Hey all!

Like I said, chapter 4! I know I said yesterday, but I wasn't feeling well yesterday and spent the whole day in bed, ha. By the time I remembered I wanted to post this chapter, it was already kinda late.

Anyway, this is a pretty short chapter, and mostly sets up the next chapter and the chapter after. I'd attach it to the next chapter, but it's different enough that it would have felt weird adding it. So it can just live as it's own, short (for my standards) chapter.

Thanks for the comments! :-D I appreciate every single one!

Enjoy! And Happy Easter, for those who celebrate it, and Happy Passover, for those who celebrate that! And a happy Sunday for those who celebrate neither!

"Hey, Kiyotaka-sama! Come join us for lunch!"

Kiyotaka feels his shoulders stiffen at the loud, friendly voice that echoes through the modestly full dining room, his heart beginning to race. He can feel as eyes fall on him and he's starting to sweat at the scrutiny.

It's currently Friday afternoon, their third week of classes starting to wind down, and Kiyotaka is holding his tray of cheap, carefully assorted food. Basic meals here at Hope's Peak are free for all students, with more elaborate meals costing a little extra yen, but he's always just stuck to rice balls and a cheap protein, such as chicken, pork, or more often than not legumes as his main entrée. It's a beans kind of night, tonight, it seems. For a side he has a fairly decently sized side salad, consisting of big, leafy greens and other vitamin rich vegetables. Finally, he has an apple and banana, with a cool glass of water to top it all off. He's always found that a good diet is important! And now that he can actually afford to have a good diet, he makes the most of it!

Most of the time, he sits by himself for lunch, eyes keen for any misbehaving students. He eats his lunch as quick as he can, his stomach always churning to see the other students laughing and chatting with one another, though he does his best to shove the feeling away. Once he's done, on the days he's scheduled for lunch duty (which is most days, as his fellow Hall Monitors don't tend to like the duty), he will then stand off to the side of the room, checking for misbehavior.

Since that first Saturday, he's kept to his promise to himself. He's stayed away from his fellows, other than to patrol the hallways and give out detentions. He's also started to give out merit tickets, as well, something he'd learned about in his morality class, to reward good behavior, which he sadly doesn't tend to give out too many of, though not for a lack of desire to...

Additionally, he has been contacted to help tutor a few students in his year, now that their first exams are coming up. Asahina and Maizono have already had a general tutoring session with him, the girls smiling thankfully at him for the study schedule he'd made for them. Hagakure was practically forced to see him for tutoring help by the headmaster, since the man (and he's actually a man, as much older than them as he is) has been held back several years so far and the headmaster does want him to graduate one of these days. Kiyotaka will be meeting with him tomorrow at noon, the supposedly clairvoyant man having said he has 'predicted' it will be the best possible time. He doesn't quite know what that means, but it's not too big of a hassle for him, so he's agreed to it.

However, as of now, he's managed to avoid people who want to spend time with him for reasons that are not academic. He has been giving Fujisaki polite but firm refusals to her requests to spend time with him, even her requests to study together. He feels very bad about it, but after a couple of refusals, she seems to have given up. He tends to see her by herself, now, the girl not really talking to the other girls, but also not talking to the boys, either. She seems sad, most days, which makes him feel even worse about it all, but it's better this way. It's better for her to be alone than for her to grow any form of an attachment to Kiyotaka. At least Mako- Naegi has been trying to include her when he can. He often sees the pair chatting quietly together, before and after class ends. That's good. At least she's not entirely alone…

Unfortunately, Naegi has also been extending such pleasantries to him, calling to him before and after classes as well, not that the boy doesn't seem so frazzled at the pressure of starting a new school as one of the only 'normal' students. So far, he's been able to politely avoid the conversations, professing his need to study or get to their next class early to help the teacher set up, but there's only so much he can do without seeming rude.

And here, standing ramrod straight in the middle of the dining hall, Naegi's request seeming to linger in the air, he isn't sure if he can deny it without being hopelessly rude.

Maybe... maybe he can pretend he hadn't heard? But no, he'd stupidly frozen when he'd heard the words, and is still standing still several seconds later. It would be very suspicious if he tries to pretend that he hadn't heard. Especially since— when he glances over— he can see Naegi waving his arms wildly, the boy making his request a second time, seeming to not care for the commotion he's making. It makes his cheeks flush, but he cannot reasonably leave now, not if he doesn't want to be rude. And moral people shouldn't be needlessly rude!

So, with only slight stiffness in his movements, he finds himself marching over to the table that is filled with quite a few students in their year, all looking at him with pleasant smiles.

He tries to smile back as he reaches the table, though he knows it's strained and ugly. The people around the table kindly don't bring it up. He lets his eyes sweep over the occupants, nerves mounting as he does. He sees both Asahina and Ogami sitting off to the side, the pair likely having been chatting to one another before he'd arrived, and they turned to smile at him. He flushes at the sight of the latter girl, reminded of his horrible blunder the second week of school. He'd utterly mortified himself by mistaking Ogami as male, not female, and he's still horrified not only that he'd made such a mistake, but that he'd said it to the girl! Luckily, she'd not taken too much offense and had just said that she's used to it, but he wouldn't have faulted her if she had chosen to hit him for his error. He wouldn't have even been that upset had she done so. He's lucky she's such a nice girl!

Across from the pair sits Maizono and Fujisaki, who had also been chatting softly, though he would bet that Maizono had been doing most of the talking. He carefully adverts his eyes from the latter girl, still feeling horrible for the way he's been practically avoiding her. While he knows it's for the best, she probably doesn't realize that, and he has enough knowledge about people to know that being avoided, especially when you don't know why, can really hurt. He… he has had a lot of experience with that… ha... this is, of course, if she genuinely wanted to be his friend. Which he doesn't honestly know one way or the other if she ever did or not. But it doesn't matter, either way. He knows this more than anything else.

The final occupant of the table, Naegi, is currently half standing adjacent to both sets of girls, smiling brightly at Kiyotaka, his lunch half eaten on the table before him.

"Hey, Kiyotaka! I'm glad you were able to join us! Take a seat wherever you'd like," Naegi claims, sitting back down himself. Kiyotaka nods stiffly and moves to sit at the last side of the table, across from Naegi and adjacent to Ogami and Maizono but not directly beside anyone. He sets his food down and stares at it blankly, not quite sure what he should be doing. Should he... say something? Do they expect him to say something? But what can he say? Well, he supposes he can thank them for being kind enough to invite him over...

"Thank you, Naegi-kun, for inviting me to sit! I most appreciate it!" he half shouts, internally wincing at the volume. Ah, no... he hadn't meant to be so loud...

Luckily, Naegi doesn't seem to mind, the boy just smiling brightly and nodding quick.

"Of course! I've been trying to invite you all week, but you always seem so busy. Do you always take lunch duty?" Naegi asks, head tilted in question. He doesn't seem to be judging him, but it makes Kiyotaka flush regardless, reminded of all his former classmates who'd taunt him for his dedication to his duty. Naegi doesn't seem the type to be judgmental, and seems to just genuinely be curious, but...

Deciding to play it safe, Kiyotaka nods firmly, fighting the urge to stare down at his lunch to avoid looking at the boy. While direct eye contact can be considered rude, he should always at least look at his companion in some way, to show that he is engaged in the conversation! His father has taught him that well!

"Of course! The other Hall Monitors do not like the assignment, but I do not mind it at all! It is of the upmost importance to keep order at this school at all times!"

He manages to reduce his volume this time, but he's still far too forceful, he knows. Still, Naegi doesn't comment on it, just nods seriously.

"Oh, of course! I completely understand. Well, whenever you're not doing your duty, you can feel free to sit here with us! None of us mind, right guys?"

Naegi looks at the other occupants of the table, who all nod their heads, some more emphatically than others.

"Yeah! It's totally cool for you to sit with us if you'd like, Ishimaru-san! Thanks again for the tutoring help, by the way, that schedule is sooo helpful!" Asahina pipes in, smiling brightly. Ogami nods once as well.

"Yes, you do not need to sit in the corner by yourself if you do not wish. Join us whenever you'd like," the larger girl says, eyes intense on him. He tries not to flush at the scrutiny.

"A-ah! I shall, uh, keep that in mind!" Kiyotaka stammers, feeling awkward and self-conscious. He then tacks on, "thank you for your kindness!" while bowing his head, hoping that it can make up for his awkward words.

No one calls him out on it, again, and instead the table goes back to their previous conversations, finishing their meals. Pretty soon, they all begin to talk about a show they all have seen that Kiyotaka has not (even if it weren't a waste of time to sit around watching television, his apartment hadn't had one anyway, and he has no idea how to work the one in his dorm), letting him fade to the background while he quickly eats his lunch. He doesn't have lunch duty today, since the administration only lets him take four of the five available slots (even though he's told them he truly doesn't mind the assignment), so he doesn't have to rush quite as much today. Still, he feels awkward sitting here, feeling too much like an outsider for his own good.

Once or twice, either Naegi or Asahina (who tells him to call her Hina, which he politely says he will consider) try to bring him into the conversation, telling him about the plot of the show, which seems fairly convoluted from what he can tell, though he'd never be so rude as to say such a thing. However, they don't force him to talk and accept his nods of the head, which he appreciates. He'd probably just annoy them anyway, even if he did try and make conversation... he always does.

Eventually they stop trying to include him, which he tries to feel happy with, but instead only feels cold inside. It's perplexing. He'd wanted them to leave him alone, right? So, why does he feel so wrong inside when they do?

(Well, maybe because he truly doesn't want them to leave him alone, not at all. Quite the opposite, in fact… but that's counterproductive to think about, so he forces it away.)

Finally, he finishes the last of his meal, the last of his rice vanishing into his stomach. Part of him feels reluctant to leave the table, as it's nice to be surrounded by others even if he is not talking, but he knows better than to linger. They probably only invited him to be nice, anyway. He'd hate to abuse their kindness...

It's when he stands ten minutes after his arrival, hoping to excuse himself with just a polite farewell, that all eyes at the table turn to him curiously. Even Maizono looks at him questioningly, her perfectly made-up lips pulled down in a frown. A-ah... he's made an error, hasn't he?

"Oh! You finished quickly, Kiyotaka! Do you have somewhere to be?" Naegi questions, head tilted innocently, making Kiyotaka's stomach clench. The question sounds genuine enough, but something about it seems almost pointed. Like Naegi is judging him. He tries to push the thought away, not wanting to think unfairly of the kind boy, but he can't quite manage it.

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he tries to smile again and nods tightly. The smile feels dead on his lips.

"A-ah! Yes! I, uh, have a lot of studying to do! Our first exams start next week, and I still need to go over that essay that we were assigned in history last week!" he claims, though he's long since finished the essay, and has been fully prepared for the exams for over a week now. Still! It never hurts to study more, and to go over the essay a twentieth time! You never know what mistakes might be lurking!

Naegi frowns at the reply, but doesn't question it, just nods slowly, smiling a moment later.

"Oh, okay then. Well, I wanted to ask you something before you left. See, our class has set up a group outing tomorrow at 1:30. I was wondering if you'd like to join us? I know that it's pretty last minute, but it's not anything major. We'll probably just wander around that nearby mall, doing some window shopping, looking at what's there, things like that. I-it should be a good way to get to know each other, you know? Y-you don't have to decide now, though, if you don't want. If you want to come, you can meet us in the entrance hall around 1:30," Naegi claims, smiling brightly at him. Kiyotaka feels frozen by the look, noticing the girls nodding at him from the corner of his eyes. Fujisaki, however, is staring down at her plate, not looking at him anymore. He wonders if he's offended her. She probably wouldn't want him there anyway. He should refuse.

"A-ah! I shall consider it!" is what he says, bowing his head, not wanting to offend. Naegi accepts it gracefully, smiling brightly at him as he wishes him good luck with his studying. Kiyotaka nods tightly once more before hurrying away, throwing his trash out efficiently. He then rushes to the library, eyes firmly ahead of him, not wanting any more distractions. (Especially not ones attached to the lavender eyes that he feels watching him, always and incessantly.)

He spends the rest of the day going over his notes and textbooks, over and over, hoping to drown out the utterly absurd idea of joining his classmates on their excursion. Naegi probably only asked to be nice, and it's very unlikely anyone else would want him there, regardless. It's safer to stay away. He knows that.

When 1:30 comes and goes the following day, Kiyotaka stays exactly where he is, sitting in the library, creating an extensive tutoring schedule for Hagakure, realizing that the air-headed man is definitely going to need it.

He tries to force away the ludicrous idea that he should go and join them. Hagakure had even mentioned it when he'd left half an hour before, absently saying that it would be 'totally neat' if he wanted to show up. Kiyotaka just said what he always says— that he'd consider it. Which is true! He does consider it. In fact, he would say that he considers it a lot!

He ultimately decides against it and tries not to let the intense loneliness bother him as he writes the study schedule on the paper before him.

It only partially works.

Makoto: Hey Taka, want to spend time with us on a group outing tomorrow? We all want you there!
Everyone else: *nodding along, agreeing happily*
Taka, internally: Clearly, they all hate me and never want me around them. This is the only logical conclusion. I should avoid them at all costs and never speak to them again. Yes, this is the best course of action, and no, I will not take any constructive criticism.

Aww. Poor Taka. :-(

Anyway, FYI, but I have no idea how Japanese honorifics work. I've looked them up a lot, but they still confuse me. Taka uses the -kun honorific since he apparently does that in the original Japanese, regardless of gender (which I didn't learn until after I finished writing this story, so I had to go back and change all of the -san and -chans I had been using for Taka, since -kun was apparently the one I felt was least likely for him to use, ugh). If anyone knows more about honorifics, please let me know! It's not super challenging to change it up in Word, since I can just control f and find them all, ha.

Update: I had someone send in some advice about honorifics, so hopefully it's better now!