There was an empty seat next to Souji. Again. Since he kissed Hajime, the latter had been avoiding him fiercely, as much as he was avoiding Serizawa Kanna, maybe even more. He was sitting at the back of the class, in the only free spot there was. Souji couldn't help but notice that it wasn't really a practical one to follow the lesson, next to the noisy students, and that hurt him even more, because it meant that Hajime preferred to be bothered than to be next to him.
Oh, he knew, all right ? He knew that kissing him had been a very bad idea. But he didn't expect the behaviour of his friend to change that much. It was almost as if Souji had the plague or something... And that had been going on for days. Maybe Souji should talk to him... But to say what, anyway ? It was kinda too late now. Hajime wouldn't listen to any of his stupid excuses or witty comments. He just lost his friend.
Well, nevermind. It couldn't have gone on forever anyway. One day, sooner or later, Hajime would have noticed that Souji was rotten inside. Better to end that friendship now. Friends were overrated anyway. He just needed kendo. That was the only thing that was bringing him joy, with his photos.
When the bell rang, he stood up and stretched his arms, pulling on his elbows before he got out of the class for lunch, his bag hung on one shoulder.
« Okita-senpai ! »
Souji smiled to the girl. She was cute today with her curly ginger hair arranged in high pigtails.
« Hi, Midori-chan. » he said with his most gentle voice « you made my bento ? »
« Yes. » she nodded, enthusiastic « I made it exactly like you asked me to ! »
« Ara, I'm so spoiled. » he chuckled « you're cute, Midori-chan. »
From the corner of his eye, he saw Hajime leave, probably to eat with Heisuke and Chizuru. Souji felt lonely again but he reported his attention on the girl.
« Let's go then, I'm starving. » he said and the girl chuckled in response, happy.
She grabbed his hand and he let her hold it. Not that Hajime was a talkative man or anything but if someone were to know about his kiss, he could use her as an obvious alibi to call Hajime a liar. Why would he kiss a boy with such a cutie by his side ? Midori was a very pretty girl and now, no one ignored she was his girlfriend even if most had problems to understand why. With her near him, no one would ever dare calling him gay. Plus, the girl seemed to get more and more found of him for some unfathomable reason and he needed that right now, to feel kinda loved.
« Where do you want to eat, Okita-senpai ? » she asked with a smile.
« I don't care, anywhere's nice as long as I'm with you. » he answered which caused the girl's smile to get even bigger and she blushed a little which was somehow cute.
Since the weather was nice, they sat outside on a bench and Midori got out the bento she made. It was looking really good, with rice and kara-age, also a rolled omelette and some colourful vegetables cooked with dashi. It was pretty and seemed delicious. Plus, he was happy there was a lot of proteins. He needed that as someone who was training so much. That was thoughtful of her.
« What's that ? » he asked, showing her some bread in another box.
« Garlic bread. » she smiled « my mother's recipe. »
« That's Irish ? » he asked, taking a slice of bread.
« I guess. » she nodded « my mother used to make a lot when I was little and I loved it so I thought I would make some for you. »
He didn't answer and shoved the slice of bread in his mouth. It was really good but very strong in garlic.
« Are you trying to say you don't wanna kiss me anymore ? » he chuckled « my breath's gonna be horrible. »
« I don't mind garlic... » she blushed « and... It's just that you like seasonings so much, I thought you might enjoy that... »
« I like it. » he smiled, taking another slice « you'd have to make more for me. »
Midori was radiant and that was warming his heart. He didn't need Hajime and his stupid uptight attitude. Better off without him anyway.
« What are you thinking of, Okita-senpai ? »
« Not your business. » he snapped angrily before he remembered that she was the only one nice to him recently « Your bento's good. It's better than the cafeteria stuff. »
He leaned over and kissed her, entwining his tongue with hers as her hands came clenching on his shirt. He slowly broke the kiss and ate more of his bento under the warm sun.
« Spring is nice. » said Midori after a while « I'm glad it's not raining that much anymore. »
« Yeah. » he agreed « soon, summer'll be here. »
« Are you going on holiday ? » she asked, curious.
« With who ? » he chuckled « Nay, probably gonna work all summer or something, get some cash. »
« That's nice too. » she nodded.
« Are you going on holiday ? » he returned her question, curious.
« I don't know. » she sighed « maybe. My parents didn't say anything yet. I'm not even sure they're planning anything. »
« Hey, Midori-chan. » he smiled, passing an arm around the girl's shoulders « how about we go on holiday together ? For a weekend or something ? »
« My parents would never allow this ! » she blushed red, shaking her head.
« Ara, then maybe your bad boy boyfriend will have to kidnap you... » he murmured in her ear and got satisfied when he saw the goosebumps on her skin.
« Are you asking me to run away with you ? » she laughed to hide her embarrassment.
« Why not ? You love me, right ? If you do, you should follow me. » he stated.
« I... I do love you, Okita-senpai. »
You do ?
He wasn't prepared for that. Should he say something like « me too » ? That would be a damn lie. He never expected the girl to just admit it. He was more comfortable when it was unspoken but at the same time, it made him happy, truly happy. There was someone caring about him, probably for the first time.
« Ne, where'd you wanna go ? » he asked as a diversion.
« Normally, isn't the kidnapper the one to choose the destination ? » she laughed again.
« I wanna go to the sea. » he stated « what do you think ? »
« Sea sounds nice. » she smiled, snuggling in his arms « we could invite Heisuke-kun and Chizuru-chan. And Saito-senpai. »
« I'm not inviting Hajime-kun anywhere. » he snapped, suddenly angry « he can fuck off. »
« You're both still mad at each other ? What happened between you two ? I thought you were best friend or something... »
« With that teacher's pet ? Don't make me laugh, Midori-chan. He just happened to sit next to me and since he was new and in the kendo club, I tried to be nice. But he's too much of a posh cunt and I grew tired of him. Appart from kendo, we don't share much anyway. It's not that big of a loss. »
« I see... » she nodded « yeah, I guess you're right. It was strange to me too that you two seemed such good friends when you are so different. It couldn't work on the long run. »
« What do you know ?! » he hissed « you're just some dumbass girl I'm dating. »
She widened her eyes in shock and he cursed himself and that witty tongue of his. It was always speaking before his mind, especially when he was hearing words he didn't like.
« I'm sorry, ne ? » he apologized, holding her tighter « I don't know why I said this. »
« It's okay... » she muttered even if all her being was shouting at him that it was NOT okay.
« You're important to me, Midori-chan. » he confessed, afraid he could lose another person that liked him « Come to the competition this weekend, okay ? I'll need a cheerleader. »
He leaned and kissed her cheek before he did the same with her lips, with restraint. The girl made a strange expression, between a sulky pout and a smile and he knew he was forgiven.
« Okay... but you owe me a date because you were mean ! »
« Deal. » he shrugged with a smile « when ? »
« After school ? » she said with a devilish grin.
« Today ? » he replied, surprised « I don't know... »
« But you don't have kendo today » she opposed with a finger in front of his eyes « it's the only free evening before the competition ! »
« What kind of date do you want ? As much as I miss sweets and stuff, I have to watch my sugar consumption before this weekend. »
« We could go see a movie ? » she proposed « we never did yet. »
« Okay, but I choose the film. » he winked.
« Okay. » she nodded enthusiastically, getting her phone out « let me just check the movies and the timetable... »
« Give me that. » he ordered, taking the phone off her hand « Hmmm... There's an horror movie that starts an hour after class. That seems perfect. Don't you think ? I can't stroll at night, I have a curfew at the dorm. »
« You really care about a curfew ? » she asked surprised.
« No. » he chuckled « but Kondou-san does. »
« Okay then ! » she smiled, nodding « let's go see that horror movie together. »
« You don't mind horror ? » he asked with a smirk.
« Not at all ! » she laughed, storing back the empty bentos in her bag « I love this kind of stuff. Ghosts... serial killers... it just fascinates me. »
He didn't expect that. He thought all girls were terrified about all that. He chose that film to witness her all quivering and scared, but if she really enjoyed that kind of stuff, it's not gonna be as entertaining. Well, at least, maybe the movie's gonna be good. He liked horror movies too. Guess he finally found something they had in common.
« It's time to go back to class already. » he said, getting up « I'll meet you after class at the campus's main door. »
« Okay ! » she nodded « I've got gym class right now... I don't understand why they put gym right after lunch, it's so stupid. Everyone is digesting and Nagakura-sensei is alway pushing us further in the effort when everyone just wanna nap. »
« Nap is exactly what I'm planning to do right now during Hijikata-sensei's lesson. » he chuckled.
Hajime will make him a summary anyway... Oh... No he wouldn't... Well, nevermind. Not like he needed some skills in literature anyway. That was the most boring thing ever. Souji shook his head to get Hajime out of it and kissed his girlfriend goodbye before they parted ways, each to their own class. He was a bit late at his and got mildly scolded by Hijikata-sensei before he sat down at his desk, with still that empty spot beside him as it always had been before Hajime entered his life. The latter was still stubbornly sitting in the back with the noisy kids, which were less noisy during Hijikata-sensei's lessons, the teacher quick to throw chalks to remind discipline to any student. Still, it was feeling kinda sad, that Hajime would sit so further away from him only because of a kiss that he could undoubtedly pass on his fever. He had Midori anyway, no reason for him to kiss Hajime if it wasn't for the fever. Surely, Hajime's clever mind came to the same conclusion so why, why wouldn't he even try to talk to him ?
Sighing, Souji crossed his arms on his desk and rested his head on them. He couldn't wait for this day to be over, this whole week truly, and be at the competition where he really would be able to get some steam out. He'd win. No doubt in that. He won't let anyone rob him from the first place and especially not Hajime.