Those who remain either secretly want to go, like me, are unconscious of their surroundings, or prefer being alone, like Horikita.
"Well, I was thinking of heading to the cafeteria. Anyone want to come with me?" Hirata announces as he stands up from his chair.
He is clearly one of those all-around good guys. I silently take my hat off to him. In my heart, I wait for a savior to bestow a chance like this upon me. Yes, Hirata. I will go with you.
I slowly try to raise my hand.
"I'll go, too!" a girl shouts.
"Me, too! Me too!"
A large group of girls gathers around Hirata one after another. I quickly lower my hand back to my lap. Why do those girls have to take his offer? This could be my chance to make friends with Hirata. You don't need to jump all over him for lunch just because he is kind of handsome.
"How tragic," Horikita says. Her derisive laugh morphs into flat scorn.
"Don't just assume you know what I'm thinking," I say.
"Well then." Horikita shoots me another pitying look before picking up her bag and departing the classroom. She leaves me completely alone.
"That was pointless," I mutter to myself.
Reluctantly, I get up from my chair. I decide to head toward the cafeteria by myself. If I don't feel like I can eat alone in there, I will just score some basic supplies from the convenience store.
"You're Ayanokouji-kun, right?"
On my way out the door, Kushida calls my name. She asks me a bunch of questions about Horikita, trying to figure out her personality so she can befriend her. I tell her I don't know Horikita well. Kushida just smiles, shakes my hand, and walks away.
I slide my hands into my pockets and step toward the hallway.
Before I can take another step toward the stairs, a shadow falls over my desk. Tal stands right in front of me. He carries a heavy-looking canvas bag slung over his right shoulder.
"I'm going to the convenience store," I say quickly, assuming he is blocking my path by accident.
"You're Ayanokouji, right?" he asks.
"Yes," I answer. "You are Tal."
"Yeah," Tal says, his face lighting up slightly. "I'm impressed you could pronounce my name in my great-grandfather's native language."
I look at him. "I guess I can."
"Do you mind hanging out with me to eat lunch in the cafeteria?" Tal asks while smiling. "I am planning to go there, but it is awkward to go alone. Our classmates might think I'm a loner. And the other boys are already gone. But you're available right, Ayanokouji?"
I see. I am chosen by default. He just wants company to avoid social criticism from the rest of the class. I guess it wouldn't hurt to accept his offer. It will definitely be awkward for me eating alone at a table as well.
"Yeah," I say. "I am planning to go there myself."
"Great," Tal says, adjusting the strap on his shoulder. "Let's go."
We walk out of the classroom and step into the wide corridor. The hallway is packed with people. The noise is incredibly loud. Hundreds of upperclassmen and freshmen mix together, forming a massive moving crowd heading toward the dining areas.
"Did you see the new crepe flavors at the mall?" a girl with short hair asks her friend as they walk past us.
"Yeah, but I'm saving my points for that cute bag we saw yesterday," her friend replies, giggling loudly.
"Man, I messed up earlier," a guy groans from the other side of the hall. "I really need to be careful."
Tal and I weave through the slow-moving groups. The polished floor squeaks under our shoes. We do not talk much at first. The sheer volume of the surrounding conversations makes it difficult to hear anything anyway.
Suddenly, Tal stops walking.