As the recess bell ring, its time for lunch break. Tsubaki was still staring her blank paper in hand.
“sigh, it would be easier if he asks about what happen during shogunate or sengoku era. What happened 3 years behind was hardly a history.” Tsubaki whispering exasperatedly and give herself a rest from the task and decided to eat her lunch.
However as she's about open her bluish bento bag, she notices it was rather light. She opens it and found her bento box is empty. There are some rice sticks to it and stain of damp from the hot meal once there. But now it was all empty. Tsubaki knits her brows and look around, but the classroom was nearly empty, some group gathers eating their lunches but seem like they have no care in the world.
“did someone ate it?” she’s wondering as she stood up, decided to wash the box anyway now that it’s mysteriously empty. She found the washing basin soon enough. As tsubaki washing her lunch box, she accidently took a glimpse of the open trash bin nearby. What she found making her shook her head in annoyance.
“how childish.” Tsubaki found her lunch at the top of all trashes. Someone has thrown away her meal on purpose. But as much as she feels irritated about it, she couldn’t lie that she’s terribly hungry right now.
So she decides to visit the student cafeteria but there were hardly anything left. Just some juices and milk in carton, some breads and cup noodles.
Tsubaki is an old fashioned girl, if she has to eat it has to be a proper meal with white fluffy rice, side dishes and fruit or fresh vegetables.
“hey, it’s the sengoku princess!”
Tsubaki turns immediately to the cheerful voice. The man approaching him, looks friendly and smile cheerfully as he waves his hand at her. Tsubaki knows him as one of the senior and member of the council broad.
“you are… Yaotome Hikaru-san.” Tsubaki states calmly with a faint smile for politeness, her both hands are affront, places one above the other.
“uwah, you really are a sengoku era girl!”
“pardon?”
“so, what are you doing here?”
“someone threw my lunch into the trash bin.”
“woah that’s not nice. So you’re here to find something to eat?”
“I do, yet I don’t seem to find anything to my appetite.”
“…” Hikaru couldn’t help but keep his eyes on her, as Tsubaki made an obvious sigh her eyes looking at the food counter behind her.
“why don’t you make your own food then?”
“come again?”
“the cooking class is open here, you can cook yourself if you want and use the ingredients available, its probably just some bare minimum but its free to use for students.”
“they do?”
“yeah, its part of the school facilities.” Hikaru bring his long and thin arms up to look at his watch. “you still got 20 minutes, maybe you can make something.”
“I will try, thank you kindly Yaotome-san.” Tsubaki make a light bow with her head before walks away with a steady firm steps. Hikaru watches her movements until she was out of his sight. He laughs to himself and shakes his head. “Yuto has a pretty unusual taste for girl.”
“cooking class, found it.” Only takes few minutes until she found it. She slides the door open. Stainless steel cooking table are lining neatly in that room. She quickly checks the food cabinet and fridge, there are raw ingredients, she can make something really quick with these, she thought. “But I still need rice… I don’t think I have enough time to cook rice…hm?” as Tsubaki wondering she realizes she smells a fresh cooked rice in here. And she was right, one rice cooker steaming in the table near the wall.
As Stubaki approach it to have a better look. Something suddenly appears before her from the floor.
“AH!”
Sensing something was near, the one just stood up turn and scream as well. “GAH!”
The two of them jumped backward each having a surprise looks on their faces.
“y-you startled me…” Ryosuke bent to the table, hanging his head low while panting.
“I-I was really shock too, I thought the room is empty.” Tsubaki place her hands above her chest, feeling her heart almost jump and went somewhere.
“sorry, I was…” Ryosuke pulls the earphone from his both ears. As he removes it Tsubaki could ear loud music from it.
“its…a little too loud, don’t you think?”
“yeah? I guess so, that’s why I didn’t hear anyone entering the room.” Ryosuke take his phone from his pocket and turn the music off.
“what are you doing on the floor? I didn’t see you before.”
“oh, that.” Ryosuke points his finger down, there’s a mop and the floor slightly damp. “I accidently spill some sauce on the floor.” He bent down once again, finishing his cleaning; mopping the floor till it was spotless again.
“excuse me but, is this your rice?”
“hm? Oh yeah, I cook it.”
“…” as Tsubaki stands in silence doesn’t know how to properly ask if he could share, something does the favor for her “Growl.”
“ah!” her tummy, beats her, letting some embarrassing loud hunger declaration. Making Tsubaki face turns bright red.
Ryosuke stares but soon, slowly his lips curls, he tries to hold back as strong as he could. But it results to a violent shakes on his shoulders, he brings one hand to covers his lips. But his gesture was obviously showing him that he wants to laugh at her.
“forgive me… that was rather rude.” Tsubaki states shyly, she was still red from the loud growl but managed to calm really soon.
“lets share.” Ryosuke say and take out some plate from the cabinet. “I’m making omuhayashi, its delicious.” He says with confidence.
“but, you are making food for yourself.”
“I always make some extra, incase Yuri or Keito join me, but luckily I’m alone now. So here.” Ryosuke hands out a plate of steamy rice covers in fresh cooked omelet and beef sauce.
“I’m truly sorry, you have my deepest gratitude.”
“deepest gratitude…? Is that how you say thank you?” Ryosuke said teasingly, holding back his laughter once again.
“i-is something wrong?”
“no, not at all.” Ryosuke while keeping his smile shake his head and sit at the chair across of Tsubaki.
“its delicious.”
Ryosuke was checking his phone when he heard a voice, sounding disbelief and content in the same time.
Tsubaki holding the spoon in one hand, her eyes widen, her mouth was slightly open, as their eyes met, she smiles warmly. “you’re such amazing cook Yamada-san.”
“really?”
“yes. I really do think so.”
“hooooo.” Ryosuke brings his both hands and squeeze his own cheeks so hard, his starts to make a funny face. Tsubaki cocks her head, looking all confuse. “Sorry… if I don’t do this, I wont be able to stop grinning, you make me so happy.”
“I think I rather see you grinning.” Tsubaki make a faint laugh.
“okay.” Ryosuke releases his face and soon he couldn’t help but grin widely he even shows his white teeth.
Meanwhile in another place, Keito sees Yuri pouting his lips on his seat. As soon as Yuri notices Keito sit on his side, he speaks in a spoil childish tone.
“I was looking forward to Ryosuke omuhayashi today…but he says to leave him alone!” Yuri grabs Keito collar, chocking him. “how could he be so cruel to me, how?”
“l-let go off me, Y-yuri…air…air….!”
When Ryosuke noticing Tsubaki in the cooking class, he secretly acting like turning off his music player while he send text to both Yuri and Keito. “stay away from cooking class, no food for you today. Yours truly Ryosuke.”
“w-well, some people does need some time to be alone, even Ryosuke.” Keito says calmly while fixing his collar after being harshly grabbed by Yuri.
“Bhu! He’s probably spending it with the sengoku girl, what was her name again?”
“um, Sanada Tsubaki.”
“Ryosuke hasn’t been stop smiling to himself since she came here.”
“and what, you’re jealous.”
“what if they got together and Ryosuke chose to spend most of his time just with her! All boys do that leaving their good friends once they got a girl!” Yuri chokes Keito, again. Grabbing and shaking him violently.
“B-but.” Keito struggling to break free from Yuri persistency. “some kids say that Tsubaki is Yuto’s girl.”
“what, she is?”
“yeah, rumor has it that they were elementary friends and dating since jr high.”
“but if so…” Yuri slowly releasing his hands and Keito take a really deep breath and rubs his neck. “why is Ryosuke liking somebody else’s girl! Why?!”
“cut it! You’re killing me.” even when Keito protesting how Yuri treating him roughly, he didn’t do much of a fight and Yuri found his way to grab his collar once again.
After they had their meals, Tsubaki wash the dishes but Ryosuke insists on helping and dry the plates on her side.
“I never taste such delicious omuhayashi before, it was just like those you ate at a fine restaurant.”
“really? I just love cooking, but it makes me really happy that someone like it above all, complementing it.”
“but aren’t you often eat with your friends.”
“you know boys will be boys, they just eat and never say anything about the food. So I never could tell whether it was good or not.”
“the omelet was so soft, the meat in perfect bite size and very tender and I love how mild the sauce were, I could never make something like that.”
“I can teach you how-“
“I’d love to.”
“that way, I got to see you more often.”
“huh?”
“I always see you on the train Tsubaki, I want to spend much time with you… wait, am I being frontal?”
“um…” Tsubaki confuse at how casual it was for Ryosuke to say such thing, but his eyes were deep with sincerity, with a strong steady gaze, there was no hint he was being lying or joking with her. His ears and face even starts to get even redden in every second they look to each other.
“here you are.”
As a sudden voice startled the two of them, Tsubaki turns slowly and Yuto was holding the door open. Her heart beats faster, hammering her chest that it was actually hurtful.
“I heard from Hikaru, are you alright?” Yuto walks in stand in front of Tsubaki acting like he was ignoring Ryosuke.
“I’m fine, Yamada-san shares his food with me.”
There was a pause, Yuto brings his eyes just temporary, stealing a glimpse at Ryosuke who clearly looking at them both. He forces a smile at him, widely.
“Soon the lunch break is over, lets head back to our class.” Yuto reaches his hand and hold Tsubaki’s left arm. It was light, just a touch, a gesture to make her come with him. But it was enough to make Tsubaki frozen for a moment from a shock.
“I’ll be fine on my own.” She makes a light “refusal” move to his touch and turns herself and makes a small nod to Ryosuke. “Thank you again Yamada san. I promise to repay your kindness.”
“don’t mention it, really don’t think about repaying and all.” Ryosuke waves his hand around.
Before Tsubaki could open her mouth to say “goodbye” Yuto voice interrupt her. “lets go Tsubaki.”
Tsubaki closes her eyes and heave a deep sigh and follow Yuto back to their classroom. Ryosuke watching their receding backs toward the hallways, smile and make a little wave even when no one seeing his gesture.
After a bath, Tsubaki sits down in her table, in the middle of her bedroom. Her bed is a futon and still neatly folded inside her closet. She’s reading a book and checks her notebook for tomorrow’s subjects. When her phone chirps.
“I cant take it any other second!!!! DX tell me your first day at Kitagawa, pronto!!”
Tsubaki let a small laugh as she read the text from Mika, her enthusiasm shows clearly in her writing.
“it was… normal only this time the female become a minority.”
“forget that, I mean the guys, did you find anyone hot, cool or maybe charming for me? no wait I should ask you about this first, did you meet Yuto?”
“…” Tsubaki takes time before pressing her phone again. “yes I do, we’re in the same class.”
There was a brief of silent, and tsubaki thought Mika probably fell asleep or left her phone, when…
“EEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!Σ(゜ロ゜;)｢(ﾟ<ﾟ)ﾞ??” it looks like it takes time to input caps lock with plenty of emoticons. “that’s like the worst thing ever! But you ignore him, right, right, you definitely has to ignore him!”
“I do, yet he was the one approaching me…” Tsubaki said to herself deciding not to share this with Mika, or she’ll be over reacting about it.
The texting went on to another conversation until neither of them could come up with any topics and retire for the night.
The next day…
Tsubaki walk through the station towards the Enoshima line, on her way to school. When she gets to the platform, she sees Yuto leaning against the wall, looking her way. The moment their eyes meet, she stops in her track. Yuto starts walking towards her. Tsubaki’s face is showing an obvious confusion as her eyebrows knit.
“Morning.”
“Good Morning…um. What are you doing here?”
“waiting.”
“oh, right, for the train…” Tsubaki nods convincing herself. “even when you usually take either the train before this or the one after… to avoid us running to each other.”
“No, silly, I was waiting for you!”
“M-Me?!”
“Obviously. We’re school mate now, right.”
“uh…”
“…uh, what?” Yuto seems to be a bit offended with Tsubaki’s reaction. His eyes look into hers deeply, and being Tsubaki she returns the gaze strongly “does it matter now that we’re school mate?” Tsubaki still wondering back and forth with Yuto sudden declaration, when someone yank her arm backward.
“you need something?” Mika was clearly sounds rather angry as she pulls Tsubaki and hides her behind her back, acting all protective.
“nothing is wrong, I just ask Tsubaki to go to school together.”
“yeah? Well she’ll be fine on her own.”
“I don’t think so.” Yuto shows a mischievous smile with his head slightly shaking.
“what?”
“Mika, let it be, it’s okay. The train almost arrive lets all leave together, peacefully.”
“fine.”
The train arrives soon enough, and the three of them climb in like the rest of the passenger. Mika somehow pushes Tsubaki so they could have a huge space between them and Yuto.
“what was that all about?!”
“its nothing really, Yuto live nearby its only natural to meet him.”
“after avoiding us for a year?”
“look you’ve been over dramatic.”
“yeah, maybe I was… man I was sure you were trapped back there.”
“I was not, just a bit unexpected… but thank you, Mika.”
“no problem, we’re friend we help each other!” Mika says somehow a bit bashful. “but he’s weird right, he was the one confessing, the one dumped you, the one avoiding, and now the one being aggressive too. He’s such chameleon, so confusing.”
“just ignore him, Mika.”
“I know, oh hey! This station is…”
The train makes a stop at the station Kagenuma, another wave of people climb in, among them is Ryosuke. With his earphone, but once inside he took it off and put it inside his bag. Quickly glancing all over and his eyes meet in an instant with Tsubaki and Mika.
“he’s being so obvious now.”
“Hai Tsubaki.” Ryosuke gave her a small wave with a shy smile. His voice was faint, he keep it low so he wont disturb the other passenger.
“you know each other already?”
“yes…his name is Yamada Ryosuke.”
“he’s cute… uh oh now what?”
“hm?” Tsubaki couldn’t help but following Mika’s eyes line. And found Yuto has standing in front of them, after moving through the crowds.
“what is he doing?” Mika’s whispering her palms ball into fists.
“if only I know.” Tsubaki’s sighing while showing a disturbing look.
Now, Tsubaki climb down at different station, Mika wont stop waving her hand while shouting, the only thing stopping her voice was the closing train’s door.
It was rather awkward, the three of them is walking really close. Tsubaki walks affront, Ryosuke few steps behind her and Yuto too.
Tsubaki carrying a bigger bag today, she has prepared a return gift for Ryosuke kindness yesterday. She look behind Ryosuke is busy checking his phone.
“um…”
Ryosuke lift his head, hearing her voice, but he was not the only one, Yuto too looking at her. Making her stops. “its going to be awkward to give this in front of Yuto, cause he’s obviously glaring this way.”
“want to eat lunch together today?”
“huh?”
Ryosuke casually asks her, his face is smiling sweetly like a little child. “did you bring lunch today?” Ryosuke eyes move to the large bento box, Tsubaki is holding.
“uh oh no this is…”
“do you want me to keep it?”
“what?”
“some girls bento has been threw away by the boys, I’ll keep it for you if you want to.”
“I could keep it in my locker.”
“ah…” while Tsubaki still holding the neatly folded bento in her hand, Yuto reaches it and take it in his hand.
Tsubaki was not the only one startled, Ryosuke eyes was showing an obvious shock either. But he soon smiles and nods. “I think Yuto should do that for you. Right, I’m going on ahead.” Ryosuke make one last smile, Tsubaki could tell his smile was a bit off, he looks clearly disappointed and offended yet he plays it cool and leave.
“…that was rude you know.” Tsubaki turns her attention to the tall man standing on her side, holding her bento box in one hand, and the other hand in his pocket.
“I know.” Yuto make a short reply, showing he didn’t even care what Ryosuke would feel about it.
Yuto has walking far ahead, while Tsubaki completely lose herself in confusion towards Yuto behavior, when.
“Tsubaki senpai!!!!”
“ah… oh its you Asano-chan.”
“please call me Mayu-chan.”
“you want me to call you Mayu chan?”
“yes, its cuter don’t you think.”
“yes it is, Mayu chan.”
“present” Mayu raises her hand like she was being call in her classroom. She laughs happily, when Tsubaki just smile faintly she peers and study her face.
“senpai, is Yuto senpai your BF?”
“what’s BF?”
“Boyfriend! Is he, is he?”
“does it look that way?”
“well…he didn’t deny it.”
“what do you mean?”
“I overheard it yesterday during lunch… Daiki senpai and Inoochan senpai seem to be talking with Yuto senpai. They were joking around about how strange his act was after our transferring. And Daiki senpai said something like, “you must get all giddy ended up in the same class with your girl.” And then Inoochan senpai added, “to be together after deciding to go to different school, you two must be fated.” And Yuto senpai answering seriously saying something like… “just stay away from her…” he sounds so protective!!!”
Mayu ended her story looking all giddy about herself and make a cute small scream while places her both hands on her pinkish cheeks.
“rather than protective, it was more like I’m such dangerous person.” Tsubaki let exasperated sigh.
“but still, it must be nice having one of the Lords as BF, kyaaa, and you two look definitely sweet together! Ah I forgot I got PE as my first period. Bye senpai I have to run!”
“bye…” Tsubaki waves weakly at Mayu energetic wave, while running towards Kitagawa school building.
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