Lunch Time With Her

Rin stared at the clock as the final bell rang, its sharp chime signaling the end of another school day. She let out a slow breath, her fingers tightening around the straps of her bag before she stood. Like always, she moved carefully—quietly—blending into the background like she wasn't even there.

The day had passed the same way as every other. She kept her head down, avoided eye contact, and spoke only when necessary. That never stopped them from picking on her, of course. Whispers, laughter, stolen belongings—it was all just routine at this point.

She used to fight it. In earlier grades, she forced herself to speak more, to smile, to reach out. But each attempt ended the same way: failure. Her classmates snickered when she spoke, ignored her when she tried to join in, and took her things just to watch her search for them. So she gave up. It was easier that way.

But still, she envied people like Hiroshi Anko.

Anko was everything Rin wasn't—outgoing, confident, effortlessly loved by everyone. She could walk into a room and own it. People clung to her words, drawn in by her warmth, her energy.

Meanwhile, Rin existed in a world so small and dim that it felt suffocating. And Anko? She belonged to a world so bright it felt unreachable.

Rin sighed, shaking off the thought. It didn't matter. What mattered now was getting through cleaning duty.

Her fifth time this year.

As students packed up, Rin stayed seated, watching. She wasn't just waiting—she was observing. One by one, her classmates left, and with each person who exited, her anticipation grew. Who would be left behind? Who would be her cleaning partner?

The number of students dwindled. Four. Three. Two.

Her stomach twisted.

Two people were still in the room.

Anko… and Sakura.

Her breath hitched. No. Not her.

Sakura was the last person Rin wanted to be stuck with. The leader of the trio that tormented her, she never missed a chance to make Rin's life miserable.

Rin's grip tightened on her bag. "Please don't let it be her," she muttered under her breath.

Sakura grabbed her bag and turned to Anko with a smirk. "Well, Anko, I'm heading home. Have fun cleaning with this loser."

Rin braced herself for another jab. A glare. A shove.

Nothing came.

Instead, she heard Sakura's footsteps fade down the hall.

Wait.

Her gaze flickered to Anko.

Her duty partner wasn't Sakura. It was Anko.

Rin's breath caught in her throat.

Cleaning duty… with her?