Kenta and Noya had been working on the latest chapter for Fullmetal Alchemist, while Hayato focused on JoJo. Haruki had gone to Evermark Studio for Code Geass.
When lunch break came, they all sat around the table as everyone opened their bentos.
Kenta slid the lid off his box. Inside was grilled salmon with rice, tamagoyaki, pickled daikon, and a few slices of simmered lotus root.
Noya immediately noticed. "Oh, Kenta, that looks way too good. Who made it for you?"
Kenta frowned. "Why do you think I can't make it myself?"
Noya grinned. "Because I know your food habits. If it doesn't come wrapped in plastic or deep-fried, you usually don't touch it. That looks like real homemade food."
Kenta sighed. "I didn't want to rub it in, but now that you're insulting my taste, fine. My girlfriend made it."
Noya froze, chopsticks halfway to his mouth. "Wait, what? You have a girlfriend? Since when? And why am I hearing about this now?"
Kenta continued eating. "We've been seeing each other for a while, and she packed this for me today."
Noya turned to Hayato. "Hayato, back me up. He's been hiding this from us! He's got a girlfriend. She must have friends, right? He should introduce us."
Hayato looked up from his lunch. "Actually, I have a girlfriend too. So I'm good."
Noya slumped forward, defeated. "So it's just me left? Great. Everyone's got someone except me."
Kenta shrugged. "Haruki doesn't have one either, so don't worry."
Noya sighed. "Yeah, but come on, it's Haruki. He doesn't even need to try. If he wanted to date, girls would line up. I'm not popular like him."
Kenta smirked. "You said it, not me. Looks like you're the only one who really has to worry."
Hayato said quietly, "You could try that too, you know."
"What do you mean?"
"Going out. Meeting people."
Noya frowned. "I could. I just… don't have time for that right now."
Kenta chuckled. "You always say that, but somehow you have time to watch three entire anime in a weekend."
"That's different," Noya said, serious now. "That's research."
Hayato smiled faintly. "Research for what? Being single?"
"Hey, no need to rub it in," Noya said, poking at his rice. "If you've got a girlfriend now, it's your responsibility to introduce me to someone too."
Kenta laughed. "Why would I find you a girlfriend? And I doubt anyone would pick you anyway."
Noya glared. "What's that supposed to mean? You think no girl would choose me? I've just been busy, that's all. Haven't had time to go out."
Hayato watched them go back and forth, as they always did at lunch. They always found something to tease each other about, and it was entertaining to see them go back and forth like that. It helped keep him from getting bored.
When the conversation started to become one-sided, Hayato would usually step in and change the topic. Sometimes he even took the losing side of the argument just to keep things balanced, letting both sides go back and forth more evenly.
"Hey," Hayato said, "so what anime have you guys been watching lately?"
Kenta thought for a second. "Huh? Ah, well, recently I don't have much time. You know, I have a girlfriend now, so I've only been watching Code Geass and playing some games."
Noya gave him a side glance. "Well, I've been watching Code Geass too, and I just finished Violet Evergarden. It was so beautifully animated. It really deserved Best Animation of the Year."
Hayato nodded. "Yeah, I watched it when it won that award. I checked it out because I heard online the story was written by one of Haruki's old assistants."
Noya's face lit up. "Yes, it was beautiful. When I first watched 5cm/s, I made it my wallpaper, but after Violet Evergarden, I changed it right away. It's such an emotional story. I also read the comic, and it's just as beautiful as the anime."
Kenta nodded. "Yeah, I read the comic too. It was a good read. The artist's name is Kotone, right? Haruki's been hanging around her lately. Do you think she'll join him as an assistant again?"
Noya shook his head. "I don't think so. She's very talented. I think she'll try to serialize another manga."
Kenta leaned back. "You never know. It's hard to come up with a good story and keep a series going. Japan's workload is heavier compared to when she worked in the U.S. If she joins, Hayato, you'll have some strong competition."
Hayato shrugged. "I don't really care."
Noya smiled. "I still think Hayato's better. He's been working on his manga for a while now. How long will it take, Hayato?"
"Uh, another six months or so," Hayato said. "I've been stockpiling chapters and perfecting the story. I'll submit it next month, but I want enough chapters ready so I don't fall behind on deadlines. I still want to keep drawing JoJo too. It's fun. It really helps inspire my own manga."
Noya gave a small smile. "That's great news. We were worried that after you leave, we wouldn't have time to handle JoJo."
Kenta nodded. "Hey, back to the topic. Did you watch the recent episodes, nine and ten? I watched them with my girlfriend."
Noya groaned. "Hey now, just because you have a girlfriend doesn't mean you have to bring her up in every conversation."
Kenta smirked. "I have a girlfriend, so I'll bring her up whenever I want. Is there a rule that says I can't?"
Noya glanced at Kenta. "If you want the right to bring your girlfriend into every conversation, then next time you go out with her, bring a friend for me. I'm serious, Kenta."
Kenta sighed. "You're hopeless."
Hayato shook his head. "He's not joking. He'll keep saying that until you give in."
"Exactly," Noya said. "I don't give up."
Kenta gave up trying to argue. "Fine. But if it goes badly, you're paying for my meal."
Noya grinned. "Deal."
They went back to eating, then back to work.
(TL:- if you want even more content, check out p-a-t-r-e-o-n.com/Alioth23 for 60+ advanced chapters)