Side: Sakuraba Haru – “Not My Type, Right?”

I decided to show up at the cooking club after forever.

“Sorry for the last-minute invite,” I say.

“Nah, it’s cool. I was heading there anyway. Bet it’s awkward showing up after so long, huh?” Midoriya-kun replies.

That’s not it at all, but I give a vague smile. He’s trying to be considerate, but I invited him because I figured it’d be easier for him to go to the club with me.

The cooking club’s a social minefield.

Being an internal student, I’ve managed to navigate it, but I can’t imagine what it’s like for Midoriya-kun—a guy, new to the high school division, with no connections. Picturing him alone at the edge of the kitchen makes my chest ache.

He’s never complained, but he doesn’t talk about the club either. Probably because there’s nothing to say.

He only asked me to teach him to cook because he didn’t have any close friends in the club. I bet having me there would make him feel more at ease. Since he’s been helping me out, I should show up to the club when I’ve got time—to support him.

I clench my fist in determination, stealing a glance at Midoriya-kun as we walk side by side. Lately, he’s been… kinda cute. His messy bangs, his wrinkled shirt, all the little signs he’s trying so hard to manage living alone—they make my heart flutter.

“Heard we’re making cream stew today,” he says.

“Oh, I saw that in the group LINE—”

“Seeeenpai!” A chipper, syrupy voice cuts in.

“Huh…?” I blink.

A high side ponytail bounces at the edge of my vision, full of energy.

I know this girl.

“Natsukawa, it’s hot,” Midoriya-kun grumbles.

“Aw, senpai’s so shy~ You’re the only one who can give me that annoyed look, y’know?” she teases.

Aoi-chan. My kouhai from the cooking club, someone I used to be close with.

She’s clinging to Midoriya-kun’s arm, bantering playfully, her fang peeking out as she smirks.

He looks annoyed but doesn’t really push her away, and that stings more than it should.

“Wait, Haru-chan-senpai?!” Aoi-chan exclaims, spotting me.

“…Ah,” I mumble.

“Been forever!” she says, flashing a bright grin.

I don’t know what to do. My brain’s frozen, my voice stuck. I need to say something.

“…You two are close?” I manage, barely.

“Huh? With Shiki-senpai?” Aoi-chan asks.

“Y-Yeah. With Midoriya-kun.”

“Super tight!” she declares, winking at him with a “Right?!”

He shrugs and says, “Well, we’re both kinda the odd ones out…”

He doesn’t deny it. They’re close. He’s not alone. He has someone he can rely on.

That should be a good thing. I should be relieved. But I can’t help feeling… betrayed. Why does Aoi-chan seem closer to him than I am?

Why didn’t I know?

“I’m so happy~ My favorite people are all in the club today!” Aoi-chan chirps.

“That’s great. With Sakuraba here, the food’s gonna be extra tasty,” Midoriya-kun adds.

“Senpai, you’re always talking about food!” she laughs.

Always? What’s that supposed to mean?

I was gonna make something amazing today. Something better than anyone else in the club, just for Midoriya-kun. I wanted to see him eat it, grinning like always, and tell him he could quit the club because I’d teach him everything.

But reality’s staring me in the face, and I can’t deal. My head’s stuck in an endless loop of imaginary conversations.

What do I do? There’s nothing to do.

It was all in my head. I wanted it to be true, so I convinced myself it was. That’s all.

“…Hey, why don’t you ask how Midoriya-kun and I ended up coming together?” I say, voice small.

“Huh? You’re teaching him to cook, right?” Aoi-chan replies.

“You knew…” I whisper.

We never said it was a secret. I asked him not to mention my job, but the cooking lessons? No big deal.

Midoriya-kun didn’t do anything wrong. He just got close to a kouhai and mentioned I’m teaching him. We never talked about the club because it never came up. That’s it.

But it feels like I’m the only one left in the dark.

I don’t remember much after that.

Midoriya-kun and Aoi-chan’s chummy banter played like background music as I mechanically chopped vegetables, ending up with a perfect pile of uniform pieces.

“This isn’t how it was supposed to go…” I mutter, over and over.

“Gonna take some food to a friend… Suzu. I’ll eat with her, so you guys head home,” Midoriya-kun says, leaving the cooking room for the art wing.

I wanted to stop him, but I don’t have the confidence anymore. I’m not usually this negative, but dark thoughts keep swirling in my head.

“Suzu-san’s a third-year, Shiki-senpai’s childhood friend. She joined the club recently but barely shows up ‘cause she’s so busy,” Aoi-chan explains.

“Oh, I see,” I say.

“So cold, right? Especially since Haru-chan-senpai finally came today… Oh, wait, you two hang out a lot, don’t you?” she adds.

I give a vague smile, too overwhelmed to control my emotions.

Come to think of it, I’m dying to know but haven’t asked. “So, Aoi-chan, how’d you and Midoriya-kun get close?”

“Oh, uh… I had some drama with people, and he helped me out. That’s how it started,” she says.

“Got it. He’s a nice guy, huh?” I reply.

I never thought I was the only one he was nice to. But the things I thought only I knew about him—his kindness, his charm—Aoi-chan knows them too.

“Yup! And, well, we both ended up kinda on the outs. Now it’s just us two loners,” she laughs, adding jokingly, “Since Haru-chan-senpai stopped coming to club~”

She takes a sip from her water bottle, dodging the tension.

Aoi-chan’s always been attached to me, but I’ve been so caught up with work that we’ve drifted apart.

I can’t think of anyone else in the club she’s close to. Maybe there’s more to her story than she’s letting on. She’s so earnest, and her cuteness probably doesn’t help her navigate social stuff.

I’m so sick of being so self-absorbed.

Apologizing now would be weird, and I don’t know what to say, so I stay quiet. Sensing the awkwardness, Aoi-chan claps her hands to change the subject.

“Haru-chan-senpai, I was shocked you and Shiki-senpai got so close out of nowhere. He’s kinda flaky, right? Like, he’ll ditch you without a word even if you had plans to call.”

“What? He does that?” I ask.

“Yup! Maybe it’s just me, though. Unforgivable,” she huffs.

She launches into a story about a day he was supposed to help her with homework but ghosted her, only calling back two hours later with some vague excuse about picking up a friend. “I ended up studying a different subject, so whatever,” she says.

“…Was that the week before midterms?” I ask.

“Yup. Wait, did he ditch you too?” she says.

No. I’m pretty sure I was the one he ditched her for.

I brush it off with, “Nah, not really,” and check my phone’s calendar. Yup. That was the day I got creeped out by my boss and asked Midoriya-kun to pick me up.

…He chose me over his plans with Aoi-chan.

I shouldn’t be happy about this. Aoi-chan must’ve been in a bind too. But my lips twitch upward, and I can’t stop it.

No matter how many excuses I make, I can’t deny I’m thrilled.

I press my hands to my burning cheeks.

Alright. I’m feeling brave. Now’s my chance.

I stare at my clenched hands, then look up into Aoi-chan’s eyes. “Aoi-chan, are you and Midoriya-kun dating?”

“What?!” she laughs. “No way, Haru-chan-senpai!”

My heart thumps, loud and alive.

I thought they were close enough to be dating, but they’re not.

“Oh… good!” I say, relief flooding through me. I tap my toes on the ground, feeling the blood rush back to my limbs.

“Huh? Wait, he didn’t tell you?” Aoi-chan tilts her head, puzzled. Seeing me like this.

“Shiki-senpai’s got a girlfriend.”