To Love In The 57th Century (sengen)

Ch 11 \\ cola

Dong... Dong...

The school bell rang for lunch as the class just finished giving their presentation on their project. The students got up from their seats and walked to their own friends and cliques.

Senku wore a satisfactory smile, "good job at the front, you had the most claps out of everyone in the classroom."

"What can I say?" Gen flipped his hair. "I'm charismatic that way."

"Forget what I said," Senku rolled his eyes.

Before the duo reached the rooftop to join Yuzuriha and Taiju, a series of loud footsteps resonated around the halls. It was Hina. She caught Gen by the arm as she was slouching, gasping for air.

"Gen," Hina raised her head to Gen. "Join the psychology club."

"Huh?" Gen was bemused.

------

Senku entered the rooftop. His attention was caught by Taiju waving his arms. Calling out his name in an annoyingly deafening volume; making a lot of people turn their heads as a result.

"Hey," Senku sat beside the two.

"Where's Gen?" asked Yuzuriha.

"Oh, he's signing up for the psychology club."

"Psychology club?" Taiju mused.

"Turns out Hina found out Gen had a knack for psychology and recruited him," Senku took a bite out of his bento.

"Aw... I guess we won't see him as often as last week," Yuzuriha sighed.

Despite the sunny day, Senku wondered why the sun glow's slightly dimmed. Maybe it was the clouds.

Lunch seemed quieter than usual.

------

As usual, Senku waited for Gen by the shoe lockers. He didn't get to see him during the entire lunch and they didn't get to talk much in the classroom. The whole afternoon seemed long. Somehow.

"What's up?" Gen smiled, making Senku notice that his eyes lingered on the other man for longer than usual.

"Did you join the psychology club?"

"Yeah," Gen replied.

They walked out of the school as the sky bathed in orange. Strangely enough, it was silent.

From the walk at the gate to their street.

The two had nothing to say.

Two kids were hovering on the vending machine. One was standing on the other's back, pressing buttons until a clank came from the box. The children took the can and walk away, laughing and talking.

"Care for a cola?" Gen asked. "My treat."

"Sure thing," Senku answered.

A familiar sensation hit the green haired man as his eyes fell on the other fumbling his hands on the machine. They were much shorter.

"I remember back in summer, you were much shorter," Gen mused. "This machine was new in our neighborhood and you had spare coins with you."

Senku chuckled, "it was Cola I gave you when you wanted Fanta. You were short as well, mind you."

"No shit," Gen nudged the other man as two clanks came in front of them.

The sound of carbon escaped from the cans. The sound of fizz was all they could hear.

"Maybe it was because it was scorching hot," Gen pondered out loud. "Cola became my favourite on that day."

Senku said nothing, but a flutter of emotions flew within him. As if a burden was taken away.

"Were you sad that I'll be spending lesser time with you, now that I'm in a club?" Gen asked, a teasing smile plastered on his face.

"Don't be narcissistic," Senku scoffed, playing along with him. "I'll do just fine without you."

"I'm hurt," Gen laughed.

If Senku were a bit honest with himself, he wished time would stop at that moment.