The soft clink of chopsticks, the hum of conversation, and the gentle afternoon sun pouring through the cafeteria windows made the whole scene feel peaceful—almost nostalgic.
Ren sat across from Airi, slowly chewing his food. She was busy organizing her side dishes like always, separating the sweet from the salty, like some kind of lunchtime ritual.
Airi: (grinning while poking at her rice) "Still watching me like I'm gonna spill my lunch or something?"
Ren: "No, I was just wondering if you always ate in this weird order."
Airi: "Weird? This is called balance. You wouldn't get it, plain white rice boy."
Ren: "Rude."
He chuckled under his breath, eyes drifting across the cafeteria without much thought. Just a quick glance around…
And his gaze landed again—on that same group of girls.
They were sitting a few tables away, laughing quietly over their bentos. Nothing unusual. Except this time… a few of them had already noticed him.
One girl, halfway into lifting her rice ball, locked eyes with him for half a second—and immediately froze. Her hand trembled as she quickly turned her head away, cheeks lighting up.
Another one followed her eyes, spotted Ren's gaze, and did a double-take. She nearly dropped her chopsticks.
Group Girl 1: (whispering with a blush) "H-He's looking this way again…!"
Group Girl 2: (low voice) "No, he's looking at me."
Group Girl 3: (tiny smirk, eyes on Ren) "I think… he looks kinda cute when he's eating."
Group Girl 1: (pouting) "W-Well… I think he looks kinda hot."
The three exchanged looks across the table, suddenly flustered. All of them went quiet again, turning their faces down toward their trays in a practiced, synchronized embarrassment.
They tried to eat normally… but their eyes kept flicking up—just in case.
Meanwhile, Ren… had no idea.
He'd already looked away, too busy chewing on his food and wondering if Airi had always liked carrot strips this much.
Airi: (munching on a pickled plum) "Why are you squinting at my lunch like that?"
Ren: "No reason."
Airi: (squinting back) "You're acting suspicious today."
She leaned forward, poking her chopsticks toward him.
Airi: "You're not hiding secret love letters from someone, right?"
Ren: "If I had one, I'd frame it."
Airi: (laughing) "Weird response, but okay."
Over at the other table, the group of girls peeked again.
Group Girl 2: (softly) "I-I think he smiled just now…"
Group Girl 3: (jealous) "He wasn't smiling at you."
Group Girl 1: "Ugh… if he looks again, I'm gonna choke."
They glanced again. Ren remained oblivious. His attention had drifted elsewhere—back to Airi.
Even so, the quiet war at the girls' table continued… subtle, flustered, and strangely competitive.
All over a boy who didn't even know what kind of chaos his glance had just caused.
The lunch bell rang again, snapping the cafeteria out of its cozy hum.
Students began cleaning up trays and packing their bento boxes. Airi stuffed the last bite of her pickled radish into her mouth, then stood up with a stretch.
Airi: (arms above her head) "Aaah… I hate afternoon classes."
Ren: "You hate all classes."
Airi: (grinning) "Exactly. I'm consistent."
They joined the wave of students heading back to their classrooms. The hallway felt slower now—heavier, almost lazy. The post-lunch slump.
Back in their seats, the teacher droned on about historical events. Ren tried to focus, but it was like his brain was only half-present. His eyes drifted toward the window—sunlight glinting off the school gates, a leaf drifting down past the glass.
Is this really okay? Just acting like everything's normal…?
He turned to glance at Airi.
She had her chin propped on one hand, her pen lazily moving in squiggles on her notebook. Her eyes were focused… sort of. More like pretending to be.
And for a second—just a second—Ren smiled.
The peaceful quiet of the class, the scribble of pens, the steady voice of the teacher... it all felt fake. But warm.
---
Time slipped by. The last bell rang.
The class exploded into noise again—desks scraping, chairs clattering, conversations blooming like fireworks. Bags zipped shut. Plans were made.
Airi: (already packing her things) "Wanna walk home?"
Ren: "Sure."
They stepped out into the hallway again, the sky already shifting to that soft orange-pink of early evening.
Outside, the breeze had turned cooler. The trees near the school gate swayed lightly, shadows stretching long across the pavement.
Airi: (walking beside him) "You were really spaced out during math."
Ren: "That's because math makes me question my will to live."
Airi: (snickering) "At least you're honest."
They walked slowly, neither in a rush. The path home was lined with houses, vending machines humming gently in corners, and distant barking of a dog somewhere down the street.
Airi: "Hey… remember when we used to stop at that ramen place?"
Ren: "The one with the broken soda machine?"
Airi: "Yeah! We wasted like 300 yen that day."
Ren: "You wasted 300 yen. I told you it was broken."
Airi: (mock pouting) "Still ate the ramen though."
They both laughed quietly.
For a few moments, it was just that—laughing. Talking. Like old times.
But inside, Ren still felt the weight of the future pressing down on him.
Ren: (quietly) "Hey… Airi."
Airi: "Hm?"
He looked at her. The wind pushed a few strands of her hair across her face. She blinked, tilting her head.
Ren: "…Nothing. Just… thanks for walking with me."
Airi: (smiling softly) "Dumb thing to thank someone for."
She bumped her shoulder into his.
They reached the usual corner where their paths split—her house to the left, his to the right.
Airi: "See you tomorrow?"
Ren: "Yeah."
She paused for a second, her eyes holding his just a moment longer than usual.
Then she waved.
Airi: "Bye, perv~"
Ren: "Oi."
She laughed and turned away, her figure shrinking as she walked toward home.
Ren stood there a little longer, watching the light fade.
Something about the way the air felt… it was calm. But beneath it, his chest was still heavy.
Ren (in his head):
This time… I won't let things break her.
Even if I don't know how yet… I'll figure it out.
He turned toward home, footsteps slow but certain.