Chapter 17: Lunch

When class ended.

Ishikawa Hayato took out his phone, sent a message to Kita Ikuyo's 'playing dead' LINE, and then walked out.

He went to the school's rooftop. Almost no one came here during break time.

The school Ishikawa Hayato attended was in the lower tier in terms of academic deviation.

It emphasized happy learning and wonderful living, focusing on having an easy student life, though it wouldn't completely neglect studies.

The school environment, like its founding philosophy, was clean and beautiful.

Brightly painted protective netting surrounded the spacious rooftop, rough granite reflected some sunlight, and a few evergreens grew vibrantly in the flowerbed at the center of the rooftop.

Ishikawa Hayato waited for a long time before hurried footsteps approached from the stairwell...

Kita Ikuyo had never muted messages from the other three members of the Band.

But every time she saw messages from them, she would quickly turn off her screen.

Seeing them go from asking when she would come, to wondering why she hadn't, and then to worrying.

She felt like she had done something unforgivable.

But in her hand, her Guitar couldn't produce the correct sound no matter how much she practiced. She had watched so many instructional videos, practiced for so long, and didn't feel an ounce of improvement.

And she had injured her hand, which Ryo-senpai had told her to be careful of, to this extent.

She didn't dare to see them on Saturday afternoon.

By Monday, she couldn't imagine what expression Ishikawa Hayato would have when he saw her. She even thought of just taking sick leave.

However, what needed to be faced still had to be faced.

After class, she received a LINE message from Ishikawa Hayato. She prepared herself to go to the rooftop and confess to Ishikawa Hayato.

She hoped he could explain the situation to the two seniors on her behalf.

Hurrying to the rooftop, Kita Ikuyo, feeling guilty, was ready to blurt everything out.

"Sorry, actually I..."

She mustered her courage, made up her mind, and the words she had rehearsed several times in her heart were interrupted by Ishikawa Hayato.

She only heard Ishikawa Hayato say with a smile,

"Kita Ikuyo, you wouldn't want Ryo-senpai to know that you can't play the Guitar, would you?"

Suddenly, Kita Ikuyo froze there...

Kita Ikuyo had always felt her life was incredibly boring.

Her grades were decent, her athletic ability was good, and she had quite a few friends; everything was at the most ordinary average.

She felt like she was molded by various circles: society, school, friends.

Always doing the appropriate things, the things she should do.

Just one of the countless high school girls.

She didn't even have a special skill.

Therefore, when she saw Ryo-senpai performing on the street, she was immediately attracted by her unconventional attitude and absolutely self-centered personality.

So she wanted to join a band and try to change.

But... indeed, some things are really just fantasies.

After sitting down, she didn't know if she was relieved or had given up hope.

Ishikawa-kun had just asked her two very small favors.

Although she didn't quite understand, since he offered to explain the situation to Ryo-senpai for her, she agreed.

When class ended, Kita Ikuyo suddenly realized something as she thought about Ishikawa Hayato's requests.

In the classroom, an atmosphere of collective dislike and isolation seemed to be brewing.

It's only the beginning of the school year, how could this be?

Lately, she had been busy practicing and thinking about Ryo-senpai, so she hadn't noticed this.

Speaking of which, Ishikawa-kun should be very aware of this.

This would be very bad if it continued.

But why would he ask her... "Don't speak up for me in class."

...

Gotou Hitori was quite worried about Ishikawa Hayato.

Though it was strange, she herself was wearing a drab tracksuit, huddled in the school's storage area, eating her bento alone.

But she couldn't help but worry about that seemingly cheerful and easygoing boy.

If he spent too much time with someone like her, he would also lose his friends.

It's only the beginning of the school year, and not being with friends for so long would be very bad, wouldn't it?

"Could it be that Ishikawa-kun also has no friends?"

Thinking this, Gotou Hitori suddenly broke into a smile so happy it seemed to melt. It was too good to actually meet someone of her kind, but she immediately shook her head in denial.

"No, no, that shouldn't be possible. A character like Ishikawa-kun must..."

In her fantasy, Ishikawa Hayato, with an overflowing, energetic smile, covered in sweat and victory, returned to a cheering squad of girls, taking the drinks they offered with a bright laugh.

With a refreshing, advertisement-like movement, accompanied by them... Gulp.

Her heart couldn't take it anymore!

Her gloomy inner self was going to be scorched to death.

'Don't think about it, don't think about it.'

Gotou Hitori thought this, but couldn't help but feel a bit more fear towards Ishikawa Hayato. She silently retreated further into the corner.

*Thump-thump*

A sound of knocking on the wall.

There was only one person who would use such a playful gesture to alert her, wasn't there?

"Please... come in."

Although this wasn't her home, she still said it, and she herself found it very strange...

Ishikawa Hayato also hid in the corner, but he noticed that today Gotou Hitori seemed to be sitting a bit further in than usual. However, he didn't approach, but continued to sit in his usual spot.

The light from above the stairwell cast horizontally across his shoulders.

"Sorry about the other day, for scaring you unconscious."

He apologized again.

That Friday, after Ishikawa Hayato guaranteed his identity as a pervert, Gotou Hitori's facial features were scared right off, and she then fainted.

It also startled him. Could a human actually do that?

"Ah... no, it's okay."

Gotou Hitori slightly bowed her head and gently shook it, while her hand on the bento box showed no intention of opening it.

She doesn't even dare to open her bento box before others start eating, does she?

Ishikawa Hayato thought, but didn't pay much attention as he opened his bento.

Broccoli, cherry tomatoes, tempura, fried chicken pieces, octopus sausages—various foods were arranged cutely in the bento box.

The coordination of colors and the balance of meat and vegetables clearly showed the family's care.

He silently thanked his mother who woke up early to diligently prepare his bento.

Then Ishikawa Hayato looked across. Gotou Hitori also cautiously opened her bento after him, placing it on her lap, taking out the thermos with soup, and at the same time, pulling out the chopsticks placed beside the thermos. Then, holding the chopsticks, she hugged the bento with both hands.

Her movements were precise and deliberate. Her cautious demeanor had a weak, cute charm, as if she was afraid her lunch would be snatched away.

"I'm going to eat."

After a few bites, Ishikawa Hayato noticed that Gotou Hitori's face was turning pale from nervousness. He looked at her bento.

"Gotou-san, would you like to swap bentos?"

'Bento swapping!'

'Was this really happening?!'

Gotou Hitori was shocked.

She knew that, on the surface, this was a way for friends to bond, but in reality, it was a way to establish their relative standings.

The strong could enjoy the most delicious food from the other's bento, while the weak could only eat the wrapping paper to show submission.

Gotou Hitori began to tremble.

She looked down at her bento. The best items she had were fried chicken, tomato fish pieces, and golden egg rolls.

In the other person's bento... there was none! No paper for wrapping.

'W-what to do, what to do.'

"Do you want to swap?"

Ishikawa Hayato asked.

Gotou Hitori nodded heavily.

Ishikawa Hayato pushed his bento forward a bit, letting her start first.

Gotou Hitori tremblingly extended her chopsticks, picked something up, and placed it in her own bento.

Ishikawa Hayato was dumbfounded.

"Why did you take my rice?"

His words instantly made Gotou Hitori's expression fall apart, her hand holding the chopsticks shaking wildly.

"Rice... Is rice not allowed either?"

She tremblingly returned the rice, then, as if picking up a piece of air, she put it into her own bento.

Ishikawa Hayato suppressed a laugh.

No wonder Nijika and the others in the story said Gotou Hitori was interesting. Indeed, her actions were always unexpected.

Ishikawa Hayato looked at the bento respectfully offered by the other party and unceremoniously picked up a golden egg roll.

Then, as the other party pulled it back, he quickly gave her a piece of fried chicken.

"Eh?" Gotou Hitori froze for a moment, her expression instantly returning to normal.

"Don't be too reserved."

Ishikawa Hayato finished speaking and ate the omelet without hesitation.

Gotou Hitori's bento box must have been made by her mother. It was quite good.