(Cannot guarantee weekly updates; read the note bold in my profile if you want to know why. It is also why this chapter and likely the next one are embarrassingly short. A little more filler-ish stuff here and there.)
As the end of the semester became closer, you realized that you hadn't been studying as much as you probably should've. You agreed to meet Emi at the library on Sunday, as you promised a few weeks ago. You also decided to surprise her...
"Hi S...ouji?"
Her attention wasn't directed at you, but rather the dark-haired boy behind you.
"Hey, Robert," she said. "I haven't talked to you in a while."
"Same here," he said. "Nice to see you."
You could tell there was a wall between them; the only reason they met before was because of one student; one that Emi had befriended, Robert had tutored, and, unbeknownst to both of them, was killed in the television. But these two were your friends, and you hoped the two of them would be able to put that behind them. Robert not only needed to get out of the dorm, but he also understood your class more than you did...
"So," he began quietly. "Um, the test this week is over chapter 10 through 14, so, let's get started on that."
He was usually a bit more harsh to your roommates; was he simply nicer to girls? You pulled out your heavy book, having chapter 10 bookmarked like Robert had previously instructed you to before you left.
"The example problems were really easy," Emi commented. "But they were all the same. I don't think that's gonna be all the test is over. Mr. Reddot likes putting those hard multiple choice questions on his tests." She pouted a little.
"Yeah. Dad's always been tough like that."
Ha...
... wait.
You and Emi stared at him questioningly; Robert's eyes were horrified for a second.
"You um... weren't supposed to hear that."
"No way, Mr. Reddot's you dad?" Emi had to ask, raising her voice in the silent library.
"Please don't tell anybody!" he shouted in a whisper. "Nothing good'll come out of everybody knowing I'm related to a teacher."
"Ah, 'cause they'll ask for answers and stuff?" Emi guessed. "But I don't think he'd let you cheat like that. And I don't think you're the kind of guy who will cheat anyway."
"Yeah, he's especially tough on me," he said. "He always expects me to be the best I can, without any sort of cheating. I try to impress him, but he was an A student, and wants to raise his own A student. I may not wow him much, but my classmates in high school usually take note of me and demand answers. I kind of like college actually; the classes are so large that no one person ever stands out."
"But if you stand out, surely your dad's more likely to notice you, right? Don't you want that?"
"Not exactly. The other kids notice first, and they like to ask me for help on... everything." He frowned. "Well, it's not like my dad's ever disappointed in me; he's just busy being a professor."
"Hmm. I think being so hard on you is his was of noticing you," Emi suggested. "He knows you can overcome odds and stuff like that."
"Maybe," he shrugged. You guessed he didn't really like opening up like this. You asked if he wanted to go back to the book.
"Yeah, sure," he replied, a little relieved.
It took the three of you an hour to get through the remainder of the material. Once you finished reviewing the end of chapter 14, you all breathed a sigh of relief. You and the others were packing your bags with your books and supplies while Emi spoke.
"Who wants to go out for some dinner?" she proposed. "I'm starving."
"I'm too hungry to go anywhere," Robert joked. "I just wanna head back to my dorm."
"Aww, not even at the cafeteria on campus?"
He looked thoughtful. "I guess I haven't been there in a while."
"Cool! Let's go!" She swung her book bag over her left shoulder, while you equipped yourself with your trusty old shoulder bag. Robert had barely put on his backpack before Emi tugged on his arm and began to drag him in the direction of food. You hastily followed them, noting that she seemed to be getting along with him rather well, even if he still seemed a little uncomfortable around her...
-.
"... and the pizza is really tasty; they bake it right in this neat little oven and you can smell the cheese and sauce from a few meters away, but sometimes it takes a while and you can just grab those little packed sandwiches..."
You found yourself salivating at Emi's long and detailed description of the food you were about to eat. The three of you had just stepped into the food court, which consisted of that pizza place she spoke of, a large refrigerator of pre-made sandwiches, a soda machine with cups to the side, some unattended hot dogs and what looked like egg rolls on a roller, and some sort of American fast food restaurant. You all split up, having different palates. You looked through the refrigerator, trying to avoid the greasy food found everywhere else. Amongst the fruit, yogurt, and different kinds of sandwiches, a turkey and Swiss cheese packed sandwich combined with lettuce caught your eye. You opened the fridge and pulled it out. You looked around for the others; Emi had her heart set on two slices of pepperoni pizza and Robert had picked a slice of cheese pizza. You all decided to split a large dark soda before you each bought your food and left.
The dining area was pretty empty. Evidently, no one wanted to be at school on a Sunday. You quickly found a booth with room for four people. You sat first, while Emi took the other side and Robert chose to be next to you.
"I don't know what I'd do without DDR," Emi commented. "If it wasn't for that, I wouldn't be able to eat all this pizza!" She took a large bite out of the pizza and savored the flavor of it. You almost wished you had some, but you were content with your sandwich.
"You always liked junk food, didn't you?" Robert said.
Emi nodded. "Well, ever since I met Yuni." She laughed. "After she came to Japan, I went over her house, and she had all kinds of food in her mansion over there, and a lot of it was American stuff."
"But pizza is Italian... isn't it?"
"Oh," she blushed. "But, you know, people eat it a lot over here. I think Americans add more cheese and go crazy with the toppings. It's like a different kind of pizza, I think."
"I guess you're right." He took a bite of his. "You lived in Japan up till now, Souji; ever tried pizza like this?"
Not very often, you had to admit. The only times you ever saw pizza were when you were in the city and there were foreign chain restaurants there.
"Want some of mine?" Emi offered.
You had to decline, or her pizza would disappear much like Yukiko's tofu. She stared at you with a confused look, until you explained how Yosuke and you were offered a bite of two girls' lunches and became so addicted that you ate all the food in seconds. She laughed.
"You lose control like that? But you're so cool and stuff! I almost wanna see that."
"I wanna see Souji lose it," Robert said, making everyone laugh. You told her to keep her food anyway.
"Okay, okay," she said.
You smiled; the happy feeling was a bit contagious. Even Robert seemed to be having a good time. Perhaps the two of them would be friends again after this day...