𝐏𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐋. hq

「4th set」: apple juice

及川 徹
t o o r u    o i k a w a
— year 3 class 6 —

Minoru and Iwaizumi were unusually close, I noted, watching the girl hand a paper bag filled with plastic-wrapped rice balls to the guy beside me.

Somehow, it wouldn't be surprising if Iwa-chan liked her, I thought. Though, the idea never failed to give an unpleasant feeling in my gut.

"You can give them away during club" she told him. "Our group accidentally made too much during class. Divide them among yourselves".

"Thanks" my childhood friend muttered, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly, as he gave her the apple juice he bought just recently when we passed by one of the school's vending machine.

"Here. Return gift" he told her casually.

The girl chuckled, "there's no need for that. But thanks anyways".

We stared at each other for a second or two, a habit I was pretty used to after having to bear with the awkwardness we always seemed to carry around each other.

"Try not to cause too much trouble" she smirked smugly, teasing me before turning to Iwaizumi once again.

"Well, I'll see you two around".

Lost in my thoughts, Iwaizumi, nuddged me, once the girl left, scrunching his face at my weird behavior. "You were unusually quiet" he pointed out.

"I've been thinking..." I told him, looking out the window, as I sipped on the box of milk.

"That can't be good" I heard his teasing remark to which I defensively argued.

"What's that supposed to mean?".

He answered casually, "Nothing good ever happens, whenever you think".

"That's mean, Iwa-chan!" I gasped accusingly, feigning hurt from his remark.

"It's accurate though" he countered effectively, before asking, "so what's up?".

"I'm just wondering" I told him, trying to seem as passive as possible, "Just what's between you and Noru—"

"So, you're jealous?" he cut me off before I even finished my sentence.

"I'm curious" I corrected his assumption.

"Well, if you really want to know, then I don't really have a reason not to tell you" he said, "but rest assured we're just friends".

"If you were, you didn't have to give me that paper bag, she could've given it herself" I countered, recalling the incident from a few weeks ago. "And, who hands people a ton of rice balls just like that?".

"You're in between us" Iwaizumi looked at me.

For a moment, I almost thought he was saying that I was the entire reason why he couldn't make a move on her. For a moment, I thought he liked her the same way I did just a few years ago.

"Before you assume anything, though, I'd like to emphasize that I don't like her in that way. But you're right, there's something between us. Were friends because of you" he pointed at me. "Wouldn't it be awkward if your ex hands those things, if she's as concerned as before despite agreeing to be just friends?".