"You look different today, Noguchi-kun. Did anything good happen to you?"
"I look just as yesterday, just as the day before... And what kind of business do you need here, Imai?"
"Good question. Hmm... Maybe I'm filling in for Katou-chan so that you feel less lonely?"
"That doesn't make any sense, so much so that I'm starting to wonder if I have already been trapped."
"You're not really welcoming, huh?"
In the far corner of the cafeteria, at his favorite spot at the table by the wall, sat the regular Asahi. But the girl sitting next to him wasn't Sana; it was Kaori. On the table was a lunch box that Asahi had prepared at home in the morning, while Kaori had herself a tray of today's cafeteria special: tempura curry.
"Anyway, isn't Katou-chan always with you?" Kaori asked, biting into a piece of tempura.
"She's out with her friends today."
"You don't know where she is and who she's with?"
"I don't particularly care. We're not husband and wife like you and Sajou..."
"Oh, thanks for the compliment."
"That wasn't supposed to be one."
The night before, Sana had told Asahi that she would spend time hanging out with her friends and would thus not be able to join him for lunch. Asahi simply acknowledged the information without asking any further, as he didn't see it as relevant.
Since Asahi had afternoon classes, he still needed to prepare a lunch box for himself. He made some meatballs along with white rice. Although still very well prepared, the meal felt much less enticing than usual. He started to feel the nuisance of having to prepare a meal for only himself. It was an inexplicable feeling.
"So, I guess that means I have Noguchi-kun all to myself for today. Hey, can I have a piece of this meatball?"
"Ah... wait..."
Since the meatballs were in such a convenient spot in the lunch box, Kaori reached over and quickly grabbed a piece before Asahi could even say anything. He couldn't conceal his look of dismay, but it was too late to say anything now that she had already put it in her mouth.
Noticing Asahi's dissatisfaction, Kaori chuckled and picked up a small piece of tempura from her plate.
"I'm giving you this as an exchange. Now, say ahhh..." She turned to him and offered tempura with her chopsticks.
"... I'll pass!" Looking away from her, Asahi politely denied the offer.
Asahi couldn't quite understand what was going through her mind as she tried to do that embarrassing act with such enthusiasm. Not to mention they were simply study buddies, and they just so happened to sit next to each other today.
"Ah, I got it. Better save it for Katou-chan, am I right? Didn't know you were that possessive."
"Hey, watch it."
Asahi snapped at her and had a few bites of meatballs to swallow his frustration. He wasn't sure why he reacted so strongly, but whatever the reason, Kaori's comment seemed to have ignited a fire within him.
He could hear her faint, subtle laugh.
"Speaking of which, how is Sajou doing? He didn't go to class this morning; is something wrong?" After calming down a little, Asahi turned and asked Kaori. He hadn't seen Sousuke in class and wondered if he might be sick.
"He's doing fine." Kaori calmly answered, surprising Asahi. "He will go to school this afternoon and continue working on the presentation. I suppose what you made us do took a toll on him."
YOU ARE READING
Story of a Rhythm Game Couple
RomanceAsahi now entered university, starting an independent life away from his parents. As a true rhythm game lover, he usually went out to play at the arcade near his home to unwind, but that's where he found his significant other who also shared the lov...
