Chapter 2: Stories Between Spoonfuls
The cafeteria buzzed around them, but for Kyoshi, everything beyond the table blurred into soft noise. Hikari sat across from him now, her tray full of steamed dumplings and matcha tea, while he had a fresh bowl of soup, courtesy of her promise.
Kyoshi had expected the awkwardness to hang in the air like fog, but surprisingly, it didn't. Hikari talked easily, her voice light, yet thoughtful. Every time she spoke, it felt like the kind of sound you didn't want to interrupt.
"So, you're in the art program, right?" she asked, resting her chin in her hand, eyes curious.
Kyoshi gave a small nod. "Yeah. Drawing, mostly. Some digital design."
"That's so cool," she said, sipping her tea. "I can't even draw stick figures properly. I wish I had a creative side."
He chuckled, just a little. "You probably do. You're good at everything else."
She rolled her eyes, but with a smile. "That's just because I study too much. My mom's a literature professor, and my dad's in politics. Both of them are obsessed with achievement. If I don't rank top five, they think something's wrong with me."
Kyoshi blinked. He hadn't expected that. "That sounds... exhausting."
"It is," she admitted, her voice dropping just a bit. "But I'm used to it."
There was a pause.
"What about you?" she asked, leaning forward now. "What's Kyoshi Satuno's story?"
He hesitated. No one really asked him things like that. He wasn't used to being interesting.
"Nothing big," he said with a shrug. "I live with my uncle. My parents moved abroad for work when I was thirteen. I haven't seen them in five years. I got into Sogen because I drew a mural at my junior high school. Principal pulled some strings."
Her expression softened. "That sounds kind of lonely."
He looked down at his bowl. "It was. At first. But I got used to it, too."
Silence again. Not awkward—just... thoughtful.
Then Hikari gave a small smile. "You know, you're easier to talk to than I expected."
Kyoshi raised an eyebrow. "You expected something else?"
"Well," she teased, "you're always by yourself. I thought you were one of those silent, brooding types."
"I kind of am," he admitted, cracking a rare smile.
That made her laugh—a clear, musical sound. It sent a strange warmth through him. Not nerves this time. Something gentler.
They finished their food slowly, talking between bites. Movies, classes, weird teachers, embarrassing memories. It was easy, strangely easy, like they'd known each other far longer than twenty minutes.
Then, as they gathered their trays, Hikari suddenly turned to him.
"Hey, Kyoshi?"
He looked at her.
She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, her eyes bright. "Would you... want to be friends?"
The words hung in the air.
He stared at her for a second, unsure if he heard right.
Then he nodded. "Yeah. I'd like that."
A real smile spread across her face, softer this time.
"Good," she said. "Me too."
And just like that, something shifted.
The distance between them wasn't so wide anymore.