By Zephyria “B, bonding?”
Koi stammered, amidst the cheers that followed as if it were obvious. Leaving behind the members who were preparing to scatter, Ariel looked at him with a frown.
“Yeah, is there a problem?”
“No, well… that’s…”
Koi couldn’t bring himself to speak, so he hesitated and avoided her gaze. He really didn’t have any money today. Because he only worked part-time on weekends, his income had drastically decreased, and even then, he often had to miss work because of practice. He was so desperate that he wondered if he would be fired soon, so every penny was precious.
But Green Bell?
Even a cheap fast-food restaurant would be better, but Green Bell was beyond his current allowance. Should he just say he can’t make it?
In his heart, he really wanted to go with them. He had only just started talking to the kids and getting into the atmosphere, so how great would it be to chat with them at a time like this? He wanted to have a group like Ashley and his friends, but reality didn’t allow it. On top of that, he had to buy a cheerleading uniform. He really didn’t have any money to spare right now.
He was torn between wanting to go and the reality that he couldn’t, when Ariel, who had untied her hair, let her abundant hair down and said,
“You should go today. It’s a place to share friendship with everyone.”
Just then, the vice-captain peeked out from behind Ariel.
“You’ll regret it if you don’t go. We’re going to choose a new cheerleading uniform design there.”
At those words, Koi cautiously asked.
“Um, will I… still wear a skirt even if the cheerleading uniform changes?”
“Oh, of course.”
The vice-captain, singing as exaggeratedly as a character in a Disney cartoon, turned around to pack her things. He really couldn’t do it after all. Koi suppressed his desire to go and thought about reality. He didn’t even have money for a cola. There would be another chance next time. He would look forward to that day.
“Um…”
“Are you trying to skip because you don’t like the skirt?”
Ariel interrupted him with a frown. Koi was startled and shook his head.
“N, no. It’s not because of that, um, I want to go too, but…”
“Then go. To us, you’re not a man. Of course, you’re not a woman either, so you’re something unknown.”
Was it better than jalapeño? Koi thought for a moment, then quickly snapped out of it.
“No, of course, I know you guys don’t think of me as a man. Of course, yeah, I’m not a woman either. But, um…”
As he trailed off, unable to speak, Ariel said,
“I sold your scrap metal.”
“Huh?”
As he blinked at the sudden remark, Ariel continued.
“That old bike of yours, I sold it. My dad did.”
“Sold? That thing?”
Koi was flustered and could only repeat her words. Ariel readily nodded.
“Yeah, isn’t it amazing that even that scrap metal is worth money?”
“Um… well, yeah, it is, but…”
What was she talking about all of a sudden?
He was surprised that the bike had been sold, and he was also puzzled as to why she was suddenly bringing it up. Seeing Koi looking bewildered, Ariel said,
“It was so old that I only got 12 dollars for it. Here, take it.”
“Huh?”
Suddenly, Ariel took out a bill from her wallet and held it out. Koi’s mind went blank at the unexpected situation. Ariel waved her hand again as if urging him to take it, but Koi didn’t reach out.
“Why are you giving this to me?”
“It’s the money from selling your scrap metal.”
“No, that’s true, but…”
Koi still didn’t understand and asked.
“You gave me your bike.”
Hearing those words, Ariel tilted her head back and sighed towards the sky.
“Just take it. Why do you talk so much?”
“No, that’s the truth…”
“Ugh, seriously.”
Ariel got annoyed and shoved the money into Koi’s shirt. The bill, which had squeezed through the sweat-soaked shirt, stuck to his body, and before he could do anything about it, Ariel turned around and left first.
“No one is allowed to skip! We’re going to have an important meeting!”
Ariel shouted and then Sarahd towards her car in an instant. Koi barely pulled the sweat-soaked bill out of his body, held it in his hand, and only looked in the direction she had Sarahd.
*
Everyone had arrived at Green Bell first and was waiting for Koi. Koi was the only one who rode a bike. The others had either taken their own cars or carpooled and left school first. In fact, it was their own consideration. It meant that Koi, being only a temporary member, could just go home, but of course, the stubborn Koi didn’t realize it at all.
“Koi, over here!”
The member who first spotted him standing at the entrance and looking around shouted and waved her arm. They were already holding menus and choosing what to order. Koi awkwardly walked towards them.
Cheerleading Teams are very popular at any school. Of course, the team members are even more so. Even now, the teenagers at Green Bell were glancing and stealing glances at the seats where they were sitting, and when Koi joined them, they all made strange expressions. Koi was embarrassed and hurriedly crawled into the seat in the far corner.
“We’ve all chosen. What do you want to eat?”
The vice-captain asked, handing him the menu book. Of course, there was only one thing Koi could choose.
“C, cola. No ice.”
“And what else?”
“That’s all.”
Koi shook his head. Ariel had given him money, but considering that he still had to buy a cheerleading uniform, he was still strapped for cash.
But he couldn’t ignore Ariel’s kindness. Besides, he wanted to be a part of this kind of gathering at least once. Even though it was no different from being a tagalong in a group of girls.
“You don’t eat enough, that’s why you don’t build muscle.”
Ariel scolded Koi, but Koi could only smile awkwardly. Soon the orders were placed, and the girls started chatting. Boyfriends, cosmetics, favorite pop stars, just trivial things, but Koi was so happy just listening. He was sitting in the corner, listening to their stories with a flushed face, when suddenly a bell rang.
Suddenly, the air in the room seemed to change. Koi inadvertently turned his head and paused. The Buffalo High School ice hockey team guys were pouring in with a noisy chatter.
“Huh?”
“Oh!”
They spotted each other almost simultaneously. The ice hockey team guys, who had made eye contact with the Cheerleading Team, widened their eyes and soon rushed to their table.
“Wow, you guys are here too?”
“What are you doing? What’s going on here?”
“Dumbass, of course we came to eat dinner. What else would we come to a restaurant for? What about you guys?”
“These big gorillas are here to clean out the store again.”
Even while scolding them, the Cheerleading Team girls were all smiling. Anyone could see that they were on good terms.
Isn’t Ash coming…?
Ashley said he would hear the results of whether he could join the team today. Could it be that he heard the results and left first? As Koi diligently checked the faces in the group, someone asked as if speaking for him.
“Why isn’t Ash here? Did he skip practice again today?”
“Ah, he parked a bit far away because there weren’t any spots. He’ll be here soon.”
At the reply, Koi was relieved and wondered. What was the result? A good answer must have come out, so he came with them, right? He was inwardly excited, when the ice hockey team suddenly suggested combining their tables.
“Hey, should we move over there? It’s cramped here.”
No one objected to Bill’s suggestion. As the girls each picked up their water glasses and stood up, the ice hockey team guys went ahead and pulled out chairs for the girls to sit on.
Like the other kids, when Ariel got up from her seat, Koi hurriedly approached her and spoke.
“Um, Al.”
As Ariel turned her head, Koi was embarrassed but mustered the courage to thank her.
“Um, I couldn’t say it earlier… thank you. You even gave me your bike, and then…”
“It’s okay. And can we stop talking about that now? I only did it because I wanted to. It’s enough if you weren’t uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable? Why? There’s no way.”
As Koi asked in surprise, Ariel glanced at him and turned her head.
“It’s also true that I crossed the line too much. Well, it’s a relief if that’s not the case.”
Ariel’s cheeks were somewhat flushed as she said that and headed to the table where the group was. Koi was surprised that she was unexpectedly shy. He was surprised to receive such excessive kindness, and he didn’t expect Ariel to be so embarrassed. Koi’s heart was filled with gratitude and goodwill towards her.
“Al…”
Just as he was about to call her name again and follow her, the bell rang again and the door opened. The person who came in was Ashley. He opened the door and looked around the room once, then spotted Koi first. He smiled brightly, then paused. Ashley’s eyes moved from Ariel, who was too close to Koi, back to Koi.
What are you doing?
Just as he felt like he could hear Ashley’s voice, he suddenly saw the cheerleading girls whispering something. And they split into two groups and flocked to Ashley and Ariel.
“Okay, sit down.”
“What are you doing, let’s start quickly.”
They chattered and dragged the two of them, placing Ariel and Ashley side by side, then quickly filled both sides of them alternately with the Cheerleading Team and the ice hockey team. Koi, who had been blankly watching until then, ended up being assigned the seat farthest from Ashley.