"Three bowls here, please!"
Nendou ordered the usual for the three of us. Usually Kuboyasu would join us, but he told Kaidou that he "had some important business to settle" while holding a bat with holes that had been patched up recently. Even without my abilities, I can guess he won't be joining us anytime soon. Good grief.
"Eh! Ka- Ka- Ka- Kaidou-kun!"
I recognise that stuttering anywhere. That was Yumehara Chiyo, a girl with an objectively unfortunate taste in choosing guys. She had jumped out of her seat at the table next to ours, where she was with-
"Ah, Sai- everyone! What a surprise! We didn't expect to bump into you guys here!"
Teruhashi Kokomi. Having overheard her incessant inner ramblings again and again for the past year, I'm confident that she is thinking something along the lines of:
"Oh my gosh it's Saiki-kun! What do I do- I mean, how lucky for him! Getting the chance to see my perfect self on the first weekend of the new school year! Yes, that's it! Surprised, excited, overjoyed! That's how he must be feeling right now! He must be dying to go, "Oh!" at my presence! Yes, go ahead! "Oh!" at me!"
There it is. A smirk, right on cue.
"Te- Teruhashi-san! What are you doing here?"
Kaidou, Yumehara is here too.
"That's because Mera-san invited-"
"Oagari yo! [Dig in!]"
A reference to a popular food anime interrupted Teruhashi-san. It was Chisato Mera, who seems to have found her latest part-time job on top of the other dozen she already has. The way she is drooling over the bowls of ramen is slightly concerning. Please stop.
"Ah, Mera-chan! Thank you!"
Yumehara quickly reached out to take both bowls before Mera could become a food safety hazard. I see. Mera invited Teruhashi and Yumehara here. Now that I think about it, what an odd trio of friends.
"Teruhashi-san, since we're all here let's join the tables together!"
Kaidou, Yumehara is still here. Even I am starting to feel sorry for her.
"Good idea, Chibi! I'll help move their table-"
Don't move the table with two full bowls of ramen!
"But we shouldn't bother the owner-"
Teruhashi glanced sideways at me. Bad sign. Hold on.
"No! I mean, yes! Yes! Let's have a good time together!"
No! Kaidou, what have you done!
It was too late. Nendou had already moved their table next to ours. The bowls of ramen were remarkably unharmed. Now I have to sit through this meal with Teruhashi fidgeting beside me and our bowls aren't even here yet. Good grief, what a pain.
"Teruhashi-san, what are you planning to do after graduation?"
Kaidou, Yumehara looks like she's slowly dying on the inside.
"I'm planning on applying to my dream college in Tokyo but I'm open to other opportunities. So, what about Sai- I mean, what about all of you?"
A perfect, textbook response from Teruhashi, as expected.
"Same here! I'm planning on applying to a college in Tokyo!"
Oi oi, what about the Dark Reunion?
"I am going to find a job to support my mother."
An actually sensible response from Nendou?!
Good grief, they've all turned towards me. I can't ignore the question.
I shrugged.
"Eh? You must have something planned right, Saiki-kun?"
Teruhashi is staring at me and being as persistent as always. Good grief, what a pain-
"Oagari yo! [Dig in!]"
Saved by anime references! Mera had arrived at our table with three bowls of ramen, wearing an apron around her waist and a long, white headband around her forehead. Please stop before we get a copyright strike.
With everyone distracted by ramen, the topic was soon forgotten. After more idle chit-chat and slurping of noodles, we went our separate ways.
Hmm… Plans, huh? Without my abilities, I guess I am finally living my dream life of being a normal high school student. Good grief… Now, what should I work towards next?
…
Wait, aren't we forgetting someone?
A/N: Yumehara wants to live a good, peaceful life as Kaidou's wife. Mera dreams of earning enough money to be able to eat whatever and whenever she wants. Hard to say which is more likely.