"What are you doing, Ajitani-chan?"
Shouko gently patted her hand away, yawning, completely bewildered and unable to understand why Ajitani-chan was so agitated.
Ajitani saw that she was indeed a bit too excited, took a deep breath, and only sat down after joining the others at the table to ask Shouko questions one by one.
Only when Nishikata returned did Ajitani and Takagi stop their questions, learning from them that the biggest contributor to the book being published so quickly was the "adult" in Tsuna's family.
"Not bad, Nishikata, you even managed to grab yakisoba bread this time."
Ajitani looked at Nishikata, who was savoring his lunch, feeling a little envious.
As for surprise, the previous questioning had already exhausted her capacity for it, and she couldn't muster any more surprise now.
Her words also attracted the attention of Tsuna and Shouko, and only then did the two of them notice that he was holding the school's daily limited supply of yakisoba bread.
Normally, the only things Nishikata could buy from the school store would be rice balls or sandwiches.
However, they didn't pay too much attention, just glanced briefly before looking away and continuing to eat their bentos.
"Do you want some? I grabbed two; I can give you one."
Saying that, Nishikata reached into his desk drawer to get the other one.
Ajitani was a little tempted, but still sensibly refused. "No thanks, I appreciate the offer, you eat it."
As soon as she finished speaking, she subtly glanced at Takagi beside her, only sighing in relief when she saw that she was still quietly eating her bento.
Seeing everyone around her in pairs, sometimes she felt like finding someone just to show off, but then she would immediately dismiss the thought.
Although technically these people haven't gotten together yet, they are not far off.
Besides, finding a partner is too troublesome. She still looks forward to love like a burglary.
For example, on a rest day when she's staying at home reading manga instead of going out with Shouko and the others, suddenly a handsome, loyal thief who is 1.8 meters tall breaks into her house.
In that instant, their eyes meet, and then the other person falls hopelessly in love with her—that kind of thing!
"Ajitani-chan, if you don't eat your bento now, it'll get cold again."
Everyone nearby was drawn by Ajitani's silly smile, and finally, Shouko couldn't stand it anymore and waved her hand in front of her eyes to remind her.
"Oh... oh, right, right." Ajitani ignored the gazes directed at her and continued eating her bento.
Takagi beside her shook her head helplessly. This child has been like this since the first year, and now that she's about to graduate, it's only gotten worse.
In the eyes of outsiders, the girls nearby were just curious about what the Class Monitor was laughing at, while most of the boys thought the Class Monitor looked truly cute like this!
After the brief interlude, the three girls continued chatting about recent gossip, Nishikata occasionally interjecting, while Tsuna listened quietly the whole time.
After finishing their bentos, the group moved the tables and chairs back to their original positions. Tsuna picked up the empty bento box from Shouko's desk:
"I'll take the bento box to wash. Since there's still over thirty minutes, you can continue to nap."
"Mhm." Shouko nodded. "Tsuna, remember to wake me up when class starts."
She only looked away after watching the three of them leave the classroom, then took off the hearing aid from her ear, lay down on the desk, and closed her eyes.
Pale golden sunlight slanted across the streets and alleys of Tokyo, while the late winter chill still lingered in the shaded areas.
The cafe windows were covered in a thin mist, and pedestrians in wool coats hurried past, their sleeves occasionally brushing against the drooping plum branches by the roadside, shaking off a few petals like lingering snow.
"Dong... dong... dong...!"
"Class dismissed, students. Be careful on your way home."
The teacher on the podium closed the textbook in her hand, turned, and walked to the classroom door, not forgetting to turn back and joke:
"Remember to also wake up the sleeping classmates. Staying overnight at school is not allowed."
Only after saying that did she chuckle and leave the classroom, but the people in the classroom didn't find it very funny, their hearts filled only with the excitement of being dismissed.
Tsuna only turned around after tidying up the books on his desk and reached out to gently shake Shouko, who was still asleep. "Shouko, wake up, school's over."
"Got it, Tsuna. Class is starting, right?"
Shouko rubbed her sleepy eyes and sat up straight, her blurry gaze scanning the students in the classroom one by one.
Her single-core processor, which was already struggling to process things after being forcibly woken up, was even more overwhelmed by the sight of students chasing, playing, and packing their bags in the classroom.
"Tsuna, did we get dismissed early...?"
Before Tsuna could explain, Ajitani, who was sitting in front of her, turned back first to plead:
"Shouko, it's not that we didn't call you, it was Miyamura who stopped us and wouldn't let us! Blame him..."
"Huh...?"
Shouko, who had put her hearing aid back on, found that she couldn't quite understand what she was saying, and only understood when her peripheral vision caught the time on the blackboard. With a shocked expression, she slowly turned her head to look at someone:
"Tsuna... weren't you supposed to wake me up for class?"
If he couldn't explain it clearly, she would give him a headbutt attack when they got back.
"Didn't I just see you were too sleepy and wanted you to sleep a little longer...?"
Besides, the only class this afternoon was Mr. Shintou's long-winded one, where he would talk about his past stories as he lectured. It's not as good as me explaining it to you tonight."
Shouko wrinkled her nose at him, let out a soft snort, and then looked away, starting to pack her school bag.
Whether this explanation passed muster, Tsuna didn't know, but seeing that Shouko wasn't pursuing it, it was likely it passed...
The group said goodbye at the school gate and walked off toward different streets.
Due to the illustration issue, Tsuna and Shouko had already explained the reason to Teacher Fujiro on their phones, and they might not go to the Art Club for the remaining time.
Teacher Fujiro was surprised but also expressed understanding, telling the two of them to submit their withdrawal applications and handle the handover of the Art Club Leader position when the time came.
On the way home, Tsuna and Shouko were chatting pleasantly when suddenly he received a headbutt attack from her.
In the end, he could only silently swallow his anger and wait for another opportunity later to fiercely retaliate and humiliate her back.
As dusk settled, the indigo clouds dyed the horizon a rusty red. The last ray of setting sun climbed onto the vermilion eaves of Senso-ji Temple, etching the silhouettes of pigeons onto the stone steps.
Streetlights lit up one after another, and the laughter of pedestrians mixed with the electronic sound leaking from the opening and closing of convenience store automatic doors and the steam from oden.
"Tsuna, why are you giving me 1% of the manuscript fee???"
After Shouko finished dinner and arrived at Miyamura's house, she saw Tsuna in the living room and immediately said this.
This afternoon, Nishimiya Yaeko returned home and explained what happened this morning to her at the dinner table.
Fearing she wouldn't understand, she explained it in even simpler terms.
This naturally shocked Shouko. If she hadn't been eating at the time, she would have rushed over immediately to ask him.