The Academy's Terminally Ill Side Character
Chapter 189: If I’d Met You Before [1]

We continued walking in silence, neither of us saying much.

There was no destination in mind—just somewhere else. Anywhere that wasn't near that flower bed.

A few minutes ago, Keira had quietly tossed the bento box into a nearby trash bin.

I didn't blame her.

Her voice broke the silence, trembling between hiccups.

"Hic… I only stepped out of the class for a few minutes. When I came back, it was just… gone."

She took a shaky breath.

"I looked everywhere. Asked around… and someone finally told me a few girls took it. Then they started laughing at me… right in the classroom…"

Her voice cracked again. She was trying hard to pull herself together, but the tears kept slipping through.

It was getting harder for her to speak.

"I—I ran after them when I figured out where they went, but by the time I got there… it was already too late. Sob… hic…"

God.

Those girls were garbage.

How could they steal someone's lunch like that—something homemade, something someone actually cared about—and then mock them for it?

It was like NTR-ing someone's kindness and then laughing in their face.

Keira wiped her eyes with the sleeve of her uniform and spoke again, voice quieter this time.

"…Sorry. I told you to look forward to it."

That caught me off guard.

So that's what she was upset about?

"I mean… it's okay."

And it was.

I wasn't trying to be cold—it was just the truth. She was the one who kept going on about the lunch earlier this morning, hyping it up, and I'd responded politely. That was all.

I hadn't been counting the minutes till lunch.

I'd already eaten anyway. She was probably the one who skipped a meal because of this whole mess.

But before I could explain, she shot me a look and said something that made me blink.

"What do you mean 'it's okay'? You don't have to pretend. You were looking forward to it, right? I mean… it's your first time getting a homemade lunch from a girl, isn't it?"

This girl…

Every time I tried to be patient, tried to be nice, she found a new way to irritate me.

I ran a hand down my face.

"I wasn't starving, Keira."

She pouted through her tears. "Still. You could at least act disappointed…"

I sighed.

"I'm more upset about you skipping lunch than about mine. And for the record… it wasn't just a lunchbox. It was a kind thing you did. Don't let them twist that."

She didn't say anything, but her pace slowed.

The tears were still there, clinging to the corners of her eyes, but her breathing had steadied.

We kept walking, the silence between us turning heavier, almost awkward.

What was I even supposed to do now?

I wasn't some classic protagonist like Ryen—someone who could whip up inspiring lines and cheer people up with a few well-timed words.

And I sure as hell wasn't like Leo, either. He'd say something cool and decisive like, "Forget it. You don't have to worry. I'll take care of them."

But I wasn't Ryen.

I wasn't Leo.

I was just me. Rin Evans.

And I didn't need to act like anyone else just because the situation felt dramatic.

Keira was upset. Someone had hurt her.

She didn't need a hero—she just needed someone to be there.

So I said what came naturally.

"You haven't eaten yet, have you?"

She looked up at me, sniffling. "…Huh? No… not yet."

"Then let's go."

She blinked, a bit confused.

Her makeup was smudged from the crying, and honestly, if we went straight to the cafeteria, she might regret it later.

"W-Where?"

"First, wipe your face." I pulled out a handkerchief from my pocket and handed it to her. "It's a shame about the lunchbox, but that doesn't mean you should stay hungry. Let's get something to eat."

She took the handkerchief hesitantly, then dabbed her cheeks and under her eyes, careful not to rub too hard.

"…Thanks."

"It's nothing." I shrugged. "When I feel like crap, I usually eat something good. Preferably spicy."

She gave a small, surprised laugh—just a little one—but it was there.

Maybe she thought I was joking, but I was dead serious.

When things sucked, putting something warm in your stomach really helped more than you'd expect.

Even back at the orphanage, when the younger kids would get into fights or cry over something small, all it usually took was a lollipop or a cookie to calm them down.

The way they'd munch through their tears and end up hugging each other afterward—it wasn't magic, just food.

We walked to a small restaurant not far from campus.

Nothing fancy. But it smelled good, and the place was quiet.

Keira still looked a little worn out, her eyes red and puffy, but she was no longer trembling.

Just tired.

And honestly? So was I.

But for now, we'd eat.

And that would be enough.

We sat at a booth by the window, tucked into the corner where the light spilled through the glass in long, lazy streaks.

The place was nearly empty, just an old couple by the counter and a staff member humming softly while wiping down a table. The kind of quiet that didn't feel heavy—just still.

Keira fiddled with the edge of the menu, not really reading it.

I didn't rush her.

Instead, I watched the steam rising from the open kitchen. Something with garlic hit the air.

My stomach gave an embarrassing little growl.

Keira noticed and gave a tiny smile.

"…Something spicy, right?"

"Something cheap," I corrected. "Then spicy."

She nodded slowly, almost like she was trying to match my rhythm, keep herself grounded by it.

We both ordered.

She picked a tofu stew with rice and a side of kimchi. I went for a basic curry—extra spice, double portion of rice.

---

Author Note.

Thank you for reading the chapter. I hope you continue to do read more in future.