Prologue: Observation and gratitude

Unchanging. That's how I can describe these days right now. Every day the same greetings and the same conversations. Lately I barely even listen to their talk. All I do is use my phone most of the time and browse the internet for latest fashion and other random stuff.

I decide to take a break. Then as I was starting to get bored I start observing what is happening around me. The group is talking about meaningless stuff like always and laughing like something is supposed to be funny.

Then I notice someone looking at us. It was 'him'. Sometimes I would catch him looking then when he realizes that he is found out he would quickly turn around and not look back anymore. I wonder why he always looks here.

Then our eyes met. If I could describe his eyes then I would say that they have a 'cold' look to them but with a touch of 'gentleness'. No one else I ever saw has that same look. It was 'unique'.

We keep looking right into each other's eyes and a few moments later he decides to stop and turn his head around.

At first I didn't know why would Yui hang around him all the time. But as time moved on I realized how wrong my impression of him was. He helped us, in fact many times. He helped other people too. I always wondered why. So Yui probably admired that dependable part of him.

I criticized him during the school trip about Ebina's situation. But he just shrugged it off by saying that Hayato will handle things. Then later it was not Hayato who resolved eveything. It was him.

He solved my request about Hayato's career path. He even got his leg injured in process. Why was he going so far?

He helped us but never expected anything in return. If he never expected anything from us, then what was it that he wanted? Was he doing it for someone else? Or maybe for himself? I don't know the answer to that. I don't know him well enough. We barely ever talked.

But he seemed to be tired these past few days.

So I felt the need to do something for him. I thought that he deserves a reward. If nobody is going to do it, then I will.

Then my green eyes 'burned' with determination.

Part 1: Free food should never be denied

"Hikio" a blonde haired girl called out to the lazy person sleeping on his table.

The said person was me. And I did not respond. At all.

It was actually obvious that I was pretending to sleep. Or so she thought.

So she called out to me once again.

"Hikio!" she actually yelled a bit this time.

Enough to gain attention from most of the people in the classroom.

But I still did not respond. It seemed that I was actually pretty stubborn.

She even began shaking me lightly now. Damn woman! Stop touching me or I might get the wrong idea.

I started getting up and glared at her for 'interrupting' my sleep or probably my impure thoughts that were about to start forming. Not that she could know about that.

"Why didn't you just respond when I called out to you, Hikio?"

Probably because I didn't want to bother talking with you?

"Quiet, I'm in a bad mood now because of you. And stop calling me Hikio."

"Aren't you always in a bad mood?"

"Not really. It's just that some people, or actually most people annoy me."

"Are you saying that I am annoying?" she was now glaring at me with her furious green eyes.

Crap... "It does not necessarily mean that... Actually, was there something you needed from me...?" S-Scary...

Her previous rage dissipated and she was suddenly surprised "Eh? Oh actually yes I do. I want you to eat lunch with me today."

"..."

I did not have a reply to that. It was not what I expected to hear. In fact it was something I should've never heard from her. But I did.

...what the hell?

"Miura, are you by any chance asking the wrong person?" Really, are you?

"Wha-? Why would you think that? Of course I know who I am asking!"

"Then, why me?"

Seriously, there is no benefit to eating lunch with me... unless she wanted to use me for something. Just what are your true intentions?

"I just wanted to treat you to lunch."

"Look, we are not 'friends'. And i certainly don't want to become one to you. I prefer being alone. So you should just go and leave me to continue my unfinished sleeping session."

"Why are you being so stubborn about every single thing?" she asked as I laid my head down again.

Damn right, I am stubborn.

"I even made lunch for you..." she said in a small voice but enough to be heard by me.

When I heard that I immediately raised my head up and looked at her as if she was an angel. Free food was free food and I was not going to let it get wasted! After all, food tastes best when you don't have to work for it!

Part 2: A certain someone is actually worried

We are now sitting on stairs at my usual lunch spot near the tennis courts. There is something about this place that gives it a relaxing atmosphere in contrast to the classroom congested with people.

I glanced to the person sitting next to me and saw how she was gently unwrapping the lunch boxes she made.

"Here" she said as she gave one of them to me. "Thanks" I calmly replied.

Before I started thinking she interrupted "You are always eating here alone... I usually eat lunch with the others, so I never had a chance to eat lunch with you. Doing this occasionally is nice"

As I processed what she said, her gaze dropped to her hand playing with her blonde hair.

"Also..."

She stopped playing with her hair and continued on in a small voice.

"You don't seem too well..."

"..."

I was silenced by that unexpected sentence. She raised her head suddenly and looked straight at me.

"I always see you eating those crappy lunches from cafeteria. Although I can't do much... I can at least make lunch for you"

Then I understood. She was worried about me.

I fear that my behavior was different from usual because of the situation I faced a few days ago. It was something I could have resolved easily. However I didn't, so I let it happen. I had always thought that the end result was more important than the process. But what if I had prevented the problem from even happening in the first place? There would not be any kind of process. It would get resolved before it even started.

And now she was trying to help me.

Whenever I notice kindness coming from someone, naturally I would want to rely on them. But I did not want to let such a kind person shoulder this burden. Those that I could rely on unconditionally were my family members. If I were to rely on others with this feeling of guilt, I would be far happier if I were to suffer alone.

So I told her this: "...Sorry to have worried you. However, there's no problem."

Although my intention was to convey the message that she needn't worry about me, I didn't want her to stop caring just yet.

"I never said I was worried! Hmph!" She turned her head to the other side with a pouting expression.

"C-Cute..." I blurted out without thinking. Damn this mouth of mine...

Although I couldn't see her face, I could see her ear being completely red. Then after that we finished our lunches in a quiet but awkward atmosphere. The lunch was actually delicious.

And the rest... is silence.

"...Hey Hikio, can you give me your phone number?"

Or maybe not.