Chapter 51

And then, lunch break.

Today, I thought it would be troublesome to go to the school store and get involved with some weird people again, so I bought some onigiri and bread at a convenience store before coming to school.

As Yuki tried to take out the convenience store bag from her bag, a few girls gathered at Yui's desk and started to pull their chairs together.

The girls' lunchtime started immediately, and they were already chattering away.

Being noisy throughout the lunch break next to her was a bit tiring even for Yuki.

She let her gaze wander towards the window to escape the noise. From the second-floor window, the sunlight shone brightly through the clouds.

Since the weather was good and there was a cool breeze, she felt it was a waste to stay cooped up in the classroom all day.

(Might as well eat outside.)

Anyway, she had to go to the first floor to buy a drink.

Suddenly, Yuki got up from her seat with the convenience store bag containing her lunch.

After putting the paper-packaged juice she bought from the vending machine into the bag, Yuki went outside and wandered around the school building.

Although the temperature wasn't particularly high, the sunny spots were a bit warm.

She wandered around looking for a shady spot, but the benches under the trees were already taken by other students.

(Everyone has the same idea...)

However, she couldn't go back to the classroom now.

Her seat was likely already occupied by Yui's friends.

Yuki, seeking a place of rest, went into the school courtyard and then to the back yard.

Passing the gravel path, the incinerator, and the area where the teachers' cars were parked, she looked for a place to sit.

She thought no one would come this far during lunch break, but she found a couple sitting on the bricks of the flower bed, which made her feel awkward, so she went further and further back.

Finally, she entered the back side of the school building, a place she didn't quite understand. Just as she was thinking about turning back, she turned the corner and suddenly sensed someone.

She casually turned her gaze in that direction and saw a female student sitting in a slightly sunken mysterious space between the building and the outer wall.

"Ah!"

She couldn't help but exclaim.

The other person, who had been sitting there, suddenly looked up with a "Ah!" expression and froze.

The moment their eyes met, Yuki thought she recognized her from somewhere. She looked very similar to the person who glared at her this morning.

However, she couldn't possibly be here... it must be a lookalike. Yuki tried not to look too closely and bowed to pass by.

"Hey!"

But she was immediately stopped, and her shoulder was grabbed with great force.

When she was turned around, the female student, with a red face, glared at her fiercely.

Since their voices were so similar, it was clear that this was none other than Hana Seiyo herself.

"R-right now!"

"Now?"

At that moment, Seiyo seemed to hesitate, clenching her teeth, but then she glared sharply.

"Ugh~ What are you doing, hiding here and eating alone? That's so creepy, it can't be! You were looking at me with that kind of eye, right!"

"I wasn't looking at you like that."

"Then what was that reaction, like you saw something scary but pretended you didn't?"

"Well, I don't react much."

"Whether your reaction is strong or weak isn't the issue!"

In contrast to Yuki's usual calm demeanor, Seiyo, with her hair in disarray, attacked her fiercely.

She must have seen something really bad, as she was unusually flustered.

"... Why are you here?"

"W-What are you doing here?"

"Well, I was looking for a good place to eat."

"W-Well, are you... alone?"

"Do I look like I have a clone?"

When Yuki said this, Seiyo's expression relaxed in relief.

"W-Well, you're one of us! That's right! It must be! Ah, Ahahaha!"

She laughed in a way that made her seem like a villainous female executive with a bizarre character.

This was a bit scary.

"Haa..."

Then, her shoulders drooped, and her mood suddenly plummeted.

As Yuki had suspected, this person seemed to be quite mentally unstable.

Putting Seiyo aside for a moment, Yuki looked around again.

This place was in the shade, and a surprisingly cool breeze occasionally blew through the corridor. Most importantly, it was quiet.

The spot where Seiyo was sitting was a protruding part of the building's concrete, just right for sitting.

There was a small handbag and a lunch box that looked like it had been partially eaten. Yuki tried sitting down and found it quite comfortable.

"Hey, what are you doing... Did you get anyone's permission?"

Seiyo, with her arms crossed, looked down at her with a pout. It seemed there was a fierce territorial dispute even among those eating alone.

However, Yuki had no intention of getting into a serious conflict, so she said, "Well, then..." and tried to leave.

"W-Wait! It's fine, I'll let you eat here too, specially."

"No, it's okay, I don't want to be a bother, and you seem angry."

"I'm not angry! I'm just... normal, normal!"

"Your tone says otherwise."

When Yuki said this, Seiyo pursed her lips and made a strange face, as if she had failed to smile.

This was genuinely scary.

"T-Tengu-sama...?"

"Just do as I say. I'll give you a hot dog sausage."

"Okay."

In the end, Yuki sat down on the concrete edge as she was told.

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