Daifuku

The next day I was sitting at my seat. Scrolling through my phone.

Kiyoko-san. Fumiko-san. Uragao-san. Dad. Lemon. Hiraru-san. Asami-san. Sachi-san. These names were shown on the screen with a (1) mark in front of Lemon’s name.

I checked the messages sent by Lemon asking whether I am going to take Shigeo to Asami-san or should she go, To which I replied “Don't worry, I will go.”

Closing her messages I looked at the day displayed on screen.

Saturday, 21 July

The test starts next week.

Preparations and confidence? So-so.

My previous ranks in middle school were around 100.Not aiming too high but I at least want to be in the top 50 in grade. At least that much should be attainable with all my hard work. If not I will literally lose hope in the ‘hard work pays off’ line.

Tapping on the desk to grab my attention Kiyoko-san asked,

“Mae-kun did solve the last maths problem?”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Can I take a look?”

“Sure, give me a second.”

Searching through the bag, I pulled out my notebook and handed it over to Kiyoko-san.

A loud burst of laughter grabbed our attention outside the classroom.

It was from the boys. The one I always talk about. Being all friendly with the new transferred senpai.

Ironic enough right?

In a single day the hatred and jealousy towards him was completely flipped into affection.

I was amazed how quickly it escalated. After the first period ended the senpai came and called them out, second period they started talking more casually, and now we are here.

“Thanks.” A smile of appreciation for help and my notebook were handed to me and her feet trailed back to her seat..

<>

During lunch break I was again strolling outside. This time, to find a spot for eating my lunch.

Always eating in the classroom can be boring, for a change of pace I walked out in search for a good spot.

After searching for a while when I couldn't find a good spot I went to the canteen.

I did think of eating at the bench near the vending machine but, no. I don't want to run into senpai again.

The strawberry milk took a whole night to get digested.

In the canteen, a dim corner was the only seat available my eyes could find best for me. There were other seats but they were left because they were either short on one friend or the seats were extra. And one of them was between the boys from my class.

If I had gone there it would have been like walking into my own death.

With the presumption from what's happening recently I thought nothing will happen and went to the other seat in the corner available next to them.

Sitting down, I opened my lunch box and grabbed the cutlet with the chopsticks.

“Lemon, she is gonna beat me in cooking someday… she already did actually ” were the words I muttered after tasting it.

She did try making most of the food today, and I gotta say she is on par.. no, better than me.

Or maybe food tastes better when prepared with love and by someone else.

A burst of loud cheerful voices blew away my moment of savouring the food from the next table.

It was the boys.

Unfortunately, my eye meets with one of them.

I didn't hear what he said but he nudged the other one sitting beside and grabbing the attention of the rest of them he pointed towards me.

Whatever it was, I only sensed trouble.

Changing the seats, now they were seating around me.

“Hey Ugly guy! Mind sharing your lunch with us.” Guy A said it after picking up the red sausage.

Taking a small bite he immediately spit it out and throwed it back in my box.

“It tastes like crap, yuck!”

Spilling the tea and miso soup in my box Guy B said,

“It will taste better now or more like what you regularly eat.”

As I became their play time they laughed. Mixing in whatever they could in my lunch box they enjoyed the feeling for which they sought for .

Not many of the students noticed it because they were trying not to grab their attention.The other seat beside me did notice it but well, who would try to become a hero or something and step in to cause a ruckus.

Even if they did, I don't think they could hold the ground against these guys.

Some would think why don't I fight back?

It's not like I didn't, but nothing changed. I did showed anger, asked them the reason and fought back,

1st time when they kicked my pen on ground,

2nd time when they tore off some pages from my notebooks without asking

3rd time when there were random doodles all over my textbook

4th time when bag went missing

5th time when their were rocks in my shoes

6th time when PE uniform was fully drenched

7th time when my shoes went missing

8th time when they threw the basketball at my face during P.E

9th time when they tried to extort money from me

.

.

.

.

.

I can go on.

After feeling fulfilled they left me alone.

My lunch box looked like black curry.Bubbles popped out from it, I closed it and went to search for a dustbin.

<>

Walking Shigeo to Asami-san house felt like walking uphill sand dunes. Each step reminded me how much I weigh, which clearly felt a extra than I measured. I could feel every cell yelling I AM TIRED!

The reason was surely my emptied stomach and the P.E lesson we had today. And I couldn't even buy something from the canteen because I didn't foresee this happening to me and thought of checking if i had money or not in the morning.

Never again I am going to eat my lunch near them.

It was also my fault thinking maybe they are bored with me and will not bother me again. Whatever triggered it just gonna bring me misery. I can only hope it was just on a whim rather than they are going to do all those things to me again.

Knocking on the door I was standing beside Shigeo while trying to hold my weight on the two legs which felt like they were supporting two buildings. If i didn't, I would be greeting while laying on the ground.

Opening the door the gentle smile welcomed us,

“Ara Ara, Welcome~” in a calm and soothing voice.

Opening the door a little more, Asami-san invited us in.

I didn't have any shift and my body was on the verge of collapsing so I went in.

Sitting on the couch I chugged the water from the glass which tasted like heaven's holy drink.

Standing in front of me, Asami-san's daughter looked at me intently. I felt embarrassed on the thought that I may have made a weird face.

“Is there something on my face, Ayako-chan?”

“N-No. Want some more, onii-san?”

“Thanks but no. I will be taking my leave now.”

Before I could stand up Asami-san came with two Daifuku on the plate.

“Ara, leaving already? At least eat these before leaving.”

Goddess!

Were the lights behind Asami-san real or my delusion?

Before my stomach growls loudly in public and humiliates me or even extremes I collapse in front of a lovehotel, I ate those delicious daifuku.