Takashi's Woes

Fumio turns around to face his buddies after closing the door and asks, "Are we going to eat in the classroom again, or somewhere new?"

"We've virtually eaten in the classroom for the majority of last week, so maybe we should eat somewhere else," Susumu says as the three of them start walking back to their classroom.

"Are you fine with eating outside the classroom for today, Fujikawa-san?" Susumu asked, Takashi then says with slouched shoulders, "But won't I get crowded by the underclassmen?"

"I would be handed food from the left, right, and center and that would get annoying for you two," Takashi continues while scratching his nose.

Fumio sighs and looks at him, "There's no need to worry about us," he then says with a grin and a watery mouth, "You can just share the food you've been offered with us, your good friends."

Susumu looks down—well... more like up at his tall friend condescendingly, saying, "Don't bring me into this, Moriyama-san," Fumio then adds while staring at him, "I assumed you would agree with me on that one..."

"What do you think I am, your dumb slave who obeys your every command? Yeah, I'd rather die," Susumu answered with a sharp gaze.

Fumio feels a shudder creep up his spine; he says while looking away from his straightforward friend, "Since when did you turn so ruthless? It feels like a piece of me dies inside whenever you hurl these insults..."

It seems to me that Susumu is still pumped from his heated debate with Mari earlier, this wave of adrenaline will subside after lunch, so I guess I'm stuck with narrating an extremely cold and ruthless Susumu for a while.

The three buddies then enter the classroom; Susumu comes over to his desk, zips his bag open, pulls out a bento, and zips his bag closed; his companions did the same, albeit at varying speeds.

Susumu waits at the left-most door; Takashi and Fumio approach him, and while they appear to be acting normally, Takashi is exceedingly concerned about being mobbed by the underclassmen.

Fumio is still terrified of Susumu, and our black-haired protagonist appears normal, which I define as having his usual apathetic glance... I already said this before, but I'm excited about this person for this yearly narration.

The three of them walk out of the classroom, they start walking through the hallway as Fumio says, "So guys, where do you want to eat today?"

Takashi surveys his surroundings, he slouches his back as he says, "Somewhere I won't be spotted by the underclassmen, so maybe the roof, the utility closet, or behind the sakura tree in the schoolyard..."

As our red-headed friend lists down almost all the discreet locations, Fumio looks at Susumu, who is looking elsewhere, he asks... albeit carefully, "Ishibashi-san, any opinions?"

Susumu redirects his focus to Fumio and begins saying, "In my opinion, the roof is the worst option," he pauses and recalls when he was still at home, "When I was getting ready to go out, my parents were watching television, and I overheard that it might get windy."

"My hair would get blown in the wind, and that would be annoying," he says, pausing to stroke his shaggy hair. "Next, we can't eat underneath the sakura tree since our food would be sprinkled with its pink petals."

"So our best option is the utility closet," Susumu says, pausing to gaze at Takashi, who is continuing naming other options, "...and there's even the gymnasium, we can eat there..."

Takashi finally sees the two boys stare; Susumu announces, "We're going to eat at the utility closet," after hearing those words, Takashi then fist bumps the air; he whispers to himself, "Nice!"

"W—wait, did you hear the other ten places I advised before you choose the utility closet? Like the back of the school, or the bathroom?" he asks, his eyes widening.

Fumio rubs his chin and muses, "If I spoke the truth, Takashi may bear a grudge against m—"

"I didn't hear anything, simply the first three things you said," Susumu stated, deadpan; Fumio looks on with a slightly open mouth, thinking in his head, "How straightforward and ruthless!"

Takashi freezes for a second, then laughs awkwardly, as if attempting to push Susumu's response away, then looks forward, "W—well, I believe we should go to the utility closet now..."

They walk down the stairs; after fully walking down the stairs, they walk out and start walking through the courtyard, Takashi is on high alert as he stares at the other students in the schoolyard.

"This is just a gigantic minefield... why did we have to go across the schoolyard?" Takashi exclaimed, sweat streaming down his brow. "It's the quickest path to the utility room," comments Fumio, who is walking beside him.

Takashi strives to be as unobtrusive as possible by wearing his suit jacket over his head...

which, in my opinion, is the least discreet technique to hide yourself from passers-by...

"That still doesn't improve the fact that I'll be spotted faster!"

Susumu is in the front, so he cannot hear the conversation. "I can't hear you while you're underneath your little handmade hood..." snarks Fumio as he takes it off Takashi's head.

After pulling off his hood and raising it above his head so Takashi won't be able to take it, he says, "Were you even able to see underneath the suit jacket?" Takashi tries to take back his suit jacket, "I..." he jumps up to reach for his jacket, "...could see clearly!"

Fumio moves his hand away, he says, "Just act normal and people will ignore you, that's what I do every day," Takashi clicks his tongue, "That doesn't help one bit, I'll get approached no matter what!"

Footsteps are heard approaching behind them, and a voice is heard, "Uhm... Fujikawa-senpai?" Takashi freezes, and Fumio turns around to gaze at the unnamed girl, then whispers to Takashi, "I think it would be impolite if you just ignored her..."

Takashi unfreezes himself and turns to face the girl, "Yes, what is it?" The girl blushes and holds a pink bento in front of her, "I—I prepared some food for you, I hope you enjoy it..."

Takashi chuckles and takes the bento from her grasp, smiling, "I'll make sure to savor every bite, thank you." ...Nice, Takashi, extremely smooth... The girl looks around hastily, clearly flustered by his statements.

She feels like she's about to burst with embarrassment, and she thinks to herself, "W—wait, aside from looking good, he's also really good with words!" She covers her face and runs away, shouting, "You can keep the bento box, Fujikawa-senpai!"

Takashi stares in disbelief, he mutters, "Why do they always act like that?" He then looks down at his hands, he's now holding two bentos; he stacks one on top of the other and turns to Fumio, who is looking in awe, he points at the pink bento, "Can you give me some of that?"

Takashi sighs quietly and shakes his head. When he glances forward and finds that Susumu has vanished, he exclaims, "Wait a minute, wasn't he just there a second ago?"

Fumio likewise turns forward and blinks twice before commenting, "Perhaps he went ahead to the utility room?" Takashi exhales and mumbles, "He could have reminded us..."

…Wait, why am I getting the feeling of being pulled... hey, I am getting pulle—AAAHHH!!

…Hah.... huh... What am I doing... On Mondays, am I compelled to physically pursue my narrative target? Hah... Okay, we see Susumu coming into the utility closet, which appears to also contain gym equipment...

"How did the narrator know that?" you may wonder. 'Utility/Extra Gym Equipment' is clearly marked on the door, thus... that is your answer.

Susumu sighs as he approaches the metal door and pulls it open; he enters into the dimly lit room and looks about, "Why is it so dark?" he wonders as he begins to feel the wall for a light switch.

His hand slides over the concrete wall until it comes into contact with the switch; he flips the switch upward and the lights turn on; he then turns around and sees two familiar girls sitting on the green padding you put down in the gymnasium when doing stretches.

They appear to be eating lunch as well; what type of anti-social students must you be to eat in the utility room? …Oh, wait, Susumu, Takashi, and Fumio were ready to do just that.

Susumu blinks twice, the three people currently in the room, which includes our boy, stay silent... Does that mean I should also include myself since I'm in my physical form, but still unseen?

…Whatever, that's another dumb thought coming from the narrator, moving on! The silver-haired girl then stands up, before saying, "Ishibashi-kun? What are you doing here?"

Susumu responds frankly, "I and my friends are going to eat here, Morishige-san," then turns to the still sitting girl, who happens to be a dark brown-haired stunner, and asks, "Sorry to sound troublesome, but is that fine with you, Shinsato-san?"

Ayano, who is holding a rolled omelet between her chopsticks, looks at Susumu and tilts her head before responding, "Why are you asking me?" She then bites into the omelet.

Susumu squints his eyes, "Doesn't Morishige-san look up to you? If I remember correctly, she thinks of you as this type of godde—"

"Shh!! Ishibashi-kun, please, stop speaking!" Mari cuts him off, her face flushed as she tries to cover it with her hands, Ayano starts giggling.

She swallows her food, looks at Susumu, and opens her mouth to speak, but she has second thoughts, "Wait... what if Mari-chan started spreading rumors about us..."

She thinks as she stares at her silver-haired best friend, "What am I thinking, she isn't the sort to start rumors..."

"...Mari-chan is the type to believe rumors... no matter how ridiculous they are..." She smiles awkwardly, "Why do I have to be such a worrywart?"

She then looks at Susumu, before saying, "Sure, you may eat with us," she pauses and a reassuring smile forms on her face, "Ishibashi-san."