"So slow."
Carrying a large backpack and holding two oversized shopping bags, Aragaki Miyahito glanced impatiently at his watch.
"What's taking Tooru so long?"
Lowering his hand, he looked back at the bustling station exit and complained, "He said meet at 2:30. It's almost 2:25 and I don't see a single person."
"I should've known better than to pack so much food and drinks... This is heavy."
That morning, while attending his cram school classes, Miyahito had just finished a physics test when Tooru called.
In the call, Tooru said: "This afternoon, Yoshikawa, Iura, and a few others are planning a picnic at Yoyogi Park. Wanna come, Miyahito?"
Hearing the invitation, Miyahito thought it over.
Well, he only had morning physics classes today. No afternoon cram school.
Plus, ever since spending lunch breaks with Kasumigaoka lately, his song inspiration had been flowing steadily. Kosaka Akane's anime theme song commission was nearly done. All that was left was the tedious work of polishing the tracks.
So, Miyahito accepted Tooru's invitation. After finishing class, he'd rushed back from the Shinjuku cram school to his apartment, spending the entire noon preparing food and drinks.
"Sigh. If I ever show up early again, I'm an idiot."
The moment he finished speaking.
"Ah! Miyahito! Spotted!"
"Sorry, sorry! Kept you waiting, Miyahito."
"Good afternoon, Aragaki-kun!"
"Whoa, Miyahito, what did you even bring? There's so much!"
"..."
Rolling his eyes in mild exasperation, Miyahito looked at Tooru, Yoshikawa Yuki, and the others approaching him. Without a word, he shoved one of the heavy bags directly into Tooru's hands, who was only carrying a light shoulder bag.
"Miyahito?"
"Hold it steady."
Staring blankly at the confused Tooru, Miyahito said in a perfectly calm tone,
"This bag contains my life's blood. If you drop it, I'm hanging you from the goalpost."
Instantly recalling his own miserable fate from Friday afternoon—tied up with ropes and dangling from that same goalpost—Tooru immediately clamped his mouth shut and nodded carefully.
Seeing Tooru obediently shut up without a single complaint, Miyahito finally gave a satisfied nod.
Just then, Yoshikawa Yuki, who had been hiding behind Tooru, peeked curiously into the bag and asked,
"Miyahito, what's in here?"
"Bento," Miyahito turned his head and smiled, explaining to Yuki, Sakuraba, Iura, and the rest. "Everyone, make sure to try them when we get to the park."
"I also brought some chilled waxberry iced tea."
Hearing this, Yuki and the others instantly cheered.
"Yay! Long live Lord Miyahito!"
"Bento? Waxberry iced tea? Miyahito, I love you!"
"Iura, back off! You're radiating heat, it's annoying!"
"No way! I wanna stay by Lord Miyahito's side forever."
"Who wants to spend their life with a guy? Get lost."
"..."
Before long, the group arrived at their destination: Yoyogi Park.
"Let's go over there!"
As soon as they entered the park, Yuki, carrying a cloth bag, immediately spotted a quiet, empty spot by the lake.
"Alright, let's go."
As today's head chef and logistics manager for the group, Miyahito looked in the direction Yuki pointed and nodded in agreement.
Since the person holding the highest status—and controlling whether everyone got to eat well today—had already spoken, no one had any objections.
Well, they were willingly without objections. Definitely not because anyone who thought of objecting got instantly shut down by Miyahito's sharp glare!
After settling on a spot, the group prepared for their picnic.
Just as Yuki and the other girls were chatting and laughing, about to sit down on the grass, Miyahito suddenly called out.
"Wait."
"Hmm?"
Hearing his voice, the girls instinctively turned to look.
They watched as Miyahito took off his large backpack, placed it on the grass, and then, to everyone's stunned amazement, pulled out an extra-large picnic mat... big enough for all six of them (three boys, three girls) to sit comfortably, with plenty of space left over for their stuff.
After spreading it out, Miyahito gestured for everyone to find their seats.
Once everyone was settled, he naturally reached into his backpack, pulled out a roll of disposable paper cups, plastic forks, and other utensils, and distributed them.
Iura Shuu from Class D, participating in Class B's weekend activities for the first time, looked down at the utensils in his hand, then at the paper plates and cups placed before him.
Slightly dazed, he looked up at the still-busy Miyahito and asked unconsciously,
"Tooru, does Miyahito always act like this when you guys hang out?"
"I have no idea either."
Wearing the exact same bewildered expression, Tooru replied in a slightly trance-like voice,
"This is actually my first time successfully dragging Miyahito out on a weekend."
"The image of Miyahito I had in my head... has completely shattered."
Watching Miyahito smile as he explained the dishes to the girls, thoughtfully pouring his homemade drinks for everyone, Iura felt like he was watching a mother figure.
"Me too."
Tooru nodded blankly. Then, as if struck by a sudden realization, his tone shifted to deep regret.
"What a waste..."
"What's a waste?" Iura asked, confused.
"What a waste that Miyahito is a guy."
"Huh? Miyahito's always been a guy..." The words left Iura's mouth before his brain caught up.
He turned his dazed gaze toward Miyahito, then back to Tooru.
Right on cue, Tooru's eyes met Iura's.
Finally, both boys simultaneously wore expressions of profound regret and let out a heavy sigh.
Sigh... Why? Why did Miyahito have to be a guy?
Not only was he handsome, but looking at the incredibly appealing dishes spread out before them—no need to even taste them to know they'd be delicious.
"Sigh, life is so unfair."
"The world is truly unjust."
Tooru and Iura said in perfect unison.
The moment their voices faded, Miyahito, who had just gotten a bit thirsty and was about to take a sip of his iced tea, suddenly felt a creepy chill run up his spine.
Startled, he quickly looked around.
Nothing's happening... Weird.
Meanwhile, Yuki, who had been stuffing her face with snacks, suddenly looked up and called out to the zoning-out Tooru and Iura.
"Tooru! Iura! What are you waiting for? Come try Miyahito's cooking already, it's super good!"
"Yeah, Tooru and Iura, hurry up and try it!"
And just as Miyahito and the others happily began their picnic, a figure wearing a light blue camisole dress, layered with a pure white long-sleeved gauze cardigan, slowly walked toward their group.
The moment those wine-red eyes caught sight of the laughing, bustling Miyahito and his friends,
"Aragaki... kun?"
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