The three friends continued on their way toward the iron gates leading to the school's front yard, alongside crowds of students suffering under the scorching heat of June's sun. Even the breeze, which was supposed to refresh their sweaty bodies, felt more like the breath of a dragon blowing directly into their faces.
Many of them resorted to walking under the shade, while some carried small electronic fans. As for those who had nothing, they settled for waving their notebooks to generate a bit of air to relieve themselves.
As the three advanced along the path, Fuji placed his half-eaten sandwich between his lips, then slipped one strap of his bag off his right shoulder, pulling it down slightly to grab its metal zipper and open it. He reached inside and pulled out a paper bag carrying something within.
He handed it to Haruki, who quickly snatched it, his face splitting into a wide smile as he opened the bag to reveal a sandwich identical to the one Fuji was eating. He placed his hand over his mouth in mock emotional gratitude as he looked at Fuji.
"Tell aunt I love her!"
Haruki said gratefully as he wiped fake tears from his cheeks. At that, Hiroshi raised a skeptical brow as he watched Fuji close his bag and return it to its place without giving him anything. He parted his lips in protest.
"And where's mine?"
Hiroshi narrowed his eyes suspiciously at him while Fuji was busy chewing a bite in his mouth. Once he swallowed it, he replied in a careless tone, pointing at what remained of his sandwich.
"This."
Then he immediately shoved the rest of the sandwich into his mouth so Hiroshi couldn't take it. At that, Hiroshi's glasses slid down the bridge of his nose to its tip as he clenched his teeth in anger. He gathered his fingers into a fist, while the other hand gripped tightly onto his math book, then he shouted at Fuji.
"You ate it, you glutton!"
Hiroshi raised his hand, then threw the math book at Fuji. The heavy book struck his face before falling to the ground.
A red mark formed at the spot of impact, making Hiroshi burst into laughter, mocking Fuji's flushed face.
Fuji clenched his hand into a fist, anger blazing in his eyes. Without warning, he grabbed Hiroshi's black hair and yanked it.
"You li-"
The two of them began brawling like little kids, while Haruki stood beside them chewing his sandwich, lost in his own world, unconcerned with the fight going on between his friends.
At that moment, a girl with black hair draping over her shoulders walked past them, a student council badge pinned proudly on her chest. She cast a sideways glance at the three of them, and her black eyes met Haruki's brown ones, on whose lips a friendly smile formed, with a few drops of sauce clinging to his chin.
He raised his hand in a gentle greeting and said.
"Good morning, Kitsune-chan! I hope you have a wonderful vacation."
But not once did a frown leave Kitsune's face, her arms folded beneath her chest. She ignored Haruki's greeting and continued on her way without looking at him again.
The two boys stopped fighting at the scene, exchanging quick glances between the student council president and their friend, before immediately letting go of each other.
Hiroshi straightened his school uniform, pushed his glasses back up to the bridge of his nose, then ran his fingers through his hair as he picked up his book from the ground, before saying to Haruki in a reproachful tone.
"I don't understand why you waste your time greeting her and talking to her when she doesn't even acknowledge you at all."
Fuji nodded in agreement from behind. At that, Haruki turned his whole body toward them and said in a defensive tone.
"What are you talking about?! Kitsune-chan and I are friends!"
Fuji and Hiroshi exchanged knowing looks, as if deciding who would tell him first.
Hiroshi let out a long sigh and rolled his eyes before turning back to Haruki, speaking in a sarcastic tone.
"Yes, friends ignore each other."
Haruki opened his mouth to continue his defense, but the sound of the school bell interrupted him. He exaggerated a pout, crossing his arms over his chest before calmly walking toward the open school gates.
On his right, Fuji walked at the same pace, while on his left, Hiroshi was holding his math book, absorbed in his problems.
Fuji's eyes fell on Hiroshi and his book, which he hadn't lifted his gaze from since their conversation about Kitsune had ended, as though some strange and unjustified attraction pulled him to it. Fuji smirked mockingly.
"What exactly are you doing? Trying to memorize the shape of the numbers?"
Haruki stifled a laugh behind his hand, but the shaking of his shoulders betrayed him. As for Hiroshi, he snapped his book shut violently, turning his head toward Fuji with pursed lips and narrowed, disapproving eyes.
"Excuse me, has either of you ever opened a book at all?"
"Me? Never."
Fuji replied with blunt seriousness and indifference at the same time, as if proud of not studying. He had never cared about lessons; he was always aiming to be something much greater than just a regular company employee. His true ambition was to become a soccer star, and everything else meant next to nothing to him.
Hiroshi's expression shifted from disapproving to mocking, one corner of his lips curling into a sly smile as he spoke in a sharp tone.
"And what's new about that? It's not like you've ever studied a day in your life… You pass only thanks to your manners, if those even exist at all."
Fuji didn't pay Hiroshi's comment any real attention, while Hiroshi shifted his gaze toward Haruki. Haruki was avoiding his eyes, his face showing a mix of tension and embarrassment, suddenly finding the school tiles beneath his feet fascinating. He hesitated a little before speaking in a quiet voice.
"Look… I opened the book, okay? Then I looked at the problems and didn't understand a thing. They were like some kind of sorcerer's spell meant to curse an entire city! Do you believe my head even started hurting?"
Hiroshi saw through Haruki's attempt to downplay what he had done, but he didn't let him off so easily. He tilted his head slightly, his eyes sharp.
"And what exactly did you do?"
Haruki scratched the back of his neck nervously, then answered in a low voice.
"I closed it… and took a nap. A rather long one."
Hiroshi smacked his forehead with his palm, which had already begun to ache from Haruki's foolishness, raising his voice as he scolded him.
"You idiot! How do you expect to become a doctor if you can't even get through a math test?!"
Haruki lowered his head sadly, his face showing wounded features, like a little pup that had just been kicked.
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Thank you for reading! If this moment touched you even a little , please consider adding it to your library.💐