𝟭. 𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙄𝘿𝙀 𝙊𝙁 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙎𝙏𝙊𝙍𝙔 || 𝐡𝐚𝐢𝐤𝐲𝐮𝐮 [✔]

Chapter 12: Karasuno

𝖘𝖚𝖓𝖓𝖞𝖘𝖎𝖉𝖊𝖇𝖆𝖇𝖍𝖊'𝖘 𝖋𝖎𝖈𝖙𝖎𝖔𝖓𝖆𝖑 𝖘𝖙𝖔𝖗𝖞
#052923
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The bell rang, sharp and clear, signaling the start of lunch break. A wave of restlessness swept through the classroom even before the sound fully faded.

"Kiritsu!" the teacher called.

Chairs scraped lightly against the floor as everyone stood at once. The students bowed to their math teacher, Yamada-san, thanking him for the lesson. He gave a small nod before stepping out, sliding the door closed behind him.

The moment it clicked shut, the entire class exhaled as if they had been holding their breath.

"Finally!" Jiro shouted dramatically, throwing his hands into the air. "Lunch break!"

A few students laughed, shaking their heads. Someone whispered, "Jiro never changes."

"He's Jiro, the class clown," Reika said with a small laugh as she turned her seat to face Aeris. She nudged her desk closer. "So, Aeris, wanna eat lunch together?"

Aeris nodded, relieved and glad to be included. "Sure."

Reika grinned widely, bright and expressive. Just as she was about to say something else, another voice suddenly cut through the chatter.

"Reikkaaa-chwaann!"

Saeko came rushing over, her voice high-pitched with excitement.

"Ohhh! Saeko-chwann!" Reika bounced up from her seat, and the two of them launched into a strangely complicated handshake.

Aeris watched them with a small smile. They were loud, but in a warm, harmless way.

Before she could fully settle back into her seat, a whispery voice appeared right behind her.

"Hey, Aeris."

She jumped, nearly dropping her lunch container. "Ah—!"

"Airi-chwann," Reika snapped, turning quickly. "Don't be creepy. Greet normally."

Airi blinked, her expression blank but apologetic. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Sorry... I didn't mean to scare you."

Aeris let out a small laugh, shaking her head. "It's okay. I just wasn't expecting someone to be that close."

"Anyway," Reika continued, looking around, "where's Koharu? Isn't she usually with us during lunch?"

"She said she won't be here," Saeko replied, setting her lunchbox down and sitting cross-legged on her chair. "She has some group meeting."

Aeris tilted her head. "Group meeting? Do we have group projects already?" She frowned slightly. "Why aren't we having one?"

Saeko waved her hands quickly. "No, no! Koharu's in a different class. They're doing some presentation thing."

"Oh." Aeris let out a sigh of relief. "I thought I was already missing something."

Reika laughed. "Don't worry. If we had something important, we would've dragged you with us."

Aeris smiled at that, warm and grateful. It had only been a few hours since the school day started, yet they were treating her like she'd been with them much longer.

The four of them shifted their desks closer until they formed a small circle, their knees almost touching. The noise of the classroom faded into a distant backdrop—laughter from the hallway, the clatter of lunchboxes, the hum of conversations—but inside their little circle, everything felt comfortably contained.