When lunch time came, Asamura promptly dragged me outside the classroom and towards class 2-B, Kurebayashi's classroom. After meeting up with her, we then proceeded to the construction site behind the school building. Apparently, Kurebayashi told Asamura about my secret lunch spot and it piqued her curiosity. She doesn't seem to grasp the idea of a secret spot. When a place is called a "secret" it means nobody else is allowed there. Sure, I didn't tell her that it's a secret spot but it should have been implied.
"Why are we having lunch together again? We already did it last Friday."
"It's not a scheduled thing, dummy. Plus, don't you like hanging out with us?"
"W-well, liking something's got nothing to do with it. Besides, wouldn't you rather not have a wet blanket cramp up your lunch mood?"
"Well, that's true. You can be annoying and weird sometimes."
Hey, you're the last person I want to hear that from! What Asamura said just now is just enough to give me a stress-induced headache. I guess some people are just blind to their own faults. Wait, does that apply to me as well and I'm actually annoying but just can't see it?
"Hmhm! I rather enjoy Sugiyama-kun's company. He is fun to listen to and speaks about some interesting topics at times."
Kurebayashi unexpectedly comes to my aid. Heh, I had no idea I came across as such an interesting and knowledgeable person. I give her a thumbs up, and she responds in kind.
"If you find anything that he says interesting, then you're just as weird, Reina-chan."
"Going by that logic, then you're the weird one here, Asamura."
"Huh?! Why am I suddenly the odd one out?!"
"Think about it. If both me and Kurebayashi are weird, then you're even weirder for not being weird like us."
"... Hold on, I think I got lost in your twisted logic. It also kinda made me lose my appetite."
"Really? Then, can I have your yakisoba bun then?"
I jokingly reached over, not really intending to grab her food. But before I could retract my hand, I felt a sharp, searing pain. Asamura had grabbed her yakisoba bun and slapped my hand in one fell swoop. I would marvel at the elegance and precision of her movement if my hand wasn't red right now.
"This is MY yakisoba bun! No one else can have it!"
"I wasn't even serious about getting it. Geez, who knew you could be so violent?"
"Oh yes, Asuka-san is quite serious about food. I would advise against trying to take or ask for her lunch items."
"That tidbit of knowledge would have been useful ten seconds ago."
After that little scuffle, we continue to enjoy our lunch while basking in the relative peace and quiet provided by the old construction site.
Or at least, that's what I would have liked to happen. The tranquility is broken by the sound of metal crashing hard on the ground. It was loud enough to make all three of us practically jump from where we sat. Then, there was silence.
"W-what was that? Did you knock something over, Sugiyama-kun?"
"Why'd you automatically assume I caused it?"
"I'm just throwing ideas out there. But that was really loud. It nearly gave me a heart attack."
If only that were true. Growing exasperated with Asamura, I look over to Kurebayashi to see how she reacted to the noise. Interestingly, she seems really focused on something and is looking in the direction of the entrance of the construction site.
"... What's wrong, Kurebayashi?"
"Oh, Sugiyama-san. It's nothing, really. It's just that I happen to notice some faint voices coming from over there."
"Waaaah! Reina-chan, don't scare me like that please! It's too bright and early for ghosts to show up!"
I look at Asamura with what I'm pretty sure is my biggest "are you an idiot?" look. This girl is one of the smartest and highest-scoring students in our class. So why is she acting like an air headed moron most of the time? And besides, ghosts don't follow any rules for when they show up. If they want to haunt you, they won't care if it's night or day.
"I-I'm certain the voices I heard did not come from ghosts, Asuka-san."
It's sad that Kurebayashi had to reassure Asamura about something so stupid. Anyway, I try to focus and see if I could also hone in on the voices that she heard.
After a short while, I do hear what sounds like a group of people talking over at the entrance.
"I hear it now too. It's probably just some students hanging out over there."
"That is indeed plausible. However, were they also the cause of that loud crash from earlier?"
"Probably. What does it matter anyway?"
"What if something had happened to them and they are in need of emergency assistance?"
"I highly doubt that. If that were the case, then they'd be screaming for help right about now."
"Still… I shall go and see to be sure."
Kurebayashi stands up and starts to walk over to the entrance with a hesitant and worried looking Asamura tailing right behind her. Well, whatever. I'll just sit here and eat my lunch as I watch them from afar. Though I look away for a few seconds to take a bite out of my katsu curry. In hindsight, what kind of fool would bring curry to school for lunch? It's so hard to eat and causes a mess with every little mistake in movement. But it was either this or kani tempura, and I would rather drink bleach than even touch kani.
I look back to the girls and see that they are now crouched behind the tall walls of the entrance. Asamura, noticing that I'm looking at them, frantically waves her arms at me. This could mean two things: she's either having a small stroke, or she's gesturing for me to come to them.
Picking the latter option, I casually go over to where they are crouching. As I get closer, the initially faint voices become louder and clearer. And as I crouch next to the two girls, the voices are now distinguishable. It's a collection of voices that bring back some very unpleasant memories.