The classroom carried a low, uneven murmur as lunchtime settled in.
Voices overlapped softly, rising and falling without direction.
Sunlight slipped through the windows and spread across the desks in pale bands, warming the edges of notebooks and chair legs.
Tetsuo remained seated at his desk, posture steady as he opened his bag and set his lunch in front of him.
The lid clicked quietly as it came free.
The scent of seasoned rice drifted out first, followed by the faint warmth of freshly cooked omelets, mixing with the air already thick with food and voices.
Noboru shifted his weight and rested an elbow against the edge of Tetsuo's desk.
The chair legs scraped softly as he leaned in, drawing a few nearby glances.
His mouth curved slightly as his voice carried over the low hum of the classroom.
"Hey, Tetsuo. We're heading to the cafeteria. You coming with us to grab lunch?"
Tetsuo lifted his eyes for a moment, then let them settle back down.
His expression remained flat, fingers pausing against the edge of his lunch container.
"No… I brought lunch from home."
Noboru leaned in, his attention settling on the open container.
"For real?"
He shifted closer and looked inside.
His eyebrows lifted as the scent reached him, a quiet pause settling in before his voice followed, softer than before.
"…It smells good."
He straightened a little, gaze returning to Tetsuo.
"Your mom really takes care of you."
Tetsuo picked up his chopsticks, their tips aligning neatly between his fingers.
His gaze stayed on the food as his hands settled.
"…Actually."
He paused briefly, then continued in the same even tone.
"My little sister made it for me."
Noboru straightened, eyes widening as he leaned in again.
"What? For real? Your little sister can cook?"
He paused, then tilted his head.
"How old is she?"
"She's twelve."
At the next desk, Shino leaned in slightly, his gaze settling on the lunch.
His eyes widened just a little, and the corners of his mouth lifted.
"Your little sister did a great job with the omelets," his voice staying gentle.
"They look good."
Noboru's hand moved without warning, fingers slipping into the container.
He lifted one of the omelets and straightened, already chewing.
"Delicious."
Tetsuo's chopsticks stopped midair.
His eyes lifted slowly and settled on Noboru, expression flat, unchanging.
Noboru leaned back with an exaggerated groan, shoulders dropping as he waved a hand once.
He cleared his throat, shifting his weight toward the aisle.
"Let's leave him here with his home-cooked meal."
He turned partway toward Shino, already stepping away.
"Come on. Let's go."
Shino lifted a hand and scratched his cheek, his fingers brushing the cloth tied around his lunch box as he adjusted it.
His gaze drifted aside for a moment before returning.
"Well… actually, my aunt made lunch for me today."
A brief pause followed, his shoulders rising slightly.
"So… I guess you're on your own, Noboru."
Noboru recoiled a step, his face tightening as his shoulders sagged.
"What? Not you too?"
He dragged a hand down his face, letting out a rough breath.
"If I'm the only one from the team there, it's going to look bad…"
He stopped short, eyes shifting as his expression changed.
His brows drew together, then lifted slightly.
"…Wait."
His mouth curved as the thought settled in.
Makoto didn't bring lunch.
Before he could say it aloud, a sharp voice cut him off.
Makoto slid his hand into his blazer pocket and turned toward the door, already taking a step away.
His pace never slowed.
"Don't even think about it. I'd rather be caught dead than be counted as your friend."
He continued down toward the door without looking back, voice dry and even, leaving Noboru staring after him.
Noboru lunged forward, feet skidding as a chair scraped loudly beside him.
He reached out while closing the distance.
"Hey, wait up!"
Makoto didn't turn.
His stride lengthened as he moved further down the hallway, shoulders set.
"Stop following me."
Noboru kept pace a step behind, irritation tightening his expression as they moved into the hall.
His shoes struck the floor a little harder than before.
"I'm not following you,Idiot. We're both heading to the cafeteria."
Back in the classroom as it gradually quieted, Tetsuo finished his meal without haste.
He took a sip from his water bottle, then folded the empty lunch box with familiar care and returned it to his bag.
Voices drifted in faintly from beyond the door, layered with the sound of footsteps passing through the hall.
He stood and stretched his shoulders once before turning toward the exit, deciding to walk for a bit.
As he reached the doorway, his step stopped short.
He bumped into someone.
He looked down and saw Sachiko standing there, a lunch box held in her hands.
Sachiko drew in a small breath, her grip tightening briefly around the lunch box.
A faint warmth touched her cheeks before she steadied herself, lifting her gaze to him.
"Oh… it's you, Tetsuo."
Sachiko shifted her weight and looked up at him a faint smile on her face, fingers resting along the edge of the lunch box.
"Have you eaten lunch yet?"
Tetsuo gave a short nod, his gaze steady.
"…Yeah."
Sachiko's eyes dipped for a moment, the corners of her mouth tightening before she smoothed her expression.
Her fingers shifted against the lunch box as she looked back up at him.
"I see…"
She hesitated briefly, then steadied her voice, keeping it light as she met his gaze.
"Um… could I talk to you for a bit, Tetsuo?"
Tetsuo's brows drew together slightly, his gaze settling on her face.
A brief pause followed before his voice came out low and even.
"…What is it, Sachiko?"
Sachiko took a step back into the hallway, turning just enough to face him again.
One hand lifted in a small gesture for him to follow, her grip still steady on the lunch box.
"Just walk with me," she added, already moving.
"You'll see."
Tetsuo followed after a short pause, his steps measured.
The sound of their shoes carried softly down the corridor as they passed the bulletin boards, bright notices lining the walls.
Neither of them spoke, the space between their footsteps filling the silence.
They stopped in front of a door he recognized.
Tetsuo's gaze lifted to the sign, his eyes narrowing slightly.
"This is... the student council room."
The recognition settled in, and his body reacted first.
Tetsuo turned his shoulders away from the door, one foot already shifting back as he started to leave.
Sachiko's hand reached out before he could take another step, her fingers closing firmly around his.
The warmth of her grip held him in place, steady and deliberate.
She smiled up at him, her expression calm.
"Wait. Just a moment."
She didn't loosen her hold as she spoke again, her tone light but certain.
"Do you remember the promise you made?"
Her thumb pressed slightly against his hand.
"Back when I was still trying to get you to join the student council."
He tilted his head a fraction, eyes steady and cool as he looked down at her.
"…What promise?"
Sachiko's gaze lowered briefly before lifting again, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little.
"We did make a promise."
She steadied the lunch box against her side and continued, her voice calm.
"That day, I said I would try to understand why basketball matters to you."
A short pause followed.
"I did."
Her fingers tightened slightly around the handle.
"So now… it's your turn."
"Spend a day with me at the council."
The hallway fell quiet.
Tetsuo drew in a slow breath, then let it out through his nose.
His eyes shifted aside for a moment before returning to her.
"…Fine."
A faint smile touched Sachiko's lips as she released his hand and reached for the handle.
The door opened with a soft sound.
Inside, the student council room was still and orderly.
Papers were stacked neatly across the desks, and sunlight spread across the polished floor.
At the far desk, Hitomi, the president, sat reviewing a set of documents, her attention focused as she turned a page.
Hitomi lifted her head, her expression calm as her gaze moved from the papers to the doorway.
"Oh… I didn't expect you to come by during lunch," she noted, attention settling briefly on Sachiko.
"Especially since I didn't call for you. Still, I'm glad you're here."
Her eyes shifted, pausing as they landed on Tetsuo.
The corner of her mouth curved slightly, a knowing look passing across her face.
"And it seems you finally managed to bring Tetsuo with you."
Tetsuo remained where he was, shoulders loose, his expression giving nothing away.
Hitomi set her papers aside and lifted one hand slightly, her tone easy.
"Relax."
A hint of amusement touched her voice as she looked at him.
"It's not as if I'm going to force you to join the council."
She leaned back in her chair, gaze steady.
"The positions are already filled."
Hitomi's eyes stayed on him as she added the thought, her tone light, almost casual.
"Of course… arrangements can be made."
Tetsuo didn't hesitate.
His gaze remained steady, his posture unchanged as the words left him without weight.
"I'll pass."
Sachiko shifted her stance, stepping slightly forward.
Her tone stayed light as she spoke, eyes lifting toward Hitomi while keeping her posture composed.
"Well… actually,"
She turned her head just enough to acknowledge Tetsuo's presence beside her.
"He'll be acting as a council member today."
Hitomi's smile lifted just a little more as she reached for a stack of papers.
She gathered them neatly, then extended them toward Sachiko.
"Oh? Is that so.Then I suppose I should make use of the extra help.This is the budget breakdown for the Robotics Club."
Her hand lingered a moment before releasing the stack.
"Please deliver this paperwork to them as well."
Sachiko accepted the papers, drawing them against her chest with a small nod.
She turned toward the door, already moving.
"Alright. I'll take care of it now."
The door closed softly behind her.
Hitomi's attention shifted back to Tetsuo.
She rested her elbow lightly on the desk, fingers tapping once as she studied him.
A trace of amusement lingered in her eyes.
"And you, Tetsuo. You've been given the most troublesome job."
She slid the books closer to him, their weight clear from the way they settled.
"Please take these to the literature club room."
A brief pause followed, her gaze staying on him.
"There's no rush. You can make more than one trip if you need to."
Tetsuo's gaze dropped to the box filled with books, assessing it for a moment.
"…No. This is fine."
He bent slightly and lifted it in one smooth motion, the weight settling easily in his arms.
The fabric of his sleeves tightened faintly as his grip adjusted, his posture remaining steady as he straightened.
Hitomi blinked once, her attention lingering on him longer than before.
The surprise showed briefly before she masked it, fingers tightening around her pen.
For someone so reserved, his strength stood out more than she expected.
The hallway lay mostly quiet as Tetsuo walked, the box steady in his arms.
His steps remained even as he approached the Literature Club room.
He shifted his weight slightly and pressed his shoulder to the door, easing it open just enough to slip inside.
Tetsuo stepped inside and lowered the box onto the floor, the weight leaving his arms with a muted sound.
He straightened slowly, eyes lifting toward the room.
"Delivery for the Literature Club."
Tomoe sat near the window with her back to him, posture still as she read.
A page turned quietly.
She didn't react.
Tetsuo paused, then inclined his upper body in a brief bow, hands settling at his sides.
"…Excuse me."
With no response, he straightened and turned toward the door, already preparing to leave.
Tomoe finally lifted her head.
Her fingers stopped on the page, holding her place as her eyes moved to him.
She adjusted her glasses, studying his face without urgency.
"Oh… you're Tetsuo Kawaguchi."
Her tone stayed plain, neither sharp nor warm.
"The one who stood by the window and blocked the air."
She shifted slightly in her seat, gaze remaining on him.
"I didn't know you were with the council."
Tetsuo stopped near the door and turned back, his posture unchanged.
His gaze remained steady as he answered, voice plain.
"…Actually, I'm not. I'm just keeping a promise.To the vice president."
"Oh… I see."
She adjusted her glasses again, her tone thoughtful rather than doubtful.
"I didn't expect someone like you to go out of your way for others."
Her attention stayed on the books as she leaned forward a little, taking in their height.
"…That's a lot."
She paused, fingers resting on the edge of the desk.
"Even for a group, it's quite a bit to read."
Tetsuo's attention shifted to the top of the stack, where a single loose paper rested.
Tomoe noticed the pause.
Her shoulders eased slightly, and her voice dropped as she spoke.
"…I'm the only one who actually reads here."
She glanced away, fingers pressing lightly against the edge of the desk.
"Unfortunately."
Tetsuo lifted the loose paper from the top of the stack and held it out to her.
His expression stayed neutral as he extended his arm.
"…I don't mean to pry. But...is it because you're the only member here?"
Tomoe nodded once, a quiet breath leaving her as her shoulders eased.
"You're right.. I'm the only member."
Her gaze dropped to the books.
"It wasn't always like this. This is the fifth disbandment notice they've sent since the semester started."
She looked back up, voice steady.
"I know the rule. Without five members, the club doesn't count. They'll shut it down soon."
Her fingers tightened against the desk.
"This room is the only place I can stay quiet and think."
A short pause followed.
"So… I'll probably have to give it up."
Tetsuo's gaze remained on her as he spoke, his tone even and unforced.
"…Why not look for new members. There are plenty of first-years."
Tomoe's lips lifted slightly, the expression faint and restrained.
"…You're right."
Her gaze drifted toward the window.
"But if the first-years have already heard the rumors about me, they won't come here."
She looked back at him, the smile still there but thinner.
"In that case, there's nothing to do but accept it."
Tetsuo looked at her without changing his expression, his gaze steady and unhurried.
"…Are the rumors true."
His voice stayed low, firm, without accusation.
Tomoe's lower lip quivered for a brief moment before she steadied it.
"…They're not true."
Her hands curled lightly at her sides.
"I would never do something like that."
Tetsuo spoke without pause, his tone unchanged.
"Then why does it matter."
His eyes stayed on her.
"If it isn't true, it shouldn't stop you from asking people to join."
He extended his hand toward the desk, palm open.
"…Do you have any membership forms."
Tomoe blinked, a brief pause passing before she answered.
"…Yes. I have five."
She reached into a folder and handed them over.
"Thank you."
Tetsuo accepted the papers at once, lowered them to the desk, and began writing without comment.
Her breath caught.
"…Wait. Why are you—"
Tetsuo continued writing as he spoke, his tone even.
"I'm on the basketball team, so I won't always have time after school. But I can come here during lunch and read with you."
He slid the form across the desk and finally looked up.
"That should count as one member. Your first. And there's no rule against being in two clubs."
Tomoe stared at him, speechless for a moment.
The faint afternoon light filtering through the window reflected in her eyes.
Tetsuo shifted his weight and turned toward the door.
"I need to help the president with another club."
Tetsuo gave a brief nod, then reached for the door.
The handle clicked softly as he pulled it open, and he stepped into the hallway without another word.
Tomoe lowered her gaze, her voice quiet.
"…It's more complicated than that, Tetsuo. Those rumors aren't harmless. You don't know what they're about."
She hesitated, then looked up, her expression easing despite herself.
"But… thank you. For caring."
A small pause.
"Under that cold exterior, you're kind."