Makoto Naegi, the Ultimate Lucky Student, was sitting down on a wooden bench overlooking the crystal blue sea. Soft waves overlapped the sand with splashes. Being late November, there weren't many people at this part of the beach. He had on his usual green sweatshirt and black blazer with his black pants.
The sun was peeking through the clouds, not quite fully shining down on Japan.
After Makoto's very interesting encounter with a young group of boys, he decided to watch the waves and the groups of boats that sped past in the distance. The soft wind blew past his ruffled hair and ahoge. It had been quite sometime since Makoto had dedicated time for him to think about where his life was headed. Not everyone had a chance to be a "Lucky" student at Hope's Peak, but Makoto still had no idea what he wanted to be.
Unlike, say, an Ultimate Pharmacist, there was no job for being "Lucky" and he certainly didn't want to spend the rest of his life driving people all over Japan.
Makoto had been so wrapped up in his thoughts, he almost didn't hear his stomach rumbling. "Looks like I forgot to eat lunch," He mumbled, taking his phone out and looking at the time. 2:00 Pm.
He took one more glance at the sea, stood up, and walked away to the parking lot where his black Rogue was parked. Standing next to the driver's door, Makoto pulled out his keys. He was about to click unlock, but instead he heard a girlish voice in the distance. "Naegi! Wait up!"
Startled, the Ultimate dropped his keys on the hard pavement. Crouching down, he was about to pick them up until someone else did.
"Sorry 'bout that Naegi," A tanned girl said sheepishly. She was wearing yellow trainers, long white socks. dark blue booty shorts, a white tank top that showed off a significant bust, and a red jacket. Her long chocolate hair piled up on her head.
"A-Asahina!' Makoto jumped up, 'I-I-um," Makoto faltered with his wording when he realized he was very few inches away from her significant amount of cleavage. His face flushed with red.
"You what Naegi?" Hina asked.
"I-I didn't expect to see you here that's all, it made me a bit startled," he replied, getting his wording back.
"Sorry, I was just excited,' she answered back, 'I just haven't spoken to anyone today yet. Oh! Here's your keys back by the way."
"Thanks,' Naegi took the keys, 'What're you doing here anywhere Hina?"
Hina replied, "Just walking along the coast, the weather isn't gonna hold up so I thought I would get one last walk here before the Spring. Plus it gives me a great place to think"
"It is a pretty day out."
"I was actually gonna go to the donut shop a few roads over and grab a few, wanna catch up there?" She asked?
"It certainly wouldn't hurt to grab a bite to eat. Besides, I haven't eaten lunch yet hehe,' Makoto said, 'Hop in, I'll take us there!"
Finally being able to unlock a car without any interruptions, Makoto and Hina got inside and buckled up. "It's on Watercress Street, a few roads north from here."
Just as Hina said, it didn't take long for the friends to arrive at the small white shop. Two fairly large buildings hugged the shop's walls. Makoto parked right in front of the cafe with two clear windows looking inside. "I hope you're in for a treat Naegi!" Aoi exclaimed, pumping her fists up in the air.
"I love your enthusiasm Hina," Makoto replied, locking the car and stepping onto the sidewalk. The road was barren as there weren't any cars driving past them. A few cars were parked in spaces, but that was about it.
When they entered inside, it didn't take long for them to exit. Makoto holding a large cup of coffee and an apple fritter, and Aoi holding a white bag of a couple of donuts of her choice.
They pushed back the two metal chairs, and sat across from one other. Hina took a powdered donut from her bag and began munching away at it while Makoto took a sip of his black coffee.
"So, munch, what have you been up to the past couple of days?" Aoi asked, leaning back in her chair.
Putting his drink on the glass table, Makoto replied, "I've been doing some Uber driving to complete my community service.
"Wait, but doesn't, like, community service mean no pay?" Aoi asked.
"When I took Leon to the nurse after Mondo threw him, Headmaster Kirigiri told me I could complete community service with pay," Makoto answered back shrugging.
Reaching in her bag for another delicious donut Aoi said, "You're so lucky you get that opportunity y'know."
Makoto almost spat out the hot liquid in his mouth from laughing. "Yeah, I'm lucky alright. You should see the people I've driven so far. "When he finished that sentence, he went on telling Aoi about his journey so far. From driving two drunken friends, to the Ultimate Supreme Leader threatening him, to physically running into Kyoko, and a group of boys who have it too deep in other people's love lives.
"That sure sounds like an adventure to me Naegi," Aoi teased, finishing off her last donut.
"Yeah, I'm just preparing myself for what the future holds for me honestly. Who knows what my so-called 'luck' will get me." A few seconds passed by, while Makoto was biting into his fritter. "So, what have you been up to Hina?"
"Not much, just training my swimming technique in the pool for the midterm before Christmas break rolls around," Aoi replied.
Makoto froze when he heard Aoi say the work, 'Midterm.' "We have a midterm!?" Makoto almost shouted out loud.
Hina tilted her head questioning Makoto. "Yeah, did you forget about last year's midterm? I remember mine perfectly because my strokes were perfect too," Aoi beamed.
Racking his brain Makoto thought back to his first midterm in his Freshman year. Headmaster Kirigiri had given Makoto 3 cups and one ball. Kirigiri would put the ball under one of the cups and mix them up. All of this was happening while Makoto was successfully folded tightly. He had to correctly guess where the cup had been 5 times in a row. On the 5th time, something inside Makoto had told him the ball wasn't in any of the cups. He had passed with flying colors.
No doubt this year's midterm will be harder. "Huh, guess I completely forgot about them," Naegi laughed it off.
When Makoto finished the last bite of his apple fritter he looked over at his friend Aoi. When he stared at her face he knew something was wrong with her gloomy face. She was always happy no matter what.
"Hina? Is there something wrong?" Makoto asked, slowly. He got no response. "You don't have to share, but I want to help you if you're feeling depressed over anything. After all, what kind of friend would I be If i didn't help you?"
A few seconds later, Aoi finally spoke up. "What would you do if you were in love with your best friend?" She asked him, staring down at the concrete sidewalk, beneath her feet.
Of most things, Makoto had definitely not seen this one coming. In love with your best friend? Most people wouldn't have an answer for Aoi, but Makoto had a reply for Aoi much to his dismay. After what happened last year with Kyoko, he finally knew what was nagging inside him for all of his freshmen year. He was in love.
Love to Makoto was a strong word to say. Sure he loved his parents and little sister Komaru, but they were his family. It was natural for him to love them. When he left Hope's Peak for the Summer, he was ready to start calling Kyoko a part of his family. He also knew damn well that the headmaster considered Makoto a part of his family as well. The question that was pulling and ripping apart his brain was did 'Kyoko like him back'.
"I would tell them how much they mean to me. Why they make me feel happy and cared for all the mean. I would tell them I love you with all my heart," Makoto told Aoi. But he knew that it wasn't meant for Aoi, it was meant for himself.
Hina looked up at Makoto's gaze, unsure if she should tell him the truth. "W-What if your best friend is the s-same gender you are?"
He looked down at his empty coffee cup. Same gender huh? "Wouldn't make a difference. It's better to reveal your feelings before you start to lose them."
Standing up, Aoi pushed in her chair and took hold of her now empty bag. Walking to the brown garbage can right next to the glass door, she tosses it away.
All Makoto could do was watch Hina's he stood up too to throw away his garbage, he felt Hina's body engulf him in a hug. "T-Thank you Naegi for telling me to do what my heart wants. You're the second best friend anyone could ask for."
Of course, Naegi could hear what she was saying but what more focused on the orbs that were pressing up on his own chest. The tank top did little separating the two teens together. "Anytime Hina," Makoto choked out.
"I'll see you at school Naegi!" She called out to Makoto, as she jogged away on the street. Her form getting smaller and smaller until she turned onto the next road.
Makoto pushed in his chair and once again checked his phone for any new notifications. 2:42 Pm. Nothing.
Tossing his coffee cup in the garbage, he looked down the street where Aoi ran off. "Well, nothing better to do than head back to my dorm I guess,' Makoto mumbled to himself, 'But, not before I grab another fritter. That's for sure."
