Chapter 9: An Unexpected Lunch Companion

The classroom emptied quickly after the bell rang. Yasu stayed behind a little longer, stuffing his hands into his pockets, feeling the small package of onigiri he had bought that morning pressed against his fingers.

He wasn't sure why, but today felt different.

Maybe it was the way the clouds hung low outside the windows, or maybe it was the restlessness building in his chest. Either way, he found himself walking toward the rooftop without thinking.

The door creaked open easily. The rooftop was empty—or so it seemed.

He stepped out into the cool, cloudy air, the city stretching beyond the school walls. The breeze wasn’t strong, just enough to make the metal fence rattle quietly.

Yasu moved to a corner and sat down on the concrete floor, pulling out his onigiri. As he unwrapped it, he glanced around and—froze.

There she was.

Hoshiko-sensei, standing by the far fence, her coat fluttering slightly with the wind. She hadn't noticed him yet. She looked peaceful, almost like part of the sky itself, staring out into the grey horizon.

Yasu quickly lowered his head, pretending to focus on his lunch.

He wasn’t sure how much time passed—maybe a minute, maybe five. He dared a quick glance.

And that’s when she noticed him.

She turned slowly, raising an eyebrow when she spotted him sitting there like a guilty cat caught stealing food.

“Oh? Yasu-kun?” Her voice broke the silence, light and teasing.

He swallowed quickly. "Ah... Sensei."

She grinned and began walking toward him, hands tucked into her coat pockets. "You’re not trying to escape classes, are you?"

"No... just eating."

“Alone on the rooftop. How dramatic,” she said, stopping in front of him. “You planning to write a tragic novel too?”

He shrugged, not sure how to answer that.

Without hesitation, Hoshiko sat down next to him, a little too close for a teacher. Her perfume, faint and clean, mixed with the fresh scent of the air.

“What’s for lunch?” she asked, peering at his food like a curious cat.

“Tuna mayo onigiri.”

She gasped dramatically. “A man of culture.”

Yasu couldn’t help but let out a small laugh.

Hoshiko leaned back, resting her weight on her palms. “You know, when I was your age, I used to sneak snacks onto the rooftop too. Though...” She tilted her head, smiling slyly. “I wasn’t nearly as good at hiding.”

He looked at her, slightly curious. "You got caught?"

"Every time," she said proudly. "Mostly because I'd start eating before I even sat down."

The image made him chuckle again.

A few seconds passed with the two of them sitting there, side by side, the wind brushing against them.

Yasu took another bite of his onigiri.

Hoshiko watched him for a moment, then said casually, “You’re more interesting than I thought, Yasu-kun.”

He blinked. “Why?”

“Well, you usually look like you’re one bad lecture away from quitting school entirely,” she teased, flicking her finger lightly against his shoulder.

He gave her a flat look.

She laughed. “I mean it in a good way. You’re... different. You don't pretend to care about things you don't.”

He looked away, feeling a strange warmth creep into his chest. Compliments weren’t something he was used to.

“And you’re surprisingly good company,” she added.

Yasu didn’t know how to reply, so he stayed quiet, munching thoughtfully.

The clouds overhead shifted, and a few tiny drops of rain tapped against the rooftop.

Hoshiko looked up. “Ah, perfect. Just when I was starting to enjoy myself.”

Yasu finished the last bite of his onigiri and stood up, brushing off his pants.

“You leaving me alone in the rain?” she said, pretending to pout.

He hesitated, then offered his hand.

For a moment, she just stared at it, eyebrows raised.

“Well, well,” she teased, taking his hand lightly as she stood up. "A gentleman after all."

He pulled her up easily, then let go, feeling a little awkward.

They walked back toward the door together, the soft patter of rain following them.

Just before stepping inside, Hoshiko glanced sideways at him. “Next time, bring an extra onigiri. Sharing is caring, you know.”

Without waiting for a reply, she slipped inside, leaving him standing there, feeling both confused and oddly... lighter.

The door clicked shut behind her.

Yasu stood there a moment longer, listening to the rain.

Maybe today really was different.