Episode 13 – Lunch break without him

Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818622176550308690/episodes/16818622177199298509

After that, we started eating lunch at the terrace seats of the cafeteria.

As usual, Yuri, who was always doing things at his own pace, arrived ten minutes late and said, “Sorry, I was having trouble deciding on the set meal menu.” as if it were the most natural thing in the world. …Sena and I looked at each other and smiled in exasperation.

As Yuri munched on his grilled meat set meal, she asked,

“Renka, is Akito not here today either?”

“Eh? Why are you asking me that…”

“On the contrary, why do I have to ask anyone but Renka about Akito?”

…What’s that supposed to mean, I thought.

Why did Akito stop eating lunch with us? I’m the one who wants to know that the most.

Then Sena pointed to the other side of the cafeteria window and said,

“Akito seems to be eating with Suzukita chan again today. Look, over there.”

When I looked over, I saw Akito.

In the corner of a table far away, Akito was eating with Suzukita Miyuki san, who was in the same class as him.

They were laughing happily while talking about something on their smartphones. …Akito, when did you become so close with Suzukita san?

“It kinda feels like, you know that smartphone game Akito always plays, right? They became friends through that.”

Hideki said in a carefree tone.

I see, they’re friends from the game. Suzukita san may look like that, but she’s surprisingly into games.

Akihiro…maybe he’d rather eat lunch with Suzukita san than with us.

“What’s wrong, Renka? You’re not eating.”

Yuri said in a serious voice. Before I knew it, she had finished his yakiniku set meal and started studying as usual.

“If you’re full, should I eat it for you?”

“…No, it’s okay. I can eat it myself…”

“Hmph, just kidding. I know you wouldn’t let any guy other than Akito eat your home-cooked food.”

“No, that’s not it ! So Akito and I aren’t like that…”

Ugh…talking to Yuri always throws me off balance.

Whether he knew how I felt or not, Yuri cut me off and said,

“Anyway, Akito seems to be pretty close with that blonde girl. Could he have been keeping a girlfriend a secret from us?”

Eh…?

I see…Maybe so.

Akito and Suzukita san…are they dating?

“Hey. What’s wrong with you guys? Why are you silent?”

“Shut up, Yuri ! Keep your mouth shut ! Shut it ! !”

“That’s right, Yuri ! Hideki and I were trying not to say anything about that !”

Hideki and Renka stood up at the same time and said strongly to Yuri.

Then Yuri, with a cool expression, said,

“I’m sorry, I was definitely inconsiderate. But come on, Akito and that Suzukita girl are way too close, aren’t they? Even now, look at that distance between them. It’s hard to believe they’ve only known each other for a few days.”

Yuri pointed his chin toward Akito and Suzukita san.

Somehow, Suzukita san had moved from across from Akito to the seat next to him…what’s with that? Isn’t that too close? At such a close distance, they might bump into each other.

“…Akito.”

I muttered.

His name slipped out of my lips without me meaning it to.

Then, Sena looked at me with a concerned expression and said,

“Come on, Renka. Don’t worry too much about it. Akito kun and Suzukita chan are just game friends, right? If they were dating, they would have told us girls, at least, and definitely Hideki and Yuri, right?”

“…Uh, yeah. I hope so.”

As I muttered that, I…

“…Well, I didn’t care from the start anyway. It doesn’t matter to me who that idiot Akito dates…”

I tried to cover it up with words, but my heart was in turmoil.

…Hey, Akito. Could it be that you’ve fallen for Suzukita san?

…If that’s the case, then…

…What about the promise we made?

(What a fool I am. It’s such an old story, why am I thinking about it now…)

Gripping the friendship bracelet wrapped around my left wrist tightly,

I kept watching Akito laughing happily with Suzukita san through the window.

Today’s lunch—I wonder why. I thought it turned out well, but it didn’t taste very good.

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