Forget Me Not

Nineteen | 十九

Nineteen

Sakura's eyes twitched at the sight before her. She couldn't help but to feel uneasy. She turned to her side, where Iwaizumi was to find that he had a similar look too, with depression lines on his face. Umi tried to be positive about it, but couldn't help but to chuckle nervously. [Name] was the only one who blinked curiously.

"Oi, Kusokawa." Iwaizumi said, turning to the cheerful brunette. "What is this supposed to be?" He pointed at the bento set.

"Lunch!" Oikawa replied, bright light and sparkles radiating from him.

"This... is what you call lunch?" Sakura asked, her lips twitching in a deep frown. She stared down at the horribly shaped sushi and rice balls. It looked nothing more than a terribly shaped play dough by toddlers. Even the eggrolls were brown, obviously burnt with uncooked insides oozing out. The only thing that seemed edible were the pickles, which was sliced poorly.

"Believe it or not, I woke up extra early this morning to prepare this!" Oikawa boasted. "You guys should appreciate how I worked my precious hands to make you food. The rice was hot, you know! And the oil nearly splashed onto my face! Could you have imagined what damage it could have done to this ikemen face?"

"It should have." Sakura and Iwaizumi said in a synchronized deadpan voice, forcing animated tears off Oikawa's eyes.

"You're both so cruel!" He cried.

"I never knew you could cook, Tooru." Umi admitted. "I always thought you would be clueless as to what a pan was... I'm feeling a little proud..."

"What is that supposed to mean, Umi-chan?!"

"Can I have a taste?" [Name] asked quietly, eyes not leaving the disastrous bento. The older students became silent and shifted their attention to her. She has the 'I-really-want-to-taste-it' look! Umi, Sakura and Iwaizumi thought simultaneously, their jaw dropping.

"A-Are you sure, [Name]?" Sakura asked, putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You might be poisoned." Iwaizumi warned.

"You shouldn't mess around with bravery, [Name]-chan." Umi cautioned.

"YOUR INSULTS ARE ALL UNCALLED FOR!" Oikawa pointed at them, anger marks all over his face.

"Is it alright?" [Name] asked again, looking up to Oikawa innocently. Seeing her naïve face cause the captain's face to heat up, making him cover his mouth. Suddenly, he was embarrassed at his poor looking meal.

"Sure..." He muttered, motioning his head in a yes. "Dozo..."

"Ittadakimasu," [Name] said, picking up a badly cut rice roll with the roasted seaweed torn and sticking out. All eyes were on her as she slowly moved the rice roll closer to her mouth, finally taking a bite of it. They continued to silently watched her as she chewed, occasional crunch noises coming from her due to the pickles.

"How is it?" Umi asked.

"It's okay to spit it out." Iwaizumi reminded her while Oikawa pretended to cry again.

"It's okay," [Name] commented, picking up another rice roll. Umi, Sakura and Iwaizumi gasped, their hands over their hearts.

"Are you sure, [Name]? You don't feel like throwing up at all?" Sakura asked worriedly, placing both her hands on the younger girl's shoulder. "It's okay if you don't like it, you don't have to pretend for his sake."

"No way, Tooru's food is edible?" Umi muttered, staring at the bento before her.

"Or maybe [Name]'s just the shoujo version of Bear Grylls?" Iwaizumi hypothesized.