Work Text:
Chiba Ryuunosuke, age 15, is already tired of his high school life despite it only begin roughly a month ago.
This week especially. He hasn’t got a grip on new high school life but he’s already being tossed around by life.
On Monday, his teacher gave him an assignment to write an essay on his weakest subject, biology. On Tuesday, he got another assignment, and so does on Wednesday, Thursday, and probably by the end of today’s lesson he will get more.
This sucks. As if I live only to do school assignments. Can’t the teachers realize they aren’t the only ones giving assignments? he thought to himself.
It’s lunchtime. He ate his bento in silence while listening to some of his classmate’s conversations.
“Hey, do you hear that idol X is having a concert soon?”
“Check out this new game!”
“I heard that teacher Y and teacher Z are dating!”
And many other random conversations. Why wasn’t he chatting too, you may ask? It’s simply because he, Chiba Ryuunosuke, hasn’t yet gotten a friend. To simply put it, he’s a total loner. Yikes.
I miss middle school…
He continued to eat his bento when his phone vibrated in his pocket. He took it out, opened the lock, and saw the name Hayami Rinka on the screen.
Hayami Rinka: it’s Friday
Chiba Ryuunosuke: I’m aware
Hayami Rinka: wanna go out after school? There’s a new paintball place near my school
Chiba Ryuunosuke: paintball? Just us two?
Hayami Rinka: is there a problem?
Chiba Ryuunosuke: ah, no. Okay I’ll go straight to your school after school
Hayami Rinka: okay, see you
Chiba Ryuunosuke: see you
He put his phone back in his pocket and can’t wait until the last bell ring.
Exactly at 3 PM his school bell rang. He had packed his belongings beforehand and literally sprinted after his teacher exited the classroom. His school isn’t that far from Hayami’s that he can simply walk there. But no. He didn’t know what came onto him that made him feel like running instead. Is it the urge to meet Hayami because he hasn’t seen her in a while? Who knows. He arrived a little earlier than he expected, so he waited for her while leaning on her school gate. Yeah, exactly like those typical dating sim protagonist “waiting for the heroine” pose. He took out his phone, trying to inform Hayami that he’s already outside.
“Chiba?”
When he almost sent it, Hayami’s voice interrupted it. He smiled at her. Hayami looked a little taken aback by his sudden smile while Chiba wondering why is he so happy to see her? It’s just Hayami. She walked past him then looked back, “let’s go”
As usual, they walked together in total silence. But unlike their previous attempt at hanging out, today's silence is oddly comfortable.
After they’re geared up, they went to the forest-like area and split up. They were given five minutes to take a position. Hayami settled on a tall, and leafy tree, perfect to hide and execute a sneaky attack meanwhile Chiba simply sat on the grass and wait until the five minutes is over. His strategy is to locate Hayami and shoot her from the ground because he just knew that Hayami’s going to hide on a tree.
The moment those five minutes were over, Chiba ran to the direction Hayami was heading. He kept pointing his air gun upwards while walking and never dropped his guard. He heard a rustle from behind and dodge just in time. She almost got him. He quickly shot and ran towards the tree. Unfortunately, Hayami was already gone.
Hayami cursed herself for missing Chiba by a few centimetres. That time she was sure that she’ll get him. If weren’t for the leaves she accidentally nudged, she got him for sure. She was busy regretting her action, to the point she didn’t realize Chiba is already in the perfect position to shoot her. When she realized, it was too late. He got her.
“It seems like you’re still sharp as ever. What a wonderful shot. Respect.” Hayami said to him after they changed. He looked at her with a thin smile, then muttered a little thanks. They stared at each other briefly before Hayami broke the silence, “Wanna go to konbini* for some snacks? My treat.” and with that, once again, they walked together accompanied by silence.
After five minutes walk, they arrived at the convenience store. It was uncrowded. They grabbed some snacks and cup ramen, then fighting about who’s paying (Hayami did at the end), and sat in the eat-in area.
“So… how’s life?”
Chiba stopped eating his ramen, reclined to his seat, and sigh. “What’s wrong?” Hayami added. He opened his mouth, “No, it’s just… I don’t know…” with only a few words, she understood. “High school’s pretty though, huh?” he nodded. “It’s okay, it’s only had been a little over a month. I’m also still trying to figure out how to get used to it.” he gave her a little smile, “Thanks for inviting me today, Hayami. It was very pleasant.” Hayami smiled back, and they spent the entire afternoon updating each other about their life until the sunsets.
Several minutes ago Hayami asked Chiba to stroll with her to the park and now here they are, in the park near Hayami’s house. The night’s pretty chilly, and Hayami looked rather cold. Chiba realized it, but he was still contemplating whether to give his jacket to her or not. Should I? Won’t it be too cheesy? What would she think of me? Will she thinks that I’m a weirdo? No, I think she’s not that kind of girl. But how should I do it? Do I offer my jacket or just put it on her?
“Let’s sit there” Hayami crashed his train of thought then lead him to the park bench under the street light.
They sat and once again, silence enveloped them.
Hayami suddenly opened the zipper of her bag. At first, Chiba stared at her but stopped because he felt rude and just stared at the park in front of them. After a while, he felt a tug on his jacket and turned his head towards her. There she was, holding a medium-sized box with green wrapping paper decorated with a peach bow. Chiba was very confused. Why is she giving me a present?
Hayami opened her mouth, “H-happy birthday. Sorry if it’s not much.”
Chiba immediately took out his phone to check today’s date. May 20th. He had forgotten his own birthday. He took the present from her hand, put it on his lap and shot her a huge smile, “Thank you, Hayami. It means a lot. Can I open it now?”. A faint blush crept into her cheeks, “NO! I-I mean, just wait until you’re home.” “Okay, and thanks again, Hayami.”
Hayami turned around, letting her back faced him. “…rinka.” she mumbled. Chiba tilted his head, “Huh?”. “Rinka.” she repeated, louder this time. “You can call me Rinka.”
Silence
She was panicking. Why isn’t he answering? Did I make it weird? Oh gosh, I wanna bury myself! She braced herself and turned to face him.
He was blushing.
“D-don’t take it the wrong way! I just thought that we’ve been friends for a while and close enough to went on a first-name basis or whatever. You can keep calling me Hayami if you’re uncomfortable!” panicked Hayami said everything in one breath.
He smiled once more, “Thank you, Rinka.” She looked down as her blush went redder and redder.
“Oh, and you can call me Ryuunosuke, too.”
After he walked Rinka to her house, he went home.
He opened the front door, “I’m hom-” “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!” his whole family was standing right in front of him, holding a cake. “Thank you, everyone.”
He took off his shoes and walk inside. His youngest sister stared at the present in his hands, “Ryuu-nii, what’s that?” He quickly hid the present behind his back. “Nothing! I’m going to my room. Thanks again everyone!” with that being said, he ran to his room with his sisters chasing him. Thankfully, he managed to close and lock his door before his sister can catch him.
“Ryuunosuke! Who gave you that present? Is it a girl?!”
“Whaaatt? Ryuu-nii has a girlfriend?”
“Ryuu-niii I wanna see what’s in the present!!!”
So annoying…
After a while, his sisters finally stopped. He then sat on his bed with Hayami’s present in front of him. He took a picture of it, Gotta documented it, then carefully open it. Inside, there are a jar of cookies, a gun-shaped keyring, and… a hand-knitted yellow beanie.
“Oh, there’s a note”
He took the note and read it.
You can give the cookies away if you don’t wanna eat them.
He chuckled, “Classic Haya- Rinka. Classic Rinka.” then smiled.
Chiba lay down, pulling Hayami’s present to his chest.
What a wonderful getaway.