章 2: A Friend
"What are you doing here, Shouta?"
"I have the same question…"
Her eyes looked at my noodle and burger in my hand. She also looked at my coffee, on top of the table.
"You're eating?"
"Are you blind?"
"No, my vision is perfectly well"
"Then why did you ask if I'm eating?!"
Sara moved between the store's shelves, rummaging among the various delicacies. She proceeded to the cashier with a bag of chips, presumably because they were inexpensive. I ate my noodles and burger while standing near the table.
"Can I eat beside you?"
"Yeah, I don't mind"
Sara began to open her bag of chips. She picked a seaweed flavor chip, and the smell was delicious.
"Could I try some?"
"Hm?"
Sara gazed at me, her head cocked in my direction. She reached into the bag and handed me a chip. I expressed my gratitude and proceeded to eat the chip.
"Shouta, why are you here?"
"I was hungry…"
"You haven't eaten yet?"
"I have… I had fried rice for breakfast"
"Then why are you still hungry?"
"...I guess I didn't eat enough"
I kept eating my noodles; the broth was still there, and there was only a small amount of noodles left. My burger is already gone, and my coffee is only half-filled.
We were both standing in the same spot, looking out the window at the school. It was still dark, and there was no students' insight.
No students were around?
"Hey, Sara, why are you here this early?"
"I'm here because you're here"
"That sounds like someone who'd be romantically in love with someone…"
"You're right, Shouta"
"About... what?"
"I am in love with you"
She locked her gaze on mine. Her crimson red eyes sparkled, moved, and looked at me with apprehension. Her expression, though, remained unchanged. Her expression had been impassive since the beginning of our chat. A blank look on his face.
"If you say it like that… it's hard to believe you"
Her seaweed-flavored chip crunched in her mouth. Some of them landed on the floor. It was a complete disaster.
"Is a kiss okay?"
"No, it's not!"
I felt my face getting red and I was leaning back. Sara was leaning her body in front of me, getting her face too close. But still, her face was still expressionless.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
School, a place where young people study the common knowledge of this world. A place where young people could interact with one another.
When I was in junior high school, before moving here, I had zero friends. Socializing is the very thing I hate. Sara wasn't in the same school as I was but when we were graduating, she suddenly appeared in front of me and gave me a flower. Not just a flower, but a bouquet.
"Huh…? What are you—"
"—Shouta"
"Hm? Yea?"
As I questioned, her body flew on top of me. Her arms wrapped around my waist and her head leaning on my shoulders. I was being hugged by a girl.
"W-w-w-what is going on here!!"
"I'm hugging you, can't you see?"
I was blushing. My face was beet red. The most embarrassing part is we were hugging right in the middle of the graduation, people were still coming in through the doors. I believed I saw one of my classmates blush to see me, a lonesome guy, getting hugged by a girl.
"Would— you stop!"
"No, I won't"
And throughout the ceremony, Sara was clinging to my arms. The teachers had to get me a 'special' seat for me and Sara. They joked about me and her being a good young couple. I didn't know the teacher could make jokes like that.
And after the ceremony and getting the diploma. Wait, when getting the diploma, Sara was still clinging to me. I had to walk up the stage and watch as my friends all talked about the girl beside me. But not me. Though I didn't care what they said, it was still embarrassing.
It wasn't just my classmates. My juniors were also watching.
And after the ceremony, my 'suffering' didn't end. I was called into the principal's office and was asked who the girl was. Sara was still clinging onto my arm.
When we walked out of the office, many of my classmates were waiting for both of us. No, they were only waiting for Sara.
"Would you please be my girlfriend!"
"Can I have your number??"
These people were on my way. They were blocking both of us from leaving the school.
Wait… they're just focusing on Sara…
But, as a close friend, I can't leave her alone in a room full of strange junior high school pupils. I recall one of them getting in trouble for peering into a female's bathroom —what a creep.
Already, I was irritated. And now I'm even more annoyed since Sara and I can't get through the crowd.
"Sara"
"Hm?"
"Are you alright with this?"
"No, your friends are weird…"
"Sorry… none of them are my friends"
I sighed, then I raised my hand up high and prepared to make a statement.
"I'm sorry everyone, but you're bothering Fujiwara Sara right now!"
Once I finished, a crowd of students started booing.
"Who are you?"
"Why are you with this girl?"
"You're not even attractive!!"
"You're not a man!!"
My fist was already forming in my hands. I was on the edge of punching one of them and starting a brawl. But there was no time for me to say anything, blink, or move. Sara was the one who spoke up.
The gathering fell hushed as she said, "I don't want to be your friend."
"Shouta is already mine"
Then I became deafeningly quiet.
My spirit seemed to be about to depart its vessel.
"Come on Shouta"
My arm was yanked.
Sara led the way to the exit.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
I noticed a large number of students in front of a food truck selling bread. I don't think I'll be able to get any bread today.
Fortunately, I had packed my own lunch. Bread is merely something I like to eat with my lunch. Takoyaki and onigiri with soy sauce are always on the menu. I made these one-of-a-kind handcrafted items before departing for school.
—Umibe High School is in Kanagawa Prefecture's Kamakura city. There are two buildings and a gym at the school. My classroom is in Class 1-B, which is in the building closest to the beach.
I wish I could have gotten the seats near the window so I could look out the window and see the ocean from the classroom. My name, on the other hand, would not allow it. The seats are arranged alphabetically.
I sat down near the soccer field, watching the other class play. Eating and watching something entertaining sure is fun.
"—Shouta"
The best player just scored an amazing goal.
"—Shouta"
From where I sit now, I could barely see the players' faces.
"—Shouta!"
"ehm?"
"What are you doing?"
A girl with long brown hair, wearing the girl's uniform of Umibe high, stood in front of me.
"Eating lunch…"
"Can I have some?"
"Sure… here"
With my chopstick, I snatched an onigiri and fed it to Sara.
I have no idea what Sara's appetite is like, but I've never seen someone eat nearly everything in one bite before. She was capable of devouring a burger in three or two bites. Her mouth is quite large.
"Do you like it?"
Sara was still chewing.
While waiting for an answer, I continue to eat my lunch.
"Soy sauce"
"Huh? What?"
"I want it with soy sauce!"
"O-oh… okay"
I grabbed another onigiri and dipped a part of it in soy sauce, then I carefully fed it to Sara's mouth.
"So… how's my onigiri?"
"..."
"Still chewing, huh?"
My throat feels dry. I grabbed my water bottle beside me, sitting on top of the bench, and I begin to drink—
"—Shouta"
"Pfffttt—!!"
"The onigiri was tasty"
"—can't you see I was drinking— wait… you think it's delicious?"
"The onigiri was tasty"
"Delicious?"
"The onigiri—"
"—alright-alright! I heard you"
I wiped my mouth with my hand. And as I was about to look at her, sitting on the bench beside me. She was already in front of me, standing there and waiting for me.
"Shouta"
"What is it?"
"Let's go"
She extended her slick and slender hand.
I wonder what will happen if I grab her hand and suddenly pull her towards my body. You know… the typical romantic thing to do. I've seen it in many anime before.
To see what would happen—
"—chuu"
"—"
I suddenly felt the whole field had eyes on me. Wait, not the field only, but the whole school had eyes on me.
"Ack- aac… a- kk"
She… did- she?
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