Vol. 1 — Chapter 4: Grab a Bite Together After Class
The bell rang.
Class was over, and Teacher Uehara clapped her hands.
"Alright, everyone! Time for break. Go get something to eat!"
Outside, Daiki, Souta, and Ren were still cleaning with the other students from the club.
Inside, Yuna turned to Yuto with a bright smile.
"Hey Yuto, wanna eat together?" she asked.
"Are you sure?" Yuto replied, blinking.
"Yeah, why not?"
"Uhmm..." Yuto hesitated.
"Hm?" Yuna tilted her head.
"...Is it really okay?"
"Yes!" Yuna smiled again.
Just then, Yuto felt a strange chill.
"...Hey, Yuna," he whispered, leaning closer.
"I think someone's staring at me again."
"Huh? Who?"
Yuto glanced around, then back at her.
"It's not one of my friends, right?"
Yuna looked over her shoulder.
"Oh—it's Rika."
Standing a few steps away was a girl with a sharp gaze. Fujisawa Rika. Yuna's friend.
"Hey, Rika," Yuna called. "What's up?"
Rika crossed her arms. "Who's that?"
"Him? That's Yuto. He's my friend."
"A friend, huh..." Rika gave Yuto a long look.
"H-Hello, I'm Yuto," he said nervously.
"Hello!" Rika smiled a little.
Then Yuna turned back to Yuto.
"So, Yuto. Wanna go eat with me?"
Rika quickly added, "Can I come too?"
"Yeah, sure!" Yuna nodded.
Yuto secretly felt relieved.
Thank goodness Rika's coming too… I'd be too nervous eating with just Yuna.
"Wait," Yuna said. "Let's go outside."
"Outside?" Yuto asked.
"Yeah," she said.
"Or maybe the usual spot," Rika added.
"Okay," Yuna agreed.
The three of them started walking out. As they passed by the school yard, Yuto spotted Daiki, Souta, and Ren still sweeping and picking up leaves.
"Hey, you three! Let's go eat!"
Daiki pointed at him with a dramatic face. "YOU!"
Souta held his broom like a sword. "Really? Okay!!"
Ren, still sweeping, looked up. "You can go without us."
"Are you sure?" Yuto asked.
"Yeah," Ren replied.
"Alright then..." Yuto turned and walked away.
Daiki and Souta both yelled, "WAIT—HE REALLY LEFT US!?"
"Let him go, you idiots," Ren said with a tired grin.
"Yeah, yeah," Daiki muttered.
Back with the girls, Rika turned to Yuto.
"Hey, aren't those your friends?"
"Yeah," Yuto nodded.
"Why didn't you invite them?"
"I did. They told me to go ahead."
"Oh, really?" Rika said, raising a brow.
"Yeah..." Yuto glanced back, looking a little worried.
Yuna noticed.
"Yuto, are you okay?"
"I-I'm fine," he said quickly.
After a short walk, they found a nice spot under a tree with a wooden bench big enough for three.
"Let's eat here!" Yuna said cheerfully.
"Yeah!" Rika agreed.
"Okay!" Yuto smiled.
The three of them sat down and started eating their lunches together, chatting and laughing.
It was a simple moment—but somehow, it made Yuto feel warm inside.
End of Chapter 4.