Chapter Text
9S tapped his foot impatiently beneath his desk, his eyes boring into the clock overhead. While he was the type of student who could afford to drown out a lecture or two—never failing to score high marks on his exams—he had hardly been able to concentrate all day. Of course, he had a perfectly reasonable explanation for this, for he had been invited to spend lunch with his favorite upperclassman: 2B.
Upon hearing the bell, he quickly made his way over to her classroom and beamed when he spotted her at her desk. He had been about to say her name when a hand moved to cover his mouth. A muffled sound of surprise slipped from his throat as he was pulled back, nearly tripping over himself in the process. 9S turned to scowl at the perpetrator. "What are you doing?"
6O stared back at him. "Look," she said as she slid her hands away.
While 9S still didn't quite understand, he was quiet as he circled around 2B. She had crossed her arms around her head, leaving only a fraction of her face visible from the side. Realizing she had fallen asleep, his first reaction had been to look away. Yet that restraint easily broke with every soft breath she made, her long lashes swaying rhythmically and her pink lips parting ever so slightly.
"I was starting to wonder if she even slept," 6O whispered, causing 9S to sharply draw back, "since she's always such a busybody. All that work must have finally caught up to her."
His brow furrowed in concern. "Do you think she's sick?" He wanted to check the heat from her forehead, but stopped himself and shook her shoulder instead. "2B? 2B?"
A cloudy hint of blue peeked between the strands of her lashes. "9S?" she said, her voice a little slurred. "What was I doing?"
A blush stole across his face, and he hoped she was too tired to see it. "You were sleeping."
Jackass came up behind her. "In class, no less. I'm surprised you weren't caught." She grinned. "At least the rest of us got to see that cute expression of yours."
2B frowned. "I don't sleep in class."
Jackass bumped 2B's head with her notebook. "You were. And if you keep lying like that, you'll end up like White."
The girl in question cleared her throat from a few seats away.
"Sorry," Jackass said. "I meant that you'll end up like our student council president."
"My name wasn't the issue," White added, to which Jackass replied by sticking out her tongue.
6O stepped in between them. "Come on, guys. No fighting."
9S looked up at the clock. "We should get going. If we don't hurry, lunch will be over soon."
"I suppose you're right," 2B said.
"Come on." 9S made a motion with his hand. "I know a good spot today." As soon as the words left his mouth, he felt a chill creep up his back. It was as though a dozen curses had been inflicted upon him, which wasn't surprising, considering nearly everyone had a crush on 2B at one point. He hoped to get away from those wandering eyes.
6O pinched his sleeve as he passed her. Good luck, she mouthed. While she may have been among those who harbored affection for 2B, she never hesitated to give him her support.
9S led 2B out of the classroom and up the stairs before being stopped by one of the homeroom teachers, Zinnia. "Where are you two going?" he said. "The rooftop is off-limits to students."
"Come one, teach," 9S pleaded. "You know that we're your best students. We won't get into any trouble."
Zinnia narrowed his eyes at them, looking much like a parent who struggled to stay mad at their own child, before bending down to ruffle his hair. "Just this once."
When they were finally alone, they sat down by the fence outside. 9S couldn't believe how smoothly things were going. He noticed that 2B always bought lunch from the cafeteria, so in a moment of brilliance, he offered to pack for the both of them.
"What do you think?" he said, showing her the rows of sasuage, egg, and rice he arranged meticulously in one box.
2B looked "Did you make this?"
9S nodded proudly.
"I didn't know that you can cook."
"I had some help," he said, as he thought back to the weekend prior. He had invited 6O and 21O to teach him how to cook. While the former almost burnt down the kitchen, he liked to think that he was able to achieve something edible with the latter.
He plucked sausage out and was about to hand it to her when 2B suddenly leaned forward to take a bite. 9S could not bring himself to move, his attention snared between the small twist of her lips and the delicate curve of her throat as she swallowed. The air around them became tense and heady. She leaned back, one hand tucking the loose threads of her hair behind her ear, and looked at him with bright eyes.
9S willed away another blush. "Is it good?"
"Very."
9S laughed at the unexpected gravity behind her tone. He could not believe how his serious upperclassman could be so endearing.
They took turns picking at the lunch box. As the break neared its end, 2B grew quiet. "Has it always been like this?"
9S put down his utensil. "What do you mean?"
The wind blew through the fence, bringing her silver hair back over her features. Yet he could tell that her eyes were focused on something he couldn't see.
2B shook her head. "Forget it. I... I guess it would be nice if it were like this every day."
"Why don't we come back here tomorrow?" he suggested. "I'll make sure Zinnia won't catch us this time."
2B smiled in a way that made his heart skip a beat. "Sure. And I'll having something prepared for you."
"For me?" Then he remembered. Wasn't tomorrow Valentine's Day? Could she be giving him chocolate? He pushed those thoughts away as quickly as they came. She probably hadn't realized the implication.
Still, he had something to look forward to.