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Chapter 2 - Chapter 2: That Girl Who Smiles Like Sunshine

The bell rang sharply across the school courtyard, signaling the start of lunchtime. Students flooded the open campus, some heading to the cafeteria, others retreating to the library or quiet corners with their lunch boxes. It was organized chaos—loud, energetic, and very high school.

Yui tugged at the ends of her sleeves as she walked quietly toward her usual rooftop spot. She liked it there. It was peaceful. Removed from the noise and mess of teenage emotions. Up there, no one stared at her for being too quiet, too soft-spoken, or too "bookish."

Today, she wore her standard uniform: a navy blue blazer with gold buttons, a neatly pressed pleated skirt, and the school's crimson ribbon tied snugly at her collar. Her long black hair was neatly tied into a low ponytail that rested just between her shoulder blades. She adjusted her glasses, a nervous habit, and clutched the bento she had made that morning.

The rooftop door creaked open with its usual stubborn resistance. She stepped through and blinked.

Mika was already there.

The other girl leaned casually against the railing, wind tousling her short brown hair, giving her the look of someone born to break rules and win hearts. She wasn't wearing her blazer today—just the inner white shirt and a light blue hoodie thrown on over it, half-zipped, red hoodie strings dancing with the breeze. Her skirt fluttered slightly in the wind, and her knee-high socks were scrunched down just enough to look rebellious.

"Oh! Yui-chan!" Mika turned, smiling like she'd just seen the sun for the first time today.

Yui froze mid-step.

"W-Why are you here?" she managed to say, then mentally kicked herself for sounding so accusatory.

"I like the view from up here," Mika said, tilting her head playfully. "But I didn't know it was your territory."

Yui blinked at her. "It's not… mine. I just… like the quiet."

Mika grinned and patted the spot beside her on the bench. "Then we can like the quiet together. I promise not to talk. Much."

Yui hesitated. Her heart was doing that weird fluttery thing again. She slowly made her way over and sat on the far end of the bench, keeping a safe distance between them. Or maybe an unsafe one. Because even from here, Mika's presence felt… overwhelming.

They sat in silence for a while.

Yui opened her bento, revealing two neat rice balls, steamed vegetables, and a pair of cute cherry tomato halves with a toothpick shaped like a bunny. Mika peeked over, then gasped dramatically.

"That's the cutest lunch I've ever seen."

Yui blinked, her cheeks turning a soft pink. "It's just… simple."

"It's adorable," Mika insisted, leaning closer. "You made it yourself?"

Yui gave a tiny nod. "Mm."

Mika took out her own lunch—a convenience store sandwich and canned iced coffee. "In comparison, I look like I didn't even try."

Yui smiled just a little. "It looks… fine."

That smile didn't go unnoticed.

"You smiled!" Mika beamed. "I was beginning to think you were like a cool ghost girl or something."

Yui let out a quiet laugh—tiny, almost silent, but real. She covered her mouth.

Mika's eyes widened. "You laugh like a bunny."

"That makes no sense," Yui said, her face burning.

"It so does."

The breeze picked up, rustling Yui's ponytail and carrying a few loose cherry blossom petals across the rooftop. Mika reached out and caught one between her fingers. She leaned back, letting her eyes follow the petals as they danced in the wind.

"You know," she said suddenly, "you're really pretty when you're annoyed."

Yui choked on her rice ball. "Wh-What?!"

"I'm just saying." Mika shrugged, laughing. "You have that elegant vibe, like a secret princess who just wants to be left alone."

"That's ridiculous," Yui murmured, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

Mika turned to face her. "Do you always eat up here?"

Yui nodded slowly. "Usually."

"Well," Mika stretched her arms up dramatically, "I hereby declare this spot our official lunchtime club."

"There's no club."

"There is now. We'll call it… the 'Don't Talk to Me But Sit Next to Me' Club."

Yui smiled again despite herself. "You're strange."

"And you're charming," Mika said with a wink.

Silence fell again, but it was lighter this time—comforting. The breeze, the blossoms, the city sounds far below—it all wrapped around them in a warm bubble of "maybe this could be something."

Just before the bell rang again, Mika stood and slung her bag over her shoulder. "See you tomorrow, rooftop princess."

Yui stared at the empty bench for a few seconds longer, her hand resting on the slightly warm spot where Mika had been sitting. Her heart thumped softly, a steady beat echoing in her chest.

Tomorrow?

Yes… she wanted that.

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