Thread by @niquillua

[#SK8THEINFINITY #RENGA]

"Hey, what's up with them?"

"Who?"

"You know, those two skateboard nerds."

The whispered chatter across the classroom spreads as the air between Reki and Langa becomes more awkward. (1/16)

https://twitter.com/dailyhasekyan/status/1365766001376321537

No one knows how Reki somehow managed to get the transfer student hooked in skateboarding as soon as they met, but everybody knows that they have been attached to the hip since then. (2/16)

Which is why when Langa greeted Reki with a Good Morning one day and he didn't even bother to look back, everyone knew that something between them happened. Something bad. Something wrong. (3/16)

"Hey, do you think I can steal 'Langa's best friend' role from Reki now?"

"Sshh! How could you even say that?"

"What? It's just, we never really had the chance to get to know the transfer student because those two were always together and off skateboarding somewhere!" (4/16)

Huh. Reki wonders if they were really that attached this whole time. Sure, he was glad that he finally had someone in his school to talk about and do skateboarding with. Not that he was an outcast before, but nobody really understood his obsession with skateboards... (5/16)

...until Langa came along. It's only natural that they would spend so much time together, right? So, he guesses, it's only natural that people would notice if the two of them suddenly stopped too. (6/16)

"Hey, Langa! Want to eat lunch with us?" Reki's ear perked up at the offer that their classmate made to Langa. He could feel Langa's sad and inquisitory eyes on him - as if asking if they would stop eating lunch together, too. (7/16)

"Oh, right! Reki's welcome to join us, if he wants." He doesn't say anything. Instead, he plops his head on his forearms and pretended to sleep on his armchair. He hopes they would get the message. (8/16)

"That's a no, then. Langa?" There was silence for a few moments after the question was asked. Reki could still feel Langa's eyes boring into the back of his head. Still, he continues to pretend. (9/16)

Finally, he feels Langa turn away to respond to their classmates. Go on, Reki thinks, eat lunch with your new friends and leave me alone here. (10/16)

"No, I think I'll stay here."

That made Reki suddenly perk up from his pretend-nap and finally look at Langa's direction for the first time today. He was looking wide-eyed at Langa, who already had his bento out and settled on his armchair. (11/16)

The only thing Reki could think of is, why? Why didn't he leave him alone when he had the perfect chance to do so? Why is Langa still beside him, despite Reki ignoring him completely today? Why is Langa still here, bento out, ready to eat lunch with him? (12/16)

"Reki, let's eat."

Reki just stared at Langa, who was looking at him with a soft yet sad smile. Doesn't he get it? They were in the middle of a fight, dammit! Why would Reki agree to continue eating lunch with him? (13/16)

And yet, Reki reaches out for his bag to grab his bento.

Yet, he extends his arm out to place a bento box in Langa's desk - because his mom didn't know they were fighting and still made a lunch enough for two.

Yet, they clasp their hands together and said "Itadakimasu." (14)

They still didn't talk for the whole duration of their lunch. They only sat in their own seats, focusing on their own foods. The air between them got lighter, if only for a little bit. (15/16)

"So much for stealing 'Langa's best-friend' role from Reki, huh?" They hear from a distance.

"No... this is how they should be."

- end

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