~ Day 13- A Hundred Yen ~

They stared at the small coin lying on the windowsill. It was shiny and new-looking, maybe it was just polished. But aside from that, it really was nothing but an average 100 Yen coin.

The more curious aspect to it was... out of the three people who went in and out of the classroom all the time, none of them knew whom this little coin belonged to. Takane claimed that she didn't know but thought that Haruka could have it. Haruka, in turn, said that it either belonged to Takane or Tateyama-Sensei, so taking it for himself would be like stealing, even if it was about such a small amount of money.

"Haruka, it really doesn't matter. It's, like, worth one can of soda", Takane told him and shoved the coin over the smooth surface of the windowsill. "And that useless teacher doesn't notice things like that. No-one does because a hundred Yen aren't much."

"But even so...", he tried again, looking into his lap awkwardly. "More importantly, if it were yours, then you'd still get less soda and then your throat will feel dry."

"That's a stupid argument", Takane hold him. And then, suddenly, she had an idea- an idea that could make Haruka believe that those were his 100 Yen. She got her wallet out from her bag and looked through it, trying to seem like she was actually counting the money inside. "Well, would you look at that", she forced out a laugh.

"What is it?", Haruka looked at her with a worried expression and Takane just closed her wallet again.

"This morning, my granny gave me a thousand Yen, and yet, I only have 900. And because I didn't buy anything... I guess I dropped those, then", she said and moved to take the coin off the table. Haruka didn't doubt her and allowed her to take it. Then, he laughed lightly. It had all worked out. "But hey", Takane went on and stood up, coin in hand. "We'll buy a drink we can share from this, okay?"

Haruka nodded eagerly and got up as well, trailing behind the short girl like a way too tall puppy. As they arrived at the two vending machines in the far corner of the floor, they stood there for a while.

"What's your favourite, Takane?", Haruka asked her and the girl looked genuinely thoughtful for a second. Sure, there were many things she liked, but did she have a favourite? Or should she let Haruka choose?

"You decide. I'm inviting you on this", she replied and slid the coin into the little slit on the soda-machine, the metal making a few clanking-sounds.

"Well, then...", Haruka's spidery finger ghosted over the buttons. He was wavering, as if just pressing something would solve it. After a few seconds, though, he pressed a button combination that Takane couldn't see.

"What did you pick?", she wondered aloud as she heard the can fall down. Haruka wordlessly got it and held it to her face for her to read. "Carbonated lemon ice tea? Do you actually like that?", Takane asked and held the cold can in her hands, staring at it. She loved that drink, but most people disliked its taste. So if Haruka liked it...

"I wouldn't know", he replied and smiled. "Though I thought that you liked it, because you sometimes had it standing around on your desk." At that, he scratched his cheek and blushed a little.

Takane felt a fluttering sensation grow in her chest. "I like it a lot", she told him and opened the can, turning it so she could take a first sip to enforce her statement. Then, she passed the drink to Haruka. "The first one is always kinda strange, but if you drink a bit more, it tastes great."

The boy took it and looked at it for a second before hesitantly bringing it to his mouth. His adam's apple bobbed up with each chug and Takane found herself unable to look away. As he put it down again, he smacked his lips a bit in thought and stared off into space. "It is weird. But really delicious."

"Isn't it?", Takane asked with a small smile and took the can back, gulping the remaining liquid down in one go. "Well, that was those 100 Yen", she concluded and threw the empty can into a bin.

"They were good 100 Yen, though!", Haruka told her with a pout and Takane rolled her eyes at that, grinning a little. "And I also got to... well, indirectly. Err. Takane."

Takane looked at him in confusion as they took off towards their classroom again. "Think before you speak, okay?", she told him with an accusing little glare and Haruka chuckled.

"It's nothing. I'm not sure what I wanted to say, either."

It was then that Takane realised what he had tried to say.

She wiped her mouth with a red face.