Taking Bites

“It’s a little crowded.”

“Crowded how, E-chan?” asked Kusumoto-san.

“I uh, I mean. I’m fine,” I replied to Evi.

Over by the tree, the four of us sat on a bench that was probably built for a maximum of three people. Evi and I on the ends, our new companions in between. Although, technically, I suppose I actually knew Fujiwara-san longer. Hmm.

Speaking of, Evi turned to her. “Okay. I can understand these two being either oblivious or shy enough not to say anything, but you’re just totally cool with this?”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Kusumoto-san exclaimed, with myself chiming in a half step behind (much more quietly).

“Oooh, we almost said that at the same time!” She brought her hand up towards me. “High five!”

I tapped it gently.

“…We’ll work on that,” she grinned.

Fujiwara-san adjusted her blazer. “I’m fine Evi-san, but I can move if it’s bothering anyone…” She tugged at her tie. For an instant, her eyes darted over to me.

“O-oh. No, no, there’s no need. I-I’m okay!”

“It’s cozy,” added Kusumoto-san.

“Alright,” Evi sighed.

Opening up our lunches, Evi brought out another convenience store sandwich while the rest of us grabbed our respective bento boxes. Kusumoto-san tore hers open eagerly.

“What’ve you got Aki-chan?” Fujiwara-san asked.

“I made fried chicken cutlets! And a bunch of other stuff that’s less exciting but still good,” she yipped happily, nudging Fujiwara-san’s shoulder with her own.

“Wow,” I gasped, “That’s pretty cool. I’ve done fried chicken a few times before, but never very often. Getting a bunch of hot oil going to fry something in always makes me kind of nervous, y’know?”

Kusumoto-san’s head spun over to me, “So you made your own lunch too Ri-chan?”

“Uh, yeah…” I said, waving my chopsticks vaguely in a transparent attempt to appear casual.

“Cooking buddies!” She bumped her chopsticks against mine.

“Haha, um. Thanks,” I gave a smile in turn.

“Am I actually the only person here who can’t cook?” Evi asked, exasperated.

Fujiwara-san raised a hand, “Er, truth be told, I can’t either. My mom made this for me.”

“Ah.”

That answer seemed to satisfy her.

Before we began eating, I stopped for a moment. “Evi, do you want some of my food?”

“…Are you going to reach over these two?” she asked, tilting her head in their direction.

“Well, you sat down first, and I wanted to wait until everyone else had a seat…so…um.”

“It’s fine Rin. Thanks, but I’m okay.”

“I can get up?” I offered.

“What, are you going to feed her?” Fujiwara-san chuckled, before quickly biting her tongue upon seeing my face. “Er, um. Because there’s nothing wrong with that, and it’s completely normal,” she reassured, her voice softening.

“N-no. I wasn’t. I mean, maybe. Uh. Is that not normal? I mean, of course it’s not normal. And we knew that at the time –yesterday- also, which is why we decided to make it intentionally awkward by feeding each other and, uh— I, um… This explanation isn’t helping is it…?” I trailed off.

Evi glared at Fujiwara-san.

“…”

“Sorry, look, I wasn’t—”

“Normal is overrated,” Kusumoto-san interjected.

“…Maybe. But normal doesn’t get made fun of,” I sighed.

Her chopsticks grabbed a piece of chicken, gesturing with it in the air like a baton. “Sure, people might make fun of you for being different, but that doesn’t make them right and you wrong. Different isn’t necessarily bad. It’s just different.” She took a bite. “As long as you’re a good person that’s all that matters.”

Evi squinted her eyes. “That was surprisingly smart, Aki.”

“And that’s unnecessarily mean.”

“You called me a devil yesterday.”

“I told you! I meant it as a compliment.”

“…”

“But also, sorry. I won’t do it again.”

“…Thanks.”

Fujiwara-san cleared her throat, “I would also like to clarify that while I was ‘making fun,’ it was intended as a lighthearted joke… Nothing serious.” Her right hand pulled lightly at the ends of one of her pigtails. Fingers occasionally knocking against the purple hair tie. 

She felt guilty.

And so did I.

“It’s fine, I’m fine. I just, uh, I’m always sort of like this. You don’t have to worry either. It’s just, this is sort of an adjustment, and uh… I’ll try not to overreact too much,” I tried to steady my voice, “I don’t want you to have to treat me like I’m made of glass.”

“Okay…” she brought her hand down, “Thanks.”

“No problem.”

Still chewing, Kusumoto-san picked up another piece of chicken.

She held it up in front of me.

“So Ri-chan, are we sharing food or what?”

I bit in.