Chapter 48

After shopping for some clothes, Yuji and Yukina went straight to the restaurant Yukina mentioned.

"Here's your order," said the waitress, giving them both of their plates, containing sizzling steaks.

"Ahhh," Yukina said in a soft voice as she smelled the aroma of the cuisine, "I wanted to try this again for so long,".

" this red sauce... What is it?" Yuji asked

"I don't know myself," Yukina said, as she was slightly blowing on the spoon containing the dish, "when I asked, they said it was a secret recipe," she then began chewing her food.

Yuji took a spoon full of the dish, and after blowing on it a couple of times, he ate it.

"So good!" Yuji said with excitement

"I know right?" She said with a smile.

They both continued to eat, not saying a word as they continue to enjoy the meal.

After sometime.

"Wait... This is my chance!" Yukina thought, "I have to ask him some questions to see what kind of person he is,".

"Hey, Yuji..." Yukina said in a serious tone, looking directly into Yuji's eyes.

"What's with that look, did she suddenly remember something?" Yuji thought thinking it was something that might be of importance,

"what is it?" He said.

"How many..." Yukina said.

"How many?" Yuji said.

"How many relationships have you been through?" Yukina said, in all seriousness.

"Huh?" Yuji said, being shocked at where the question came from, "Is this just some natural conversation... Then what's with that look!?" He thought "I should probably answer seriously just in case...".

"I'm saying, how many girlfriends have you had before?" Yukina asked.

"None..." Yuji answered.

"Then we're you famous or something? Like how many friends did you have while in school," Yukina asked, still being serious.

Yuji stopped in thought for a short moment, "I had only one friend," he replied in all seriousness.

"Are you serious?" Yukina asked, locking eyes with Yuji.

"Yes, I'm serious, how can I not be when you're staring at me like that?"

"Eh?" Yukina said, snapping back to normal, "oh! Sorry, I must have gotten too immersed,".

"And didn't I tell you already? I was named weakling for being labeled powerless and people either ignore me or make fun of me,".

"I see... was everyone like that?".

"I don't know, I never actually met with other people or even tried to socialize because of it, I only knew one person who was genuinely not like that, and I was satisfied with it,".

"And that was Erina..."

"Yeah, the way I've been acting earlier was just what I did when I was out with her, so I'm not completely clueless, she's the only person I ever hung out with to be a reference after all, and I was satisfied with that,".

"I see," Yukina said with a smile, "so she is that kind of a person... I'm relieved,".

After a quick moment, Yukina suddenly changed her expression.

"Wait did you say when you were going out?" Yukina said.

"Yeah?" Yuji said.

"You weren't dating?" Yukina asked.

"Huh?" Yuji said in shock, "no! We weren't like that! We just hang out from time to time, and I end up tagging along with her for some things. Plus, she was my only friend remember?"

"Oh yeah... Sorry for reminding you," Yukina said.

"Why do I feel like I just got insulted… why are you asking me these questions anyway? I thought it was something serious because of your face,"

"Sorry, it's just that, you've been really easy to get along with," Yukina said, "to be honest I'm not that sociable myself back at City A, so I thought asking you about your social life might give me an idea,".

"To be honest, you're the one who seems easy to get along with for me,".

"Really? I actually doubt that, since I actually have friends that tell me I'm not," Yukina said.

"Once again I feel insulted..." Yuji mumbled

"Though it can't be helped not knowing," Yukina said, "after all, you gave up on people,".

"Huh?" Yuji said in a shocked tone, "I... Gave up?"

"You didn't notice it yourself?"

Ting*

The spoon hit the empty plate.

"Oh, I'm finished," Yukina said putting down the spoon.

Note: they we're eating while talking to each other.

"Anyways, going back," Yukina said, "you said you only knew one person who was like that, and you were satisfied with that... That basically meant you gave up on knowing other people,".

"I..." Yuji said as he gains realizations of his own.

"When I was still a child, I never got to make contact with other people, since I was privately tutored," Yuji said, "and the only person I was able to make contact with was Erina..."

"He was privately tutored?" Yukina thought.

"It's not like I didn't try... when I stepped through high school, I thought things might move up, but instead, I got bullied for not having an ability and was tormented in multiple ways. I was suffering because of people who abuses their power to others who can't put up a fight, that's why whenever I tried to fight back head-on I always get stomped on, especially when they get their hands on a syringe,"

Ting*

"Looks like I'm also finished..." Yuji said.

"Anyway, I thought about life as some sort of survival ever since," Yuji said, "I studied a lot and trained my body as much as I can, not to fight, but to survive. I practiced my brain on how to escape several situations, no matter how silly or almost impossible it may be, after all, it's a school filled with students that have unknown potential abilities. I kept on running and running avoiding as much contact with people as possible, and that's when I got the nickname weakling. Someone who runs away and never fights back,"

"That explains a lot..." Yukina said, "including that crazy instinct you have to survive that disaster,"

"Yeah, thanks to that, I was able to somehow survive for a long time in that situation, though nearing the time before I met you was pure luck,"

Yuji paused for a moment, as he realizes something more.

Yukina stayed quiet, knowing what was going through next on his mind.

"That's right... I'm only alive today thanks to Elizabeth, she was someone who wasn't like the others. It's because I gave up on being with other people... That's why I wasn't able to meet people like her earlier..."

"Maybe... If was able to meet them earlier... Then she might be..."

"There's no use regretting the past!" Yukina said, interrupting Yuji, "what's important is how you reflect on it,".

Yuji was stunned.

"She gave you a second chance that was worth her life, knowing what mistakes you did, what do you think you should do, now that you've been given a longer life to live,"

"Of course, ... That would be… not to waste it…"

"That's right, and don't worry, this time..." Yukina suddenly paused, hesitating to complete her sentence

"This time?" Yuji said.

"This time..." Yukina struggled, "I'll have your back... You'll already have a friend to watch your back when you enter City A so..."

"Yukina..." Yuji said in what seemed to be a teary voice.

"Wha! What's wrong!?" Yukina asked in shock

"This is great! I feared that once we get to City A you'll ditch me and..." Yuji said.

"Don't be stupid! I'll guide you all the way," Yukina said, being a little embarrassed.

"Oh yeah, I just remembered, there was one more possibility why we're easy to get along with each other," Yukina said.

"That is?" Yuji asked.

"After all this, it's the most likely conclusion I have...." Yukina said, "it's that both of our personalities are just matched to get along so well," Yukina said as she let out a slight laugh, "so don't worry about me ditching you,"

Yuji smiled brightly, as he nodded.

Yukina blushes slightly, then she quickly stood up from the table.

"C... come on, we still have to go to the amusement park, right?"

"Oh yeah!" Yuji said, standing up from the table.

"Come on grab our stuff let's go," Yukina said.

And so, the two of them left the mall and headed straight for the amusement park.