Chapter 3: — "First in a Lifetime Chatterbox"

The bell rang, and students poured into the cafeteria in a wave of chatter and clattering trays. Sakura stepped hesitantly through the doors, clutching her lunch with both hands. The smell of fried food and noodles filled the air, but it only made her stomach twist with nerves.

Everywhere she looked, students were laughing, eating in groups, their tables full of familiar faces. She shifted uncomfortably. Where do I even sit? If I sit alone… they’ll laugh at me. If I sit somewhere random, they’ll just stare.

Her eyes darted toward a corner table near the windows. Empty. Quiet. Safe. She started toward it, clutching her tray like a shield.

“Hey.”

The voice startled her. She turned and saw Haruto, balancing his own lunch. He gave her a small, easy smile. “Mind if I join you?”

Her chest tightened. She wanted to say no, afraid of the stares it would draw, but her voice betrayed her. “O-okay.”

They walked together, the noise of the cafeteria swelling around them. As soon as they sat down, Sakura could feel it, eyes. Whispers. She caught a glimpse of three girls across the room, the same ones who had mocked her earlier. Their smirks returned, and they leaned toward each other, whispering and laughing.

Sakura lowered her head quickly, her chopsticks trembling in her hands. Great… they noticed. They’re going to make fun of me again.

Haruto took a bite of rice like nothing was happening. “Ignore them,” he said flatly, his voice calm but firm.

Sakura blinked at him. “W-what?”

“The girls. Let them laugh. They’ll get bored eventually.” He glanced at her tray. “You should eat before it gets cold.”

His casual tone disarmed her. She forced herself to take a bite, though her hands still shook.

For a moment, they ate in silence. Then Haruto chuckled softly. “Careful. You’re holding your chopsticks like a sword.”

Sakura flushed red, realizing how stiffly she was gripping them. “I-it’s fine!” she stammered, trying to relax her hand.

“Relax,” Haruto said with a grin. “The food won’t run away.”

Despite herself, a small laugh escaped her lips. Just for a moment, the tension eased.

Then her gaze wandered again. The three girls were still looking, one of them whispering something that made the others burst into quiet giggles. Sakura’s chest tightened, the old fear rushing back.

But Haruto leaned back in his chair, meeting the girls’ stares with a cold, steady glare. The laughter faltered almost instantly. Within seconds, the three turned away, their smiles fading.

Sakura blinked in shock. He didn’t even say anything… and they stopped.

Haruto turned back to his meal casually. “See? Nothing to worry about.”

Her lips parted, but no words came out. Instead, she looked down at her tray, a warmth spreading faintly through her chest.

After finishing their lunch, Haruto leaned back and nudged his tray slightly toward Sakura. “So… do you like anything in particular? Clubs, hobbies, that kind of thing?”

Sakura blinked, hesitant at first. “Uh… well, I… I like drawing,” she muttered quietly, almost afraid to say it out loud.

Haruto’s eyes lit up just a little. “Drawing, huh? That’s… awesome. I like art too.” He tilted his head, genuinely interested. “I’ve always been more into sketching than painting, but I can do a little of both. What about you?”

Sakura’s eyes widened slightly, a spark of curiosity and excitement lighting her face. He likes art too? She felt a thrill she hadn’t experienced since moving to this school.

“I… I like sketching mostly, but sometimes I try painting,” she said, her voice gaining momentum. “I… I like drawing landscapes… and characters… and sometimes I… I try little comics… it’s kind of silly…”

Haruto’s expression softened. She’s really talking, he thought with a small, quiet surprise. He watched as her words picked up speed, her hands moving slightly as she described her sketches, her drawings, her ideas.

“And I… I usually draw during lunch sometimes… if no one’s watching… but… I like sharing it too, with people who like it…” Her words spilled out faster and faster, excitement bubbling over.

Haruto couldn’t help but smile. She looks… so happy when she talks about this.

Sakura finally noticed Haruto’s calm, encouraging smile. Her cheeks burned, and she realized she’d been talking loudly and quickly without even noticing it. “O-oh… I’m… I’m sorry! I… I didn’t mean to talk so fast…”

Haruto shook his head gently. “No problem at all. I like seeing you happy.”

Her embarrassment didn’t vanish completely, but hearing him say that made the warmth in her chest grow. She lowered her gaze, cheeks still red, and quietly picked up her chopsticks again. “Th-thank you…”

They ate in comfortable silence for a few moments, the cafeteria noise fading into the background for Sakura. For the first time all day, she felt a small, genuine sense of relief, and maybe even belonging.

Sakura and Haruto were finishing their lunch when a low murmur drifted from the next table.

Sakura froze mid-bite, her eyes darting toward the source. Three girls, the same ones who had teased her earlier, were leaning together, whispering and snickering, clearly watching them.

“…Look at her, chatting so much with him,” the tallest girl whispered, her voice just loud enough for Sakura and Haruto to hear. “Who does she think she is? Acting like she’s his friend…”

Sakura’s face burned crimson. Her stomach twisted. Oh no… they heard me… they’re laughing at me again… She swallowed hard, staring at her tray, wishing she could disappear.

Haruto’s head snapped toward the girls. His eyes narrowed into a sharp glare, and for a moment the cafeteria seemed to freeze.

Two of the girls shivered subtly, glancing at each other nervously. Wait… is he really glaring like that at us?

But the leader of the group didn’t flinch. Instead, she straightened, smirking. “Oh? And what exactly are you glaring at, Shinohara?” she taunted, her voice loud enough for a few nearby students to notice. “Are you… jealous that this little nobody is talking to you?”

Her laughter echoed, confident and mocking.

Haruto’s lips curved slightly, not a smile, but a subtle, controlled expression that carried razor-sharp confidence. “Jealous? No. I just can’t stand ignorance.”

The leader blinked, then laughed again, stepping closer. “Ignorance? You? You’re the joke, Shinohara. Always playing the hero, always pretending you’re better than everyone else.”

Haruto’s eyes flicked toward her, voice calm but cutting. “Pretending? Maybe. But at least I’m not the one desperate for attention, laughing at someone else to feel bigger.”

The cafeteria went quiet for a moment. The girl’s confident laughter faltered, her cheeks flushing as a few nearby students started snickering at her. She opened her mouth, but no words came out.

Sakura peeked up from her tray, her chest fluttering. A small giggle escaped her lips despite herself—but she immediately froze when the girl’s sharp glare snapped in her direction.

Haruto leaned slightly closer to Sakura, whispering just for her to hear. “Don’t worry about her. I’ve got your back.”

Sakura’s hands tightened slightly around her chopsticks, and she nodded. He's super nice... But I still can’t fully trust him… not yet. Memories… they still haunt me.

Even so, a small, quiet warmth bloomed inside her. For the first time that day, she felt a little less alone in this school, a little more protected… and maybe, just maybe, a little braver.