The cafeteria was buzzing with its usual midday chatter, trays clattering and the air rich with the scent of warm food. But in a corner, near the window where the sunlight poured in softly, sat Shin and Yuki—just the two of them.
Yuki looked down at his empty hands, a soft frown crossing his features. "Ugh… I forgot my bento today," he muttered under his breath.
Shin glanced up from his tray. "You did? That's rare for you. You always make those adorable little ones with the egg rolls."
Yuki huffed, turning his head. "Don't call them adorable… they're just normal."
"They're cute. Just like you," Shin said casually, but without his usual teasing lilt. His tone was warm, sincere.
Yuki's cheeks tinted just a little, but he didn't snap back like he usually did. Instead, he softly mumbled, "I was just in a rush this morning… I guess I was distracted."
Shin didn't ask what distracted him. He could guess. He was pretty sure he was the reason.
"Then, here," Shin said, reaching into his bag and pulling out a small, neatly wrapped bento box.
Yuki blinked. "Huh? What's that?"
"For you," Shin said, offering it gently. "I made this. It's egg sandwich."
Yuki hesitated, looking from the bento to Shin's face.
Shin scratched the back of his neck and gave a small, sheepish smile. "It's kind of a… peace offering. Or maybe an apology. Remember our first day at school? About five days ago?"
Yuki tilted his head.
"The cafeteria. You were eating your egg sandwich, and I… kind of took a bite without asking."
Yuki stared at him, remembering. That moment when Shin had leaned forward and taken a bite, looking right into his eyes. His heart had skipped then—though at the time, he only knew how to respond with flustered tsundere panic.
"You—! I forgot about that…" he muttered, then glanced at the sandwich now in his hand. He'd already taken a bite without thinking.
Shin laughed softly. "So that's two indirect kisses now. We're getting quite the collection."
Yuki's face went pink in an instant. "Y-You tricked me again!"
"No tricks this time. I just wanted to make it up to you properly. That sandwich… I made it the very next day after that incident. I was going to give it to you."
Yuki blinked. "Wait, really? Then why didn't you?"
Shin sighed, resting his chin on his hand. "Because that ridiculous competition between you and Haa-chan started."
Yuki looked away. "Oh… right."
"And then the next day, I got pulled into going out with you after school, so I couldn't give it to you then either."
Yuki peeked at him. "You… really made it again last night? Just for today?"
Shin nodded, looking down, cheeks subtly red now. "Yeah. I thought, if you forgot your bento today, maybe it was fate."
Yuki stared at him for a moment, the sandwich halfway to his mouth. His heart felt strange—light and heavy all at once.
"Shin…" he murmured softly, then took another bite.
Shin watched him eat, the warmth in his eyes softening into something deeper. "You like it?"
Yuki chewed slowly, swallowed, then nodded. "Yeah… it tastes like you. I mean—it tastes like your cooking! Idiot!"
Shin chuckled, delighted. "So, you've memorized my flavor already? That's kind of romantic, don't you think?"
Yuki nearly choked. "D-Don't say stuff like that!"
But his voice lacked real anger. It was fluttery, gentle—like he didn't want to push Shin away at all.
Shin leaned in just a little. "Yuki."
Yuki looked up, startled by how serious his voice had gotten.
Shin looked at Yuki, eyes gentler than usual. "I like spending time with you," he said quietly. "Not because it's funny to tease you. I just… like being around you."
Yuki blinked, his cheeks warming as he looked down at the bento in his lap. "You say things like that so easily…"
"I mean them," Shin said, his voice calm. "I like watching how you react to things. I like how your eyes light up when you talk about stuff you like."
Yuki's fingers brushed the edge of the box. "I don't even notice when I do that."
"You do. And it's cute."
Yuki sighed through his nose, embarrassed but not pushing him away. "You're annoying."
"But you're smiling."
"…Shut up."
They both laughed softly, the air between them warm, like a blanket just out of the dryer.
Then Yuki paused. "Wait, I dropped a bit of sandwich earlier—"
Before he could reach for it, Shin leaned over and casually plucked it from the plate, popping it into his mouth without a second thought.
Yuki stared at him. "Seriously?!"
"Five-second rule," Shin said with a grin. "Plus, it's yours. I figured I'd steal another indirect kiss."
Yuki groaned and buried his face in his hands. "You're unbelievable…"
"You're still blushing."
"I'm always blushing around you!"
"Exactly."
Shin leaned back in his seat, eyes soft and content. Outside the cafeteria window, the sunlight filtered in, catching in Yuki's hair and making it shimmer at the edges. Shin found himself quietly mesmerized.
There were no games right now. No one else to impress. Just this—this quiet closeness that neither of them dared name yet, but both of them wanted to hold onto.
And somewhere between stolen bites and sidelong glances, something gentle and real was growing.
"You haven't touched your milk," Shin pointed out with a soft smirk. "Is the cafeteria ambiance too romantic for you?"
Yuki snapped his eyes up from his tray, cheeks puffing. "It's not that! I'm just… thinking."
"About me?" Shin teased, leaning in slightly.
"No—well—not right now!" Yuki huffed, flustered. "I mean—"
Shin laughed softly and leaned back, giving Yuki a break. "Alright, alright. What's on your mind?"
Yuki picked up his milk, then immediately set it down again. His voice was softer this time. "Those two from this morning… Haru and Sora."
Shin's brow lifted in interest. "Oh?"
Yuki's gaze dropped to his sandwich. "They're really… close, huh?"
Shin leaned forward, arms resting on the table as he studied Yuki's expression. "That bothering you?"
"No! Not like that!" Yuki shook his head quickly. "It's just… I've never seen a couple like them before. They're so open. Comfortable. Like they don't care what anyone thinks…"
Shin gave a hum of agreement, eyes thoughtful now. "Yeah. Those two are special. Always been like that."
Yuki looked up, curious. "Since when have you known them?"
"Since middle school," Shin replied. "Aiko introduced me. Sora was the cool loner guy back then. Haru was this hyper little menace who followed him around like a lost kitten."
Yuki blinked. "Really? But Sora's so composed now."
Shin chuckled. "He always was, on the outside. But Haru has a way of… unbuttoning people. Literally and emotionally."
Yuki choked on his milk.
Shin grinned. "Relax. I mean it in a sweet way. Mostly."
Yuki dabbed at his lips with a napkin. "They just seemed so… okay with everything. Like Sora didn't even blink when Haru kissed him in front of everyone."
"Because he doesn't care who's watching," Shin said simply. "To him, Haru's the only one that matters in that moment."
Yuki's face warmed again, not from embarrassment this time, but something gentler. Something aching.
He whispered, "That must be nice…"
Shin tilted his head, watching him closely. "You want something like that?"
Yuki looked away, shy. "…I think I do."
There was a short pause. Shin's chopsticks finally moved, lazily grabbing a piece of fried tofu from his bento.
"You will," he said casually, chewing. "Someone'll look at you like that too one day."
Yuki peeked at him through his bangs, heart doing tiny flips. "…You think so?"
Shin met his gaze, smile small but sincere. "Yeah. Might even already be someone who does."
Yuki blinked. "Huh?"
Shin didn't elaborate. He just went back to eating like he hadn't just thrown a bomb into Yuki's chest.
Yuki stared, heart thudding, mouth slightly open. Then—
"I-I didn't mean it like that," he blurted, face red. "I was just curious about them! That's all!"
Shin grinned with all the patience in the world. "Sure, sure."
"I mean it!"
"I believe you~"
"You're teasing me again!"
"You missed it, didn't you?"
Yuki's face scrunched as he looked away, arms crossed. "Maybe a little…"
Shin chuckled, gaze softening again.
"Wanna know more about them?" he asked.
Yuki blinked. "About Haru and Sora?"
"Mm. Stories. Gossip. Embarrassing moments. I've got a few."
Yuki hesitated, then slowly nodded. "Y-Yeah… I think I'd like that."
Shin leaned in conspiratorially, his voice low like he was sharing state secrets.
"Okay, so once in second year, Haru snuck into Sora's class during lunch to kiss him—and got locked in the broom closet with him for thirty minutes."
Yuki gasped. "N-No way!"
Shin grinned. "They came out rumpled. Very rumpled."
Yuki's cheeks flamed again. "W-What were they doing?!"
Shin shrugged dramatically. "Broom-related activities, probably."
"Th-That doesn't even make sense!"
Shin laughed openly now, watching as Yuki squirmed between curiosity and horror.
The bell rang overhead, signaling the end of lunch.
Yuki sighed. "Guess we should go…"
Shin stood up lazily, stretching with a yawn. "Let's walk."
And as they walked together down the corridor, Yuki realized he wasn't just curious about Haru and Sora anymore.
He was… hopeful.
And maybe, just maybe, a little bit in love.
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END OF CHAPTER : 54 : EGG SANDWICH AND BLUSHING PROMISES!
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