🥀 Blinded by Rose Petals 🥀

Part 8 - What did I do?

{Rantaro's POV}

It's been a few hours I've talked to Kiyo. For some reason, time has been passing longer than usually. Maybe it's because I'm excited to meet him? I'm not even sure.

Finally, I hear the bell ring for lunch. I sigh out of relief and reach into my bag for my lunchbox. Actually, yesterday, when I went to the rooftop, I didn't bring any food with myself. That was since I just wanted to be left alone, but... Korekiyo didn't have his lunch either.

Maybe he just finished it quickly and decided to go for a stroll? He doesn't seem like the type of guy to eat everything in one bite. Especially after his cup of tea was slowly getting more and more empty when we were out in the coffee shop. I guess that's a drink, but... When was he taking his chance to drink if I've never seen him take his mask off?

His mask...

Why was he wearing it in the first place?

"Rantaro, let's go." My desk gets approached by a familiar person. It's Shuichi, of course. I look at him, then over at the classroom's door. Kaede waves at me slightly when she notices me staring in her direction.

"Yeah, let's." I stand up from my chair and leave my bag at the backrest. I didn't tell either of them yet that I'm going somewhere else to eat my lunch today, but I hope they will understand.

. . .

Me and Shuichi head out of the classroom as Kaede is already rushing towards our spot. I look as Shuichi is trying to catch up with her, clinging onto his lunchbox not to lose it. I stare at them with a smile and hear them talking about today's lessons already, then start heading the opposite way.

...

"Rantaro?" I suddenly hear from the other side of the hallway. I stop myself and then turn around.

"What's up?" I shout back at Kaede. I can't really see them well anymore, but I can tell that they're both confused on why exactly I am not going with them.

"Where are you going?" I hear again from Kaede, trying to bring myself to say it. I can't just run away without telling them a word. Only cowards would do that. "...I'm meeting up with someone else today! I hope you don't mind!"

They both stare at me blankly. Did I do something wrong? Can I not just wander off by myself anymore? Are there chains that tie me to them or something?

I can see Shuichi beginning to go back. His steps are loud. Like an elephant, thudding with every move. Kaede follows with much quieter steps, but somehow more frequent than Shuichi's.

They don't even get too close to me, just pause in three meters length away.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Shuichi starts off with an accusation. Obviously I didn't need to tell them any of my plans. We didn't even make any stupid promises to keep meeting up for lunch. It just so happened that we did it every day. "Can't I get a break from the routine?"

"Routine...?" Shuichi asks as if I just said something bad. Seriously, what is his deal? "No, but Saihara is right. You should've at least told us."

"It's none of your business where I go..." I didn't want to think that my freedom was getting taken away. By my own friends too. Their expressions got even worse as I was even starting to fear them. "I'll catch you later. Maybe we'll go somewhere after school!"