Volume 2 - CH 4.5

Chapter 4: If I Bring the Glass Closer

Part 5

The next day, Mikage took me to the cafeteria, empty-handed today.

I fumbled with the ticket machine a little, recalling how long it was since I last used the machine. By luck, I caught up to her as she waited in the queue.

She turned back to me. “Lemme see yours.” 

I waved the ticket “Karaage set.”

“Good choice. Mine’s a chinese chicken set.”

“Is it good? Maybe I should have those too.”

“A trade it is, then?”

She put her hand on her mouth and whispered.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

“You’re cruel.”

“Huh? Cruel? You were—”

Ah, everyone’s watching…

“Itadakimasu.”

“Itadakimasu.”

It has been ages since I have been here daily. Perhaps the last time was the first semester of last year. Lost in the mysterious emotional nostalgia, I quickly eliminated the sesame sauce cabbage salad.

[TN: I swear, school cafeterias serve those cabbages almost every meal. It was nice at first, until the fourth time, after that it was pure torture.]

In my book, the least delicious food was to be eaten first.

“Here, there you go.”

“Huh?”

A Nanban chicken landed on my plate.

The unexpected intrusion of a new power had the karaage chickens scared. No, not the chickens, I’m scared.

“I won’t exchange…”

“I’m giving it to you for free.”

“That’s not what I meant…” I swept the canteen with my eyes.

No matter how many reasons she stated, it would look like we were exchanging from anyone watching nonetheless…

No, it would be even worse if they knew she was giving it for free.

“I give up, exchange it is.”

“Yay! Can I have the little ones?”

“As you wish.”

The Mikage quickly reached for her chopsticks, plucked the fried chicken she wanted, and took it away.

Farewell little karaage crusts, you have lived a good life. Well, you’d probably be happier being chewed in Mikage’s soft mouth than mine.

Yuck, what am I thinking?

“Hmmm… Thank you.”

“Isn’t an exchange supposed to be even?”

“A mutually beneficial trade deserved its gratitude.”

“If you say so.” If anything, I wanted to try the Chinese chicken too.

Also, we had just argued two days prior at the cafe, how peaceful things were progressing here felt strange.

“So midterm’s next week.”

“Oh please don’t bring that up…” I groaned. There goes the peace. Why did she have to mention it?

“Not doing well?”

“Not at all.”

“In numbers?”

“Count from the bottom of the scoreboard. That said, there aren’t many people under me either.”

“Haha. Really? Guess we’re comrades, then.”

“Wait, what?”

“I’m just like you.”

She looked pleased. Well, I’m glad there’s someone sharing my fate too. Dropouts have a strong sense of camaraderie, they say.

“I still can’t believe it. You? Don’t you look super serious?”

“Being serious has nothing to do with grades.” She made a mock grumpy face. “Was barely scraping by in middle school, seems like high school will be the end of me.”

“Kuze High’s a gathering of geniusius. We’re frogs in a well.”

Wait, “Middle school”?

—I felt like she’s changed?

—There was a time where she stopped coming to school.

Come to think of it, I was occupied with Shida all this while. I should have seen, should have known, that I could no longer turn a blind eye to what happened to Mikage back then.

This was not just for Shida’s sake now.

“Seems like they’ll stop having club activities tomorrow too.”

“Why wouldn’t they? The test is around the corner.”

Enough about clubs, get to study, that was the school policy. Although that bore no effect on the go-home club like me.

“Are you in any?”

“You mean club? Go-home club, of course. I have that to do.”

“Aah, that.”

Well, if you exclude the Angel work, I had no intention of joining one either way. Let people who have passion pursue their dreams.

“You?”

For the sake of conversation, I asked. But like social media, I have never heard of her being in any club.

“Go-home club. There are some interesting clubs, but in the end though.”

“Do you work part-time?”

“Sometimes, taking it slow and easy. Mostly I eat good food and watch movies.”

“That’s unexpectedly normal… I thought you’d be doing something more glamorous.”

“Whoa, why so?”

“You’re Kuze’s top Three.”

“Hmmm, what a prejudice.”

Ah, she took offense…

And no, it’s an image, not prejudice. Now that she said it, Minato was like this too, huh.

“Speaking about part-time, you work at that place, right?”

“Hmm, yes. Only when my cousin calls me.”

“That sounds like fun.”

Unfortunately, it is not.

The job itself is superb. The problem was the manager who thought he knew what’s best.

Her cheeks softened into a smile. “I’ll make sure to go there next time, as a proper customer.” 

I tried imagining it. Mikage in school uniform entering the café. In all probability, she would be alone, peacefully drinking tea happily. It would be nice if there’s a customer like her.

“I’ll let you know which day I’ll be there.”

“Thanks.”

◆　◆　◆

We finished our lunch, returned the trays, and parted at the cafeteria entrance.

There was some break time left, but the condition she set was that I took lunch with her, after that, I’m free.

“I’ll get going. See ya later.” She said goodbye in a small voice and left first.

“Yeah.”

Not only me, but many of the students in the cafeteria watched after her. As was the case yesterday, Mikage did not seem to want to detain me for any longer than necessary. We had a normal conversation, and after lunch I’d be free to go.

I didn’t feel like she was pushing me around nor testing my limits. That was the only thing that I could glean out of my interactions with her. What could possibly be her goal?

On the contrary… she seemed to be genuinely enjoying herself.

After a few moments, I too started walking towards the classroom.

But then I noticed something off.

“…”

I felt eyes on me.

Not just one person.

I spun around. Several people turned their heads away. I don’t recognize most of them. The attention itself wasn’t my concern. Being with Mikage promised attention. I’ve long given up on the attention.

The thing was, the way they looked at me, their gazes were steely.

“Who’s that punk?”

I caught such a whisper.

Ahh, this is bad.

Not knowing what to do, I hightailed it back to the classroom.