need."

He pauses.

"You'd have to pry them from his cold, dead hands, but that's a different matter."

"Aaah! I don't have time! We're so busy!" She holds her head with both of her hands, looking despaired. Without even noticing, she crumples the note she's holding against her hair.

I find this hilarious; if she had went to the art teacher instead of a science teacher, she would have already had the materials.

"I shouldn't even be fetching these things, there is so much to do and we are falling behind schedule!" Mutou looks at her gravely before suddenly smiling. Smiling doesn't really suit him.

"I wonder if you could get some temporary help?" He switches to staring at me focusedly, with a hard expression, as if trying to say "go make some friends".

You son of a-

Misha's gaze lands on me, pleading.

"Er...I guess I could help..." My complete lack of enthusiasm is completely ignored.

"You can? Thanks, Hicchan, you're really nice!" She pauses, then does a double take, looking between Mutou and myself.

"What's Hicchan doing here? Class is over, you should be having fun!" I give her my best deadpan expression.

"I was serving detention." I say. Misha recoils.

"You're too nice to have detention, Hicchan! But nice try!"

Nice?

"Here's a list. I can try to find the plywood from somewhere else if there's none in the art room." Misha says cheerfully, handing me the note. "Try to be quick, we must hurry hurry hurry!" The pinkette bounces out of the classroom, leaving the teacher and I alone. I glare at him; he pretends not to notice.

I glance at it. There's a number of items, ranging from paint to plywood. Stall-building...?

"I...guess I'll be going then." I shoulder my bag, list in hand, and wander outside.