I stood there, patiently waiting in line to place our orders, when I noticed something odd. People around me were stealing glances and chuckling. At first, I thought I might've misheard or misunderstood, but the laughter grew louder, and their eyes lingered on me. A chill ran down my spine. Was I wearing something embarrassing? Did I accidentally do something strange?
Then, as the realization hit me like a ton of bricks, my face flushed. I did something stupid, didn't I? My hand shot up to my forehead, trying to mask the growing embarrassment. Whatever I had done, I couldn't take it back now. With my face burning, I quickly averted my gaze to the counter and focused on the menu, hoping to pretend I hadn't noticed their amusement.
After what felt like an eternity, I finally collected our orders and hurried to where Yui was seated. My shoulders slumped as I slinked down beside her. Without looking up, I murmured, "It was so embarrassing."
Yui glanced at me, her lips curling into a soft smile, clearly amused by my discomfort. "Well, you could've just asked me to come with you," she teased, her voice light and playful.
I tilted my head down even further, unable to hide my own frustration. "That wouldn't have been very convenient, would it?"
"True..." Yui said with a chuckle, taking a sip of her drink. "Well, what's done is done. At least you made some people happy." She leaned in a little closer, lowering her voice like she was about to reveal some kind of secret. "Just hope none of them are in the same class as you next year. You wouldn't want to get teased by them all year long, would you?"
I froze. "Wait, will that happen?"
Yui burst into laughter, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm just kidding!" she exclaimed between giggles, her hand resting on her stomach. "You looked way too serious just now."
I sighed in relief, but my face was still burning. "You really know how to get under my skin," I muttered, feeling my embarrassment slowly start to fade. At least she wasn't laughing at me too much.
We settled into our seats, the table was laid out before us. We ate, but the conversation was absent. Not awkward, just comfortable in its silence. The only words exchanged were the occasional request: "Pass the ketchup," "Could you hand me the salt?" It was a quiet dance of bites, sips, and passing.
I didn't mind it of course. There was something peaceful about it, about simply being together, without the need for constant chatter.
But halfway through the meal, something strange happened. We both paused, simultaneously leaning back in our chairs, as if the simple act of eating had suddenly become too much. Our plates weren't empty, you could say we ate about half of it. We exchanged a glance, both of us looking a little puzzled.
Yui was the first to break the silence, her smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Are you full already?" she asked, a playful tone in her voice.
I chuckled, a bit sheepish. "Yeah, I think I ate a little too fast. I was starving a minute ago, and now I'm stuffed."
Yui nodded in agreement. "So am I."
And just like that, we both burst into laughter, the kind that bubbles up from nowhere and fills the air with warmth. The meal, the quiet moments, and now this, everything just felt right.
I couldn't help but ask, "Have you been living here for a long time? You seem pretty familiar with the places around here."
Yui glanced at me and smiled. "I've been here for as long as I can remember."
"That must mean you've had a lot of friends here, right?" I said, expecting her to nod with a laugh.
But her smile faded slightly, and the light in her eyes dimmed. I wondered if I'd said something wrong.
"Not really," she said, forcing a smile. "I have one, but she's out of the country right now."
I felt a bit awkward, but I shrugged it off. "I don't have many friends either. Not here, and not back in my hometown. Well, except for my childhood friend, I guess."
Her expression softened, and she seemed to understand. Her mood seemed to lift a little. "Guess we're the same in that way," she said, her voice lighter. "Not that I mind too much, but a couple of true friends would be nice."
"Yeah, you're right," I agreed. "I guess I was just always kind of antisocial."
She laughed, shrugging it off. "There's nothing wrong with that. So, you're still new to this place, huh?"
"Yeah." I smiled a little bashfully. "I don't even know how to get from my apartment to the university without checking the maps every time."
Yui hesitated for a moment before asking, "Where do you live right now? If you don't mind me asking, of course."
Yui's eyes flickered to the map I was holding, and I shrugged. I still hadn't even remembered the name of my street.
She leaned in a little to get a better look. "Oh, that's convenient. You're just a few minutes' walk from the university. Unlike mine, where I have to take the train."
After we finished the last bites of our food, Yui and I headed back to the university to wrap up the rest of our lectures for the day. We ended up sitting beside each other in class. I'll admit, there was a bit of nervousness on my part sitting next to a girl I had just met for the entire day. But strangely, it wasn't as awkward as I thought it might be. Having someone there with me on my first day as a college student made it feel less intimidating. It was comforting, really. For the first time in a while, I didn't feel so alone.
By the time the last lecture wrapped up, the day was coming to an end. We walked together toward the courtyard, the chatter of other students fading into the background. I didn't have any plans for the rest of the day, so I figured I'd either hang out if Yui asked me to grab a bite to eat again, or just head home if she didn't.
"Guess I'll see you tomorrow?" Yui said, her tone casual but kind.
And there it was, my answer. It seemed like I'd be heading home after all.
"Yeah! You take care, and thanks for showing me around today," I replied, giving her a smile.
"Of course! I'll see you tomorrow, Sora."
With that, we parted ways, and I made my way back through the same streets I'd walked earlier in the day. This time, though, I was heading home, my legs feeling heavy from the long day. College really was tiring. It was nothing like high school. Back then, everything felt a little more structured, like there was always someone guiding you. Now, it feels different. It felt like I was on my own.
I guess that's what stepping into the real world is like, huh? I thought, my mind already shifting to the days ahead. It wasn't easy, but I was determined. I was pumped to do my best, not just tomorrow, but for the rest of the year too.