Shokudou
June, year 2042
The school cafeteria was packed, Tsubasa was glad he and the girls had managed to find a table so easily. He juggled the beeper in his hands as he half-heartedly listened to what they were talk. The cafeteria at his old school had always been half empty, no one went there since it didn’t offer much. This one was more like a restaurant, people even lined up before it opened to get in early. As he looked around, he saw Sigma over in one of the lines, she was easy to spot since she was so tall.
“Earth to Tsubasa”
The clear call for his attention had Tsubasa looking back at the girls sitting across the table.
“You’re not adopting Tsukino’s habit of spacing out, are you?” Mayura asked with an amused look on her face. Tsubasa blushed and shook his head.
“What were you looking at?” Tsukino asked as she looked over in the same direction where Tsubasa had been so fixated.
“I saw Sigma-senpai” he replied, leaning on the table and placing the beeper in front of him.
“I see her to” Tsukino commented as she followed their green-haired senpai moving slowly with the line.
“Hey since summer is around the corner and all” Mayura began, grabbing her friends’ attention again. “Why don’t we invite her and Epsylon-senpai somewhere? Like we did last year, that was fun. Maybe Yoru-kun and Kazu-senpai could come along to!”
“Sure, but do we really have to bring Yoru along?” Tsukino said with disdain. Yoru’s behavior towards her had been escalating lately. He had even started being nasty to Tsubasa for no reason.
The beeper Tsubasa had left on the table sprung to life with its high-pitched beeping, indicating their food was ready to be picked up. The three headed over to the counter and deliberately detoured past the line to talk to Sigma. They found Epsylon was with her as well.
“Hello my lovely kouhais~” Sigma sang cheerfully, Epsylon just rose a hand in a quite hello.
“We have free seats at our table if you want to join us” Tsukino suggested.
“That would be great Tsukino, it’ll save us time, thank you!” Sigma replied.
After picking up their food, the three returned to the table and were soon joined by Sigma and Epsylon. Epsylon sat next to Tsubasa and Sigma seated herself next to Tsukino.
“It feel like forever since we lunched together, it was so much easier last year” Sigma said.
“I know, our classes aren’t lining up as well” Mayura agreed. “We were just talking about going somewhere this summer, we wondered if you guys wanted to come with us again” she added.
Tsubasa quietly ate his food as he listened to the others toss ideas back and forth, places to go, things to see. He hadn’t been around muc, Nomi wasn’t too far from Komatsu, but his family had never been much for vacations. Usually he just went up to his grandparents’ farm in Tsubata for a few weeks every summer.
Tsubasa suddenly became aware that someone’s foot was on top of his, he looked up from his food, swallowing slowly. No one seemed to be trying to get his attention.
He tried to go back to eating, but then the foot went up his leg and he shot out of his chair. It toppled over with a loud crash and everyone around the table startled.
“Bikurishita!” Epsylon yelped, he had almost jumped from his own seat when Tsubasa’s crashed to the floor.
What happened?” Mayura asked wide-eyed.
“No… No-nothing I just-” Tsubasa couldn’t make words form properly. He was so flustered by what happened, embarrassed. He stared at the floor not sure what to do. He hated this, no one was saying anything.
“Sorry”
Tsubasa snapped his head up, it had been Sigma talking and she had a sheepish smile on her face.
“Th-that was you?!” Tsubasa spluttered as she started laughing with her hands covering her face.
“I’m so sorry” she laughed, still with her face in her hands.
“Can anyone fill the rest of us in?” Tsukino asked waving with her chopsticks.
“Si-Sigma-san was… she-” Tsubasa still couldn’t talk properly so Sigma said it for him.
“I was toe flirting with him...” she sighed and let her hands fall to the table.
“Sigma!” Epsylon exclaimed as Mayura and Tsukino burst out laughing.
“Not intentionally! I was aiming for you” Sigma laughed to. Tsubasa thought they were too amused by this.
“How could you miss, I’m across from you! Stop laughing it’s not funny!” Epsylon scolded the girls before turning to Tsubasa who was still standing. “I’m so sorry, here sit down” he didn’t find it amusing either, Tsubasa looked so uncomfortable, he helped to pick up his chair.
Tsubasa took his seat, face still beet red he tried to concentrate on finishing his meal.
“What were we even talking about, I’ve completely lost track?” Mayura asked.
“Beaches” Tsukino pointed out, as she scooped the last of the fried rice from her bowl.
“Oh yeah, Tsubasa you’re okay with going to the beach, right?”
“Sure, that sounds fun” Tsubasa agreed, anything would be fine if he got to hang out with his friends.
“Okay, beach it is. Which one though. I’d love to go to one that isn’t too crowded but actually has sand and not rocks…” Tsukino said.
“Epsylon and I were planning on borrowing my parents’ summer house down by the salt beach, the sand there is usually pretty great” Sigma said and Tsukino nodded.
“I love that beach!” Mayura exclaimed. “Have you ever been there Tsubasa?” she then asked, pulling Tsubasa into the conversation. He’d rather just listen. But this group was so chatty he was always asked for opinions.
“No, my family isn’t very big on vacations.”
The girls went on to talking about buying new swimsuits, planning for a shopping day. Tsubasa finished his plate and Epsylon was silently tracing Yoru and Kazu moving through the cafeteria.
“Hey Tsukino-san? You might wanna duck. Yoru at 10 o’clock” he said and Tsubasa saw Tsukino sliding down on her chair immediately. It was too late though, he had already spotted her.
“Tsukino-chan, I almost didn’t see you there” Yoru said when he got to the table. Tsukino sat back up as he pulled up a chair next to her, Mayura quickly moved her chair to the left to make room for him. Kazu sat down to the right of Tsubasa on the other side of the table.
“Sandwiches guys? Really?” Sigma asked when she saw the poor lunch they both had chosen.
“Yes, sandwiches. Have you seen the line today?” Yoru said stuffing one of the salmon filled sandwiches in his mouth.
“You guys haven’t even gotten your food yet, we won’t have time to eat if we line up” Kazu agreed with Yoru. Just then the couple’s beeper went off and they hurried to go get their food.
“Oh, tell them about the beach!” Sigma called back to the group left at the table before catching up to Epsylon.
“The beach?” Yoru said, his words muffled because of the food he still had in his mouth.
“Don’t talk with your mouth full” Tsukino told him, anything she disliked, irritated her twice as much when Yoru did it.
“We’re going to the beach with Sigma-san and Epsylon-senpai, do you two also wanna come?” Mayura explained, Kazu and Yoru lit up.
“That would be awesome” Yoru said brushing breadcrumbs from his fingers. “Which beach? If you haven’t decided I know a pretty neat one”
“We’ve decided on the salt beach. It’s close by and Sigma and Epsylon were going there already” Tsukino said and watched both Yoru and Kazu shudder.
“Come on, you could’ve picked somewhere nicer” Yoru said wrinkling his nose.
“That beach is gorgeous. If you don’t like the caves, don’t go in the caves” Tsukino argued. Epsylon and Sigma were back, sitting down with their trays. Tsubasa leaned over to Epsylon whispering;
“Why doesn’t Kazu-senpai and Yoru-senpai like the salt beach?”
“What? Oh, the caves at that beach are full of bugs” Epsylon answered with amusement in his voice.
“How are you two so scared of insects?” Tsukino asked, the two older boys just pouted.
“We went there for a school trip during our first year, they refused to go into the caves” Epsylon continued.
“It’s not funny!” Kazu protested loudly rubbing his arms. “Just thinking about those things gives me goosebumps!”
Yoru had abandoned the conversation and was scooting his chair closer to Tsukino.
“You’re invading my personal space” she said and Yoru grinned.
“Aww, you’re just playing hard to get Tsukino-chan, you know deep down that you want me” he laughed.
“Do you have a hearing problem? Or does your brain just work backwards?” Tsukino asked crossing her arms over her chest.
“See, you just want me to charm you some more, don’t you?” Yoru continued to tease Tsukino who was getting more and more agitated.
Sigma and Kazu exchanged glances, at this point they were Tsukino’s bodyguards when Yoru took it too far. She was good at deflecting his advances though.
“Oh if I was even remotely interested, I’d be the one charming you” Tsukino countered.
“Really, how would that go?” Yoru asked excitedly, inviting Tsukino to show him. She narrowed her eyes at him. Should she play along? “Come on, show me, how would you charm me?” he egged her on. Tsukino leaned over the few inches between them, her face right in front of Yoru’s.
“If I was into you I’d be up in your personal space, trying to get your attention” she said, careful not to let her guard down, she was walking a fine line.
“What would you do to get my attention?”
He was playing her, she was doing just what he wanted her to and she knew it. But that also meant his guard was down. Tsukino got out of her chair and stood behind Yoru, she placed her hands on his shoulders and leaned forward. Everyone just watched.
“If you want me so bad…” she said slowly in a low voice, seeing Yoru’s ear twitch under her breath. “If you want me that bad…” she said again and lifted one of her hands off his shoulders. The others were watching silently, Sigma and Kazu were ready to jump in the minute something went wrong.
“… THEN WHY WON’T YOU BE MORE MATURE ABOUT IT?!” Tsukino yelled and smacked Yoru over the back of the head. Tsubasa had almost jumped out of his skin at Tsukino’s sudden shout. Yoru was just grinning, enjoying himself way too much as Tsukino took her seat again with a huff.
“So, about the beach” Kazu quickly moved on to lighten the mood around the table again. “When should we go there?”
“First week of August maybe, just to get it out of the way?” Mayura suggested.
“Sounds good” Epsylon agreed, Sigma also nodded.
“Works for me, what about you Tsubasa?” Tsukino said and Tsubasa looked up.
“… Uhh yeah… sure it works” Tsubasa agreed he was still jittery, this has not been a good lunch break.
Tsubasa let himself watch Tsukino for a moment longer, she was busy talking to Mayura. His eyes landed on her right ear, she still had a small scar left from the piercing she had done on her birthday. It had been a present from Yoru. In the end she had to remove it because it hurt too much and got infected.
“Hey! Stop looking at what’s mine!” Yoru suddenly spat and Tsubasa startled, his heart couldn’t take much more of this.
“I haven’t done anything!” Tsubasa yelped and saw Tsukino hit Yoru on the arm.
“I’m not a thing, and I’m not yours!” she told him through gritted teeth.
“I’d pick Tsubasa over you any day, without event thinking about it” she said making Tsubasa stare at the table as his face flushed.
“Hey, what the hell does he have that I don’t?!” Yoru cried out.
“Respect for her!” came a unanimous answer from the whole table.
“…” Yoru had no comeback to that. He clicked his tongue and crossed his arms over his chest and went back to balancing the chair on its rear legs. Tsukino hoped that he would tip it too far and fall, maybe she should help him?
“Sorry to break up the party but class starts in ten minutes” Kazu said as he got out of his seat.
“Already, I still have another 20 minutes” Epsylon whined. Sigma was also out of her chair, tray in one hand.
“Yeah, sorry Hama-chan I should’ve taken biology with you instead of chemistry” she said leaning down to him. He kissed her gently on the lips.
“Hey Yoru, 7 minutes” Kazu said looking at his phone.
“Eh, I’ll stay here and hang out with Tsukino-chan some more. You can cover for me, right?” Yoru suggested jokingly as he got up.
“Yoru, 5 minutes…” Kazu nagged impatiently, wishing his friend would hurry up.
“Fine, fine… See you guys later” Yoru said then paused; “Hey Tsubasa, if I find out that you’re trying to steal Tsukino-chan from me I’ll be very unhappy” he threatened, narrowing his eyes in a playful manner. He turned, hurrying to catch up with Kazu and Sigma who had already left.
“I’m not your property!” Tsukino called after Yoru who just waved at her over his shoulder.
“That was nice” Epsylon commented making the juniors turn to him.
“I’m sorry?” Tsubasa asked, how had that threat been nice?
“He called you Tsubasa” Epsylon said matter-of-factly.
“Ah, you’re right. I don’t think I’ve ever heard Yoru call Tsubasa as anything by ‘you’ before” Mayura pointed out.
“What does that mean?” Tsubasa asked not sure if he wanted to know the answer.
“Don’t look so scared Tsubasa” Epsylon laughed, “It just means that you’re one Yoru’s short list now. His short list of people he considers friends.”
“He should treat his friends better” Tsukino muttered.