As Hinata stepped onto the rooftop, she inhaled the crisp air, her eyes sweeping across the open space. "It's so vast up here... and so incredibly peaceful," she remarked, her voice airy and light.
Kojo let out a small, amused huff. "You're looking at this place with such wonder, anyone would think it's your first time up here."
"That's because it is," she replied simply, not taking her eyes off the horizon.
"Hinata, there's a bench in the corner by the wall," Hakuo interjected, gesturing toward a quiet spot. "Let's eat there."
The three of them settled onto the bench, with Hinata positioned in the center, Kojo to her right, and Hakuo to her left. Hakuo glanced down at the container in her lap. "That is an impressively large lunch box," he noted.
Hinata looked at it and smiled. "It's not just big for show; it's packed with different dishes. Hold on, let me open it."
Kojo raised an eyebrow. "Can you actually finish all of that by yourself?"
"We'll see," Hinata teased. "Anyway, what did you two bring?"
In perfect synchronization, Hakuo and Kojo reached into their pockets and each pulled out a single packaged bun. Hinata stared at the plastic wrappers, a deadpan expression crossing her face as she thought to herself, I cannot believe this. Who actually invites someone to lunch just to feed them a store-bought bun?
Before she could voice her disbelief, both boys tore their buns in half and offered a portion to her at the same time. Taken aback, Hinata took a half-piece in each hand. "Fine," she laughed. "You two try some of my lunch while I work on these."
As they began to eat, the atmosphere grew more relaxed until Hakuo broke the silence. "Hinata, about last night... you got home safely, right?"
Hinata's mouth was stuffed with bread. She struggled to form words, her voice muffled and unintelligible: "Hgn mggje Tfuinn Gyfa pamdych gdye mefte bhi kiya tfh!"
Hakuo chuckled. "I have no idea what you just said. Swallow first, then talk."
After a quick gulp, she cleared her throat. "I was saying, yes, I got home perfectly fine. I even messaged you, remember?"
"Right, you did," Hakuo nodded, his expression turning more serious. "But I've been meaning to ask... you never mentioned you had a brother."
Kojo froze, his bun halfway to his mouth as he turned toward her. "Wait, you have a brother?"
"Yes," Hinata replied. "His name is Hito Fujiko. He's my older brother. I didn't mention him simply because the subject never came up."
As she spoke, Kojo's gaze drifted downward, landing on the bandage wrapped around her knee. "Hinata, what happened there? How did you get that injury?"
Hakuo sighed, a hint of guilt shadowing his eyes. "It's because of me. If she hadn't dropped to her knees to apologize, she wouldn't have been hurt."
Kojo looked back and forth between them, completely lost. "I'm not following. Why on earth would Hinata be kneeling to apologize to you?"
Hinata set her lunch aside and looked Kojo in the eye. "Wait, I'll explain. I've known Hakuo for nine years. Let me tell you what happened back then..."