Seeing Ren sitting alone reading a book, I walked over, sat down next to him, leaned my elbow on the table, and spoke up:
"You and Kaori seem pretty close these days."
Ren didn't look up. He simply tilted the book slightly, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
"We share some similar tastes in books, so we get along. Anyway, thanks for helping with Lucy. Thanks to you, I don't have to worry and can keep reading in peace."
A classic Ren response. But I wasn't surprised. In the original game, this guy never cared much about Lucy. And now, I could clearly feel that he was hinting… almost like he was officially "handing Lucy over" to me.
I looked at Ren for a moment, then glanced at the book he was holding.
Seems like the one occupying his mind now… is Kaori.
After school.
As I stepped out of class, I saw Lucy heading toward the club area,the same place I had shown her the other day. She looked a bit nervous, but her steps were steady. Maybe she was truly determined to give archery a try.
I didn't call out to her, just quietly watched for a moment before turning away.
On the way home, I walked with Ayaka and Sumire. Both girls were carrying small paper bags, their eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Look, Hiro!" Ayaka held up a bouquet of white roses, her smile radiant.
Sumire gently showed her bouquet too light purple lavender sprigs. "We thought these colors would make the literature club room feel warmer."
I chuckled, unable to hide my delight. "You two have great taste. The club's going to look amazing."
Amid the cheerful laughter and the golden afternoon light, I felt my heart grow lighter.
Suddenly, Ayaka spoke up, her eyes shining like she had just thought of something fun.
"A new ramen shop just opened recently and people have been talking about it. How about we check it out today?"
Sumire and I looked at each other and nodded. "Sounds good."
So instead of heading straight home, we turned down a small street next to the academy, where new shops had started popping up over the past few weeks. The sun was already low, its orange glow reflecting off the windows, making the street feel oddly warm and cozy.
The ramen shop appeared with a rustic wooden sign that read "Ramen Ichimonji," and a red curtain fluttering lightly in the wind below it. The rich aroma of broth wafted out the door, mingling with the sound of people slurping noodles and chatting inside.
We stepped in. The space was small but inviting, with an open kitchen and a few bar stools occupied. The tables in the back had only a few seats left.
A young waitress quickly approached us with a friendly smile. "Welcome! Party of three? Please follow me!"
We were seated at a table near the window. Sumire quietly browsed the menu, while Ayaka peered at the specials board on the wall.
I leaned back in my chair, watching the two of them while waiting to order, feeling an unexpected sense of peace.
We each ordered a different bowl: Ayaka went for the special miso, Sumire chose shoyu with soft-boiled egg, and I picked the spicy tonkotsu. After the waitress took our orders and walked away, Ayaka turned to me, her eyes sparkling.
Ayaka picked up her chopsticks, gazing at her ramen with delight.
"Uwaa~ The miso ramen smells amazing! Look at that egg, it's perfectly soft-boiled."
Sumire smiled and nodded gently. "I heard they simmer the broth all day… No wonder it's so rich."
I looked down at my spicy tonkotsu, steam rising and the aroma strong.
"No wonder this place is popular. I've been hungry since the afternoon. This is heaven."
Ayaka spoke through slurps of noodles, her voice a bit muffled.
"I've always thought... a good bowl of ramen can wash away all your fatigue. Like someone's secretly cheering you on."
Sumire lightly touched her hot tea cup.
"Yeah… Everyone has their own way of getting through rough days. For me, it's reading. But I guess meals like this also warm the heart."
I looked up at the two of them and nodded slowly.
"I get that. Sometimes, just eating with friends without saying anything deep… that's enough."
Outside the window, the sunset was fading. Inside, the soft chatter, clinking of bowls, and the lingering scent of ramen all blended into a peaceful evening among friends.
After we left the shop, the three of us walked along the quiet street, our laughter still echoing under the lamplight. At a small crossroads, we waved goodbye and each took our own path home.
That night, as usual, I took a shower and sat in front of the TV, my mind drifting. Some variety show was playing, but I wasn't really paying attention. My thoughts kept circling back to Lucy,how she had walked toward the club area, her determined yet silent demeanor… it lingered with me.
If I wanted to win Lucy's heart, I figured I'd need to approach her more often. She wasn't the type to strike up a conversation first.
But once she gets close to someone, she pays a lot of attention,maybe even too much, enough to make others uncomfortable.
I sighed, resting my chin on my hand.
What kind of situation could I create to ask for her number? Asking directly would be weird…
"Ting!"
The sound of a notification popped up. I grabbed my phone and froze.
[You have a friend request from Lucy Infernia]
I blinked a few times. Her name was right there, clear as day. She actually sent me a request? Without hesitation, I hit "accept."
Immediately, a new message appeared:
[Lucy: I got into the archery club. It's going pretty well.]
I smiled, a warm feeling spreading inside.
[Hiro: Really? Congrats.]
I was about to type something else, but hesitated.
Not long after, she replied again.
[Lucy: I got your number from Ren. Anyway… thanks. Thanks to you, I learned more about the school and the club.]
I stared at the message, a small smile tugging at the corners of my mouth.
She wasn't great at expressing gratitude in the usual way, but she always tried to say what mattered.
I quickly typed back:
[Hiro: It's nothing.]
Thinking for a second, I added:
[Hiro: But if you ever need to ask more about the school or anything else, feel free to text me. I can show you around when I'm free.]
[Lucy: Okay. I'm about to sleep now. Good night.]