The bell for the noon break had already rang. I guess I'll go grab some bread and juice.
I was about to stand up when people started flocking into Yamamoto-san's seat. It was getting pretty crowded and noisy too.
"Hey, let's have lunch together Yamamoto-san!"
"Uhm, thanks but I'd like to eat on my own."
Sasaki-san urged her but she declined her as politely as she can.
"Aww, you're no fun. Alright then, maybe some other time!"
She rode off with her friends, carrying lunch boxes along with them. No idea where they're going to eat them.
"Hey Yui-san, how about we eat lunch here with you?"
Yamamoto-san was clutching the hem of her skirt, clearly she wants to be rid of them already. They were probably annoying her too much.
I wanna tell them to scram already. But I just didn't have the courage to say it. Thinking about it makes me pretty nervous that I started sweating even!
"H-hey, can't yo-…"
"Back off her already will you guys! Can't you see she's being uncomfortable right now?"
Kagami-san interrupted the people flocking around Yamamoto-san.
"Look, if she wants to be alone for now, let her be. I'm sure she's not yet comfortable, since she just transferred."
By the way, Kagami-san is the class representative. She's a responsible, good looking, and smart lady. She's also a very kind-hearted person.
Finally, the people around them started to disperse and went on to do their own businesses. Actually I was waiting for them to do that since they were pretty much blocking the way.
"Yamamoto-san, I'm sorry that they were causing you too much trouble. I should've stepped in sooner."
She apologised even though she didn't really do anything to trouble her. But I guess that's just the kind of person she is.
"No, I-its fine actually."
"Is that so?"
"Yeah, I actually wanna go with them. But everyone was asking me to go with them. I didn't know who to choose."
"You know what? How about we grab lunch together?"
Now this time, she's the one asking her to have lunch together.
"Ehh? if it's alright with you…"
"Of course it's fine! Now come on before the lunch break ends."
Kagami-san reached out her hand to her urging her to hurry. I haven't had my fill yet, so I guess it's to get going as well.
I was about to stand up when Kagami-san interrupted me.
"Hey, Takahashi-san. Had lunch yet? I think you were sitting still there since a while back."
"Ah, well, they were blocking the way so I really didn't have the chance to leave."
"Wanna join us then?"
Eh? What was that she said? Join them? I looked at Yamamoto-san to see if she was okay with this. But she just looked away.
"Look, it's fine really. Thanks!"
"Oh come on, don't be like that."
She looked at me with wide eyes. Somehow, begging me to come with them. Look, with those kind of eyes asking me to join them is just cheating. There's really a high level of cuteness when it comes to this.
"Fine, I'll go with you guys. But only this time!"
"Yay!"
She threw her hands up showing her success in persuading me.
"Let's go Yui-san, Touma-san. To the cafeteria!"
I and Yamamoto-san looked at her with surprise, suddenly calling us out with our first names.
Kagami-san looked at us with a huge smile on her face.
"By the way, can I call you by your names? Since we're now friends and all."
I didn't really mind her calling me by my first name.
"Sure." "Sure."
Eh?! Yamamoto-san and I answered in unison. I-I didn't really expect her to agree to this. I looked at her, she was blushing so much I had to look away.
"Hmm, Yui-san, why are you getting so worked up?"
Kagami-san had to really ask it!
"Ehh. Could it be-…"
"NO! NO! NO! You're probably just overthinking about it!"
I stopped her from finishing her sentence, but I don't know if that actually helped or just made our situation worse.
"You know what? Let's just get to the cafeteria, okay?"
I said that and quickly left the room to avoid any more trouble.
On the hallway, I looked behind me to see if they followed. They were there and I even received a smile from Kagami-san. Yamamoto-san walked beside Kagami-san while looking down at the floor.
This is such a pain, why did I let myself get pulled into this anyway? Otherwise, I think this is actually good. I think this is a step closer to knowing Yamamoto-san.
"What are you guys having?"
I asked as I browsed through the cafeteria's menu. I think I'll be having the good old curry. Haven't had a fill of it for a while now.
"How about you Touma-san, what are you having?"
"Curry, quite a while since last I ate one of these."
"Alright, I'll have one of these too. How about you Yui-san?"
"I'm thinking of having the same as you guys."
"So it's the same for all of us huh?"
We got our food, now we just have to look for a table. Well, there are plenty of vacant tables since lunch break is almost over.
I think I'll sit on a separate table from them. I laid down my tray on a table beside a wall.
"Itadakima-"
"Hey, you're not really gonna eat without us?"
I was about to eat when I was interrupted by Kagami-san. She and Yamamoto-san laid down their trays on my table.
"Wha-. Why don't you sit on the other tables?"
"What, don't you want us to eat with you?"
"It's really embarrassing eating together with two girls you know? What if they see us like this?"
"Come on, Touma-san. Don't sweat the small stuff. Actually Yui-san want-"
"ITADAKIMASU!"
Yamamoto-san put her hands together after she said that loudly, which kinda surprised us both. Her head was held lower, though I didn't know why.
A moment of silence followed. Finally, I can eat in peace.
I took some glances at Yamamoto-san while eating. She was pretty reserved, I mean she's not a slow eater, rather she eats like those high-class ladies you see in dramas.
I'm gonna be honest here. She looks really cute in the way she eats.
*
We finished up and its almost time for our next class.
"Let's head back to the classroom before the bell rings. We don't wanna be late."
"Yeah, sure. You go on ahead."
"Why, is there something wrong Touma-san?"
"No not really, just need to hit the toilet."
"Oh, okay. Well you got to hurry up. It's almost time."
I did hurry because I didn't want to be late anyway.
*
"Hnngh. What a day."
I stretched my arms. It was already 4 in the afternoon.
"I wonder if she's gonna join this club."
I doubt it would likely happen, nothing really good happened here since I'm all alone in this club. But I did invite her to join the club when we were packing.
"Hey, Yamamoto-san. Any club in particular that you want to join in?"
"I don't know, I haven't even seen them yet."
"Well, I was thinking. You know, if you want to join the Arts Club, it'd be really nice for me."
"Uhm, sure. I'll think about it."
It wasn't very reassuring at all, I really don't think that she'll join the club.
Yeah, no doubt about it. Nobody's even opening the door.
Hmm. That's weird, I feel like I've been in this situation before. Though I really don't know why, but I have this strong feeling inside me that someone's really joining the club.
"Man, I wish someone would join this club. This is boring me to death already."
As if the gods have heard my wishes, the door actually opened and it was the least person I was expecting to open it.
"Oh, it's just you Seto-san."
"What do you mean by that?"
That must've annoyed her. She's suddenly had this scary look on her face.
"I just wanted to pay a visit, since you're always lonely here."
"Hey, knock it off."
"Kidding!"
Now she's just making fun of me.
"Anyway, why don't you ever try to recruit some members for a change of pace in the club?"
"Sigh. Making the recruitment posters is too much work. For me anyway."
"It's that kind of attitude that doesn't get you anywhere. Come, let me help you make them."
"Actually, I tried recruiting one person."
"Ohh, really now? What did he say?"
"'He' is a girl, and I don't know if she's joining or what."
"OH! A GIRL YOU SAY?! WHO IS SHE WHAT IS SHE LIKE?"
She suddenly got excited and moved her face so close to me and was really being loud.
"Why don't you shut your mouth for a bit? You're too loud!"
"Did you finally have the confidence to ask a girl out?!"
"What the… where'd you get that idea from?"
"Come on, tell me what's going on!"
"Geez, fine. Well, you know the one who just transferred into our class?"
"Oh, Yamamoto-san? What about her?"
"She's the one I invited to join."
"Really? What did she say?"
"She said she'll think about it. But I really doubt it.
In the heat of the moment, the door suddenly opened. And there the person of interest stood.
"Ah. Seto-san, Takahashi-san, what are you doing here?"
She seemed surprise at the scene. Since Seto-san was so close to me, who wouldn't be.
"Ah, nothing really! Ehehe"
I pushed Seto-san away from me so that she wouldn't misunderstand the situation.
"H-how about you Yamamoto-san, what brings you here?"
"I was thinking of-…"
"Oh, Yamamoto-san, it's nice to meet you! I didn't really get the chance to talk to you back in class.
Seto-san jumped into the conversation. Clearly she didn't have to do it. We were conversing just fine already!
"Ehh? Well, it's nice meeting you then. I hope we'll get along well in the future."
"Anyway, what brings you here Yamamoto-san? You thinking of joining this club? Touma-kun gets pretty lonely here."
"Hey, what are you talking about? Hehe, it's fine really."
I tried my best to restrain myself from really wanting to punch Seto-san, just because she's just being really rude to me right now. But since I'm such a nice guy, I'll let this one pass.
"I think I want to join this club."
Wait. Is what I'm hearing right now from Yamamoto-san? Because if it is. I'd be so delighted to be able to hear these wonderful words!
Yamamoto-san was clutching her blouse, clearly she didn't like the idea but I don't know what she's thinking.
"Heh, is that so? But if you're joining, you'd be alone with Touma-kun all the time during club activities."
Seto-san really likes to just throw in these "hey-i-should-tease-Touma-kun" sentences at really inappropriate times. Like this one right now.
Yamamoto-san was blushing. It seems really cute seeing this side of her. Of course, as a man, I'd find this attractive or cute or whatever.
"That's not it!"
There you go, she sounded mad, but the way she said it contradicted the thought.
"I-I was just-. I just thought I should join a quieter club. I wanted to join the Literature Club, but they were always talking about books and stories."
"This club's perfect for you then, Yamamoto-san!"
"Eh? What do you mean Seto-san?"
She seemed surprised. But if Seto-san continued this kind of talk, I might just have a new member on board!
"I mean, Touma-kun barely even does anything in this club. He just stays here most of the time."
"Hey, don't say that. I've been drawing stuff for club activities!"
"Really? Doesn't seem like it. Where are your drawings anyway?"
Now that I think about it. I usually draw at home, since I'm most comfortable there. So everything I drew was back at home.
"I-I think I've left them all back at home. Hehe."
I tried to smile so that I wouldn't disappoint Seto-san and Yamamoto-san.
"Okay then, if you say so Touma-kun."
I feel terrible for lying to her. To be honest, I haven't even really drawn that much at home, if I did, I wouldn't really count it for club activities since they're just anime characters.
"So how about it, Yamamoto-san, are you joining this club?"
"I was supposed to join the Literature Club, since I like to read novels and I read them most of the time."
"Why didn't you join them then? You could've asked them to keep quiet a little so they won't disturb you."
"I was embarrassed to say so, that's why I just didn't join them."
That's her reason for not joining? It's a little absurd considering that it was just a small problem.
"But then I remember Takahashi-san invited me to join the Arts Club, so I thought I should come and see what's going on in here."
"I'm not really good at drawing and painting, so I doubt I'd do any good."
It didn't really matter to me anymore, as long as she's joining I'm fine with it already. I just didn't want to be… alone in this club anymore.
"It doesn't matter Yamamoto-san, you're free to join this club even if you're an absolute beginner at arts."
I blurted out, but I'm trying my best to convince her to join this club.
"I can teach you if you want."
"Uhm, thanks but-…"
"You're free to read inside the clubroom, you know, since it's always quiet."
"Woah, really?!"
I think I got her. Hook, line and sinker.
Her eyes were sparkling from hearing the words I just said. It seems I was able to convince her easily, but I just had to say that she's free to read inside the clubroom.
"Then, I'd like to join this club please!"
She's pretty gung-ho all of a sudden. Which was surprising for me and Seto-san. She must've been so excited from what she just heard.
I handed her a club application form to fill out. She took it from me without hesitation and quickly filled it out.
"That's settled then!"
Seto-san was smiling ear to ear. She looks satisfied with the outcome.
Finally, I won't be alone in this club anymore!