When did we start getting… physically close like this?
Mina's shoulder presses gently into mine, her warmth sinking through my uniform, soft and steady. Right here. At the lunch table. In front of everyone.
Are people staring?
Probably.
The cafeteria hum feels sharper today—whispers, tiny laughs, the sound of someone's tray clacking a little too loud. All of it digs into the back of my neck like needles.
Don't look, Haru.
Just look at your tray.
Pretend you're normal.
…
My heart bumps hard.
Warm and scary at the same time.I hate that I like it.
Is this… something couples do?
… I wouldn't know.I never had a girlfriend.Or a girl friend.Or a friend friend.
Wow. Tragic.
"Haru… eat your food," Mina murmurs softly.
Oh—right.
I've been staring into the void like a broken NPC at spawn.Get it together.
…
My thoughts spiral too fast.
This isn't middle school anymore.Haru, you said you'd try to be happy.So… try.
"Oh—right," I mutter, finally grabbing my spoon.
Curry. Rice. Veggies.All normal.
Unlike the girl pressed against my arm.
Her scent overrides the entire cafeteria.Did she have to sit this close?
Is she watching me?Probably.
I'm scared to check.
But maybe… talking will ease this nerve-racking weirdness.
"Hey… you seem very happy today," I say quietly, glancing at her from the corner of my eye.
Thump.
Her eyes look… different today.Not sharp.Not terrifying.
Soft. Peaceful.
Like sunlight on water.
But for one second—only one—her smile freezes.Completely still.
Then she blinks and it's warm again.
What was that…?
"I'm happy because I'm spending time with my friend," she says warmly, her smile soft enough to melt through me.
Friend.
I guess telling her that meant more than I realized.
I smile back before I even notice.
… She's not eating.
Wait—She doesn't have a lunch tray.
"Mina… where's your lunch?" I ask.
Her eyes snap up—too fast.
"Oh! I had a big breakfast. So I'm not hungry," she says, smiling again.
But her fingers tighten around the edge of the table.
Just a little.
I pretend not to notice.
I lift my spoon and start eating.The curry's actually good today.
… Silence again.
Is she still watching me?
Probably.
No—don't look.Don't make yourself more nervous.Just ignore it.
But my chest keeps tightening, breath coming sharp for half a second—
Calm, Haru.Not here.Not now.
I inhale slowly.Exhale slower.
Okay.Keep eating.
RING
Lunch ends.
I look at her.
She's still watching me.
Like her eyes never left.
I stand up.She stands too.We walk my tray over together.
My nerves settle a little.It's… kind of nice.
"Hey, Mina," I say, turning toward her.She's already smiling down at me, her shadow warm and soft over my face.
"I'll walk you to class… okay?"
Her breath catches.Her entire face blossoms red.Her fingers twist nervously in her skirt.
"...Y-Yes… that would be… nice," she whispers.
Huh.She agreed.
She takes the lead.I stare at the floor while students whisper around us.
We reach her class.
She waves.I wave back.
Then I rush to mine.
Kurozawa's seat is empty.
She was here before lunch.
Strange.
Not my business, Haru.
RING
Class ends.
I stretch, grab my things, swap shoes at the lockers, and head outside.
Freedom.
Finally.
I walk toward the entrance.
Mina isn't there.
I was expecting her to wait.
Maybe she had to go home early.Yeah. That must be it.
Bzzz. Bzzz.
Mom calls.
"Hey Haru, can you get snacks at the convenience store? Your cousins are visiting."
Click.
She hangs up before I answer.
Great.
More walking.More spending my own money.
Ugh.
I drag myself toward the store.
Steps… steps…
Finally.
I push open the door—the chime rings.
"Welcome," a soft voice says.
Feels nostalgic.
Haven't been here in forever.
I grab a basket.
Behind the counter—a girl with black hair, yellow eyes, wearing a mask.
I glance.She glances.
I look away immediately and slip into the aisles.
Snacks… chips… candy… sweet tea…
Basket full.
I approach the counter.
"Hello, this will be all," I say, avoiding eye contact.
She scans silently.
Then—
"You gonna eat all this junk yourself, weirdo?"
That voice.
… Oh god.
I look up.
It's Kurozawa.
She works here too?
"I didn't… see you at school this afternoon," I mutter awkwardly.
She exhales sharply.
"My boss needed me. Someone called out. I came in. And I need the cash anyway."
Her tone is sharp but tired.
Behind the attitude… she sounds exhausted.
I glance at her mask.
Probably doesn't want classmates knowing she works here.
"So you have two jobs?" I ask.
Her shoulders tense.She looks away.
"…Yeah. My mom's sick. I'm helping out."
Her voice softens.Heavy.
My chest tightens.
People really do have it worse.
I swallow.
Be kind, Haru.
"That's a lot… you're really strong," I say softly.
She freezes.
Her eyes widen just a bit behind the mask.Her ears turn bright red.She fumbles the next scan and drops the candy bag.
"T-tch… weirdo," she mutters—voice trembling slightly.
WHAT?!
I was being nice?!
… Fine.
She's stressed.
"The total is 1500 yen," she says quickly.
I pay.She bags the items.
"Thank you, Kurozawa," I say with a small bow.
She looks away, ears still red.
"Y-Yeah… whatever."
Before leaving, I place a bag of chips on the counter.
She blinks.
"Don't work too hard," I say, turning away.
Her fingers curl around the counter edge.
"…Idiot," she whispers softly behind me.
Debt repaid.
I head home.
My little cousins, Rei and Yoru—twin six-year-olds—are there.
We play games.Eat snacks.Laugh.
It actually makes me feel… better.
My mood lifts.
Haru happy mode: on.
I can't believe how pathetic I acted earlier.
Man. So lame.
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bzzz.
Mina?
Please—
I grab my phone.
Yes.
It's Mina.
Her text:
"Hey… my parents needed me early and I got picked up from school.Are you busy tonight?We can meet at the park…?"
My heart kicks hard.
The park?At this hour?
I check the time.
10:00 PM.
My parents will never let me out this late…
But…
I kind of want to see her.
I look at my window.
Too high to jump.
Which means—
I'll have to take…
The front door.