“So. Mind explaining why you two didn’t come yesterday?” Yasu said as he sternly glared at the other two. In their usual spot during lunch time, both Hajime and Souta were present after a day’s absence. Indignified, Yasu couldn’t help but get mad at them.

“I didn’t feel like it.” Souta said.

“I had a doctor’s appointment.” Hajime added.

“Souta, you never feel like it! Hajime, you always have a doctor’s appointment! How dare you leave me alone!” Yasu protested.

Souta was unwrapping his cafeteria lunch along with Hajime, while Yasu just started eating his mother’s lunch while pouting. As they ate, Hajime turned towards Yasu and asked him a simple question, “Right, can you tell me what you guys did yesterday?”

“Huh? Hell no, you reap what you sow.”

“I had no choice, okay?!”

“Lies! Can’t you suck it up like a man?! Also, you’re always sick! I swear every time I hear you come up with another illness! Is your immune system that bad?!” Yasu snarked.

“Well, I’m sorry I was born this way! Just because you rarely get sick does not mean others have the same privilege.” Hajime reasoned— Yet Yasu was having none of it.

“Guess you’re right, I’m still not lending you my notes though.”

“Can’t you stop being selfish?!”

“Why would I not? Being selfless does not benefit me at all, if it doesn’t bring anything to the table, then don’t make the offer.” Yasu shook his head. Hajime was pissed, he didn’t really understand his thought process at all. While they were friends for a few years now, they didn’t really share any intimate details like mental health and such.

“Then, Yasu. You ate alone yesterday here I presume?” Souta, who was watching the exchange, asked Yasu a question which usually would be obvious, if it wasn’t for his timid and unsociable demeanor.

“I didn’t want to… So, I asked Hatsue if I could sit with her and Miyuki to eat lunch. They agreed, so I ate with them all day… But I was uncomfortable…” Yasu confessed.

“Heh~ Hatsue, huh?” Hajime smirked.

“For the love of G—”

“What’s wrong with that?”

“Right! I guess you don’t really know since we’re in different classes. Well, you see— Everyone says that Yasu likes Hatsue, not only that but they think that the two don’t really look like they are ‘only friends’, that’s why—”

“Whatever he tells you, it’s bullsh*t.” Yasu interjected.

“Oh?”

“Look, I don’t know why people still think that, I mean— Can’t a boy and a girl have a friendship with no deceivings? There’s not really any need to fall in love with every girl I interact with, don’t you think?”

People didn’t really think much about two close friends, however, the thing changed when they were of opposite genders. Hatsue and Yasu both got along incredibly well, their relationship felt like that of two siblings, Hatsue being the older sister that has to deal with her younger brother.

This was exactly how the two (?) perceived their relationship, they probably thought of each other as siblings, there wasn’t any need for both of them to be in love. After all, they were only children and weren’t ready for a relationship, which involved time and money.

There was no denying that something like falling in love could happen in the future, however there was also no denying that something like the two of them being close best friends with no strings attached could also happen.

They were two sides of a coin that no one could toss in the air, a coin that only the future held in its hand.

“I don’t really think that’s it. After all, isn’t it common to fall in love with a girl?”

“No, Hajime… it’s not normal… I mean, you are the one who falls in love easily. You’ve been rejected like what? Nine times? And as far as I’ve been told, weren’t most of them from Hisui? If anything, she had to give you a harsh reality check for you to leave her alone…”

“It also happened during later or early middle school.” Souta added.

“That’s even worse! You’re just a kid!” Yasu scoffed.

“Like you never had a crush on anyone!”

“I did, but I didn’t really understand those feelings! If anything, I only continued being friends with them cause I knew it would lead to nothing. Plus, that’s part of childhood, ain’t it?”

Yasu cut the conversation short and didn’t bother in responding back to Hajime if he wasn’t done. “I have another question, Yasu.”

“Hm? What’s up?”

“…Who was Hatsue again?”

““…””

“What? Did I say something wro—”

“The hell does that mean?! Hatsue Shiratori, class 2-B, she’s been our classmate for around four calendar years now?! How come you don’t know her—”
“I mean, he’s right. He’s not from our section so it’s normal he wouldn’t really know… Plus he doesn’t really talk with many people either… especially women.”

“I swear you two just weren’t born sociable…” Hajime pressed his palm to his forehead in annoyance. The other two shrugged and continued their conversation, this time it was Hajime who was being left out.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

Two weeks have passed, and the same routine has been kept between the three. Sometimes the two didn’t come and Yasu was left alone, in which cases Hatsue and Miyuki welcomed him.

As a consequence, a clear change has taken form between the relationship between him and the two girls.

Leaving his chemistry classroom, he bumped into Miyuki who had her bag over her shoulder and carried a book in her arms. “Sup, Miyuki. What class are you having right now?”

“Chemistry too, what about you guys?” Miyuki said a little startled but with a clear adaptation of Yasu’s personality.

“We’re having English now, though my brain is still fried and I feel like collapsing, hahaha.” Yasu laughed.

“What did you guys do in class…?” Miyuki frowned.

“One question quiz.”

“Again?!”

“Yes. Well, I don’t want to be late, so see you around~” Yasu waved as he left Miyuki behind, the latter simply turned back and went to class.

“You two seem to be getting along.” Souta, who was also Miyuki’s classmate, said.

“Who’s fault do you think it is?” Miyuki snarked.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

…How…? Hatsue said as she watched the two boys sit at their table at lunch.

Hajime and Yasu.

“Say Yasu.” Miyuki started.

“Souta didn’t come.”

“I know that much! But don’t you two normally eat on your usual spot nonetheless?!” Hatsue interfered.

“I mean, normally yes. But since we had something to do; we couldn’t have the opportunity to go early to the spot. So it was taking… along with all the benches. And that’s when it hit me! I could come here and we could eat together!”

““…”” Both Miyuki and Hatsue had nothing to say, after all it wasn’t like they could chase them away, the two said nothing after that, and only did what they normally do. While they were already accustomed to Yasu… Hajime was an exception.

⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘⫘

How am I supposed to react?

From one day to another, Miyuki and I were no longer the only ones accompanying the other. Now, there were two others, my classmates Yasu Ito and Hajime Shiraishi. I’ve known Yasu Ito the longest, due to the two of us being good friends when I first transferred. I still didn’t know how to properly deal with them.

Suddenly everything is starting to change… at least that’s how I perceive it. I don’t really want to think about it right now, but I’m pretty sure this occasional relationship of ours will last long. I don’t say this because it’s gonna crumble… but because I already know that it will only strengthen.

And I know that even Souta will get thrown into the mix.

“What am I going to do…” I sighed as I leaned against my bed frame.