After Haruka and Yuki's turn, the last few classmates took theirs. It went on just the same. Clumsy movements, wrong interpretations, and a loud classroom. This was all the things the Charades activity brought on the table.
Still, even Daiki had to admit—it was fun.
Once the last student finished their turn, the teacher clapped her hands together. "Alright, that concludes our activity. But before we move on—homework!"
A collective groan rippled through the classroom.
"Just when things were going right.."
"I just hope this one is easy. We still have a project on our plate."
Daiki remembered the project with Yuki. He had sent his part, so all he had to do was just wait for Yuki to send him the finished product of their presentation.
He took a quick glance at Yuki, who surprisingly, was looking at him.
Yuki gestured a thumbs up, perhaps signaling that he was either finished or he was still working on it.
The complaints kept coming.
Daiki leaned back in his chair, observing his classmates' complaints with mild amusement.
The teacher already gave you guys a fun time, and you still want more? How selfish.
The grumbling soon died down, and the teacher took a moment to share a few remarks about the performances. She made lighthearted jokes here and there, pointing out particularly memorable acts. Then, she turned to Daiki with a sly grin.
"You know, Akezawa, your acting was pretty good. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're putting on an act outside of charades too. The way you performed just now—it was like seeing a completely different person!"
Daiki barely reacted, though his fingers briefly twitched against his desk. He kept his face neutral, giving the teacher a small, polite smile, but inwardly, he made a note to be extra careful moving forward.
Then, the bell rang, signaling the start of lunch.
As expected, Haruka made a beeline for him.
"How are you doing, Daiki?" she asked, her usual brightness unwavering.
"Fine," he answered, his voice deliberately flat.
Haruka puffed out her cheeks. "Hmm… well, if you say so."
She looked back and said, "See you later, then!"
And just like that, she was gone.
Daiki exhaled quietly. Finally, some peace.
He began packing up his bento, preparing to head to his usual secluded spot, when a voice interrupted him.
"Hey, Akezawa-san!"
He glanced up to see Ren Takahashi, his seatmate, grinning at him.
"You should eat with us today."
Daiki blinked. His immediate reaction was to refuse. Eating with others wasn't his thing—he much preferred solitude. But for some reason, he hesitated. Then, before he was about to decline..
"Sure."
He had accepted their invitation.
Ren's grin widened.
"Finally! I've caught the mythical creature known as Akezawa-san!" He shouted.
Heads turned. Conversations paused. The entire classroom momentarily stared at them.
Daiki's eye twitched. This guy...
He sighed heavily, giving Ren a flat look. "Was that necessary?"
"Yes," Ren said without hesitation, patting his back.
Accepting his fate, Daiki followed Ren and his group as they left the classroom. The hallways were still bustling with students settling in for lunch. Some were pushing desks together to eat in groups, while others stood around chatting. The faint clatter of bento boxes and the murmurs of conversation filled the air, creating a comfortable, lively atmosphere.
Then, they stepped outside.
A cool breeze swept past, carrying with it the faint scent of fresh grass. The sunlight filtered through the trees, casting dappled shadows along the walkway. It was a sharp contrast from the stuffy classroom, and Daiki took a slow breath, feeling just the slightest bit more at ease.
They arrived at an open room with plenty of seating. Ren's group quickly settled in, leaving Daiki to choose wherever he wanted. Without much thought, he sat beside Ren.
There were six people in total, including Daiki.
Lunch started off with casual chatter. The group discussed the latest sports matches, video game updates, and, unsurprisingly, love interests. Daiki mostly listened, responding only when directly addressed. The conversation flowed effortlessly between them, their interactions easy and natural.
Then, something nagged at Daiki's mind.
"Ren, just a question."
"Hmm?"
"Why'd you say that earlier?"
Ren tilted his head. "What 'that'?"
"You know," Daiki gestured vaguely, "the whole 'I've caught the mythical creature' thing."
"Ahh, that," Ren muttered, rubbing his neck. "Well… do you really wanna know?"
"Obviously. That's why I'm asking."
Ren sighed. "It's because everyone thinks you're actively avoiding making connections. Like, you go out of your way to shut people down before they even get the chance to talk to you."
Daiki considered that. "...Makes sense."
"...Wait, that's it? You're not mad?"
"Not at all. In fact, I prefer it that way. Makes things easier for me."
Ren raised his eyebrows.
"How does not having friends make things easier?" Ren remarked. "Wouldn't it be harder to communicate when you need help with something?"
"Yeah," another guy chimed in. "Isn't it awkward having to ask people you aren't close with?"
Daiki shrugged. "I don't see the point of relying on people when I can just do things myself."
Why am I even answering their questions seriously? he thought, vaguely irritated at himself. I should be deflecting, not engaging.
"Well," he added, "at least you guys are okay to talk to." Daiki said.
Ren snorted. "That's the nicest thing you've said all day."
The mood lightened again, and the conversation moved on to different topics. Daiki let himself relax slightly. It was strange—he still didn't seek this kind of interaction, but… it wasn't terrible.
Then, out of nowhere..
"So, Akezawa, how are things with Fujimoto?"
Daiki paused mid-bite. He slowly looked up. "...What?"
"You and Haruka," the guy clarified.
Ren groaned.
"Dude, I told you not to ask people personal stuff." Ren said, while playfully choking the person who asked.
Daiki, however, remained unbothered. "I don't mind answering."
The group instantly turned to him, intrigued.
"We're not close," Daiki said. "Why do you ask?"
Silence.
"...Wait, seriously?" one of them blurted out.
"Yes?"
The guy scratched his head. "We all thought you two were secretly dating or something. She's been glued to you since first term."
Daiki scoffed. "That's just her personality. I find it annoying."
"But don't you ever wonder why she does that?"
"Not really. If I had to guess, it's just her instincts as class president. Trying to get me to make friends or something."
The group stared at him.
Daiki didn't notice.
"Speaking of which," he added, "maybe since I talked with you guys, she'll leave me alone."
"You seriously don't feel anything?"
"No. Not at all."
The group exchanged glances, clearly unconvinced.
Lunch continued, the conversation moving to safer topics. The atmosphere remained light, and Daiki found himself… content. He wouldn't make this a habit. He knew that.
But maybe—for today—it wasn't so bad.