Let's Talk More

As we sat atop the rooftop, enjoying the sun-drenched afternoon and savoring our lunches, Hachimura's question caught me off guard. "What are your plans after school?" he asked, his voice carrying a tinge of curiosity.

Chewing a mouthful of delectable curry rice, I shrugged my shoulders in response. "I don't know, Hachimura. I haven't really thought about it. No concrete plans yet."

A smile spread across Hachimura's face, his eyes lighting up with genuine enthusiasm. "That's great!" he exclaimed, his words brimming with excitement.

Perplexed, I stared at him, chopsticks suspended mid-air. "Hm?" I managed to mumble, my curiosity piqued.

Without missing a beat, Hachimura leaned forward, his voice slightly hesitant. "Um, so then... do you want to walk home together after school?" he asked, a hint of nervousness coloring his words.

Caught off guard by his unexpected request, I found myself staring at him, chopsticks still hanging limply from my mouth. After a brief moment of silence, I finally managed to find my voice. "Sure, Hachimura. I don't see why not," I replied, my tone casual yet tinged with curiosity.

A spark of joy danced across Hachimura's eyes, his excitement palpable. "Really?" he asked, his words filled with genuine surprise and delight.

Nodding in affirmation, I continued eating, my cheeks flushing slightly at the unexpected turn of events. "Yes," I replied, my voice soft. "I'm looking forward to walking home together with you, Hachimura."

As the bell rang, signaling the end of our lunch break, I hastily gathered my belongings, eager to return to the classroom. "Well, lunch is over. Let's head back to class already," I began, but before I could finish my sentence, Hachimura gently took hold of my arm, halting my hurried steps.

"Wait a second!" he exclaimed, his voice laced with urgency.

Caught off guard once again, I couldn't help but furrow my brows. "What gives, dude?" I asked, a mix of confusion and curiosity evident in my tone.

Hachimura hesitated for a moment, his words seeming to hang in the air. "Can we stay like this for a little longer?" he finally spoke, his voice soft and vulnerable. "I mean, can we stay on the rooftop a bit longer? Having lunch with you is kind of relaxing, and the breeze feels so nice up here. I want to talk with you more."

My bewilderment grew, my mind racing to make sense of his request. "We can talk more while we're in class, just you, me, and Hiroshi," I suggested, trying to find a compromise.

Hachimura's eyes bore into mine, his grip on my arm tightening ever so slightly. "No," he insisted, determination gleaming in his gaze. "I only want to talk with you, not Hiroshi or anyone else. Just you, Takumi."

Caught off guard by his unwavering gaze and the sincerity behind his words, my cheeks grew warm, a subtle blush coloring my face. I sighed, giving in to his heartfelt request. "Fine," I relented, my voice a whisper. "We can stay up here for a few more minutes. But then, it's back to our classroom, got it?"

A radiant smile lit up Hachimura's face, his joy contagious. "Okay!" he exclaimed, his excitement palpable.

Taking a seat beside Hachimura, I found myself swept up in conversation more profound and intimate than any we had shared before. He opened up, revealing fragments of his past, the reasons behind his school transfer. Time seemed to stretch as the minutes flew by, the world around us fading into insignificance.

Lost in the rhythm of our exchange, I almost forgot the question burning on my tongue. "Oh, I almost forgot to ask," I interjected, curiosity lacing my words. "Have you decided on which club you're joining?"

A flicker of contemplation crossed Hachimura's eyes before he replied, his voice filled with a newfound passion. "Yes, I'm thinking about joining calligraphy," he shared, his words tinged with a touch of uncertainty.

A sigh escaped me, my voice betraying a hint of teasing. "Of all the good clubs out there, you decided to join the most boring one?" I jested, hoping to lighten the mood.

But Hachimura's laughter filled the air, his amusement genuine. "Hahaha, it's not boring," he countered, his voice laced with affection.

Curiosity burned within me, and I pressed on, unable to resist. "Then why were you only 'thinking' about joining it?" I prodded, hoping to unravel his true intentions.

A brief pause hung in the air, his gaze locking with mine. "Because you're in calligraphy," he confessed, his words soft but resolute. "When I heard that you were in calligraphy, I had already made up my mind. I didn't want to join the basketball club with Hiroshi. Calligraphy truly interested me."

Caught off guard by the depth of his sincerity, my flustered state was impossible to hide. "Well, any of the other clubs would be a better option than calligraphy," I murmured, my voice trailing off.

A genuine smile danced upon Hachimura's lips, his eyes sparkling with affection. "Wow, Takumi, you really are cute, you know that?" he remarked, his words embracing my heart.

Before I could gather my thoughts and form a coherent response, Hachimura redirected our attention. "Come on, let's head back to class. Hiroshi's probably worried about you," he said, his hand reaching out, a silent invitation.

Gazing at his outstretched hand, a mixture of apprehension and excitement flooded my being. With a deep breath, I extended my own hand,

"Alright, let's go then," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.