Lunch break is the most chaotic scientific experiment in the school.
If someone ever wanted to study human behavior, they wouldn't need a laboratory.
They would only need a cafeteria.
Groups form quickly.
Almost instantly.
Like some invisible algorithm organizes everyone into categories.
Athletes here.
Gamers there.
People who pretend to study during lunch near the windows.
People who are definitely not studying but want teachers to think they are near the library door.
And of course the loud table.
There is always a loud table.
I sit slightly away from most groups.
Not isolated.
Just… strategically placed.
A desk near the window.
Close enough to the noise to observe.
Far enough to think.
My lunch is simple today.
Rice.
Egg.
Strawberry milk.
The strawberry milk is important.
It improves the statistical probability of a good day by approximately 12 percent.
This number is not scientifically proven.
But I believe it emotionally.
My notebook is open beside my lunch.
Not the main notebook for classes.
The smaller one.
The one where random thoughts go.
Ideas.
Sketches.
Occasionally very questionable drawings of cats.
Right now I'm pretending to read a book.
The book is real.
But I'm only reading about one sentence every two minutes.
Because something else keeps distracting my attention.
Specifically a certain tall basketball player currently standing three tables away.
Haruto Kanzaki.
I am not staring.
That would be socially suspicious.
Instead I observe in short intervals.
A glance.
Then back to the book.
Another glance.
Then back to the book.
A perfectly normal and not suspicious observation pattern.
From what I can see he is currently standing between two tables.
One group is talking about sports.
The other group is arguing about a movie.
He seems to belong to both conversations somehow.
Not dominating either one.
Just… present.
He laughs when someone says something funny.
Adds a comment.
Then listens again.
It's interesting.
Most people in conversations are competing.
Trying to say the most impressive thing.
Trying to be the funniest.
Trying to be noticed.
But he seems to do something else.
He listens.
Actually listens.
Someone at the sports table says something about yesterday's practice.
Haruto leans slightly forward.
Not interrupting.
Not rushing to speak.
Just listening.
Then he replies.
Short sentence.
Everyone laughs.
Conversation continues.
Then someone from the other table calls his name.
He turns.
Answers another question.
Another small laugh.
Another relaxed reply.
Then he goes quiet again.
Observing.
Listening.
I take another sip of strawberry milk.
My notebook slides slightly closer.
Pencil ready.
This is not strange behavior.
Scientists record observations.
This is basically the same thing.
Probably.
I write a small title at the top of the page.
Observation.
Then a small line underneath it.
Subject: Haruto Kanzaki.
Immediately after writing that I pause.
This looks slightly suspicious.
I add another note.
Academic curiosity.
Yes.
That sounds more professional.
Now I continue.
Observation:
Subject moves easily between social groups.
Pause.
I glance up again.
He is now sitting at the edge of the sports table.
But his body is turned slightly toward the neighboring table where another conversation is happening.
Interesting.
I write again.
Observation:
Subject does not dominate conversations.
Instead subject maintains participation balance.
This sounds very scientific.
Which is comforting.
I glance up again.
Someone at the sports table is telling a story.
A long one.
Possibly too long.
Several people are starting to look bored.
Except Haruto.
He nods slightly.
Maintains eye contact.
Even asks a follow-up question.
The storyteller suddenly looks much more enthusiastic.
…interesting.
Very interesting.
I write again.
Observation:
People appear more comfortable speaking when subject is listening.
Possible cause:
Non-judgmental personality.
I pause.
Tap the pencil lightly against the notebook.
The sound is small.
Quiet.
But satisfying.
I glance up again.
Now the conversation has shifted again.
Haruto is laughing.
Not loudly.
Just enough that the people around him laugh too.
He says something I can't hear.
Two people immediately respond.
Then someone throws a small piece of bread at him.
He catches it.
Throws it back.
The bread war lasts approximately four seconds before someone from another table complains.
Peace treaty achieved.
I write again.
Observation:
Subject humor level moderate.
Group response positive.
Probability of social conflict extremely low.
I stop writing.
Read the page again.
This looks ridiculous.
I close the notebook halfway.
Then open it again.
Because the observation is technically accurate.
Aoi suddenly appears across from me.
She drops into the chair dramatically.
"Why are you eating alone like a mysterious novel character?"
"I am observing human behavior."
She stares at me.
"…what."
I point casually toward the room.
"Social patterns during lunch."
She slowly follows my gaze.
Then immediately finds Haruto.
Then looks back at me.
Then looks at my notebook.
Then looks at me again.
Her eyes narrow.
"Gabu."
"Yes."
"You're analyzing the basketball guy."
"I am conducting observations."
"You wrote his name."
"That is part of the observation process."
"You wrote 'subject.'"
"That is scientifically appropriate terminology."
She leans closer across the table.
"You're studying him like a psychology experiment."
I consider correcting her.
But technically that description is accurate.
So instead I say:
"…maybe."
She stares at me for a full five seconds.
Then she grins.
Oh no.
That grin is dangerous.
"Gabu."
"Yes."
"You're interested."
"I am curious."
"That's the same thing."
"It absolutely is not."
She points dramatically toward Haruto.
"You've looked at him like six times."
"That is called data collection."
She sighs.
Then laughs.
"Unbelievable."
"What."
"You're the only person in this school who could turn a boy into a research project."
"I prefer structured curiosity."
She shakes her head.
"You're weird."
"Thank you."
She steals one bite of my lunch.
"Hey."
"Research tax."
"That is not a recognized system."
"It is now."
I close my notebook.
But my eyes drift toward Haruto again.
Just briefly.
He's still talking with the same group.
Still listening more than speaking.
Still moving between conversations naturally.
Like gravity.
Not forcing attention.
But somehow everything slowly moves around him anyway.
…interesting.
Very interesting.
I open the notebook again.
One last note.
Final observation (temporary):
People relax when speaking with subject.
Possible explanation:
Subject does not attempt to impress others.
Instead subject focuses attention outward.
I pause.
Then add one more line.
Conclusion:
Unusual personality trait.
Further observation recommended.
I close the notebook again.
Take another sip of strawberry milk.
Across the room Haruto laughs again.
For some reason the sound reaches my table.
Which is strange.
Because the cafeteria is very noisy.
But somehow that laugh still stands out.
…curious.
Just curiosity.
Nothing else.
Definitely not anything else.
:)
Probably.