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The next day, Mizuha went to class as usual, ready for another day of lessons and interactions. The class session progressed much like yesterday, filled with focused note-taking and engaging discussions.
As the morning went on, Mizuha's thoughts occasionally drifted to her new friends and the budding connections she was forming.
When the recess bell rang, Mizuha decided she wanted to ask Shimizu to join her, Hikaru, and Zul for lunch. It would be nice to have Shimizu join us, she thought, glancing around the classroom. We could all get to know each other better.
However, as she looked around, she noticed Shimizu rushing out of the classroom with a book and her stationary in hand. She watched as Shimizu hurriedly exited, almost bumping into a few classmates on her way out.
As she settled down to eat, Hikaru arrived at her class, just like yesterday, and joined her and Zul for lunch. The three of them sat together, chatting and enjoying their meals. Hikaru noticed that Mizuha seemed a bit distracted.
"Is something wrong, Mizuha? You seem worried about something," Hikaru asked, concern evident in his voice.
Mizuha shook her head and forced a smile. "It's nothing, really. Don't worry about me."
After they finished eating, there was still plenty of time before the next class began. With Hikaru returned to his class, Mizuha decided to take this time to explore her new school a bit more. I've always wondered what the rooftop looks like, she thought to herself. It might be a nice spot to relax and see the school from a different perspective.
Making her way to the rooftop, Mizuha felt a sense of anticipation building. When she arrived and opened the door to the rooftop, her eyes widened in amazement. The sight of the sprawling campus, with its neatly arranged buildings and greenery, was breathtaking.
As she stepped further out, the spring wind gently blew, tousling her hair and bringing a sense of calm. This breeze feels so refreshing, Mizuha reflected, closing her eyes for a moment to savor the feeling. It's like the perfect place to clear my mind.
Taking a deep breath, she let the peaceful atmosphere wash over her. I should come up here more often, she decided. It's such a perfect spot to think and just be.
As she enjoyed the view, she suddenly heard someone talking softly to themselves. Is somebody else here? she wondered, her curiosity piqued. She decided to investigate and walked toward the source of the mumbling.
Shimizu? What is she doing there? Is she writing something? Mizuha wondered. Mizuha took a step to approach Shimizu, curious about what she was doing.
"Shimizu, what are you doing?" asked Mizuha.
"Nothing just writing some... hmm, wargh, Mizuha? What are you doing here?" Shimizu exclaimed, startled. "I thought you were eating in the classroom."
"Yes, it's done already. I'm just taking a walk here," said Mizuha.
"So, what are you writing?" Mizuha asked again, her curiosity growing.
"Don't look at it," Shimizu said, hiding the book and blushing furiously.
Mizuha was taken aback by Shimizu's reaction. She hadn't meant to intrude, but now her curiosity was piqued even more. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," Mizuha said, stepping back to give Shimizu some space. "It's okay if you don't want to show me."
Shimizu's face was still red as she clutched the book tightly to her chest. "It's... it's nothing important," she mumbled, not meeting Mizuha's eyes.
Mizuha couldn't help but smile at Shimizu's shyness. "It's okay, you don't have to show me if you don't want to," she said gently. "I just didn't expect to find anyone else up here."
Shimizu seemed to relax a little at Mizuha's words. "Because you're my friend, I will show it to you. Here, take a look at it, but only a little," said Shimizu, hesitantly handing the book to Mizuha.
Mizuha carefully took the book, her eyes widening as she began to read. The words on the page immediately captivated her, drawing her into a world of vivid imagery and emotion. As she read, she felt a lump forming in her throat, touched by the depth of the story.
"Wow, Shimizu, this story is really amazing," Mizuha said. "It moved me to tears. It's like a light novel story. Why don't you publish it? I think it could be a hit!"
Shimizu blushed at the praise, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Well, actually," she began, her voice soft but tinged with excitement, "I've already debuted my first chapter. This is the manuscript for the next chapter."
"Eh? You've already debuted your own novel? Congratulations!" Mizuha exclaimed, reaching out to grasp Shimizu's hands in her excitement. "That's incredible!"
"Thanks," Shimizu replied, her smile growing wider. "I'll work hard to make it even better." Then, her expression turned serious. "But Mizuha, can you keep this a secret? I don't want others to know about it just yet."
Mizuha nodded solemnly. "Of course, I won't tell anyone. It'll be our secret," she promised. Without hesitation, she extended her pinky finger. "Let's make it a pinky promise."
Shimizu linked her pinky with Mizuha's, sealing their pact. The peaceful moment sparked an idea in Mizuha's mind.
"This breeze feels very comfortable and relaxing," said Mizuha.
"Right!? That's why I chose this place to find inspiration for my novel," replied Shimizu.
"Ah, I've got an idea," Mizuha said, her eyes lighting up. "From tomorrow, why don't we eat lunch here? It's such a nice place to relax and enjoy our food."
Shimizu's face brightened at the suggestion. "Oh, that's a great idea, Mizuha! It must feel good taking lunch here."
The two girls laughed together, their newfound friendship growing stronger with each passing moment. The sound of the school bell interrupted their laughter, signaling the end of break time.
"We should head back to class," Mizuha said, and Shimizu nodded in agreement.
As they made their way down from the rooftop, chatting animatedly, they were suddenly interrupted by someone bumping into Mizuha from behind. The person fell backward, landing in a seated position on the floor.
"Hey, are you okay?" Mizuha asked, concerned. She extended her hand to help the person up. "Let me help you."
The girl on the floor looked up, her eyes wide and nervous. "I'm sorry, I wasn't looking where I was going," she said softly, accepting Mizuha's hand.
As Mizuha helped her to her feet, she couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen this girl before. Her thoughts were interrupted by Shimizu's voice.
"Oh, it's you, Sakamoto-san," Shimizu said. Then, concern crept into her voice as she noticed the state of the girl's uniform. "What's wrong? Your clothes look soaked. Are you okay?"
The girl, Sakamoto Elly, seemed to tense up at Shimizu's words. "Erk," she squeaked, her eyes darting between Mizuha and Shimizu. Without another word, she turned and quickly walked away, leaving the two friends bewildered.
"Ah... she ran away from me again," Shimizu sighed, a hint of disappointment in her voice.
Mizuha turned to her friend, curiosity piqued. "Do you know her, Shimizu?"
Shimizu nodded. "She's our classmate, Sakamoto Elly. She sits at the front center of our class. She's a very shy and timid girl, and I've noticed she's always alone at school. I've tried to befriend her before, but..." Shimizu trailed off, then let out a small, self-deprecating laugh. "It doesn't seem to work. She always seems scared of me."
Mizuha frowned slightly, her mind already working on ways to help both Shimizu and Sakamoto. As they continued their walk to the classroom, she couldn't help but wonder about the mysterious Elly and what could have caused her clothes to be soaked.
The next day, Shimizu went to the school rooftop as they had promised to eat together yesterday. She found a spot and set up her lunch, feeling excited about their new lunchtime spot.
Meanwhile, Mizuha had to stop by the cafeteria to buy her food. As she waited in line, she glanced at the time and realized she might be a bit late.
With her food finally in hand, Mizuha hurried to the rooftop. When she arrived, slightly out of breath, she apologized, "I'm so sorry for being late, Shimizu!"
Shimizu looked up from her bento and smiled reassuringly. "It's okay, Mizuha. Don't worry about it."
Just then, Shimizu noticed Hikaru and Zul standing behind Mizuha, holding their own lunches. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Hey, why did you bring these two guys with you too?" she asked, her tone a mix of confusion and curiosity.
Mizuha looked back at her friends and then turned to Shimizu, scratching her head sheepishly. "Well, Hikaru and Zul saw me heading up here and asked where I was going. I told them about our new lunch spot, and they wanted to join us. I hope you don't mind."
Hikaru stepped forward, grinning. "Yeah, we thought it would be fun to have lunch together. The more, the merrier, right?"
Shimizu blinked a few times, processing the unexpected addition to their lunch group. Then, she smiled and said, "Well, I guess it's fine. The more, the merrier, like Hikaru said. Let's enjoy our lunch together."
As they all settled down, Shimizu couldn't help but feel a bit self-conscious. She turned to Hikaru and Zul and asked, "Are you two okay eating with me here? You know people look down on me because of my appearance."
Hikaru responded without hesitation, "I'm okay with it. I don't trust rumors or anything like that."
"He's right," added Mizuha. "Who cares what they say? You can't judge a book by its cover."
Shimizu's eyes sparkled with gratitude, a warmth spreading through her chest at their words. Suddenly, she stood up, feeling a surge of motivation. "You two, thanks for saying that," she said, her voice growing stronger with each word. "From today, this is our eating spot. We'll eat here every day if the weather is good. Who agrees with me, raise your hand!"
A chorus of laughter rang out as they all raised their hands in agreement. Even Zul, typically the silent one of the group, raised his hand, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth.
As they settled into their lunch, chatting about classes and upcoming events, Zul's sharp eyes caught movement below. He leaned slightly over the railing, furrowing his brow. Huh, is that Elly? he thought. Where is she going? Why does she always leave during break? He wondered to himself where Elly went during breaktime.
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