After getting Hitori Gotoh's approval, Ren Suzuki truly did as he promised he didn't disturb her.
He simply sat quietly in the corner next to her, eating from his bento in silence.
In this unusually peaceful atmosphere, Hitori Gotoh's tense expression gradually softened, slowly settling into a calm state.
"Thanks for the meal."
After finishing his bento, Ren Suzuki neatly closed the box and packed everything away. Then he stood up and, with a gentle tone, spoke to Hitori Gotoh.
"Sorry for bothering you, Gotoh-san."
"N-No, not at all."
Perhaps the quiet and friendly atmosphere had helped her relax, because her response this time was noticeably quicker than before.
"Actually… it should be me thanking you for even sharing lunch with someone like me…"
"I really like the feeling of being around you, Gotoh-san. It's calming and comfortable."
Ren Suzuki cut off her self-deprecating words.
"If I get the chance again… would it be alright if I came here to bother you?"
"N-No, it's totally fine!"
Hitori Gotoh shook her head frantically.
"Actually, I was just using this place as my own personal hideout without asking anyone. If you'd like, please feel free to come here anytime…"
"So that means… from now on, this place will be our shared refuge?"
Hearing that, Ren Suzuki smiled softly.
"That makes me really happy. Please take care of me from now on, Gotoh-san."
"P-Please take care of me… too…"
She shrank her shoulders and mumbled.
"Looking forward to your next visit…"
"Oh, next time I'll specifically request you as my lunch companion."
"Eh?!"
"Hahaha, just kidding."
Ren Suzuki waved his hand cheerfully and walked toward the stairwell…
...…
"…Phew."
As soon as Ren Suzuki turned the corner and started up the stairs, Hitori Gotoh immediately patted her chest and let out a long breath.
Her racing heart, ragged breathing, and the sweat still clinging to her hands all testified to just how nervous she had been moments ago.
She didn't even remember how she managed to finish her lunch. The only image in her mind was of Ren Suzuki quietly eating his bento next to her, along with that same calming scent of sage and sea salt she remembered from their first meeting.
Even someone like her, who had never interacted with her classmates, knew that Ren Suzuki was a gentle, kind, and incredibly handsome boy.
There wasn't a girl in the class who didn't like him. Some upperclassmen had even come to their classroom to ask about him.
Was this a blessing, or a punishment?
Being able to have lunch with someone like him should have been the luckiest thing imaginable, yet she had been so nervous that she couldn't even string together a complete sentence.
No, it was worse because of her nervousness, he had even gone out of his way to accommodate her.
Recalling how he had asked for her permission, Hitori Gotoh couldn't help but cover her flushed cheeks.
"Hitori Gotoh, who do you think you are, letting someone as amazing as Suzuki-sama lower himself for your sake…? You should have been the one desperately grateful for him even sparing a moment to eat lunch with you!"
(Thinking about it, I must have left a terrible impression on Suzuki-sama, right? Both when we first met and just now.)
(Haa… I want to crawl into a hole and disappear…)
While she was still lost in self-loathing, that gentle, almost heavenly voice suddenly called down to her from above.
"Oh, by the way, Gotoh-san."
"Y-Yes?!"
(I bit my tongue!!!)
Hitori Gotoh clutched her mouth in panic and looked up toward the voice.
Ren Suzuki was leaning on the stair railing, his upper body peeking out as he gazed at her.
"Is something wrong?"
"I hope… someday you'll be able to finish the self-introduction you left incomplete."
"…Huh?"
"I'll head back to class now. See you later."
With a small wave, Ren Suzuki turned and disappeared from view, his footsteps fading into the distance. He left Hitori Gotoh sitting there in a daze, his words echoing over and over in her mind.
Huh?
Huh huh huh?
What just happened?
"How… how did he know I didn't finish my self-introduction…?"
She muttered under her breath.
"And… why does he want to hear it…? My self-introduction isn't anything worth hearing… is it?"
A storm of thoughts flooded her mind. As curiosity and wild imagination spiraled together, one shocking possibility bubbled to the surface, nearly making her scream aloud.
(Could it be… Suzuki-san… is interested in me?!)
Of course, the moment that ridiculous fantasy appeared, Hitori Gotoh immediately denied it.
There was simply no way.
Someone with her gloomy appearance, poor social skills, mediocre grades, and a lifestyle bordering on that of a cave-dwelling creature should be grateful just not to be outright disliked. And the person in question was the almost-perfect Ren Suzuki…
…
Come to think of it, why did this classroom superstar specifically come here to eat lunch? Last week, he had always gone to the cafeteria with the other popular kids.
Could it be he actually prefers quiet spaces?
Hmm… even though she had gotten used to seeing him surrounded by crowds, a calm and elegant atmosphere did suit him surprisingly well.
Still, it didn't seem like that simple of a reason…
Oh right, didn't he say to those popular kids earlier that he needed to contact his family? Maybe it was because of that?
…
The more she thought about it, the less sense it made…
Hitori Gotoh hugged her knees, blue eyes filled with confusion beneath her bangs.
But no matter what, as long as she stayed here during lunch, she would probably get to see him again, right?
Next time… would she be able to say a little more to him?
Of course, becoming friends was surely out of reach… but at least next time… she hoped she could be brave enough to greet him first.
And just like he asked… maybe she could finally finish the self-introduction she'd left incomplete.
But would he even believe it?
That a socially anxious girl who can't even speak properly in front of people… is actually a guitarist with 30,000 subscribers on YouTube…
Would he think she was just a liar making things up?
Ugh ugh ugh… even if he doesn't like me, I really don't want him to hate me…
What should I do?
Having never talked to a boy before, Hitori Gotoh now found herself trapped in the greatest dilemma of her life.