After school, they sat on the stairs behind the science building again — not for any special reason. It just had the right mix of sun and shade. Warm concrete under their legs, cold air on their backs.
Junpei leaned against the railing. "You ever think about how we sit in the same places, say the same stuff, and nothing really happens?"
Ryota nodded. "Every time we do it."
"But we still show up," Sota said.
"Because we're geniuses of wasting time," Ryota replied.
Junpei pulled a half-crushed pastry from his bag. "I think we're more like specialists."
"Specialists in what?"
Junpei took a bite. "In being here without doing anything useful."
Ryota looked around. "I saw the vending machines are restocked. I might go get that weird melon soda again."
"You said it was terrible last time," Sota said.
"Exactly. I need to make sure."
Junpei tossed him a coin without looking. "If it's still awful, bring me one."
Ryota got up with a groan. "This is why I hang out with you guys. Bad decisions and mutual disrespect."
As he walked off, two girls walked past the far end of the stairs — Ayane and Miku. Just chatting. Laughing about something that made no sense to anyone else.
Sota noticed them first. "Hey, they're in our class, right?"
Junpei looked over. "Yeah. I think one of them's good at math. Or art. Or both?"
"Probably smarter than us," Sota said.
Junpei nodded. "But we sit better."
The girls didn't notice them. Just kept walking. Their conversation floated by, unintelligible and short-lived.
"Do you think we ever sound like that to other people?" Junpei asked.
"Like what?"
"Like we're in a completely different story."
Sota leaned back. "We probably are."
Ryota came back with two cans. He handed one to Junpei. "It's still bad."
"Good," Junpei said, cracking it open anyway.
They drank in silence. The sky was getting a little darker, and the cold was creeping back in.
But they stayed there anyway.