Chapter 18: Yamazaki’s Invitation

Main Teaching Building, Class 1-A Classroom.

Ding-ling-ling-ling!

“Alright, exam’s over. All students, stand up.” The elderly proctor taps the desk, his expression kind and tone gentle. “If you keep writing, your score will be voided.”

The sounds of desks bumping and chairs scraping fill the room. Many students look like they’ve seen the apocalypse, their faces etched with despair.

Seeing this, the teacher, no tyrant, offers comfort. “No need to stress. This exam’s just for reference, not overly strict. Those who fail will need to retake it next weekend, but it’s out of 100. Normally, 60’s passing, but this time, 30’s enough. Got it? Feeling better?”

“Heck yeah!” Several students perk up instantly.

After counting the submitted papers, the teacher leaves. The students of Class 1-A split into three factions.

The first: the go-home crew. Lunch break’s short, but some live close enough to make a ten-minute round trip, enjoying a hot, cozy meal at home—always more comfortable than school.

The second: the store/cafeteria crowd. Yingcheng High has two school stores, stocked to meet two-thirds of the students’ needs. The single cafeteria serves decent but unremarkable food, yet its unbeatable value draws many. Students grab bread from the store or a quick cafeteria meal.

The third: the bento brigade. Whether it’s last night’s leftovers or a lovingly crafted meal, pulling out a lunchbox earns envious stares. They save money, avoid the store’s crowds, and don’t need to hunt for cafeteria seats. These folks often push desks together, swapping dishes with friends—a scene straight out of the anime Shangguan He once dreamed of.

“Man, unreal.” Pulling his lunchbox from his bag, Shangguan He sighs. Not at the class’s 70% female ratio. No, it’s Miki. “That girl really pulled it off…”

Recalling the exam’s start, he can barely keep a straight face. Before reporting to the proctor, he noticed Miki’s calm demeanor and asked, puzzled, “You’re not nervous at all?”

“Ask not—the mountain sage has her ways.” Miki’s cryptic reply.

After reporting, they sat and started the exam. Shangguan He barely wrote his name and class when he saw the all-multiple-choice test. Meanwhile, Miki breezed through, handed in her paper, and strutted out. Before leaving, she shot him a wink. “(> ω ∂)/☆”

Good grief! He knew exactly what was in her head: “Why agonize over a test I don’t get for two hours when I can turn it in early and chill?” She didn’t bolt in three seconds probably because she saw the multiple-choice format, randomly filled it out, and banked on luck.

“Heard idiots have great luck. Hope I, who answered seriously, didn’t fail while she, who guessed, passed.” Munching on a sandwich, Shangguan He casually sets a flag.

He scans the classroom. In his first playthrough, he only romanced Hikaru in this class. Due to her personality, she’s a bento type but eats alone in the bathroom—an odd breed. Not seeing Hikaru is fine, but where’s Miki? Weird. She’d usually be the first to mooch my food. She did in the first playthrough. Where’d she go?

Though curious, he doesn’t dwell. Today’s been a whirlwind of chaos since morning. His heart’s exhausted. This rare moment of peace is too precious—he’ll savor it alone.

Yingcheng High, First Cafeteria, Floor 1, Section B.

“Excuse me, is this seat taken?” A female student with a tray politely asks Hikaru.

“Ah! Me?” Startled, Hikaru looks around, confirming it’s her, then stammers, “Uh, I, um… sorry…”

The cafeteria offers four table types: single seats by the window, two-seaters, four-seaters, and six-seaters. Design is one thing, reality another. Groups take window seats for the view. Solo diners, for various reasons, pick random spots at larger tables. Hikaru’s at a two-seater, with the opposite seat empty, prompting the question. Most students don’t mind sharing, but only if the seat’s free.

Hearing her response, the girl, confused, presses, “Huh? Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Is the seat taken?”

“Uh… I, uh…” Hikaru’s face burns red, her speech regressing to toddler-level. To her, “reserving” a seat feels wrong. Why? She can’t quite say. But for that vague reason, she’s never reserved a seat herself. This is her first time holding one for someone else.

This is only her second cafeteria visit. Last semester, during the astronomy club’s welcome event, the president took new members here for a simple gathering. She liked the vibe then, but when she came alone later, an odd resistance stopped her at the door. She’s not sure what she was resisting. If a classmate hadn’t dragged her here today, she might’ve avoided the cafeteria for the rest of high school.

Where are you, Yamazaki-san? I don’t have a tray, I’m not eating, just holding this seat… So awkward… So uncomfortable… Her face scalds, her feet itching to dig a hole to hide in.

“Hey, classmate, if it’s free, I’ll take it.” The girl hesitates to sit opposite the gloomy Hikaru, but with the cafeteria packed, missing this spot means a ten-minute wait.

“Ah, ah… ah—ah!” Hikaru planned to leave when the girl sat, thinking it’d be unfair to stay after failing to reserve the seat. Her first three “ahs” reflect this. Her legs tremble, ready to bolt. But the final “ah” carries a different emotion—she spots Yamazaki.

“Sorry, classmate!” Miki, tray in hand, leaps in, plunking two lunches on the table. With an innocent look, she apologizes sincerely. “My friend’s shy and bad with words. I asked her to hold this seat. Really sorry!”

“…Oh.” The girl frowns, says nothing, and leaves.

“Hey, I heard her mutter we’re nuts.” Miki plops down, passing disposable chopsticks to Hikaru with a grin. “The cafeteria’s got some duds, but I picked the good stuff! Your oyakodon—add soy sauce and shichimi halfway through, it’s divine. I’m having curry. Yingcheng’s cafeteria works with local farmers—pure, natural meat and veggies, great taste, though the curry powder’s a bit light… Hm? Why aren’t you eating? Relax, it’s on me!”

“…Yamazaki-san.”

“Yeah?”

“Why are you treating me to lunch?”