Yumi And Her Friends

The schoolyard was peaceful, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves of the tall trees scattered around the open space. Riku sat on a bench near the edge of the yard, away from the noisy crowds of students. His bento box rested on his lap, half-opened, revealing neatly packed rice, salad, and grilled chicken.

It was the perfect spot to eat alone—quiet, with just the distant hum of student chatter fading into the background.

Riku sighed contentedly, lifting his chopsticks to take a bite.

But peace, as he'd learned lately, had a funny way of disappearing when Yumi was around.

"Riku!"

The familiar voice jolted Riku so hard he nearly dropped his chopsticks. He looked up to see Yumi strolling toward him, her usual mischievous grin plastered on her face. Flanking her were two girls he didn't recognize: one short and bubbly with bright eyes, practically bouncing with energy, and the other tall and composed, with a calm demeanor and glasses perched on her nose.

Riku's stomach sank.

"What now?" he muttered under his breath, already bracing for more teasing.

"You're eating alone again," Yumi said cheerfully. "But hey, at least you finally left your cave."

The shorter girl, who barely came up to Yumi's shoulder, gasped dramatically. "Wait, this is that mister?"

Riku blinked. "Mister?"

The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Yumi talks about you all—"

"Okay, that's enough," Yumi interrupted loudly, clamping a hand over the shorter girl's mouth. "Hana, you're saying way too much."

Riku stared at the scene, confused.

The taller girl, Miku, adjusted her glasses, her expression unreadable.

"Mmmph!" Hana protested against Yumi's palm, her eyes wide with shock.

Riku narrowed his eyes. "Wait... what were you about to say?"

"Nope!" Yumi declared, releasing Hana and stepping forward like she was shutting down the entire conversation. "We're moving on from that topic."

"Why?" Riku asked suspiciously.

Yumi's grin returned, though there was a slight edge to it. "Because I said so."

Without waiting for permission, she plopped down on the bench beside him, her long legs stretching out comfortably. Hana practically bounced onto his other side, beaming up at him like they'd been friends forever.

The taller girl, Miku, remained standing with her arms crossed, surveying the situation with a skeptical gaze.

"You must be special," Hana chirped. "Yumi never drags us along to meet anyone."

"I'm not dragging them," Yumi retorted. "They're just... here."

Riku gave her a flat look. "Right. Totally believable."

Miku's lips quirked in what might've been a suppressed smile. "You do look a bit like a deer caught in headlights."

Riku sighed. "I think I am," he muttered, feeling his face heat up.

"Careful, Mr. Tomato," Yumi teased, leaning in just enough to make him shift uncomfortably. "You're turning red again."

Riku groaned, burying his face in his hands. "Why do I even bother?"

Hana giggled, practically bouncing on the bench. "You're funny! Now I get why Yumi disappears on us sometimes. She's always sneaking off to find you, huh?"

"I do not—" Yumi started, but Miku raised a single eyebrow, silencing her with a knowing look.

Riku's gaze darted between them, feeling like he'd stumbled into some secret world he wasn't supposed to know about. "Seriously, what is going on?" he thought, bewildered.

Yumi stood abruptly, brushing imaginary dust off her skirt. "Lunchtime's over. Let's go, girls."

"Aw, but I was having fun," Hana pouted, leaning toward Riku as if reluctant to leave.

Miku adjusted her glasses, her tone dry. "It's probably for the best. I don't think he can handle much more."

Yumi grinned wickedly. "Nah, I think he's tougher than he looks." She gave Riku a playful nudge with her elbow.

As the girls turned to leave, Hana's voice carried back to him. "See you later, Mister"

Riku's chopsticks slipped from his fingers. "what-?"

Yumi waved a hand over her shoulder without looking back. "Bye Riku!"

Riku watched them go, his mind swirling with confusion and embarrassment. He picked up his chopsticks again, sighing heavily.

"Why do I feel like my life's getting more complicated?" he muttered to himself.

As Riku stared down at his bento, trying to recover from the whirlwind that was Yumi and her friends, he heard faint laughter drift back toward him. He glanced up, only to catch Yumi playfully pushing Hana, who giggled like she'd just heard the world's funniest joke. Miku trailed behind them, her expression calm but tinged with faint amusement.

Riku sighed. "What did I even do to deserve this?" he muttered under his breath, stabbing a piece of chicken with his chopsticks.

But peace, as usual, was fleeting.

Just as he was about to take a bite, Yumi spun around, walking backward to face him. Her voice carried easily over the yard.

"Don't sit there for too long, Mr. Tomato! The sun might ripen you even more!"

Riku nearly choked on his food, coughing as several nearby students turned to look at them. His face burned hotter than ever. "Do you have to say that out loud?" he called back, his voice cracking slightly.

Yumi grinned mischievously, cupping her hands around her mouth. "You're welcome!"

Hana giggled uncontrollably, clearly feeding off Yumi's energy.

Miku sighed, pushing her glasses up the bridge of her nose. "You're going to get detention for public disturbance one day, Yumi."

"And it'll be worth it," Yumi quipped confidently, spinning back around.

Riku groaned, slumping back on the bench. "She's a menace," he muttered.

As the girls disappeared around the corner, Riku stared at the empty space where they had stood, feeling both exasperated and oddly entertained.

His quiet lunch breaks were probably a thing of the past now.

The breeze rustled the leaves as if mocking him, offering no answers.