Pt. 10 - Blue Raspberry Candy

"It won't be refilled until June first."

The sudden voice pulled Isao from his thoughts. He turned toward the girl, his mind processing what she had just said. Did she mean the vending machine?

"Oh." His response was awkward, but she didn't seem to mind. Her focus remained on the frog as if she hadn't spoken at all.

He glanced back at the vending machine. If she was right, he would have to wait even longer before he had another chance to run into the mystery girl. The realization was frustrating, but something else nagged at him.

How did she know that?

He turned to ask, but she was already walking away, the frog having hopped off somewhere. She made her way back to the spigot to refill her watering can, moving effortlessly between flower patches as she continued her work.

Isao watched her, something swirling in the back of his mind.

The early morning air slowly grew busier as students flowed in for school. 

Isao knew he should start heading to class, but he hesitated, watching her for a moment longer. Just as he took a step forward, a familiar voice called out.

"Yui."

He turned toward the sound. Standing nearby was Hayashi-sensei, the English teacher, her expression warm and gentle.

"Will you be available to help me out this evening?" she asked.

The girl—Yui—smiled, a soft but genuine expression.

"Yep."

She seemed happy to help, and Hayashi-sensei chuckled in response. "Thanks, Yui. I'll ask Mr. Imada if he can get that drink of yours refilled sooner, as a little thank-you."

At that, Yui's smile grew even brighter. The grin even reached her eyes. Something about her expression made something in his chest tighten unexpectedly.

That drink of yours.

The words stuck with him, playing over in his mind as the teacher excused herself, reminding Yui to head to class. Yui quickly put the watering can away in the shed before making her way inside.

Isao followed, his longer strides naturally catching up to her. Without thinking, he slowed his pace to match hers.

Noticing him beside her, Yui glanced up. Her dark brown eyes gleamed slightly as she smiled.

"Maybe it'll be refilled sooner."

Her voice was light, almost teasing, yet calm. She tilted her head slightly, meeting his gaze with a quiet confidence.

Isao nodded, his eyes briefly dropping to the small velcro name tag above the breast pocket of her white collared shirt.

Yui Himitsu.

He had finally learned the name of the Yakisoba girl.

She tilted her head the other way, pausing for a brief moment as if deciding something. Before he could wonder what, she reached into the pleats of her plaid maroon skirt, pulling out a small, round tin from a pocket he hadn't even realized the skirt had. With a soft pop, she flipped it open, revealing a collection of small, irregularly shaped blue candies.

Plucking one between her fingers, she motioned for him to hold out his hand. Without thinking, he did. She placed the candy in his palm, her movements deliberate yet light.

"It's Blue Raspberry."

There was a cheerful lilt in her voice like she was sharing a secret.

She slipped the tin back into her pocket. "I thought you might like it."

Before he could respond, she turned away, making her way toward the next classroom—1-2.

Her class was right next to his.

Isao stared at the candy in his hand, trying to process what had just happened. He looked back up just in time to see her disappear through the door, and in that instant, everything seemed to fall into place.

He set the candy in his mouth. The sharp tang of Blue Raspberry spread across his tongue, bright and unmistakable.

The vending machine. The way she had spoken about it. The way Hayashi-sensei had said that drink of yours. The small, yellow lemon patch he had noticed on her tights.

How had he not realized it sooner?

Yui Himitsu wasn't just the girl who sat alone, eating Yakisoba Pan on a bench.

She was the girl who had written on a small lemon-shaped sticky note; glad that he was better.

Yui was the girl who had quietly sat with him on the stairs while he cried.

The girl who had given him the Blue Raspberry Lemonade soda.

A sudden urge rushed through him; he wanted to call out to her. But before he could, the school warning bell rang, snapping him back to reality.

He would have to wait.

Yet again.