Lunch was loud.
Way louder than the classroom.
People talking over each other, chairs dragging, bags dropping, someone laughing way too hard at something that probably wasn't even funny.
Ren sat down at his usual table.
Same spot.
Same routine.
Kai dropped his tray across from him like he owned the place.
"Alright," he said, cracking his knuckles. "Important question."
Ren didn't look up. "No."
"I didn't even ask it yet."
"Still no."
Kai leaned forward. "Are you sitting with her today?"
Ren paused.
"…No."
"Liar."
"I'm eating here."
Kai smirked. "So if she walks over right now, what happens?"
"She won't."
"Yeah? You sure?"
Ren didn't answer.
Kai grinned wider.
"…Don't start," Ren said.
"I'm not starting anything," Kai said. "I'm just observing."
Ren finally looked up.
"Observing what?"
Kai pointed behind him.
Ren frowned slightly… then turned.
Airi was standing there.
Holding her tray.
Looking at the table.
"…Can I sit here?" she asked.
Kai immediately leaned back like he was making space on purpose. "Yeah, of course."
Ren looked back at him.
Traitor.
Airi sat down next to Ren.
Not across.
Next to him.
Close.
Closer than yesterday.
Kai rested his chin on his hand, watching like this was the most interesting thing he'd ever seen.
Ren ignored him.
"…You don't usually sit here," Ren said.
"I don't usually sit anywhere," Airi replied.
"…Right."
Small pause.
Then she looked at his food.
"You always eat the same thing?"
Ren glanced down.
"…Yeah."
"Why?"
"It's easy."
She nodded slightly. "Makes sense."
Kai slowly leaned in.
"So… you guys just talk like this now?"
Neither of them answered.
Kai sat back again, impressed.
"Wow."
Ren sighed. "Can you not."
"I'm not doing anything," Kai said. "I'm just eating."
He wasn't eating.
He was watching.
Airi took a small bite of her food.
Then said,
"It's quieter here."
Ren looked at her.
"…It's lunch."
"Still quieter."
He didn't argue with that.
Another small silence.
Not awkward.
Just there.
Kai tapped the table lightly.
"…So," he said. "Since you guys are best friends now—"
"We're not," Ren said instantly.
Kai ignored him.
"—what are we doing after school?"
"Nothing," Ren said.
Airi looked between them.
"I don't have plans."
Kai snapped his fingers. "Perfect."
"No," Ren said.
"Yes," Kai said.
"No."
"Yes."
Airi watched them for a second.
Then said,
"…I'll go."
Ren paused.
Kai grinned.
"See? Majority vote."
Ren looked down at his food.
"…You're both annoying."
Kai laughed.
Airi didn't react.
But she didn't disagree either.