Episode 35: What I Want

Rattle rattle rattle

I don’t say anything when I enter the classroom in the morning.

I know I won’t get a response anyway.

But things have been a bit different lately.

「Morning, Takanashi-kun~」

「Morning~」

First off, a few girls have started greeting me.

I don’t know why it’s girls specifically, but it’s impossible that they actually like me, so there must be some reason for it.

「Morning.」

「Did you come with Natsumi-senpai and the others again today?」

「Yeah, I did.」

「I’m so jealous… I wish I could…」

「Stealing a march on us is against the rules, you know.」

「I knowww.」

Against the rules… what are they even talking about?

「Yo, Takanashi.」

「Good morning, Takanashi-kun!」

I see through these guys. They just want to get close to either Sara-senpai or Natsumi-senpai.

That’s why I barely give them the time of day.

「Morning.」

「Do you hang out with the seniors after school?」

「What do you do on your days off?」

「Just whatever~」

It’s best to cut the conversation short as fast as possible.

I start organizing my things, giving off an aura that says I have no intention of talking anymore.

Even if people talk to me or approach me, there’s always some hidden reason behind it.

…In other words, the fact that I’m isolated hasn’t really changed.

Well, I’m the one who doesn’t want anything to do with people like them anyway.

「Hello, Takanashi-san.」

「Hello~ Takanashi-kun~」

「Hello to both of you.」

This is the only place I can truly relax…

「Here is your bento, Takanashi-san.」

「Thank you. I’m sorry, doing this every day…」

「No, it’s just something I want to do. In fact, it makes me happy to have you eat it.」

Yeah, before I knew it, it turned into an every-day thing.

Since I left the frequency up to Sara-senpai, the intervals gradually got shorter until it became a daily occurrence.

Well, I only cared about not being a burden to Sara-senpai, so if she seems happy, then there’s no problem… and I’m happy too.

「Takanashi-kun, you’re a lucky guy… having Sara’s bento every day, I’m honestly jealous.」

Yes, I really am lucky……

「Oh? Didn’t I say before that I would make a bento for you too, Natsumi?」

「No, once in a while is fine for me. If I ask you to do it every day, it won’t be practice for me.」

It was serving as practice too…

It would be tactless to ask what for.

「But if I’m having you make me a bento every day, I’m really receiving too much. I’d like to think of something to give you in return.」

「…………」

?

She has a look on her face like she just remembered something.

「Looks like Sara forgot she was making these as a thank-you.」

「……Yes. Now that you mention it, I started making these as a way to thank you, but I was so happy to have Takanashi-san eat them that I forgot it was supposed to be a return favor…」

「Ah, Sara-senpai… actually, if it’s a thank-you, I’ve already received plenty…」

Sara-senpai’s expression turned sad.

「Eh!? D-does that mean… you don’t want my bento anymore…」

「That’s not it!! If it’s your bento, Sara-senpai, I’d want to eat it every day!! It’s just that I’ve already received enough as a thank-you, so I meant I want to think of something to give you in return!」

「I-I see, that’s what you meant… thank goodness…」

「Honestly, I can’t even imagine school life without your bento, Sara-senpai.」

I’m saying some pretty bold things even for me…

But I have to be clear or Senpai might misunderstand, which would be bad.

「…To want my bento that much…」

Sara-senpai is off in her own world…

It feels like her character is crumbling more and more with each passing day… but she doesn’t change at all when she’s dealing with anyone else…

「…If the guys in the fan club saw Sara in a rom-com scene like this, they’d die.」

Lately, Natsumi-senpai has been muttering to herself a lot while watching our exchanges… she’s got a big grin on her face, though.

「Anyway, I want to give you something. Since it’s every day, I can’t just leave it at a simple thank you.」

「For me, I enjoy making the bento, so I don’t feel it’s a burden at all…」

Hmm, forcing something on her isn’t great either…

I’d rather give her something she actually wants.

「At least, is there anything you’d like?」

「Sara, if you just accept it, Takanashi-kun will be able to eat your bento without feeling so guilty, you know? If you hold back, Takanashi-kun will hold back too.」

Nice one, Natsumi-senpai!

「…That would be a problem. I understand. In that case, something I’d like… is that alright?」

「Yeah, I can’t prepare anything too extravagant, but something…」

Since I’ve been saving money on my allowance, I won’t hesitate as long as it’s within a certain range.

「Something I want… hmm… ah! I have one thing.」

「Ah, good, you decided?」

「Yes, I want Takanashi-san’s bento box!」

……Eh?

「Until now, I’ve been using a temporary one I had at home, but if I’m going to keep making them like this, I want to make them in a bento box just for Takanashi-san.」

Wait, isn’t that something I should have provided in the first place?

……Natsumi-senpai, you’re not doing a very good job of hiding your laughing, you know.