Chapter 4 "Tides of the Office Rooftop"

“Wow, finally it’s done. Oh, it’s almost break time too,” Oki said, stretching and glancing at the clock on the wall. Her shoulders relaxed as she completed her task, ready for a moment of rest.

“Wanna eat together, Habi-san?” Ashi asked, her voice bright and hopeful as she turned towards Habi-san, who was still engrossed in her paperwork.

Without lifting her gaze, Habi-san shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m heading to the cafeteria. I forgot my lunch today.”

Ashi’s hopeful smile faltered slightly. “We can share my tiffin if you want. I brought enough food with me.”

“No, thanks, Ashi,” Oki replied, her voice muffled by the rhythmic clacking of keys.

“Okay, if that’s what you want,” Ashi said, her shoulders drooping slightly as she gathered her things.

The office was a cacophony of activity, with phones ringing and keyboards clattering. Ashi made her way to the rooftop, escaping the harsh fluorescent lights for the crisp, refreshing air outside.

“Eh? I didn’t expect you to be here, Kichiro-san,” Ashi said in surprise as she spotted Haari standing by the railing, his gaze lost in the cityscape.

“Oh! Nicawa-san,” Haari responded, turning with a look of surprise.

“Where is your lunchbox?” Ashi asked, noticing Haari’s empty hands as she took a seat on a nearby bench, placing her lunchbox on her lap.

“Lunch?” Haari looked puzzled. He shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes drifting back to the horizon.

“Aren’t you here to eat your lunch?” Ashi asked, her eyes darting between Haari and the lunchbox.

“No,” Haari said, shaking his head. “I usually come here for the fresh air. The rooftop has such a nice breeze compared to the ground level.” He inhaled deeply, the cool air visibly easing his tension as he glanced over at Ashi.

“Yes, the air is so cold and fresh up here. It feels like we’re in a completely different place,” Ashi agreed, setting her lunchbox beside her on the bench.

“Are you here to eat your lunch?” Haari asked, curiosity evident as he turned to face Ashi more fully.

“Yeah, Habi-san said she’s going to the cafeteria today, so I came up here to eat my lunch,” Ashi said, gesturing towards her lunchbox with a hopeful expression.

“Then I should go. Eat your lunch before the break time is over,” Haari said, starting to turn towards the door, concern etched in his features.

“What about you?” Ashi asked, a frown creasing her forehead.

“Eh, about me?” Haari replied, glancing back at Ashi.

“Aren’t you going to eat your lunch?” Ashi asked, her eyebrows raised in curiosity.

“Oh! I don’t have one,” Haari admitted, his shoulders slumping slightly as he looked away, the cool wind ruffling his hair.

Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

“Why? Don’t you know how to cook?” Ashi asked, her voice tinged with concern.

“I know how,” Haari said, his gaze fixed on the distant skyline, “but it’s kind of boring to cook when you live alone.”

“Then you always eat outside?” Ashi inquired, leaning forward slightly, her lunchbox momentarily forgotten.

“Yeah, there’s an uncle’s shop in front of my apartment building. He makes really good food, so I eat there every day,” Haari said, a hint of fondness in his voice as he looked back at Ashi.

“But doesn’t that get expensive to buy your food every day?” Ashi asked, her brow furrowing with concern.

“Hm, kind of, but it’s alright. I don’t have any special hobbies to spend my money on, so it’s fine,” Haari shrugged, his gaze drifting to the city below.

Ashi’s shoulders drooped, disappointment flickering across her face.

“Oh, the time is running out. I’ll go first. Make sure you come down before the break time is over,” Haari said.

“Wanna share with me?” Ashi asked suddenly, her face brightening with the offer.

“Eh, what?” Haari’s eyes widened in surprise.

“I said, wanna eat lunch with me?” Ashi repeated, her tone eager as she motioned towards her lunchbox.

Haari hesitated, confusion crossing his face. *Is she offering or just being polite?* he wondered, glancing at Ashi’s lunchbox with a skeptical look.

“But it’s yours. Don’t you want to eat?” Haari asked, his voice softening with concern.

“Don’t worry about it. I have plenty to share,” Ashi said with a reassuring smile.

“But!”

“No, she’s probably lying to me to have extra lunch. Who makes extra lunch? She must be hungry too. I can’t share lunch with her,” Haari thought, feeling conflicted.

“Thanks for asking me, Nicawa-san,” Haari said, picking up his water bottle and offering a weak smile. “But to be honest, I’m not hungry at all. You can eat your lunch.”

The sound of Haari’s empty stomach growling echoed in the stillness of the rooftop. Ashi’s eyes widened in surprise. “Don’t you think your stomach is being more honest than you are?”

Haari’s face flushed with embarrassment. “Oh! Don’t worry about that. Sometimes it needs a little jolt instead of food.”

Ashi looked shocked. “Why did you do that?”

“Oh, don’t worry about it. Sometimes my stomach needs that,” Haari said with a forced chuckle, trying to mask his discomfort.

“Then I’ll be going now. Make sure you come down on time,” Haari said, gathering his things and heading towards the stairs.

“Same as always, nothing has changed,” Ashi muttered to herself, watching Haari’s figure disappear down the stairs. She turned to look out over the city, her face a mix of concern and resignation.

“Where are you coming from, Haari?” Rafta asked as he approached Haari, who had just stepped back into the office.

“I was on the rooftop for some fresh air. Then Nicawa-san came up there to eat her lunch, so I didn’t want to bother her,” Haari explained, glancing around the now quieter office, where the usual noise had dwindled.

“You didn’t have your lunch yet?” Rafta asked, noticing Haari’s empty hands.

“I didn’t have one,” Haari confirmed with a nod.

“I was planning to go to the cafeteria. Want to join me?” Rafta offered, his eyes bright with the prospect of a break.

“Okay,” Haari agreed, his expression brightening at the thought of a meal.

The cafeteria was lively, filled with animated conversations and the enticing aroma of various foods. Haari and Rafta found a table by the window, sunlight streaming in and casting a warm glow over their meal.

“Wow, this ice cream is good. How did you know so much about these kinds of things, Haari?” Rafta asked, taking a spoonful of his dessert, his eyes widening with pleasure.

“I just know,” Haari replied with a shrug, savoring his own ice cream. He leaned back in his chair, his demeanor relaxed.

“What do you mean you just know? Are you hiding something?” Rafta asked, leaning forward with curiosity, his eyes narrowing slightly.

“No, I’m not hiding anything. There’s nothing to hide. We all used to eat a lot of ice cream when we were kids, so that’s why I know about them so well,” Haari explained, a nostalgic tone in his voice as he looked down at his dessert.

“I always forget what I ate last time, and you remember ice cream tastes by their names even though you ate them years ago. That’s amazing,” Rafta said, clearly impressed.

“There’s nothing amazing about it,” Haari said, shaking his head, though a pleased smile tugged at his lips.

“Um, Oki, what is she doing here?” Rafta said suddenly, his gaze shifting towards Oki entering the cafeteria.

Rafta grinned playfully.

“Hm, what’s the matter, Rafta? Why are you—” Haari began, but Rafta had already headed towards Oki with a bottle of cold water in hand.

“Wait, it’s Habi-san. Why is Rafta going there? I have a bad feeling about this,” Haari thought, watching with growing concern as Rafta approached Oki, who was standing in line at the food counter.

To be continued...