Seeing Yumiko slumped over her desk, lifeless, Hayama—normally so good at reading a room—opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.
In the past, he wouldn't have minded accepting an invite and taking everyone out to relax. But lately Haruno had told him to "treasure the people around you," even mentioning Yumiko by name. Didn't that mean Haruno had been paying attention to him?
The thought made Hayama quietly happy. Precisely because of that, he had to keep Yumiko at a "just friends" distance. He had to prove to Haruno that he was pure, clean, single-minded in his admiration for her.
Still, looking at how dejected Yumiko seemed, he couldn't help feeling bad. He forced a laugh and said to the girl in front of him, "Haha… Yumiko, the captain just messaged—practice is canceled for the next two days. Want to ask Hina and the others out? Karaoke or something?"
At the tone that felt like charity, Yumiko scrubbed her tears away, took a breath, and turned to him with a practiced smile. "Sorry, Hayato-kun. Yui and I have been doing a social-practice shift lately. You and Tobe should go. I don't really have the time."
"Huh? Oh—haha, I see. Yumiko's doing social practice now, huh. I'm falling behind—guess I should find time for a part-time job too."
Yumiko nodded and laid her head back down on the desk. Hayama's face tightened. He'd noticed something off and had tried to comfort her, but it backfired. As a guy, and one who kept his distance from "one-on-one" situations, he couldn't pry into a girl's feelings—so he was stuck, frustrated.
It felt like elementary school again: he'd copied Haruno's way with people, gotten everyone's support, and Yukino—bad at socializing—ended up ostracized. When he tried to help her fit in, it only made it worse. That helplessness hurt.
Focusing on—or doting on—just one person wasn't something "AC-unit for everyone" Hayama could do. He could only be everyone's Hayama. Which is why he'd probably never win Haruno's heart. She was the ultimate sis-con, after all.
"Sigh…" He could only hope to ask Yui or Ebina after class to see what was going on.
By noon, Hayama looked over at Shiina Mahiru, Yuigahama Yui, and the others chatting away, but found no chance to join in. He couldn't openly invite a specific girl to talk without sparking rumors. Meanwhile, Yumiko's seat was empty—unusual for her to skip lunch with Mahiru and the others and go off alone. Hayashi Maki was gone too.
Which was surprising—Yumiko had invited him to eat lunch together. The spot: the garden behind the school.
On the bench, Yumiko nibbled at her bento. Hayashi Maki sat beside her and flipped open his box. "I'm digging in," he said politely, the customary "respect for the food," and then tucked in with relish. Mahiru's cooking needed no sales pitch—new dishes every day, all excellent.
Yumiko glanced at his bento and fished for a topic. "Pervert-kun, your bento looks pretty good."
"Mm. Mahiru made it. But that nickname is kind of infuriating, Miura-san."
Calling him pervert-kun—how polite was that?
Yumiko pouted. "With a girl like Mahiru at your side and you still chasing others, what's wrong with calling you pervert-kun?"
"Plenty. It makes me mad and… my mouth gets a little itchy."
"Oh yeah?" She cut him a sideways look. "Want me to slap you twice to scratch that itch?"
"Uh… Yumiko, you're fierce today. Did you eat gunpowder for lunch?"
Yes, hinting his mouth "itched" to kiss her was shameless, but offering to slap him—wasn't that a bit rude? Bold, too—was she really provoking him?
"Hmph. Yeah, I ate gunpowder. After we finish I'll blast you to bits!"
Her tone was prickly, but his startled face made her chuckle despite herself. So he can look like that—kind of cute? Ahem—no. Illusion. That jerk couldn't be cute—just hateful. He'd stolen her first kiss, then kept hugging and kissing her…
Seeing the laugh come and go, Hayashi Maki let it slide and focused on eating. He'd "discipline" her later—since Yumiko had invited him, he wouldn't be shy. Still, conversation was a waste if he didn't use the chance to connect.
"Did you make your lunch yourself?"
Her cheeks reddened; she turned away. "My sister made it. Usually it's my mom."
"Ah… so you don't cook much?"
"Hmph—must a girl cook? It's not that I can't—I just never get the chance. My sister and mom handle it. What am I supposed to do?"
She had an older brother already out working after college, too. Hayashi Maki's look made her bristle; she shot him a glare. He only smiled, lifting a slice of meat with his chopsticks and popping it in his mouth. "Ahh—Mahiru's cooking. Perfect."
Yumiko's cheeks puffed. He was showing off his girlfriend, right? Absolutely. Which made it feel like she couldn't measure up to Shiina. Ugh—Mahiru's an angel. So what if I can't compare?
Her shoulders slumped—and just then a warm hand slipped around her waist and pulled her in.
"Ah!"
~~~
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