On the way back from my meeting with Professor Lena, I passed by a group of students gathered near the side corridor—probably from a different class, judging by their faces.
They were sitting in a loose circle, chatting and laughing, their energy loud and careless.
At first, I didn't pay them much attention.
Just a bunch of extras messing around with their lunchboxes.
But then I heard it.
"Even convenience store food's better than this."
"Yeah, cafeteria's got better meals than this stuff."
I paused.
Not because of the insult—they were free to complain about whatever mystery dish they were dissecting—but because the container one of them was holding looked... familiar.
A black lacquered bento box with a gold trim and a subtle cherry blossom pattern on the lid.
My eyes narrowed.
That was—
That looked like Keira's.
