Lighter | Noriaki Kakyoin

6| Eggshells

"Why don't you come eat with us?" Kakyoin chimed behind me as everyone packed their food to leave.

"Are you sure it's really okay... with the both of you?" I glanced at Kujo waiting for us to finish. The last time I ate with them was to talk about the details of our day out, but I had no excuse now.

"Of course! You may find it hard to believe, but I wasn't the one who suggested it." He was right, I did find it hard to believe. Why would his ever so friendly companion want me around? I couldn't have stricken that much of a good impression yesterday.

"Well then... sure?" He smiled brightly at my discomfort, making some of it dissipate. "Oh, just give me a moment. I'll meet you there." Almost immediately after he nodded and marched on his way, Chiyo dragged on my arm as if I was a sack of beans.

"You're ditching us again!" Her voice and expression showed me a genuine combination of both disbelief and anger, the trigger of my guilt.

"That's not it! It's just for today..." Even I didn't believe my words as I looked away, my personal truth revealer. "I promise I'll be with you two tomorrow."

"What are you going to do if you break your promise?" Her cat-like smirk indicated the cocky mood was back. Now that's the Chiyoko I know.

"We get to decide that. Let's go." Semi went ahead, bringing her along. Seeing him saying this little was a heavy indicator of how much of a bad humor he was in. I dearly hope it isn't because of me, or who knows.

Suddenly aware of all the precious minutes of lunch I had already lost, I grabbed my food and ran to the rooftop. My hand hesitated at the knob as I took note of the silence. Were they not here? Would I get in trouble if I was caught up here all alone? Shaking my head to shoo these thoughts away, I pushed the door open.

The two men looked at me simultaneously, on what appeared to be their usual places here. Kujo had his back to me, leaning over the edge, as Kakyoin sat down next to him. They appeared to be enjoying pleasant silence before I arrived. Their relationship always makes me wonder.

"Sorry, I'm late." I quickly sat where I did last time, in front of them. They excused me and resumed what they were doing - which was pretty much nothing. Usually, I don't mind sitting quietly with someone, but I had to say something. "I was walking near the infirmary and I noticed they hired yet another person. Oh, you two weren't around these last months, right? A very mysterious accident happened with our nurse, and they've been having trouble finding a fitting substitute since then. I know it's a little dire, but I'm still curious to know what happened..."

"Oh. I heard." Kakyoin choked his words out, becoming paler and paler by the second. His eyes focused on the ground directly ahead of him, his hands like stones on his sides.

"I'm so sorry, was it something I said?" I desperately tried to get his attention again, if there is any chance left of me making up for whatever I said wrong. "I didn't know this was a sensitive topic, I-" My rambling would have probably carried on, had Kujo not interrupted it.

"Gimme a break. Can't you just talk about something else?" His eyebrows twitched in clear impatience as he stared me down, but I could tell this was his way of caring for his friend.

My thoughts drifted for a moment, searching for a safe topic. I glanced at Kakyoin, who was looking a little better. He had turned his face to the wind, and the red locks floating around gave him a little bit of color back.

"Um... Have you two heard about the upcoming tournament?" Their quizzical glances were enough. "The school is holding a video games tournament next week. They added a console on the library to attract more students, and this is the opening event, it seems."