Lunch break.
Shuu and Sakura headed to the courtyard again, their usual spot now feeling like a small world of their own.
The sky was clear. The breeze gentle. The quiet bench under the trees had become a daily ritual.
Today, Shuu had brought slightly overcooked fried rice, and Sakura brought her usual elegant bento.
"Still better than the cafeteria," Shuu muttered, chewing.
Sakura smiled. "It's nice that you cook."
"I mean, I burn half of it, but the edible half gives me hope."
Sakura stifled a small laugh behind her chopsticks.
They chatted easily, the conversation slow but comfortable. Shuu could feel it—Sakura was relaxing around him more each day.
She wasn't just tolerating his presence anymore.
She was looking forward to it.
And then—
"Whew~ I knew I'd find you two hiding here."
Motoko Iura, as bold as ever, plopped down on the grass without waiting for permission, holding a bottle of soda in one hand and a sketchpad in the other.
Shuu raised an eyebrow. "Sketching now?"
"Multitalented," she said, flipping it open and dramatically showing off a chaotic pencil drawing.
It was a crude cartoon version of Shuu and Sakura, sitting on their bench. His hair was exaggeratedly green, and Sakura was drawn as a blushing cat.
"Title: Side Couple: The Hidden Route."
Shuu gave her a deadpan look. "Why do I have dog ears?"
"You're a husky. It's part of your lore."
Sakura looked at the drawing and covered her mouth with a soft, amused smile.
"...It's cute."
Shuu glanced sideways at her. She was genuinely entertained.
He looked back at Motoko, slightly irritated.
She was unpredictable, nosy, loud, and her comedic timing was too perfect. Yet… Sakura seemed to enjoy her company.
Almost too much.
Shuu narrowed his eyes slightly.
This was no longer just about building affection points.
It was about keeping the screen time balanced.
Motoko laid on the grass, her arms folded behind her head.
"By the way," she said casually, "you two look good together."
Sakura blinked.
Shuu froze.
"What?"
"I mean it," she said, not looking at them. "You've got the 'quiet beauty and friendly guy' dynamic going. It's textbook rom-com chemistry."
Sakura turned her face down, pretending to fix her bento.
Her ears were slightly pink.
Shuu, meanwhile, tried to recover.
"Why are you saying that like you're the narrator?"
Motoko rolled over onto her side and gave him a teasing smirk.
"Because someone has to provide commentary when the main couple's too shy to say anything."
Sakura didn't respond. But her chopsticks paused for just a second.
Then she quietly took another bite.
Shuu watched her.
He caught it.
That brief glance she gave Motoko.
Just for a second—quiet, careful, but unmistakably guarded.
Jealousy.
Not much.
But just enough.
He looked down at his half-eaten rice and exhaled slowly.
Progress.
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