Episode 30: Bento Day

Since then, the three of us have been walking to school together every morning.

For some reason, the number of people openly criticizing me has surprisingly gone down.

Honestly, I thought I’d be hearing way more.

There’s no doubt people have plenty of thoughts based on the looks they give me, though.

But the fact that I was an outcast was already common knowledge in class.

There’s no way people wouldn’t notice me standing out this much every day…

Well, Senpai did barge right in before, so it was like that from the start.

And what’s really annoying is that a few people have actually started approaching me.

Their motives are so transparent; they obviously just want to use me to get closer to Senpai and the others, which makes it even more irritating.

I basically just ignore them. At this point, I don’t care what the class thinks of me.

Last night, I got a message on RAIN saying that Sara-senpai would be making me a bento.

She told me we should all eat together and made sure to tell me not to buy any rice balls this time.

Lunch break

It was hard to hide my grin in the classroom.

Sara-senpai’s handmade bento… I’m way too happy.

When I got to the flower beds, it looked like the two of them had just arrived as well.

「Hello, Takanashi-san.」

「Hello~ Takanashi-kun.」

「Hello to both of you.」

「Since there are three of us, the bench is a bit inconvenient, so I brought a picnic sheet.」

「I’m sorry you had to go that far…」

That makes sense.

Why didn’t I think of that?

This morning, Sara-senpai was carrying a bag she usually doesn’t have. I just figured it was for a class or something.

Seeing it now, I guess it was for the bento and the sheet…

「Alright, let’s get ready.」

We spread out the sheet and put weights on the four corners so it wouldn’t blow away.

Once the three of us were seated, Sara-senpai started taking out the bento boxes…

「Here, Takanashi-san, this is yours. Please use these chopsticks too.」

「Thank you, Sara-senpai.」

「I have my own, so let’s swap some side dishes later~」

「Yes, I made a bit extra today, so that’s fine. Well then, shall we eat?」

「「「Let’s eat!」」」

Today’s bento was Japanese-style, mostly simmered dishes and fish.

Man… it’s good.

「Takanashi-kun, you really look like you’re enjoying that. Well, Sara’s cooking is great, so I get it.」

「No, ‘great’ doesn’t even cover it. I don’t mean anything by this, but I like it more than my mother’s cooking.」

It’s not that my mom’s cooking is bad.

It’s just my personal preference… well, the fact that Sara-senpai made it for me is already a huge factor.

「Fufu… I’m happy you’d say that, but saying it’s better than your mother’s might be an exaggeration.」

「I’ve sampled Sara’s bento before, and I only remember everything being delicious. Watching Takanashi-kun eat, I kind of want to eat a whole portion myself someday.」

「In that case, should I make one for Natsumi next time too?」

「Hmm, I’m happy to hear that, but making three portions is a bit much. I cook too, so I know that even if you can make them at the same time, three portions definitely adds more work.」

Since I don’t cook at all, hearing that makes me feel a bit guilty for just sitting here and thinking about how good it is…

「Oh, I know! How about this? After Sara makes one, I’ll make the next. Let’s take turns.」

「Are you sure? I’m fine making three portions every day, you know? I enjoy the cooking process itself.」

「No, I heard Takanashi-kun is getting this as a thank-you and all that, but I can’t just have you make me one for no reason. Besides, I want you to try my bento too!」

Does that mean Natsumi-senpai is going to make the next one?

I’m happy about that, but also a bit guilty…

「Um… Natsumi-senpai, you mean you’ll make one for…」

「Yeah, I’ll make your portion too, Takanashi-kun. I want you to try— 」

「I will be the one making Takanashi-san’s bento, though?」

……Wait…

「I will be making Takanashi-san’s bento, so making it for just the two of us is fine, right?」

Yeah, I’ve started to realize lately that you shouldn’t go against that particular smile…

Natsumi-senpai seems to realize it too, since she’s backing off a bit.

「Um, well, it’s a good opportunity, and I have things I want to thank Takanashi-kun for too. If I’m making it anyway, might as well make his too…」

「I will continue to make Takanashi-san’s bento from now on, you know?」

Senpai isn’t backing down an inch…

Then she looked at me.

「If Takanashi-san is okay with it… that is…」

Ugh, that expression is cheating…

Being asked with such an anxious face, how could I say anything other than「it’s fine 」…

It’s what I wanted anyway, so there was no need to hesitate!

「I should be the one saying that. If it’s not a bother for you, Sara-senpai, I’d actually like to ask you to keep doing it. I feel a bit guilty, but your bento is the most delicious thing ever, and I’m really happy that you’d make it for me.」

I felt like I should be honest, so I said it even though it was a bit embarrassing.

Sara-senpai broke into a very happy smile.

「Fufu… it’s very fun for me to cook while picturing Takanashi-san’s face as he enjoys the food. So, if you don’t mind, please let me continue making your bento.」

「Thank you, I’d love that.」

「…………Man… it was supposed to be about me, but I’m being left behind again… They enter their own world the second I let my guard down. And they call themselves just friends…」

Natsumi-senpai is muttering to herself…

…Oh, we were talking about Natsumi-senpai making bento, but before I knew it, we were back to talking about Sara-senpai.

「Fine, I get it. In that case, make Takanashi-kun’s portion just a little bit smaller. That way, I can give him a bit of mine.」

「If that’s the case… I understand. Is that alright with you, Takanashi-san?」

「Yes, I mean, I’m the one being cooked for, so I’m fine with whatever works.」

「Alright, then I’ll make some for now. I wonder what I should make.」

Seriously, am I going to be okay being this happy…?