"There are still as many people here as always..."
Aoyama Academy's cafeteria meals were actually quite good compared to other private schools, with no real downsides other than having to eat in the hall. Yet, a large portion of students still preferred the mobile bread cart. After all, you could eat it on the go; it was fast, convenient, and cheap.
When Rio Futaba arrived here after class, a massive, swarming crowd was already jostling in front of the cart to buy bread.
Being somewhat socially anxious, she was immediately discouraged. It seemed her plan to grab a bun for lunch wasn't going to happen.
"Sigh."
Because of that incident, Rio had stared at her phone in a fit of insomnia until 4:00 AM. It was a miracle she wasn't late this morning, let alone having time to prepare her own bento.
"I'll just go back and brew a cup of coffee."
The girl let out a soft sigh, feeling her empty stomach, and prepared to slink back to her science lab.
Sss—
Suddenly, Rio felt a brief, icy chill against her face—a rare sensation in the summer heat. Though it was fleeting, she was inevitably startled and stumbled back several paces.
"Sorry, sorry, Futaba."
He had only intended to tease her, but seeing Rio look like a frightened rabbit, Kenmyo realized his timing was off. He immediately reached out and caught her shoulders to stop her from backing away.
"Kenmyo?"
Rio realized the person who had scared her was the very "friend" she currently didn't want to face. Her eyes widened. For her, this was a second shock, and far more startling than the first.
Feeling his hands still resting on her shoulders, Rio suddenly felt her heart begin to race again.
Kenmyo also realized his actions were a bit forward. It looked like a scene where a boyfriend spots his girlfriend walking alone, pulls a quick prank, and then wraps his arm around her shoulders before she can get angry.
He could already hear the surrounding students whispering things like, "How bold," and "Right in front of the shop, too."
Once Rio had regained her composure, Kenmyo subtly let go of what outsiders perceived as a shoulder-embrace.
Rio Futaba looked at the Kenmyo who had suddenly appeared before her, biting her lip. "Why is Kenmyo here?"
Kenmyo didn't answer directly. Instead, he brandished a bag with a triumphant grin. "Look, your favorite chocolate bread."
"I squeezed in just now and saw there was only one left, so I snagged it."
The icy sensation from before had been from the cold drink he'd bought earlier.
"Let's eat lunch together."
"Chocolate bread..." Rio murmured. If she'd had the courage to squeeze into the crowd, that specific bread would have been her inevitable choice.
Normally, she would have accepted it gladly, but the current situation was different. She was just about to voice a refusal when her starving body betrayed her with a loud, honest protest.
Grumble—
The tips of Rio's ears beneath her long gray hair turned a vivid red. Her golden eyes were filled with mortification.
If I'd known... I should have eaten breakfast.
She had been hungry since the middle of the night and hadn't eaten a thing. Faced with food now, her body couldn't help its natural reaction. Her mind was currently filled with one thought: This is the worst. I want to go die for a bit.
Though it was quiet, the slightly "comical" sound made Kenmyo freeze for a second. It was a classic "gap moe"—seeing the usually serious Rio in a state like this.
"I'll take that as a 'yes' then."
Seeing Rio looking down in embarrassment, her face flushed crimson, Kenmyo smiled and took her hand to lead her away.
The moment he gripped her palm, he felt her entire body shiver. But after a few steps, she settled down and followed him obediently.
Looking at her, her eyelashes trembling with nerves—she was so different from the cold, composed Rio of everyday life.
She's cuter like this.
Kenmyo's lips curled up slightly as he caught a glimpse of her out of the corner of his eye.
They moved from the noisy courtyard to the laboratory building, which was nearly deserted during lunch break. Once they entered Rio's personal lab, the "weak" Rio from a moment ago suddenly seemed to find her footing in her home territory.
"Idiot, we're here."
Managing to regain some composure—though her face was still, well, very red—Rio spoke to Kenmyo crossly. "How long do you plan on holding on?"
However, her pouting look reminded Kenmyo more of an angry kitten; she looked more "derpy" than intimidating. At the same time, Kenmyo felt a bit wrongly accused, as the duration of the hand-holding wasn't actually under his control.
"What are you doing?"
"Futaba, there's something I want to tell you."
As Rio watched Kenmyo's head lean closer, his face drawing near, the "fawn" in her heart that had just settled down began to stampede again. She was so scared she closed her eyes, her voice trembling.
But contrary to what she expected to happen, Kenmyo only leaned into her ear and whispered like a devil, "Actually, I let go of your hand the moment we entered the lab building."
"Why don't you look down and see whose hand is the one refusing to let go?"
"Eh?"
In disbelief, Rio followed Kenmyo's gaze. She saw it.
A slender, pale hand—her own—was currently gripping tightly onto a broad, strong palm. Because the boy's hand was somewhat large, she was only gripping three of his fingers.
When did this happen?
Kenmyo had only held on because he was worried the shy Rio wouldn't keep up or would get lost. He had let go the instant they stepped inside. To his surprise, less than a second after he'd let go, the soft little hand he'd been holding had proactively reached back out to grab him.
What was he supposed to do?
Poof.
Kenmyo could almost see steam rising from Rio's head, like a CPU that had just fried itself.
"Alright, alright, let's eat."
"I'm done teasing you. If I fry your brain, I'll be a criminal against the scientific community."
Kenmyo led Rio to her usual seat. He pulled the chocolate bread and the drink from the bag, tearing the wrapper of one and unscrewing the cap of the other before placing them in her hands. He patted her head like one would soothe a child.
"Futaba, filling your stomach is the priority right now."
"I know..."
Rio hid her face behind the chocolate bread and whispered, "And don't... touch my hair. It'll get messy."
Seeing her eating obediently, Kenmyo took out his own curry bread and started eating too. Rio stole a glance at him chewing his bread and a small smile touched her lips.
It's just like the first time we met. Back then, you noticed I couldn't get any bread either. Even though we were strangers, you didn't hesitate to give me your last chocolate bun.
Maybe that was when I started liking the taste of chocolate bread—a bit of sweetness amidst the bitterness.
"Futaba..."
After half a bun, Rio felt much better. Her heart had stopped racing. "What is it?"
"Do you know how to make a bomb?"
"A bomb... what... cough?"
Rio's eyes widened. She had been choked by Kenmyo's sudden, shocking question.
Kenmyo looked at her with an expectant gaze, even gesturing with his hands. "You know, the thing you throw out and it goes 'BOOM'?"
With those, I'll blow those bastards to hell!