—-Ryu—-
After the exhausting laps and Emilia's theatrical defeat, we eventually made our way to the cafeteria. The space was teeming with students, some weaving between tables with trays in hand, others deep in conversation, their voices blending with the constant clinking of utensils and dishes.
Emilia, still catching her breath from her earlier sprint, let out a dramatic groan as she pulled her wallet from her pocket. "This hurts my soul." She muttered this bitterly, reluctantly passing a few bills to the cashier.
Taishi wore a smug grin as he accepted his tray. "A bet's a bet."
I chuckled while grabbing my own food. "You totally did this to yourself."
Emilia shot me a sharp glare before snatching up her tray. "You guys better savor every bite of this."
We managed to find an empty table near the cafeteria windows, where warm sunlight poured in and illuminated the polished wooden surface. I sank into my seat with a quiet exhale, glad to finally rest after everything.
Without wasting time, Taishi began eating immediately, thoroughly enjoying his meal. Meanwhile, Emilia simply pouted at her tray, absentmindedly poking her rice as though it had betrayed her.
"So?" I said as I took a sip from my drink. "How's it feel to be the slowest runner?"
She huffed. "I let you guys win, obviously."
Taishi nearly choked from laughter. "Yeah, sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night."
Emilia let out a long groan and slumped forward onto the table. "Ughhh, I hate you both."
I couldn't help the smirk forming on my face. I didn't bother replying, choosing instead to glance around the room. The cafeteria was filled with its usual energy, groups of students clustered together, some boisterously talking, others quietly focused on their food.
As my attention drifted, my thoughts returned to her. The girl. That moment I saw her not too long ago… I had completely frozen. I didn't approach her. I just turned and left. Not because I was scared exactly, but more because I had no idea what I would even say. I was too shy, too caught up in my own nerves to even attempt a greeting.
It's ridiculous. How have I spent all this time looking for her without even thinking of a plan? Should I just walk up and introduce myself? Ask for her contact? No, she'd probably find that creepy. I sighed quietly, my mind miles away from my surroundings.
"What is it, Ryu? Thinking of something? That sigh was quite something." Taishi spoke as he neatly sliced through a piece of his meal.
"Oh… uhh… it's nothing, just thinking about our class later." My voice fumbled awkwardly over the words.
Taishi raised an eyebrow, unconvinced, but returned to his food. I turned toward Emilia, who was already done eating and now sipping from a small coffee juice box.
I lifted my brow. "Emilia, I've been meaning to ask…" I started as I looked over at her.
She turned slightly, still sipping through her straw, and gave a curious hum. "Hmm?"
"Do Americans love coffee that much? I always see you drinking one during lunch, and even when we're out somewhere, you always order coffee!"
She paused, pulling the straw from her lips with a soft pop. "No, I don't know, personally I just like coffee a lot!" she giggled, then resumed sipping, her light blue eyes sparkling with amusement.
I returned to my food in silence, watching the dynamic between my friends. Taishi was slowly savoring his meal, and Emilia had already shifted to casually scrolling through her phone.
A thought crossed my mind, should I tell them? These two had been with me since my first day here. My closest friends. What would they think if I confessed I'd been searching for a girl I only saw once?
I glanced between the two of them again. Taishi; smart, composed, and emotionally grounded and he'd probably give sound advice without judgment. Emilia… well, she was unpredictable. She might tease me or even use it against me later for blackmail.
I sighed once more.
"Guys…" I muttered, eyes focused on my lunch tray.
Emilia looked up from her phone, straw still between her lips. Taishi paused mid-bite and glanced at me with a raised brow.
"Hmm?" Emilia mumbled, tilting her head slightly.
I hesitated. Was this really a good idea? It wasn't like I was harboring a dark secret, but saying out loud that I'd spent months looking for a girl I'd only seen once? It sounded completely insane.
My fingers tapped nervously against the plastic tray. "I… there's something I need to tell you guys."
Both of them shifted their attention toward me. Taishi gently placed his chopsticks on the table and gave me a serious look. Emilia leaned in closer, curiosity evident in her gaze.
I took a deep breath. "Do you guys know what class used the gymnasium a while ago?"
Emilia blinked, confused. "Huh? The gym?"
Taishi scratched his head lightly, thinking. "I think it was some second-year class. Why?"
I shifted in my seat, pretending to sound nonchalant. "Just wondering."
If Taishi was right, then that meant the girl I saw… she was a second-year. Her height made her seem younger, like a middle-schooler, but I was certain it was her.
Emilia squinted and closed her eyes in thought. "It's Thursday, and before lunch… I think that class was the same one as my senior from volleyball."
"Ohh, you know someone from that class?" I asked, trying to mask my excitement. Inside, I felt like something just clicked, I was finally one step closer.
"Yeah, it's Miss Kana class. 2-A." she said casually.
2-A.
As soon as she said it, something clicked deep inside me. I finally had a lead.
"So? Why the sudden interest?" Taishi asked, watching me with a touch of suspicion.
I paused, fingers tightening around my chopsticks. Was now the right time to just come out and say it?
Before I could decide, Emilia suddenly gasped and slammed her hands onto the table. "Wait—wait—wait! Is this about a girl?"
I nearly dropped my chopsticks. "What?! No!"
Emilia narrowed her eyes at me, a smug smirk growing. "It is about a girl, isn't it?"
I groaned, running a hand down my face. "You're being way too loud."
Taishi sighed. "Emilia, lower your voice. People are staring."
"Fine, fine." She leaned in close, practically vibrating with anticipation. "So? Spill. Who is she? Is she in the class that used the gym earlier?"
I hesitated again, eyes darting between them. Emilia looked like she was holding in a scream, while Taishi waited patiently. Seeing them both invested in my dilemma, it made something inside me feel warm. It wasn't like how my old friends acted. This was different.
"Yeah… if what you said was true, then she's in 2-A."
Emilia slammed her hands on the table again. "I KNEW IT!"
Taishi reached over and pinched her cheek. "Emilia, you're being loud again."
"Shhh, let me have my moment." she whispered dramatically, then turned back to me. "So? Who is she? What's her name? What does she look like? Spill everything, RYU!"
I rubbed my cheek awkwardly. "I… uhh… don't actually know her name."
Emilia blinked. "Huh?"
Taishi furrowed his brow. "Wait, you've been interested in her, but you don't even know her name?"
I groaned, scratching the back of my neck. "I know it sounds weird, okay? I saw her once, a year ago, during our campus visit. And I… I couldn't get her out of my mind."
For a second, neither of them spoke.
Then Emilia gasped, even louder this time. "OH MY GOD, RYU! You fell in love at first sight?! That's SO romantic!"
I groaned again. "I never said that."
"But that's basically what it is!" she gushed. "A mystery girl you saw only once, and now you're trying to find her like you're in some shoujo manga!"
Thankfully, Taishi interrupted before Emilia could go even further. "So, what do you plan to do now that you know her class?"
I pushed my tray aside and sighed. "That's the problem. I don't know. Am I supposed to just walk up and say, 'Hey, I've been looking for you because you seemed interesting'?"
"That… does sound a bit creepy." Taishi said.
"See?! That's why I'm stuck."
Emilia tapped her chin, deep in thought. "Well, lucky for you, I actually know someone in 2-A.~"
I looked at her hopefully, my eyes wide like a puppy begging for a treat.
She grinned. "Like I said earlier, Miss Kana is in that class. I could totally ask her about your girl."
I frowned, unsure. "Wouldn't that be weird? Just asking out of nowhere about some girl?"
"Pfft, nah. I'll keep it casual. Something like, 'Hey, do you know a ridiculously cute girl in your class?'"
Taishi shook his head. "You're terrible at making plans."
"Huh?! I'm not!" Emilia snapped back, turning toward Taishi.
"Think about it. It would be smarter to bring Ryu along. Then he can point her out himself, and afterward, you can ask your friend for her name."
"Ohh… right, that could work!" Emilia said immediately.
Taishi sighed again. "This girl is really an idiot."
"Alright then! Should I text my friend to meet up later? I'll bring Ryu too." Emilia said while unlocking her phone.
I hesitated, feeling my heart beat faster. This was it. The first real step. Was I really ready?
Taishi must've noticed my hesitation, the way I was nervously fidgeting. "You're not backing out now, are you?"
Emilia waved her phone. "Yeah, Ryu, don't get cold feet now. I'm already typing the message."
I let out a breath. "No, I'm not backing out… just nervous, I guess."
Taishi nodded. "That's normal. But you won't get anywhere unless you make a move."
He was right. I'd been chasing a shadow for so long. This was my chance. "Alright!" I said, sitting up straighter. "Let's do this."
Emilia beamed. "That's the spirit! I'll text Miss Kana now."
She typed rapidly, her fingers a blur on the screen.
A moment later, she smirked. "Done. I asked her if she's free after school."
After school. That gave me only a few hours to prepare myself.
As we walked back to our classroom, Taishi gave me a reassuring pat on the back. "Relax. You're not confessing today. Just observe first, then figure out what to do."
Emilia chuckled. "I'm really curious who this girl is."
I groaned. "You're enjoying this too much."
She winked at me, then went back to sipping her coffee.
All I had to do now… was wait.