Episode 31: Sara & Natsumi

Takanashi-san and Natsumi became friends, the three of us go to school together every morning, we eat our bento together…

I am so glad right now… and so happy.

Until now, I never would have thought of school as fun, even if I were just being polite.

There were events like sports festivals and school festivals, of course, but since I wanted to keep my involvement to the absolute minimum, I was absorbed in prioritizing my duties as an officer or my work in the student council.

Ironically, that led to the high evaluation I receive, but naturally, I never felt that it was「fun.」

If Natsumi and the others hadn’t been there, attending school would have been nothing more than a series of tasks.

Since learning about Takanashi-san, meeting him, and becoming close with him, and spending time with the three of us including Natsumi. I feel like attending school is actually fun.

If the「me」from a little while ago saw this, she would think I am a different person.

Thinking about it this way, Takanashi-san is involved in everything, isn’t he?

Takanashi-san is just that important to me.

Now that we’ve become friends, I should be happy, and yet…

Why do I end up getting so worked up over trivial things?

I consider Natsumi an irreplaceable, precious best friend.

So when Natsumi said she would make a bento, I was really looking forward to it and I was happy.

But… Takanashi-san’s bento is off-limits.

I am the one who makes Takanashi-san’s bento.

Obaa-chan asked me to as well… but when Natsumi started saying she would make Takanashi-kun’s portion too, I wasn’t saying it because I had thought that far ahead.

I just… I just thought to myself that I am the one who makes Takanashi-san’s bento.

It’s not like Natsumi meant any harm, she was just speaking out of kindness and helpfulness.

And yet, what is wrong with me for acting that way in response…

It was the same with the names. Why did I think such childish things?

I think I’ll apologize to Natsumi.

But I just don’t understand myself, why I get so worked up whenever it involves Takanashi-san…

Hmm, she’s definitely deep in thought again.

Sara has been wearing a troubled expression ever since lunch break ended.

It’s probably about our conversation from noon, so maybe the bento?

She got pretty worked up when I said I’d make Takanashi-kun’s bento.

It was the same with the first-name thing, but Sara clearly has some feelings toward Takanashi-kun that she isn’t willing to yield to anyone else.

That’s definitely jealousy.

The only thing is… how much does Sara realize her own feelings?

I probably need to check on that or the conversation won’t move forward.

After school, Sara called out to me.

「Natsumi, do you have a moment?」

「Hm? Sure.」

「I’m sorry, it’s about what happened during lunch break…」

So Sara brought it up herself.

This is a good opportunity, maybe I’ll try to dig a little deeper.

「Let’s change locations. I have a few things I want to ask you too.」

「Then, since I have to go to the student council room after this, how about somewhere nearby?」

「That works for me.」

Even while we walked, I checked her expression. She still looked like she was worrying over something.

When we reached a spot where there weren’t many people around, Sara started talking.

「First, about lunch break. I acted rudely regarding Takanashi-san’s bento. I am very sorry…」

「Yeah, I was actually planning on asking you about that. Oh, let me say this first: I’m not bothered by it at all. It’s totally fine.」

「Thank you.」

Alright, for now, let’s probe a bit to see how far this goes.

「So, about the bento… you felt like making Takanashi-kun’s bento was your job, right?」

「…Yes… that is how it was… it’s just, I don’t really understand why I got so worked up over it myself…」

「I see. For example, let’s say it’s not a bento, but Takanashi-kun got injured or caught a cold, and someone had to take care of him.」

「I will take care of everything, so it is fine.」

Yep, there’s no doubt she’s obsessed with Takanashi-kun himself.

「Even if Takanashi-kun were to go somewhere with another girl, would you follow them?」

「…If there were some kind of errand, I would want to help him myself in the first place, but if Takanashi-san asked that person… for me to step in would be… strange… but…」

「Even if your head knows it’s wrong, your heart feels like it hates the idea?」

「………Yes. Am I strange after all? If I think about it normally, I know I shouldn’t interfere… but…」

I see.

There’s no doubt she’s jealous, but she’s struggling because she doesn’t understand the concept of jealousy itself.

Which means she naturally doesn’t realize where that jealousy is coming from.

Hmm… it might be her first love…

I won’t rush her. I’ll just stick to supporting her until she notices on her own.

「I see. Well, first of all, it’s not strange to have feelings you can’t process with logic toward someone you like. Sara, you just haven’t had anyone you felt that way about because you kept everyone else at a distance. It’s okay.」

「Is that so… then I’m glad. Since these are feelings I’ve never had before, I thought I had gone strange.」

「Yeah. But, if you just throw those feelings at the people around you, there’s a chance you’ll cause trouble for Takanashi-kun. So, if there’s something you want to do, maybe try asking him first.」

「I understand.」

「Alright, that’s everything I wanted to ask. Are you okay, Sara?」

「Yes, thank you very much. Thanks to you, I feel relieved. Well then, I’m off to the student council.」

Now I understand Sara’s feelings.

If it’s Takanashi-kun, I can cooperate too.

The only thing is… when will she realize?