Stepping Beyond the Pixels: Loves Intricate Game

Chapter Five: Thoughts to Ponder

You were lost. You had no idea what you were thinking, saying you would go to the home economics class when you knew for a fact that the layout of this entire school was completely unknown to you. You would have asked a teacher but they were all in the teachers lounge, also a room unknown to you. "I'm so stupid," you said outloud to yourself. "I should have asked Yuki to come with me..." 'But Akui was with her, and judging by his insistent behavior, he would have not liked it if I convinced her to come with me.'

There was a moment during your walk where you ponder asking a fellow student for help, but then you remember what happened in class earlier. You were ashamed to admit it, but the whole situation embarrassed you. Not really Makino's words, she was just being a bully, but rather the pitiful looks and words that the other students were giving you. You could tell that they had good intentions, you just didn't like the fact that they were treating you as if you were completely helpless. You knew that if you asked around for directions, giving the same excuse that you forgot, then you would be met with the same sympathetic expressions.

"This is so stupid..." you whispered to yourself, feeling the sting of tears prick your eyes. At the beginning of your journey there was more of an urgency to your steps, but now you were just walking at a sad, snail's pace. You were so preoccupied in your self pity that you didn't even notice a familiar brown haired boy walk by you.

"L/n-san?" It was Akihiko.

"Oh, Fukumoto-san." You turn your head away to hide your tear stricken face. "I-I didn't see you there. Sorry, I am a bit of a mess right now. You can carry on with your lunch."

"Clearly you are distressed, what happened?" He stood in front of you now. "Was it Makino-san again? You should know not to take everything she says seriously, she's just trying to get under your skin."

"No, no it's not Makino. I just..." trailing off you try and think of an excuse but found none. "I'm just– I don't know– lost, I guess." You finally admitted with an exasperated sigh. "I forgot my lunch at home, so I don't have anything to eat, and I thought that maybe I could make something in the home EC room, but then I realized that I had no idea where that's at. Don't-" You held up a hand. "Don't look at me like that, just, please don't. I already feel helpless as it is, I don't want anyone else to look at me like that." By the end of your rant you had turned your head away in shame.

There was a moment of silence before Akihiko said. "Alright, let's go together then."

Your head snapped in his direction, baring a confused expression. "What?"

"You need to go to the home economics classroom to make your lunch, correct?" He turned to face the opposite direction that you were going. "I can take you there. It's our next class period anyways, so it shouldn't be a problem." He motioned for you to follow him to which you complied with, taking note of the hallways and classrooms so that you could better understand the school's layout.

The classroom wasn't as far as you thought it would be, you actually passed the hallway it was in at some point on your journey. When the two of you arrived at the classroom, Akihiko excused himself saying he would be back shortly, leaving you alone to your own devices.

The classroom was fairly spacious with different cooking stations lined up in rows in the center of the room. Lining the back wall were various cupboards, cabinets, and shelves that presumably held pots, pans, and various other non-perishable items. There was also a large fridge, an oven, and a door that led to a smaller pantry. It all amazed you because, by the time you were in high school, home EC had become less of a popular class in America and your school didn't offer it.

The sound of the sliding door opening had alerted you to Akihiko's return. "Sorry to keep you waiting, but I wanted to make sure that we got the 'okay' to use the home EC room." He said, adjusting his glasses. You noted he also had a few papers in his hand.