The clock showed it was already close to lunch break. I had finished almost all of my work. There were still a few small tasks left, but nothing urgent. My stomach growled. I realized I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday evening. Emi hadn't eaten breakfast either.
For a while, I sat there tapping my pen against the desk. Should I ask her to eat with me?
The thought itself made my palms sweaty. On one hand, it felt natural—since we had come together today, since we were closer than before. But on the other hand, what if people saw us? What if someone noticed something between us? Just the idea of my coworkers whispering behind my back… it made me feel like my entire office life would collapse in an instant.
I shook my head quickly. No, no. Too dangerous.
My hunger finally won over my hesitation. I pushed back my chair and walked toward the cafeteria.
As expected, it was crowded. The low hum of voices filled the air, mixed with the clinking of trays and plates. I stood in line quietly, trying to blend into the background. After a short wait, I bought myself two sandwiches, one burger, and a small orange juice. A full meal, enough to push away the emptiness inside me.
I looked around. Almost every table was full. Then, by luck, I spotted an empty one near the corner. Perfect. I hurried over and sat down quickly, guarding my tray like a treasure.
The first bite of sandwich felt heavenly. Simple bread and lettuce, but after a whole morning of work, it was enough to make me sigh in relief.
Just as I was about to take another bite, a voice came from beside me.
"Are you eating alone again, Kenji?"
I looked up. Emi had already sat down next to me, her presence as casual as if it was her own seat.
"Uh… yeah. Sandwich."
Without hesitation, she reached over, grabbed one of my sandwiches, and unwrapped it.
"I'm taking this one."
She took a big bite and then, before I could react, lifted my orange juice and sipped from it too.
I froze. My eyes darted around the cafeteria. If anyone sees this… if anyone even suspects something…
But fortunately, everyone seemed busy with their own meals. Nobody was looking at us.
I was just beginning to calm down when another voice came.
"Hello guys. Can I join?"
It was Haruto.
Emi gave a small smile. "Why not?"
And just like that, Haruto sat down at our table.
Wh-what the hell…?
Before I could even process it, more people arrived. Ayana came, followed by Shinji, and then a female worker whose name I didn't know. One by one, they filled the table until I was sitting at the corner, trapped.
So now, it was me at the left corner, Emi beside me, Haruto directly across from me, Ayana next to him, Shinji on the side, and the unknown woman filling the last space.
Everyone started talking. Conversations bounced across the table like tennis balls. Emi joined in sometimes, her tone casual. She blended in easily with the group.
Meanwhile, I just ate quietly, half listening, half shrinking into my chair.
Then Haruto suddenly clapped his hands once. "So! What's the plan for the weekend? We've got two days off. Why don't we go somewhere?"
The female worker's eyes lit up. "Yes, yes! Why not? Let's have some fun! What about the beach?"
Ayana leaned forward. "Beach is nice. Right, Haruto?"
Haruto nodded. "Beach sounds good. How about you, Shinji?"
Shinji shrugged. "I don't mind."
Then Haruto turned his gaze toward Emi. "And you? Emi, what about you?"
Emi hesitated, brushing her hair back. "Ah… I have some work. But if everyone is going, why not?"
"Nice," Haruto said with a grin. "Then it's settled."
Finally, his eyes landed on me.
"And you, Kenji? What do you think?"
My hand froze in mid-air. What? Me?
"Is the beach fine for you?" Haruto asked again. "If not, we can change the location."
I shook my head quickly. "No, I mean… I can't join. I have other things, you know."
Ayana leaned forward, her expression playful. "Oh, come on, Kenji. Just for once. Join us. Don't be so stiff."
My throat felt dry. I opened my mouth to reply, but at that moment, another voice cut in.
"Hello, guys."
It was Ryo. He walked up behind me, his tone calm but his eyes sharp. "Oh… looks like the seats are full." Then his gaze landed on me. "Kenji, did you eat?"
"H-huh?" I stammered, caught off guard with half a sandwich still in my hand.
"If you ate already," Ryo said, his voice colder this time, "can I take your seat?"
The air shifted. For a second, even Haruto seemed ready to say something.
But before he could, I stood up quickly.
"Why not? Yes, I almost ate. You can sit."
With the unfinished sandwich still in my hand, I walked away from the table. My footsteps echoed more loudly than usual in my ears.
I didn't look back.
.....
The same spot again.
The same lonely bench where I had sat yesterday.
It was empty, waiting for me, almost like it remembered. I walked slowly toward it, half a sandwich still in my hand. The cafeteria noise was far behind now, replaced by the quiet air of the outside. When I sat down, the bench felt cold through my clothes, and for a second I just stared at the sandwich in my hand.
I took a bite.
Chewed slowly.
Why am I so awkward all the time? I thought. Why can't I just talk like everyone else? Why do I always run away?
I let out a breath and looked around. Not many people passed this way. From where I sat, I could see the parking lot a little distance away. Cars stood neatly in lines, shining under the daylight. Among them, Haruto's Mercedes stood out immediately. A polished, expensive thing. Even if I used that stolen money of mine… no, I couldn't buy something like that. Not even close.
I took another slow bite, chewing without much taste, and finally finished the sandwich. Just as I was about to stand up, I froze.
Emi was sitting beside me.
When? How? I hadn't even heard her footsteps. Did she walk like a ninja? My heart jumped.
"Why did you give up your seat like that?" she said. Her voice was calm, but there was something cold inside it.
I blinked. "What?"
"Why don't you ever stand up for yourself?" she asked. She wasn't looking at me. She just sat there, her eyes fixed ahead, her voice flat but sharp.
I didn't answer. My eyes lifted slowly toward the sky, as if it held something I couldn't say. Words stuck inside me like heavy stones.
Then she spoke again.
"Will you give up on me like that too?"
My heart stopped. I froze. What did she just say?
Slowly, I turned my head to look at her. She was still staring up at the sky. The same sky I had been staring at.
"Why… why do you say that?" My voice came out small.
She shrugged lightly. "I mean… you don't fight for anything. So if someone ever said something about me in front of you… will you just give up that easily too?"
Her words cut deep, sharper than she knew.
"It's not like that," I said finally. "I just… I don't like to go out that much. I don't like drawing attention. And that seat… giving it up helped me escape the conversation. That's all."
Silence. The air around us felt heavy.
Then she asked quietly, "Is there anything you want to say to me?"
I was caught off guard. My chest tightened. Did she mean…? Was she telling me to say it? To confess? My mind spun. I thought, I hesitated, I almost panicked.
But then the words slipped out, clumsy and unplanned.
"Would you… like to join me tomorrow? We could… go somewhere."
Her head turned slightly toward me. "Where?" she asked.
"I don't know yet," I admitted, feeling heat creep up my neck. "But… would you join me?"
There was a pause. Her lips curved into the faintest smile.
"Yes," she said.