Conquering Villains and Capturing Targets Is Harder in Real Life than in Games

12: I want to walk home with you, for as long as you'll allow me to.

After finishing her lunch, Shizuka decided to head back to class a little earlier than usual as to avoid the pairs of prying eyes that would inevitably be drawn to her.

As she neared the classroom, she saw an all too recognizable figure sitting on the ground outside the door.

Shizuka unconsciously accelerated her walk to a skip as she made her way over. "What are you doing outside the classroom, Semi-san?"

When Madoka heard her voice, he sat a little straighter then exposed a shy smile. "I was waiting for you. I wanted to see you sooner but I thought that if I were to go find you in the cafeteria directly, there would be a commotion like this morning so I restrained myself. I didn't want to trouble you again."

So you realized I was troubled...

Sliding down to sit next to him, Shizuka casually asked, "Did you finish all of the student council work?"

Madoka's eyebrows scrunched up at the mention of the student council. "No. Just when we thought our work was nearly done, we found another stack that hadn't been reviewed at yet. Takagi-sensei sobbed for a while at that discovery. I'll have to help out after school today too."

"Sounds rough," said Shizuka sympathically. "I'm glad those kinds of things didn't happen much when we were on the council. We always went home on time.

"That's because we worked carefully and thoroughly." Madoka paused. "However, wasn't there that one time when we were delayed because of a printing error?"

"Oh yeah. I remember now. We couldn't afford to print those leaflets again so we had to correct all those misprints by hand."

"Wasn't it only you and I who volunteered to stay back on that occasion?"

Shizuka nodded. "Yup. It took us forever but we managed to get everything done in time."

"Mhmm."

There was a brief lull in the conversation while the two separately reminisced about their previous year in the student council.

When the moment ended, Madoka turned to Shizuka and asked, "So did you eat a proper meal in the cafeteria earlier?"

"I did."

"That's good. I was worried that you weren't eating properly...it actually lowered my overall efficiency," said Madoka softly.

Shizuka puffed her cheeks, not having heard the latter half of Madoka's words. "I'm not a little kid, you know. I can take care of my own meals. I can eat all of my vegetables and finish up my rice bowl cleanly. You don't have to be worried about me."

"As your boyfriend, isn't it my right and duty to be worried for you?"

Madoka's unexpected use of the word "boyfriend" sent Shizuka's brain into a frenzy.

Boyfriend? Boyfriend?? Boyfriend??? Did Semi Madoka really refer to himself as my BOYFRIEND just now????

"I-I don't know? I-I-I guess! M-Maybe? How-how would I know? What-What about you then? Huh? Did you eat?" For the sake of her sanity, Shizuka had to find something else to talk about that didn't include the "b" word.

Madoka nodded. "I ate in the student council room. I'm really sorry by the way."

Shizuka tried to subtly regulate her breathing. "What...for?"

"Because of the student council work we weren't able to have lunch together and now we won't be able to home together either," responded Madoka glumly.

Shizuka eyed Madoka strangely. "You wanted to go home together?"

"Mn."

"But we live in opposite directions."