Episode 45: A Special Bento Box

「Good morning.」

「Morning~」

「Good morning, Sara-senpai, Natsumi-senpai.」

The usual morning scene.

But today, I have something even more exciting to look forward to than usual.

「I heard the news~. You gave her more than just a bento box yesterday, didn’t you~?」

「Yeah, I really wanted to give them to Sara-senpai.」

「I see. I’m looking forward to seeing them next time.」

「I feel like it’s a bit of a waste to use them for everyday things…」

Well, it’s just like Sara-senpai to think that way. Better make sure I emphasize my point.

「Sara-senpai, I’m happy you think they’re that precious, but I want you to use them normally, okay?」

「…Yes, I will treasure them.」

「…My, my, right from the morning.」

「? Did something happen, Natsumi-senpai?」

「It’s nothing. Well, shall we go?」

The usual route to school.

Lately, it seemed like the people around us had gotten used to it and weren’t acting like they had something to say, but today it feels like people are whispering again.

「See you at lunch break, then.」

「See you later.」

「Yes, see you later.」

Rattle rattle rattle.

When I walk into the classroom, I see a familiar recent sight: the guys with ulterior motives approaching me.

Well, I don’t know if it’s all of them.

「Yo, Takanashi.」

「Hey, hey, hey, Takanashi, you were at the shopping mall yesterday with Satsukawa-senpai, weren’t you!」

「I heard it from a buddy too, said he saw you two together.」

Crap, I was so on cloud nine that I didn’t even think about that… Maybe we were a bit too close.

It’s no wonder we were spotted. I’ll have to be more careful from now on.

「…Is it weird to go out with a friend?」

「No, not at all. It’s totally normal for friends. Next time you go, I’ll go too.」

「Takanashi-kun, let’s go hang out with us next time. You can invite others too, of course girls as well…」

「…If there’s an opportunity~」

Of course, that opportunity will never come.

Still, these guys… they were ignoring me or making fun of me until just the other day. I can’t believe they can flip like this.

They have no shame or sense of reputation… or maybe they’re just idiots.

「Takanashi-kun, morning.」

「You shouldn’t bother with guys who have such obvious ulterior motives.」

「Morning. Yeah, I guess so.」

Yeah, I don’t really get these girls either.

Why all of a sudden…? Well, they aren’t demanding anything, so they’re far better than those guys.

The warning bell rings, and everyone returns to their seats as the teacher arrives.

「Alright, homeroom’s starting~」

Well, I have a reward waiting for me today, so let’s give it my best…

「Takanashi-san, hello.」

「Good work, Takanashi-kun.」

「Good work, both of you.」

When I got to the flower beds, a picnic sheet was already spread out and all their stuff was laid out. They were totally ready.

「Oh, you’re early? I didn’t think I was that late…」

「Sara was so fired up… she was incredibly fast.」

「I am the same as always, you know?」

「Oh please… even when the teacher’s story during fourth period looked like it was going to drag on, you were glaring at the teacher right before the chime as if to say ‘hurry up and finish’…」

「Natsumi? That mouth spewing nonsense is a nuisance. Shall I sew it shut during Home Ec later?」

Whoa, Sara-senpai has a huge smile.

Though the highlights in her eyes have vanished…

「IT WAS NOTHING.」

「Come, Takanashi-san, please sit down.」

「U-Understood.」

For some reason, I ended up sitting in seiza.

「Here, sorry to keep you waiting. This is today’s bento.」

With that, she handed me the cute bento box with a Goddess smile that was the polar opposite of the one she had a moment ago.

「Thank you!」

「Ooh~ so that’s Takanashi-kun’s new bento box. It’s cute… really cute (lol).」

「Yes, since it’s just for Takanashi-san, I chose the cutest bento box!」

Natsumi-senpai probably meant it as a tease, but she’s naive… it looks like Sara-senpai took it at face value.

You should learn a bit from this innocence, you know, Natsumi-senpai?

…Is probably what Takanashi-kun was thinking.

Naive… because he doesn’t know the other sides of Sara.

She’s only that honest and affectionate with me or Takanashi-kun…

If a classmate had said the same thing to her:

「What did you mean by that just now? Answer quickly… depending on your response, I won’t stay silent.」

She’d probably say something like that.

Actually, if it were said about Takanashi-kun, she’d probably say something even worse back.

「Shall we eat, then?」

「「「Let’s eat!」」」

When I open the cute lid… it’s hamburg steak for the first time in a while!!

「Fufu… seeing such a happy look on your face makes it worth having made it.」

「Your hamburg steak is the top tier in my book, Senpai.」

「What? You like hamburg steak, Takanashi-kun?」

Ah, right. Since it was just me and Sara-senpai last time, this is the first time Natsumi-senpai has heard about my love for hamburg steak.

「Yeah, it’s my favorite food. And among them, Sara-senpai’s hamburg steak is the strongest.」

「Heh… so that means Takanashi-kun can’t enjoy the highest level of flavor anymore unless it’s food made by Sara, right? …You’ve already finished grabbing him by the stomach…」

?

Lately, both Natsumi-senpai and Yuji have been muttering something under their breath at the end.