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The moment she stepped inside, a long sigh escaped her lips. Although her mind was clouded, she shook it off and searched for the three with her hand still holding her head.

‘(Tsk, this is the first time I got out in a while and now my memories are becoming a wreck. Will I even be able to move on and forget about...those?)’

She slightly shook her head off once more.

‘(...Just like what his relatives said, it was my fault in the first place. My...fault for getting into his life. If only I knew better back then and never accepted his offer, he could’ve lived a better and peaceful life with everyone else.)’

‘(Wait, no... I need to fight these kinds of thoughts. What’s the use of me going through therapy if I can’t? Get a grip of yourself, Seira. I can’t risk losing control here.)’

‘(Ha, to think a simple mention of the past somehow slightly opened the door to my memories. It’s like all those years I’ve spent to forget about it and move on were all for nothing. This is so pathetic...)’

‘(Memories really are a dangerous weapon.)’

She was about to take another step until she heard someone call her name from the back.

“Miss Akiko!“, Ren shouted.

She turned her head around.

“Where are you going?”

“...Oh, I was about to search for you three. Where are the others?”

“They’re still buying food. Yuki’s a skinny glutton, so he’s probably still on it but Daisuke should be finished now.”

“Gin’s not with you?“, he added.

“...He’s reserving our seat outside. I figured I needed to call you in case you couldn’t find us.”

“Haha, what are you talking about? We’ll find you two wherever you are,” he said as he tried his best in hiding his smile.

“Anyway, I appreciate your concern, Miss Akiko. Let’s go and find the glasses monster for now, he might be waiting for us.”

As they were walking, there was...a bit of tension in the air. More likely because of Seira’s clouded mind that made it more awkward yet intimidating between them. Not knowing what to do, Ren took a quick glance at her until she felt that his eyes were on her. Oddly enough, she was still busy thinking about it and didn’t hesitate to look back at him with a glare.

He averted his eyes and sweat started running down on his cheeks. He opened his mouth, but his tone was shaky.

“...A-Are you mad?”

“Huh? Why is that?”

“You’re glaring at me.”

“Wait? What? Really?“, she felt her face and squished her cheeks. She played with it and stretched it while blinking her eyes repeatedly with a frown. Ren, however, laughed and smiled at her. He wanted to cover his face, but it was no use. Seira caught on with it and slowly removed her hands, looking away from him with a flushed face.

“Ahahaha, that’s so cute. I never thought you’d have a side like that.”

“C-Can’t you just pretend you didn’t see anything..?”

“No can do. It’s already stuck in my mind--- ahahahaha! Seriously, it’s so weird and cute.”

“...I do it whenever my face is stern, it became a habit...“, she mumbled.

“Anyway, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to glare at you, something’s just bothering me.”

“Oh, I see. Having something to worry about sucks, doesn’t it? It’ll be better if we didn’t have anything to worry about in the first place,” he sighed.

Once again, he stared at her and said, “Y’know, I thought that you were intimidating to talk to earlier. But when I saw you talking with Gin, I loosened up.”

“I’m usually okay with kitte--- girls, and I prefer hanging out with them more than guys, but you’re one of the few that I couldn’t bring myself to talk to first.”

“What about now, then?”

“Not so bad, actually.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said as she held her hands from her back.

“...Hmm, I also kind of noticed you’re still formal around me. I don’t really mind if you drop the ‘Miss.’ You can talk to me casually, if you want to.”

Ren scratched his head, “It’ll be hard, but I’ll try to.”

“Our little chat went on for too long. We’re supposed to find Daisuke-san and Yuki-san right---”

A man suddenly grabbed Ren’s shoulder and gasped for air.

“HEY!“, he shouted and lifted his head up--- it was Yuki.

“You two walk too fast!”

“We were about to look for you and the glasses monster---”

“I hope that’s not me,” Daisuke said as he approached them. “I’ll make you end up in jail for your horrible jokes.”

“Come on, man.”

“Anyway, what are you doing here? Where’s Gin?”

“He’s reserving our seat outside. I was about to look for you three.”

“I appreciate the thought, then. Let’s go.”

......................................................................

Minutes have passed and all of them were finally seated around the round table talking with one another. Seira grabbed her wrapped bag in the middle and opened it. Ren, who was to her right leaned in to look at what was inside until she grabbed a cookie and handed it to him.

“Feel free to grab a few,” she said as she handed it out towards them. All of them got one and ate it.

“This is really good!“, Ren shouted. “Where did you get this from? I know its not sold at the canteen.”

“My aunt made it. I don’t know why, but there’s just something special about the food she bakes.”

“If you guys want to, I’ll tell her to make more next time. I can even bring a bag like this for each one of you.”

“I want more of this,” Gin replied as Ren nodded.

“I’m glad you guys enjoyed it,” she smiled. “For now, you can grab more cookies from the bag if you want---”

“You have to eat,” Yuki replied shortly.

“I can do it after you guys---”

“You need to eat properly.”

“..?”

“S-Sorry, Seira-sama... I don’t think you’ll be able to change his motherly attitude right now.”

“Before Yuki rambles on and on, you don’t have to take what he says seriously,” said Daisuke.

“I’m worried that Yuki-nii will say something useless...”

Yuki cleared his throat.

“As what I was saying... You don’t have to offer them anything. There’s no end to Gin’s stomach when it comes to sweet foods. I don’t even know why this guy isn’t fat due to everything he eats here and at home.”

“WAIT WHAT?!“, Gin’s face became red as his emotions built up inside him.

“As for Ren, he’s always on a diet because he wants to look good and fit even though nothing really changes. He’s just a fat blob thinking that he’s handsome. And in Daisuke’s case, he doesn’t like eating sweet foods too much.”

Ren closed his eyes as his mouth twitched. The two smacked their hands on the table and...

“You really had to say that?!”

“I only said the truth.”

“...Ugh...”

“Since you’re onto the truth, tell me why you’ve suddenly turned on your mom mode! You only act like that at home! I know you’re too embarrassed to do it here---”

“One more word and I’ll cut your tongue.”

“You know Seira-sama, even though Yuki-nii says stuff like that, he cares a lot about---”

“HEY.”

“People. He really cares a lot about people.”

“...Is that so,” she said as she finally puts the cookies on her mouth and dozed off onto the distance.

‘(I can’t believe a lot happened when I just offered them food... I probably shouldn’t offer them anything as long as Yuki-san is here. Ah well, I hope the readers find this enjoyable at least.)’

She decided to eat more as she stared at the two arguing. Seeing them agitated in a playful manner made her laugh even though her mouth was stuffed. When she finally chewed it all down, it was at that exact moment that Seira and Yuki’s eyes met.

“Mooom~”

“Ugh.”

“Mother Yuki?”

“Seriously?”

“Mom, you shouldn’t scold Gin-san like that. He’s your child.”

“Gin, as my child? That’s disgusting.”

“Excuse me, I’d work well as a cute baby!”

“Ew.”

“What do you mean ew?!”

“I have high standards, mind you. I want another baby, not an ugly one.”

Seira tried her best not to laugh and stutter, facing the other side. As she gulped her laughter down, Daisuke joined in their conversation.

“If you want another baby, who would be the father then?”

“Why are you asking that?!“, even then, Yuki was starting to get flustered.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe for scientific purposes?”

“Man, you guys are disgusting.”

With a scowl on his face, he crossed both of his arms, retreated to his phone and took out his earphones from his pocket. He glared at them for one more time and exhaled a long sigh.

“Seriously, stop fooling around. I’m the oldest and this is the kind of treatment I get?”

Daisuke sipped his juice with a blank face.

“You’ll get used to it soon, MOM.”

“You really need to stop calling me that.”

When Seira’s mouth was finally free of the invasion of the cookie that she got from the bag, she faced them and tilted her head to the side with a smile on her face.

“...You know, seeing you guys interact like this is interesting. Though I pity Yuki-san for always getting the short end of the stick.”

“It’s interesting for you but it’s hell for me. I wonder why I even put up with these stupid idiots...”

“Oho,” Gin pointed at himself. “I’ll be the cute and stupid idiot then.”

“I’ll be the dangerously handsome and smart idiot,” Ren gestured his hands suavely while Daisuke looked at the two with scorn.

“...No thanks, I’d rather be smart.”

Yuki rolled his hands up into a fist on the table, closed his eyes and bit his lip.

“I swear, I’ll get back at you guys someday.”

“...I’d have to press X to doubt that.”

“I know. Yuki-nii’s too soft-hearted to do anything bad to his sweet younger brothers~”

“Tsk.”

“Hahahaha, that’s cute,” Seira chuckled.

They went on and on about their small ramblings towards one another, making each other laugh even though it was really insulting to Yuki. Man, what a poor guy--- ah, I mean, anyway!

Moments passed by and slowly, the clouds cleared up in the blue sky above them with the sun radiating its heat slowly aiming towards the ground. Seira smiled and laughed brightly with them, enjoying their time talking together until the bell rang, signaling the start of class in 15 minutes. Although they felt that the time they’ve spent together was short, they promised to meet up later during lunch time and then went their separate ways.