It’s already lunch time.

Senior Asahina called me out to eat lunch with her. But where should we meet? I mean, I have my packed lunch on me so...

Before I exit the classroom, someone from the door took a peek. I saw immediately the familiar face and quickly stands up. Dashing at the door, “Hi, Senior Asahina!” I gleefully greet.

She almost jumped off from surprised the moment I appeared in front of her. “You surprised me I almost punch you on face!”

Asahina Sakura, the one I admired, gruntly told her feelings while cluching her hands. She’s trying to hold back punching me. Yeah, right. I don’t mind if you punch me, though.

“So, Senior… where should we eat our lunch?” I asked.

“Ah, yeah… right. You know somewhere good?”

Now she’s asking me. I guess I should make this, since we’re like on a date? No, Haruki. Stop assuming. Senior Asahina is too good for a bastard like you. “I guess at the bench under the tree beside school?”

Senior Asahina’s eyebrows fuzzed while looking at me. “Okay, I have my packed lunch. Let’s go there.”

I don’t know if she’s gullible or what, but she didn’t hesitate to follow my offer. We go to the place where I said. That place is totally isolated and few to none of the students go there.

We both seat at the bench sitting under the shade of tree, 3 inches apart. Placing both of our packed lunch in our laps, we synchronously open the lid. “Thanks for the food!”

Clasping both our hands together, we told our grace to the food. “Your packed lunch looks succulent, Nakazono.”

Asahina turns her head sideways to look at my packed lunch. “Want some, Senior?” I offer. “Is it all right?”

“Of course.” I smile at her. Asahina nods and smiles at me, and took a piece of my viand with her chopsticks. Fishing it through her mouth, Asahina chews the food, giving a sudden expression of delight.

“It’s good!”

“Really, thanks. My mom cooked it.”

“Your mom’s a good cook.” Asahina praised with a smile on her. Oh, damn… I got caught by her smile. Well, let’s not get this on me. I don’t want her to misunderstand something.

“So, Senior…” I called.

“Huh?” Asahina utters as she took a bite from her packed lunch. I know there’s no way she calls me out here just to eat lunch. Well, I do hope it’s one of the reasons, though.

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“Why did you call me here?” I asked. Yeah, I do believe there’s a motive why she calls me out. Asahina, as if she doesn’t understand my question, tilts her head while fuzzing brows.

“What do you mean ‘call you here?’ Of course, to eat lunch with you.” with a nonchalant mood, she answered. Huh? What… what….?

“Eh? Are you serious?” I asked. Surely, there’s no way she wants to call me just to eat lunch together, right?

“I am. I mean,” placing the chopsticks down to her packed lunch, she then turns to face me. “You said you want to know me more, right…?”

That word lurked out from her mouth twitched me. What…? she remembered it?

“As goes for you, same for me… I kind of feel to know more about you, Nakazono… or should I call you, Haruki-kun?”

Huh? Huh!? We’re using first name basis now?! What the—wait! Calm down, me!

“Uhm, Senior Asahina, I think it’s kind of fast for us to use our names. I mean, we just met one time… so….”

“I don’t mind, though.” she replied, again in nonchalant way.

“Huh?”

“You are different from the other boys. You don’t seem attracted by my looks alone. No, even if you do, you don’t take it granted and confessed to me.”

“Huh…” I utter. Somewhere and somewhat from her words, it seems she decides to stick with me just because I’m different from the others. “And I know you’re kind, so… let’s get to know each other.”

“Uh, yeah…” I answered with a smile. Now, this isn’t what I’m expecting. I mean, I’m not in the romance novel right now; this is reality. There’s no way a pretty girl like her will stick to a mundane guy like me.

I just want to admire her from afar, to appreciate her beauty.

“So, let’s call each other by our names?”

“Huh?”

“Haruki…”

Asahina, like it’s a normal thing for her, calls me out by my name. Wait… wait, I’m not ready for this yet! I never called a girl by her name before. “Haruki?”

“Huh?” I twitched and looks at her. She pouts, glaring displeased. “I said you call me by my name. Why won’t you?”

“Ah, uhm… I’m still trying to sink in what you said… uhm, Senior Asahina—”

“Hmmpphh…” she pouts at me again. “Ah, no… uhm, Senior Sakura.”

Gosh, my face feels hot. I don’t know why I even try to. Yet when I see her pouting, she’s getting cuter. No, Haruki. Stop it. Stop thinking unnecessary things!

“Good, now we will call each other in our names, okay.” Sakura answered with a satisfied smile on her lips.

“Understood, Senior Sakura.”

After agreeing to each other, we started eating our lunch in silence. Now, I feel the awkwardness between us. I don’t know, I might just be thinking about it.

“Say, Haruki…” throughout the tranquility, Sakura suddenly speaks. “Hmm?” I mumbled.

“You’re not in love with me, right?”

“Huh?”

That sudden drop of question splashed like a cold water to me. “You’re not in love with me, do you…?”

What the…? Why is she asking this question. “Uhm…” I mumbled, tracking the next words to say.

“...’Cause it would be bad if you fall in love with me.”

“Huh?”

Sakura’s countenance gives off a serious one as she glares at me. “… No, it’s nothing. Forget it.”

I don’t know where that came from… but I think she’s in deep thought about something. “Well, if you can’t say it to me, I guess I’ll have to wait.”

“Huh?”

“No, it’s nothing…” I answered and giggled. “Hey! Come tell it to me! I’m curious!”

“I said it’s nothing!” I chuckled. Right, Sakura and I are just friends. I don’t intend to make this relationship go further. She’s pretty, and that’s enough for me. And from what she said, I guess that’s a cue for me.

A cue that there’s no way she will look at me as a man, and a potential love interest.