Dinner Party

6:30.

Ooto Teishoku-ya.

Forty boys and girls in uniform.

They filled a long table made by pushing several rectangular ones together, occupying most of the shop's space.

"I humbly receive."

A chorus of energetic voices rang out in unison.

Kitagawa Kai followed the crowd, pressing his palms together and murmuring the phrase before picking up his utensils.

"Hey, Kitagawa," Shibata Sō, sitting next to him, nudged him with an elbow, chewing on fried chicken as he mumbled, "Have you decided on a club yet? Sports? Or cultural?"

"Not really interested in any club for now. Maybe I'll drop by the Student Council for fun." Kitagawa Kai swallowed his mouthful of miso soup. "What about you?"

"I'm definitely joining the Soccer Club!" Shibata Sō immediately puffed out his chest, eyes lighting up. "I've been playing since elementary school. What I love most is the feeling of running across the field! And I heard our school's soccer team is pretty strong—they're definitely aiming for the national tournament this year!"

"Then you'd better work on your stamina."

"Of course! Five kilometers of morning jogging every day!" That drew a few "whoa" cheers from the nearby boys.

The topic quickly swung back to soccer and club activities, the atmosphere heating up again.

Near the corner, Himeno Yuki sat quietly, occasionally picking at her bowl.

Class B did have the best overall vibe and cohesion in the entire grade, but that didn't mean everyone enjoyed group activities.

There were always those who preferred solitude, and Himeno Yuki was one of them.

Looks like I'll need to talk to Ichinose about this.

Kitagawa Kai picked up his mug of barley tea and, using a refill as an excuse, casually moved to the side and front of Himeno Yuki.

He arrived beside her.

"Himeno."

Himeno Yuki paused her small bites and greeted him listlessly. "Kitagawa, good evening."

"Do you like being alone, Himeno?"

"Yeah, pretty much. Don't you think the class is a bit too enthusiastic?"

"Isn't this atmosphere a good thing?"

Himeno Yuki answered almost immediately, her voice still light. "It is good... It's so good that it makes it hard to know how to say no."

Her words carried a genuine sense of trouble, not complaint.

Class B was very warm, and Himeno Yuki didn't want to let everyone down, so she forced herself to attend the gathering.

Kitagawa Kai sat down in the empty seat next to her, keeping a polite distance.

The noise around them swelled higher and higher. Someone suggested going to karaoke after the meal, and it quickly gained support.

Himeno Yuki's brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, the movement so slight it was nearly invisible.

Kitagawa Kai took a sip of his barley tea, turned his head, and offered gently:

"Want to leave now? You look just about done eating."

Himeno Yuki snapped her head around.

Those dead-fish eyes reflected surprise for the first time, clear and sharp.

(Are you serious?)

Kitagawa Kai understood and confirmed with his gaze: Yes, right now.

He set down his cup and gave her an out. "I'm about done too. I was planning to stop by the convenience store anyway. If we go together, it'll be easier to let Ichinose know without making a big scene."

The reasoning was solid.

"Mm, okay." Himeno Yuki caught on.

The two walked one after the other, weaving through the gaps between the noisy tables.

As they passed Ichinose, Kitagawa Kai paused and said naturally, "Ichinose, Himeno and I have something to take care of. We'll head out first."

Ichinose's gaze flicked quickly between their faces, her smile still bright. "Huh? Leaving already? There might be more activities later!"

If it weren't for the activities afterward, Kitagawa Kai would have liked to stay and walk with Ichinose too.

"Yeah, I need to buy something."

Himeno Yuki stood slightly behind him and nodded.

Ichinose's eyes lingered on Himeno Yuki a moment longer.

"I see. Well, take care! You too, Himeno. Let's hang out again when you're free!"

On the way back to the dormitory.

Himeno Yuki fished a lollipop from her uniform pocket—this time a pale green one—tore open the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth.

"Thank you, Kitagawa-kun."

"Just happened to be convenient." Kitagawa Kai kept his hands in his pockets. "I needed some fresh air too."

That wasn't entirely an excuse.

The concentration of extroverts in Class B was way too high.

Himeno Yuki didn't seem surprised by the answer, nor did she press further.

She walked a few steps in silence, then murmured, "Ichinose-san... is really kind."

"She is."

"Almost too kind. Sometimes, it makes you feel... a little tired."

Kitagawa Kai glanced sideways at her.

Under the streetlight, her silver-blue hair shimmered with a cold luster, and those perpetually languid eyes held less tension than they had in the shop.

"You don't have to join every time, you know. Ichinose would understand."

The words were blunt, but carried no reproach.

"I know. But I can't bring myself to say it. Feels like it'd ruin the mood and make everyone uncomfortable."

Especially when Ichinose looked at you with those expectant eyes.

"The mood belongs to everyone, but your comfort is your own. Your classmates wouldn't want you forcing yourself either."

Kitagawa Kai paused, then added, "Of course, that's just my opinion. How you choose is up to you."

"Next time for sure."

She finally said quietly, though next time probably wouldn't be any different.

They walked a bit further until they reached the dormitory entrance.

"Well, this is it. I'm going for a run." Kitagawa Kai said. "See you, Himeno-san."

Himeno Yuki took the lollipop out of her mouth and looked at him seriously.

"Thank you for today, really, Kitagawa-kun."

She watched him turn and jog off into the path around the field.

Himeno Yuki stood alone for a few seconds before turning to swipe her card and enter the dormitory.

The field at night was empty and quiet.

After about five or six laps, his body was lightly sweating, and Kitagawa Kai was ready to head back to wash up and sleep.

As he passed the dormitory building, he caught a flicker of Horikita Suzune's figure near the small grove of trees.

Could it be... the iconic scene from the original?

But the timing was off.

Kitagawa Kai pressed himself silently against the wall, minimizing his presence to the utmost.

Just as he was getting close, from a deeper patch of shadow nearby came the faint rustle of clothing.

Ayanokoji Kiyotaka.

"Ohayou, fellow student." Kitagawa Kai greeted softly.

???

Who the hell are you, man?

How come I didn't notice someone got here before me?

Startled by the sudden stranger, Ayanokoji's face remained as flat as ever, his voice a monotone recitation: "Just passing by. I'm leaving."

With that, he didn't even wait for any response from Kitagawa Kai, turned around, and walked away.

Kitagawa Kai looked back and saw the two people facing off.

Horikita Suzune, and her brother, Student Council President Horikita Manabu.

They stood beneath a lush cherry blossom tree.

"Suzune, I didn't expect you to chase me all the way here!" Horikita Manabu's opening words carried a deep chill, with no trace of sibling warmth.