School Days - Food Day

Three weeks passed since that incident. The very next day, Nepgear came back to us, as her usual self, and while she was still distant with many people, she spent most of her time with me and Ted, who was quick to imagine things. Should we listen to him, Nepgear has violently fell in love with him and can't stop spending time with him, with me serving as the third wheel to ensure they don't go too far.

However, things have changed, and what happened that day definitely changed how things were between the Planeptune Candidate and me, and that isn't even taking her sister into account. And these facts were showing enough for rumors to begin. "The Planeptune Candidate has a boyfriend !",
"Lady Neptune herself has a boyfriend !", "Both girls love the same man !", and so on. And obviously, they don't take any attention to Ted's flowing imagination, thinking I am that man.

"Don't listen to these rumors, Roll."
"I'm more or less forced to listen them, considering I'm the main actor in every of these."
"Hey, you won't complain, will you ?"
"Oh, the association with both of you is flattering, but I don't want this to cause problems to any of you."
"There aren't any problems for me, Roland."
"Same here. Two girls asked me for it and I answered honestly, that's all."
"...How did you answer ?"
"Simply with a "Nope, he's just a friend", it seems they have understood. More importantly, you seem more present during school, Roll."
"I do. Perhaps because I understood something in the end ?"

It was more than that. Obviously, the school lessons weren't that hard to understand as long as you focus a bit on these, but my talk with Neptune made me think. But while I still don't believe that something good can come out of me, I can at least honor their trust towards me, or else I would disrespect those eyes encouraging me.

"Roland ?"
"Yes ?"
"You were focused on your thoughts."
"Here, taste this instead."
"Mmm... Tasty. It's good. What did you put inside ?"
"The same things as last day, but in different quantities."
"It's good like that."
"Looks like I begin to grasp your tastes better. Would you want me to cook something for you one day ?"
"If you don't mind the rumors increasing, I'd love to."
"Then, what about tomorrow ?"
"Okay."
"Look at the couple in progress."
"Onee-chan ! Stop mocking me !"
"No worries, Gear, she's just jealous."
"Jealous ? Not even once !"

We laughed at Neptune, with her quick to join us. However, my laugh was quite sour, due to the fact I don't even want to be in love with someone. The bell was quick to interrupt us, so we settled everything in a hush before going back to our classrooms.

"Hey, look where you're going !"
"Sorry !"
"Oh oooh, look who was with this guy."
"Isn't that the next bitch ?"
"Yeah."

The day happened without a hitch, and I quickly went back home.

"Hi Roland, you came back early !"
"Hi mom."
"I'm preparing roasted beef for tomorrow, but I might have made too much of it, you want it for tomorrow's meal ?"
"No, a friend of mine wants me to taste her food."
"A friend, eh ? Is she cute ?"
"You've already seen her. The Planeptune Candidate, Nepgear."
"Seriously ? You're friends with such an important person ?"
"Yeah."
"And I have to admit you picked quite a cute one. Can you bring her home one day or another ?"
"No."

She tried, at least.

"Well, the more important is that you're making friends. Even though you had Ted, it clearly isn't enough, and a girl in your life might be just what you need, no matter how popular she is."
"A girl ?"
"Don't tell me you're popular with girls ?"
"No, but we're usually three for eating. Me, Nepgear, and her older sister, Neptune."
"Do you even realize how lucky you are, Roland ?"
"I do. They're kind girls, and we have lots of fun every day."
"They are our rulers. Our goddesses. And you just treat them like everyday girls ?"
"Should you be in their place, wouldn't you want some normal interaction, instead of people worshipping you day and night ?"
"I think you're not wrong. I'd enjoy the popularity, though."
"It isn't just the popularity. It's taking care of everyone's problems, ensuring our Shares stay high enough, and working together with the police and the different organized groups to make sure no conflicts arise."
"You really talk like a politician, you know ?"
"I know, Neptune already told me that."
"See ? That's an idea for your studies. By the way, how are these, this year ?"
"I may have found a motivation."
"And I'm glad for it..."

She approached me and held me in her arms.

"You know, I always felt responsible for what happened to you. I didn't saw it coming, and by the time I noticed, it was too late."
"I don't blame you, mom, you had your work and the housekeeping on the head."
"But you're my son. And you're much more important than anything else."
"Thanks, mom. But try st..."

While I was about to recomfort her again, the phone rang, and I was quick to pull it out.

"Hi ? Oh, hi Gear. Came home fine ?"
"Yes. I wanted to ask you something, but... I might be bothering you, maybe ?"
"Not at all. Tell me."
"I... I talked a bit about it with Onee-chan on my way home, and I wondered... If maybe... Do you want us to prepare some food for your meals at school ?"
"I'd love to, but isn't it something that Neptune forced on you ?"
"No, not at all. We just talked about your situation, and she proposed several things for helping you. I just took that since it was the only thing I could do directly for you."
"I appreciate the thought. I'm looking forward for that, then."
"Thank you. See you tomorrow then, Roland."
"See ya."

I stopped the call and put the phone back in my pocket.

"Ohoooo, so my son is a killer like that ? No surprises he managed to make our Candidate fall in love with him !"
"It absolutely isn't something like that."
"I've heard her voice. You can't fool me, son."
"Yeah, yeah, your all-powerful maternal instinct, is it that ?"
"Exactly."
"Then tell that to your all-powerful maternal instinct - I'm not having fun with Neptune or Nepgear in order to have my way with one of them. They're friends, we're eating together at meals, and Nepgear is in the same class as me. That's all."
"And you forgot to tell me that you were already giving Lady Nepgear a surname, or that she was about to make your meals everyday."
"Isn't that a good thing ? Especially with how our finances are going in the red this month."
"I admit having less things to buy for eating is a good thing. But you're not doing it for that, right ?"
"No, it's just that Gear spent the last weeks practising her food making, and I don't want these efforts being wasted."
"Kind boy. Don't worry, Lady Nepgear and Lady Neptune are fine girls. They won't betray or hurt you, like that girl."
"I know that."

Of course they weren't like that. Or else, things would already have been very different between the three of us.

The next day, however, things changed, as we were going to the roof, Nepgear and me.

"So, ready for eating ?"
"I was waiting for it since your call."
"Oh..."
"Ah, and my mom asked if you or Neptune could come to visit, but I'd say it's not a good idea."
"Why ?"
"She's the same as..."

I stopped as I was about to bump into another guy, who was accompanied by two of his friends.

"Oh, sorry."
"No problem."
"Can we pass ?"
"I'm afraid you can't."
"Errrr... Why ?"
"Because you have something that belongs to us."
"And what is it ?"
"That girl."
"Eeeeeh ?"
"Don't look at me like this, slut. All you have to answer is "Yes Master" and to follow me."
"B-But I don't want to !"

He took a step towards her, and she used the box containing the meal to protect herself.

"But you have no choice... Hey, what does that smell ? It sucks !"

With one hit with the back of his hand, the box fell on the floor, its contents spilled out.

"Ooooh, food ? Looks like our next slut knows her place."
"Sir ?"
"What is it, kid ?"
"I think you should apologize."
"Apologize, you said ?"

He bursted into a big laugh, followed by his friends.

"And why, kid, should I apologize for that ?"
"For one reason."

Catching him on the neck, I pulled him against the wall, with the angriest face I may have had for years.

"Because if you don't, I'll kill you."
"Argh... Let me go !"
"I asked you to apologize !"
"I won't !"
"Then die."

My grip strengthened on his neck, while his friends took the opportunity to run away.

"She took weeks to make sure what you threw on the floor was as good as she could make it, and all you could do was calling it disgusting and worth of her place ? APOLOGIZE, SUCKER !"
"Okay ! Okay ! Sorry ! Let me go !"

I extended the arm on the side, releasing my grip at the same time, which had the effect of making him fall.

"Never. EVER. Approach any of us. Or else I won't release you, next time."
"...You'll pay for this... YOU'LL PAY ! And that bitch too ! I'll make her bow at my knees and I'll make her mine ! Understood ?"
"Lay a hand on her and you won't see the next day."

I began walking towards him, and after two steps, he ran. I was about to pursue him, but a pair of shaking hands grabbed my waist.

"Roland... Please... Stop..."
"..."
"He's running... He won't... He won't get me... Please... Calm down..."
"What happened here ?"

A teacher coming in. Bad timing, since I wasn't in the best of my mood, plus the fact I still have some conflicts with them.

"Ah, it's you again, the troublemaker. Thanks for catching him, Lady Nepgear, and sorry if he messed with your food."
"Ah, it's not..."
"It wasn't me. But you teachers aren't gonna believe me, right, especially since how you were the first ones to believe in last year's rumor ?"
"Apologize for your behaviour and we may reconsider it."
"May ? You may reconsider it ? You want me to apologize for things I didn't do, and then, MAYBE you're gonna reconsider admitting you did something wrong ?"
"You know what you did."
"And I know what you didn't, and what you accuse me of doing, even half of these things aren't even true."
"We have witnesses. You only have your word. Now, please come al..."
"NO !"

Nepgear released me, standing between me and the teacher.

"He wasn't responsible !"
"Lady Nepgear ?"
"...A big guy went and tried to force me to become his thing, throwing our meal in the process... Roland just got angered because of that, as well as because..."
"Because it was a meal my little sister prepared for the three of us."
"Lady Neptune ?"
"Onee-chan !"
"I was there. I have witnessed everything. All Roland needs are apologizes from you, and help since he has been provoked and threatened. The culprit is a big guy, all clothed in blue, with long, bright red hair. He was with two other students, but they ran away as soon as Roland defended himself."
"I see... Lady Nepgear, Roland, is that true ?"
"Yes !"
"It is the case."
"I see, it seems I jumped to conclusions quite quickly. My apologizes, Roland."
"..."
"Roland ?"
"I heard them. But don't count on me accepting them like nothing happened."
"I see. Lady Neptune, can you come with me to register all of this ?"
"Of course."
"Fine. Roland, can I count on you to clean this ?"
"Will do."

The teacher went away with Neptune, leaving me alone with Nepgear.

"...I'm sorry if I scared you."
"No problem... You did it for my sake after all..."
"Of course... As for the meal..."

It shocked me to notice how most of it has been thrown to the ground, but on second glance, half of it still was intact, so I closed the boxes on it, before cleaning the rest.

"No worries. Half of it is still intact. You'll still be able to eat."
"...I want you to eat it."
"And you ?"
"I will be able to endure it."
"You still need to eat."

I took the bag and we began going at our usual place, before sitting next each other.

"...In the end, I still did nothing."
"I was there. You are okay. It's all that counts."
"...No... Of course not..."

She began silently crying. Out of other solutions, I left the box to hold her on my arms.

"...Sorry... I know you... You don't like it..."
"I'll deal with it. The more important thing is to comfort you."
"Comfort... Me ?"
"Yeah."
"...Comfort me..."

She raised her head, watching me in the eyes. I couldn't watch away. I couldn't move away. Even though she was approaching. Even though the distance was closing. I felt a contact on my lips, closed the eyes and held her towards me.

That moment felt like an eternity and like a second at the same time. I completely understood why, but I couldn't understood it at the same moment. I was as clear as possible and extremely confusing at the same time, my thoughts running at least thrice the usual speed. And of all this came back something powerful. Something I didn't felt for years. Something I didn't even understood.

Fear.