**Next day, lunch break, Sakuragaoka Shuka Academy**
Hotaru snagged Golden Dream Chocolate Bread, delivered one to craving Light Music Club girls, then headed to Astronomy Club.
On stairs, he met Xiangzi, bento in hand, rooftop-bound.
"Xiangzi."
She turned, surprised.
"Eat with us? Me and Tomori."
"Eh?" Xiangzi paused, gripping bento. She ate alone to avoid connections, long unused to friends. Facing Tomori felt awkward.
She forced a smile to decline.
Hotaru, assertive, pushed her shoulder to Astronomy Club door. *She's not cold, just needs nudge.*
"Wait, I'm not ready," Xiangzi protested.
"Just a meal," Hotaru laughed, opening door.
Tomori looked up. "Saki-chan?"
"Good afternoon," Xiangzi said, embarrassed, relieved only they were there.
She noticed Tomori writing—lyrics?—but stayed shy.
"Mm, good afternoon," Tomori replied softly.
Hotaru: "Tomori, eat together?"
Tomori, realizing he brought Xiangzi, nodded happily. "Okay, Xiao Xiang too?"
Xiangzi, under Tomori's animal-like gaze, couldn't refuse, guilt heavy.
They unpacked bentos. Hotaru's: cafeteria bread.
Tomori's: fragrant fried chicken, octopus sausages, colorful omelets, plump sesame-nori rice balls.
Xiangzi's modest: white rice with broccoli, potato-carrot curry, no chicken.
Relieved no attention, she relaxed.
Tomori, happy eating with them, felt lyric-motivated.
She noticed Xiangzi swallow at fried chicken, offered a piece. "Xiao Xiang, want some?"
Xiangzi, taken aback, scent tempting, body craving meat, swallowed again.
Tomori's gaze won. Xiangzi bit gently. "Thank you…"
Tomori smiled warmly.
She picked the largest chicken for Hotaru. "Qiu, have some."
Hotaru and Xiangzi stunned.
Xiangzi blushed, overthinking: *Tomori's chopsticks, first me, now him… indirect…*
Hotaru: *Two girls' chopsticks…*
Tomori, pure, expectant, unaware.
Hotaru sought Xiangzi's help.
She bowed head, embarrassed, nodding subtly—approval?
"Qiu, don't want it?" Tomori's arm trembled.
Hotaru ate. "Delicious!" Thumbs up. *Nice change from Soyo's cooking.*
"If Qiu wants more, there's some," Tomori said.
Xiangzi raised head, avoiding Hotaru, looking away.
Tomori: "Xiao Xiang, anything else?"
Xiangzi, stuffing rice, pretending ignorance, coughed.
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