Episode 25: Future Plans and the Morning

That incredibly happy lunch came to an end.

I’ll start watering the flower beds once I’ve had a breather, but there’s something I need to talk about before that.

But first, I have to thank her properly.

「Senpai, thank you for the meal. I know I’ve said it a bunch, but it was really delicious. The hamburg steak was especially the best. It’s been forever since I’ve had a meal that made me this happy.」

Actually, since I started living alone, my options are mostly limited to two choices: buying stuff at the convenience store or cup noodles.

Otherwise, I’ll occasionally splurge on a bento from a shop.

I can’t cook to save my life, so it’s a pretty common story… I do the laundry, though, usually all at once when I start running out of things to wear.

「I’m glad you liked it. Then it looks like it’ll be okay for me to keep making them starting tomorrow.」

?

Did she say starting tomorrow?

「Wait, Senpai, you’re going to keep making them for me?!」

「Yes, my grandmother asked me to thank you as well. Besides, I always make my own portion anyway, so it’s just a matter of making them together.」

「No, Senpai, I’m really happy, but if that’s the case, once in a while is fine! No matter how much you think it’s not a big deal, I’d feel too bad!!」

No matter how much it’s a thank-you, every day is just too much.

I’m happy, but I’m not thick-skinned enough to just say “yes, please” that easily.

「I’m fine with it, you know?」

「No, this is also a matter of how I feel. I’m really happy you’d say that, but please, only once in a while.」

Senpai looked into my eyes, thought for a bit, and gave a little smile.

「I understand. If that is what you say, Takanashi-san, then I won’t do it every day. However, instead of just once in a while, could you at least let me make it once a week?」

Senpai presented a compromise.

The truth is, I really want to eat it. If it’s once a week, it shouldn’t be too much of a burden on her…

「Okay, then I’ll take you up on that, even if it is a lot of trouble. I’m really sorry about this. But I’m happy.」

「Yes, then shall we decide on a day? Any day is fine for me.」

「No, whenever is convenient for you is fine, Senpai. I mean, it’s not like I’m bringing anything besides rice balls anyway.」

「…Sorry for prying, but… what about… your family…?」

「Oh, no, they’re around. I’m just living on my own.」

Senpai asked nervously, but she looked relieved when she heard my answer.

She probably thought she’d stepped on a landmine.

「I see. And for yourself?」

「Yeah, I can’t cook to save my life. But my mom’s sister… my aunt makes dinner for me.」

…That was a lie, of course. I felt like she’d scold me if she knew about my eating habits, so I lied on impulse.

「I see. So that’s why you only had rice balls for lunch.」

「Yeah.」

「Understood. In that case, I will prepare the bento whenever it’s convenient for me, alright?」

「Sorry, and thank you.」

「Not at all. Now then, about watering the flowers…」

「Ah, before that, let me talk about one more thing. About this morning.」

I brought up the main topic.

「This morning? Do you mean when I came to give you my morning greetings, Takanashi-san?」

「Yeah. I was happy about it, but those idiots in class started crowding around, and everyone else was being noisy too. I think it’s just going to cause you trouble, Senpai.」

「…It’s true, they were less of a ‘trouble’ and more of a nuisance.」

She really did say nuisance!

But… honestly, I’m happy because it feels like I’m getting special treatment…

「So, I’m happy to see you in the morning, Senpai, but if you come all the way to the classroom, it just causes extra trouble for you…」

「……Takanashi-san, I have a proposal.」

Senpai, acting as if she were thinking, put her index finger to the side of her face and spoke to me.

She’s so cute…