The school canteen was full of noise, sound of trays clattering, chairs scraping against the floor, and the lively chatter of students filled the air. Groups of friends, huddled together in their cliques. The rich aroma of food mixed with the sound of excited chatter, the perfect symphony of a bustling school day.
Shirogane maneuvered through the crowded tables, careful not to bump into anyone while trying to locate a quiet spot to eat.
Shirogane sighed. 'Of all the things to forget, why did it have to be my lunch box?' He had rushed out this morning after oversleeping—staying up late to review for their upcoming test had clearly taken its toll.
It was chaotic, the students' enthusiasm overwhelming, but he couldn't help but feel a sense of normalcy here. This was the part of his day that felt… familiar.
And then, he saw her.
The girl again, sitting alone at a corner table, surrounded by plates of food that seemed almost too much for one person to consume. From fried chicken to mountain-sized piles of rice, it was as if she had raided the entire menu.
Her eyes glinted, focused entirely on her phone, oblivious to the world around her. Her long hair with a black butterfly-like ribbon securing it, adding a delicate touch to her otherwise confident, no-nonsense posture. Despite the overload of food in front of her, her presence was almost intimidating—commanding, yet isolated.
Shirogane's footsteps slowed as he approached the table, mentally going over the things he'd heard about her, the girl with the attitude, the one who never seemed to be in the mood for socializing with strangers. He had no idea why she was always alone, but it was a mystery he couldn't ignore.
He took a breath and sat across from her, trying to sound casual. "Hey, I haven't asked your name yet. Mind introducing yourself? I'm Shirogane, the Student Council President. And you are?"
The girl didn't look up from her phone, not even glancing at him as she continued typing with a disinterested speed. The only acknowledgment he got was the faintest glance of her eyes, then she turn back to her phone screen.
Shirogane blinked, feeling a slight frustration rise. "It's bad manners to use your phone while eating, you know? And ignoring someone who's trying to have a conversation.
Still, no response. She continued to eat, the sound of her chopsticks scraping against the bowl the only thing breaking the silence. Her indifference stung.
Shirogane thought, his confidence momentarily faltering. 'Am I really this bad at talking to people?'
He stared at the girl, sitting there with her food fortress, and began questioning himself. 'Should I ask something else?'
In the highly complex and occasionally volatile world of social interaction, there exists a certain theory: The more an individual tries to break through a wall of indifference, the more that wall becomes reinforced. And yet, Shirogane—perhaps due to his eternal optimism or simply his inability to take a hint—has yet to recognize this crucial truth. The girl, whose emotional armor is as sturdy as the fortress of her meal, is not one to be defeated by mere politeness.
"Hey, uh, do you always eat so much? I mean, it's impressive, really. You must have a strong appetite," he tried again, attempting a more casual tone.
This time, her eyes flickered toward him again, and for a split second, there was the faintest shadow of something in those eyes. Was it annoyance? Indifference? It was hard to tell.
"Tch, so annoying," she muttered. "This is my diet. Don't just sit next to someone and start insulting them."
Shirogane's brain short-circuited. 'Diet?'
A lightning strike in the background with a dramatic sound effect, zoom in on Shirogane's dumbfounded face.
'DIET?! For who? An entire football team? Or do you have a secret twin hiding inside you that needs feeding?!'
She took a nonchalant bite of her standard-issue cafeteria sandwich and onigiri, chased it with a gulp of lukewarm carton milk, then casually reached for the side of soggy fries piled on her tray.
'Is she joking...? Even if she's serious, I'm honestly impressed. How does all that even fit in her stomach?' Shirogane closed his eyes, sighing in disbelief. 'And insulting her? It was just a comment—' he frowned internally, '—but yeah, that is a mountain of food.'
Still confused, he tried steering the conversation back. "So about the incide—"
"Would you stop already?... Stop acting like we're close friends!" she snapped, her voice cutting through the cafeteria noise like a blade. "Don't act like you know me!"
The once-lively canteen hushed. Heads turned. All eyes landed on them.
Shirogane froze, mouth open, stunned into silence.
Realizing the attention she'd drawn, the girl's face flushed. Without another word, she bolted out of the cafeteria.
"Wai—" Shirogane reached out, but she was already gone.
Inside the restroom, she stared at her reflection, trying to steady her breathing while reapplying her makeup—adjusting her eyelashes, dabbing on foundation, and fixing her lipstick.
'What is that guy's deal? He just kept bothering me...' she thought, glancing away from the mirror. 'Though... he 'was' kind of my type. Blonde hair, looked like a delinquent...' She quickly shook her head. "Nope. Still a creep. If he gets close again, I'll report him."
She picked up her phone to check the time—then froze. "Crap, I'm late!" she blurted, eyes widening at the time. "Ugh... all because that guy wouldn't stop bothering me."
Meanwhile, Shirogane was still trying to piece it all together.
'She looks familiar... like I've seen her somewhere before. Maybe that's why I acted so friendly? Or am I just imagining things?' He sighed as he returned his tray to the canteen window.
Covering his mouth with one hand, a small tear welled in his eye. "Why is the canteen always so expensive...?" he mumbled as he stepped into the elevator.
Just before the doors closed, a voice called out:
"Please wait! Don't close it yet!"
A blur dashed toward him—and made it just in time. As the doors slid shut, she stumbled in, the same girl, panting. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
It was him.
And Shirogane, frozen mid-sip from his water bottle, slowly lowered it.
To be continued...