Chapter 7 : Lunch's Own Moments
Morning came and it was already lunch time. All the previous subject passed by like a breeze, maybe it's the perks of managed to adapt to the environment. Students filled the hallways like always; some of them just gathered to chat, eating lunch with their friends from the neighbor class, or fetch their drinks.
In Class 1, Ikuya held his lunch which was covered with white cloth with blue stripes. He stood up from his seat and he glanced at Haru, Kisumi, and Tomoya who ate lunch together–with Kisumi did the talking.
"Ah, basketball training is so tiring." The pink head said. "How is the swimming club?"
"Normal." Haru replied.
"That's all you've ever say, Haru."
"It's quite fun." Tomoya added.
Ikuya walked past them and then walked towards the window. After a few seconds standing there, he moved away but not too far away from the three's desk. Kisumi and Tomoya looked at him in confusion while Haru didn't acknowledge anything.
"Kirishima." Kisumi suddenly called, startling the boy.
"What?"
"Do you want to eat with us too?" Kisumi offered. Ikuya looked at the three before looking away, turning his back towards the three.
"Not really…" he denied. But he stopped in his tracks and looked at Haru from his shoulder.
"What?" Haru asked raising his eyebrow, feeling the amber eyes boring onto him.
"Nothing."
"Let's eat together. I want to talk with you, too, Kirishima." Kisumi persuaded with a smile.
Ikuya looked at Kisumi and averted his eyes towards Tomoya. The girl smiled. "The more, the merrier, you know?'
Finally, he gave in. "Then I guess I have no choice." He placed his lunch with his drink on the desk before pulling a chair for him to sit on beside Tomoya.
"Since you insist."
The girl chuckled nervously. Is it just her or Ikuya's too shy to talk to them about joining lunch so he walked around to be noticed by at least one of them?
"Food, food!" Asahi chanted. "Ah! Why are you sitting there!?"
The red-head exclaimed when he noticed that his usual seat was stolen by Ikuya. Asahi even went as far as to point the dark sea green-haired boy.
"I can sit wherever I want, can't I?" Ikuya retorted.
"That's my seat!" Asahi protested as he stomped his head on the wooden floor.
"Asahi. Sit here!" Kisumi offered a seat, which was his lap.
"Are you crazy!? What!? No!" Asahi rejected it as fast as lightning.
"Asahi, you're so interesting!"
"You can have my seat." Tomoya offered as she stood up and pulled another chair. She moved it to Haru's left side from her original position which was on Haru's right side. While she moved the chair, Haru helped her moved her lunch. Tomoya gave Haru a 'thank you' smile with only replied by the boy looking away.
"R-Really!?" Asahi asked and Tomoya nodded. The red-head's eyes sparkled.
"Thanks, Tomo! Now–hey! Why did you move there!?" Asahi yelled when he noticed Ikuya moved to Haru's right side, stealing his seat.
"It's my choice to sit wherever I want." The boy restated.
"You just stole my new seat!"
"Now, now, both of you…" Tomoya said.
Finally, Asahi sat down and sipping his orange juice. "Oh, well."
Ikuya glanced at Haru ever second, resulting him mimicking Haru. He's almost jealous at the fact that Tomoya and Haru could synchronized even without any of them looking at each other.
"You're such a nice guy, Asahi." Kisumi complimented. "Tomo, too! It's rare to see a girl offered a seat to a guy! You're really should be a manager!"
"Shut up, you!" Asahi said.
"That again…?" Tomoya mumbled.
"I won't give up until Tomo wants to be basketball club's manager!"
"EH!?"
"Have you gotten better since yesterday?" Haru asked, changing the topic. He wouldn't say it directly, but he's gotten annoyed the fact that Kisumi still insisted the dark chocolate-haired girl to be a manager for basketball club.
"That… I don't know!" Asahi answered before back to devouring his lunch.
"Did something happen?" Kisumi asked.
"This guy can't swim anymore." Ikuya remarked.
"Just free, just free!" Asahi retorted.
"Does that sort of thing happen?"
"It does!" the red head insisted. "But yesterday, I borrowed some mental training books."
He said confidently and faced Haru, slamming a hand on the table. "I'll get better right away!"
"…Is what I want to say, but I'm really in a pinch." Asahi admitted and he sat back down on his seat while folding his arms on his chest.
"Why?" Kisumi asked again.
"It's because the first step says… 'find own weakness'." The red head explained. "But, I'm perfect."
"Hm?"
"I don't have any weaknesses." Asahi rubbed the back of his head sheepishly and laughed. "That's the problem."
"I think your weakness is that you're an idiot, though." Ikuya commented.
"You are." Haru added.
"Asahi is an idiot!" Kisumi followed with a wide smile on his face and laughed.
"I don't take any part in this." Tomoya stated as she chewed on her tamagoyaki.
"I'm going to punch all of you!" Asahi yelled in fury as he abruptly stood out from his seat.
"But, that's good thing about you, Asahi." Kisumi said to calm the boy down.
"That doesn't make me feel better!"
Kisumi only laughed and Asahi sat back down. "Anyway, the book said, 'try to think of yourself positively'! Which means it's pretty much self-suggestion! So, I decided I'd stare at the mirror and keep calling myself a genius!"
Haru, Tomoya, and Ikuya decided to continue their lunch.
"Is that really training?" Kisumi questioned.
"It is."
"You're an idiot." Ikuya stated.
"Why? You've been like this for a while!"
"But that's good." Kisumi praised the red head.
"Right!?"
"There's something to raise your spirits."
On the other hand, Haru scoop up a bit of rice with his chopsticks and Tomoya along with Ikuya did the same and ate it at the same time. The next one was fish and then egg, their movements were the same along with the choice of food.
For some time, Haru didn't pay any attention to it but the longer he ignored it, the more uncomfortable he got. After he swallowed his food, Haru looked at Ikuya.
"What?" he asked, eyebrows furrowed.
"What?" Ikuya asked back. Haru decided to shrugged it off and looked at Tomoya, who keep chewing her food. She titled her head in confusion. Haru only shook his head as he continued to eat. At least Tomoya didn't have any intention in mimicking him. How the girl got synchronized with him was just a coincidence after all.
He thought it was over, but no. As he picked up his food of choice, Ikuya did so and as far as drinking the same time. Haru glanced at Tomoya, who took a bite of her nanohana no karashiae. She intended to reach for her drink before realizing that she didn't have any. Tomoya stood up.
"I'm going to buy a drink." She announced.
"Do you want any of us to accompany you?" Kisumi offered. She shook her head and rummaging through her hand bag she brought. Tomoya pulled out a container and opened it, showing some chocolate covered cookies with animal shapes. Kisumi's and Asahi's eyes sparkled at the sight.
"What I want is for you guys to eat this." She said.
"Really!? Thanks, Tomo!" Asahi exclaimed as he immediately grabbed one and took a bite. "It's so good!"
"Did you make this yourself?" Kisumi asked as he finished one.
"No, I got some help from my mom." Tomoya answered.
Haru frowned at the sight. Before he could look at Tomoya to show his disliking, a blue colored pouch was already in front of his face. He blinked and grab it before opening it. Inside was the same cookies; the difference was his cookies were in fish shape.
"That one is for you, Haru." She said and smiled. The boy's eyes widened slightly and he turned his head away, to prevent Tomoya looking at the blossoming blush on his face.
"Thank you…" he mumbled.
"You're welcome." She replied. "Well then, I'll be back in a second."
.
.
Natsuya knew he needed help with the things stacked on his hand. But Nao chose not to show up in class which made Natsuya had to do errands for the teacher by himself. The older boy walked slowly, trying to prevent any possibilities that he might bump into someone since the books and boxes in his hand was in his way on seeing forward.
"Look out!" someone called out and Natsuya felt his foot stepped onto his other one.
"Crap!"
He waited for stacks of books to be hitting the floor as he tried to kept his grip on the boxes. The books didn't hit the floor and a smaller hand was over his, to help him not to lost his balance on the boxes too. His amber eyes met with a pair of turquoise ones.
"That was close…" Tomoya sighed in relief.
"Tomoya." He called out.
"Let me help you, senpai." The girl said as she removed a book from her head and stacked it on her left hand. Tomoya took more books from on top of the boxes.
"Thanks." Natsuya thanked her. She nodded and the two started to walk towards the teacher's room. As the two walked side by side in silence, the older boy decided to open up a conversation.
"So, how's the club?" he asked.
"It's quite fun." Tomoya answered and smiled at Natsuya, who found himself smiled back in return.
"Really? That's good then. I'll be in trouble if you want to quit."
"I don't think I want to quit. Everyone is nice and Nao-senpai is a really good manager. And you too, Natsuya-senpai! It's really an honor to have a captain like you!" she said and gave Natsuya a large smile.
Natsuya, on the other hand, had his eyes widened and blush threatening to conquer his face. He cleared his throat while looking away for a second to regain his composure. It's not his fault he didn't have any experience with girls–blunt ones to be exact, like Tomoya.
"Thanks," Natsuya congratulated himself on not stuttering. "Oh, yeah, just before, how did you do it?"
Tomoya blinked. "What do you mean?"
"Balancing those books."
What Natsuya meant was how Tomoya could have four books stacked on her left hand, a book on her head, and she still could steady him so he wouldn't let the boxes on his hands fall. That required a good experience and some skill, especially in gymnastics–
Right. Natsuya forgot that she got offered in gymnastics club by Asada. So that's why. He's clearly humiliating himself right now for forgetting it.
"Ah, sorry! You're good in gymnastics. I forgot." He said in the end. Tomoya shook her head.
"It's okay, senpai. There's nothing to be sorry for." Tomoya said. "Actually, my mom was the one who taught me gymnastics. But, recently I stopped."
Natsuya looked at the younger girl. "Why is that?"
"I want to focus in swimming." She remarked. "I think swimming suits me the most more than gymnastics does."
Natsuya hummed. "I think so too." He blurted and the next second he wanted to slap his face so hard.
Tomoya chuckled. "Thank you, Natsuya-senpai."
The older boy thanked the Gods up there because they arrived at the teacher's office. The two entered the room and stacking the things they brought in the corner of the room, like what Natsuya's teacher instructed them. After placing the things in the rightful place, they excused themselves and walked out of the office.
"Thank you again for the help," Natsuya told Tomoya as they faced each other outside the teacher's room. "I really owe you one."
"No problem." The girl replied and gave the older boy a smile. "Well, then I see you at–"
"Wait." Natsuya cut her off as he spotted a vending machine not far from where they stood. The captain jogged towards the machine and inserted a coin. He pressed a button and a drink fell to the base of the machine. Natsuya reached out for it and jogged back to Tomoya.
"Here," he thrusting a bottle of grape flavored juice to the younger girl. "Take this as my thanks."
The dark chocolate-haired girl immediately shook her head and held her hands up. "N-No, you don't have to, senpai! I'm fine–"
"I don't take no as an answer!" Natsuya insisted as he grabbed the girl's hand and put the drink on her hand.
For a second, his mind fixed itself how Tomoya's hand perfectly fit in his own. It was definitely more fair and smaller than his, but her hand didn't feel fragile at all – imprinting an image of a girl who didn't want to be treated like a china doll.
Natsuya almost disappointment seeped into his heart when he let go.
"Thank you." She said meekly with a smile as she held the bottle. The older boy smiled as he reached a hand out to ruffle her dark chocolate locks.
"See you at practice!" Natsuya told her as he turned back and jogged towards his class. His hand covering the half of his face which painted in red color.
.
.
Haru knew that when Tomoya stepped out of the classroom, he had to deal with Kisumi, Asahi, and Ikuya alone. No worries though, he got used to it.
Maybe.
Haru took a sip of his milk. Ikuya panicked–mainly because he realized his milk carton was already empty. He looked at Haru and his milk carton alternately before he decided to sipped what's left inside as hard as possible. Haru looked at him as he coughed and panted.
"What have you been doing?" Asahi asked in confusion.
"What is it, Ikuya?" Haru asked.
"What do you mean!?" the said boy yelled.
"Don't imitate me." Haru stated.
"I'm not! Tomoya was the one who imitates you!"
"She doesn't imitate me."
Suddenly, Kisumi burst out laughing. What just happened was definitely hilarious to him until he could laugh to hard it almost seemed hysterically. Tears gathered in the corner of his eyes.
"You're pretty interesting too, Ikuya!" he said between his laughs. Ikuya immediately stood up from his seat with a finger pointing at Asahi.
"Don't lump me in with this guy!"
"What was that supposed to mean!?" Asahi shouted, feeling offended.
"It means exactly what I said!" Ikuya shot back. "And don't just call me by my name so casually!"
Those words were meant for Kisumi, but the pink head seemed so immersed with his laughing–which was getting louder every second–to even noticed it or even say something.
Outside the classroom, Makoto just walked out from his class with a book in hand.
"Tachibana! Wait for me!" Mochizuki shouted from the class.
"Yeah! I said I would!" Makoto replied.
Hearing hysterical laugh from the neighbor class, curiosity moved him to take a peek. What he saw was Haru who sat in the corner of the class just beside the window with Asahi, Ikuya, and Kisumi–who's still laughing. His laugh earned some weird stares from his classmates but the pink head didn't give any attention to it because his laugh wasn't done yet. Makoto was surprised that he didn't see Tomoya in the class; he assumed that the girl was out doing some errands.
"You have fun with these guys, too, don't you, Haru?" Kisumi asked and managed to stop his laughs.
"Not really." Haru answered.
"It's not fun." Ikuya stated.
"Is that all you've got to say after forcing yourself in here? Then go away!" Asahi retorted.
"I'm allowed to eat wherever I want to, can't I?" Ikuya shot back.
Makoto's expression fell slightly at the sight. As Asahi and Ikuya continue to bicker, Haru directed his sight to the doorway where Makoto stood–noticing his green-eyed friend. The said boy just gave him a smile and shrugged his shoulders. Then Mochizuki had his arm slung over Makoto's shoulder before the two walked away, followed by another boy.
"Why are you saying this like that? You just want to eat over here to imitate him, don't you?"
"I'm not imitating him! We just happened to be eating in the same manner."
Seeing Makoto and the two boys walked away, Haru couldn't help but frown as his blue eyes focused on his lunch.
"What is it, Haru?" Kisumi asked, question the sour look the boy wore.
"It's nothing." He remarked and took a bite of his grilled mackerel.
"Hey! Is the Class 1 boy's helper here today?" a teacher asked as he stood in front of the white board. It immediately earned the class's attention including Haru, Asahi, Kisumi, and Ikuya.
"Isn't it Haru today?" Kisumi said. Haru looked at the white board, catching his last name written on its surface as the class's helper for today. He continued to chew on his mackerel and wore an unpleased expression.
.
.
The next thing Haru knew, he tried to ascend the stairs with two boxes stacked on his hand and three rolled up thick papers on top of it. The rolled-up papers began to slide towards the left side and Haru tried to regain its balance by titling the box to the left and then straighten it back. But it seemed futile because one of the rolled-up papers fell from the stack and the black-haired boy lose his balance.
But someone immediately got a hold on the rolled-up papers–preventing it from falling–and put a hand on the bottom box to steadied him. The person sighed and Haru turned to look.
"That was dangerous." Natsuya, who averted his eyes from the paper to look at Haru, said.
The upperclassmen decided to hold the rolled-up papers, helping Haru with this task as the two walked in the hallways.
"How are you finding the club?" Natsuya asked the younger boy.
"Normal (desu)." Haru replied briefly.
"That's good. If you said you wanted to quit already, I'd be in trouble." Natsuya paused for a second before continuing. "Ikuya… didn't say anything about quitting, did he?"
Haru looked at the older boy briefly before looking away. "He didn't. But you should ask him yourself (desu)."
"You should fix your polite speech. You're going to run into problems in the future like that."
The respond Natsuya got was Haru looking away with a frown on his face. The older boy sighed in defeat. After a few seconds of silence, Haru opened his mouth.
"Why don't you get along with Ikuya?" he asked with the right polite speech.
Natsuya looked at the younger boy for a second before curling up a sour smile as he looked back to the front. He hummed before answering.
"Probably because I pushed him away." Haru looked at him with slightly widened eyes.
"That's why Ikuya has just hated me for the past two years." Natsuya said all of that with a smile adorned with sadness.
Haru averted his gaze to the floor as he remembered how Ikuya stood beside his desk, looking outside the window. His amber eyes were focused on Natsuya's figure who walked on the sports yard with a sad look adorning his face.
"I don't think that's the case." Haru said, surprising Natsuya.
The older boy looked at him for a moment before looking away. "Really?"
When they arrived at the end of the hallway, the two stopped. Natsuya stacked the rolled-up papers back on the boxes Haru carried.
"Here. You're going to be okay? Don't drop it." He warned him. "Well, you're a troublesome guy, but I hope we get along from now on. See you at the club."
Natsuya waved at Haru briefly before climbing the stairs. He wondered if everything was a coincidence; first he got Tomoya to help him with his errands and now he helped Haru with his errands.
Haru looked at his figure and opened his mouth. "Ah…"
Natsuya stopped on his tracks and looked back. "Hm?"
"Thank you."
This took Natsuya off guard. But the older male smiled. "Yeah! See ya."
Haru turned to his right, started to walk towards his destination.
"Ah, wait." The boy looked back, noticing Natsuya stopped on his tracks and stood on top of the stairs. Haru only looked at him, signaling the older boy to fire up the question he got on the tip of his tongue.
"About Tomoya," Natsuya started, which caught Haru off guard. "What kind of girl is she?"
Haru fell silent for a few seconds; surprised from the fact that Natsuya, his captain, just asked him about his best friend and confused to answer his question about what kind of girl Tomoya is.
"She's… nice," Haru answered. "A worrywart, caring, and…
Warm."
Natsuya had his amber eyes widened slightly at Haru's words. Especially when he noticed the tips of the younger boy's ears went red.
"I see. Thanks."
With that the two parted ways.
