Episode 32: Crossing Gazes
The lunch bell rang, and I stretched lightly in my seat.
Honestly, none of the morning’s classes had really sunk in.
(…I wonder if Honoka’s okay.)
Thinking that, I started to get up, meaning to head to her classroom as usual — and that was when it happened.
“Yuna.”
A voice, quiet but clear, called my name.
I looked up.
Standing at the classroom door was Honoka.
“…Honoka?”
It was unusual for her to come to my classroom during lunch.
Normally it was the other way around — I’d be the one going to hers.
A little surprised, I got up and started toward her.
But partway there —
I saw Honoka’s gaze waver, just slightly.
(…?)
Her expression looked like something was bothering her.
I followed her line of sight and saw Shiori’s back, just then leaving the classroom.
(Shiori…?)
Curious, I glanced back at Honoka.
At that moment, Shiori too glanced toward Honoka, just for an instant.
Honoka’s eyes narrowed, faintly.
— As if they were each aware of the other.
But neither of them said anything, and Shiori simply walked out of the room.
Honoka kept her gaze lingering that direction for a moment, not moving.
“…Honoka?”
When I called to her, she turned back to me right away.
“…No, it’s nothing.”
But her face didn’t look like the face of someone for whom it was nothing.
I frowned slightly, but chose not to press, and offered her my seat instead. “Want to sit?”
Honoka nodded, “Yeah,” and sat down beside my desk.
As she unpacked her lunch, she kept glancing at me on and off, looking somehow restless.
“…What?”
When I asked, her mouth eased into the smallest smile.
“No, nothing — I’m just happy I get to eat with you, Yuna.”
Saying that, she suddenly tugged at my sleeve.
Then, under the desk, her hand found mine and touched it gently.
I blinked at the gesture.
“…Honoka?”
“Hey, Yuna.”
She smiled and deliberately leaned her body a little closer.
Resting her head lightly against my shoulder, she murmured in a coaxing voice.
“…I want to feel more of you.”
— Unconcerned with anyone around us, as if putting it on display.
For a moment I felt the eyes of the people around us, and hesitated faintly.
But Honoka didn’t seem to mind at all, keeping a light grip on my sleeve without letting go.
“…Honoka, that’s a bit too close.”
When I whispered it, she looked up at me with a small upward glance.
“Not allowed?”
“…No, it’s not that it’s not allowed.”
I couldn’t very well say no, given this was exactly what I used to do to her.
And besides, I was happy that Honoka was being affectionate with me like this.
Hearing my reaction, Honoka smiled, satisfied, and leaned into me again.
I could feel the murmur of the classroom around us growing just slightly louder.
Even so, Honoka kept clinging to me, unconcerned.
Was it just my imagination — that underneath the gesture, I sensed something like impatience?