Episode 46: Home Economics

「Whew… that was delicious…」

Ah, total satisfaction.

The new bento box is actually bigger than the old one, so Sara-senpai packed a bit extra for me, which I really appreciate.

「It was a modest meal. I thought I might have packed too much, but it seems you were fine?」

「If it’s your cooking, Senpai, I could eat a ton of it easily.」

「You ate at such a fierce pace. Well, if someone eats with that much gusto, it makes the person cooking happy.」

「Yes, it makes it worth the effort, so I’m glad.」

Naturally, I’m happy too.

「Hmm, I’m curious what kind of reaction I’d get if I were the one cooking… Hey, Takanashi-kun, maybe next time, I’ll make the ben—」

「Didn’t we already discuss that I will be the one making Takanashi-san’s bento?」

「SORRY, NEVER MIND.」

Sigh… another peaceful lunch break…

Alright, time to do the watering.

Fifth period is Home Economics, specifically a sewing class.

For the record, I believe I can handle everything from hand-sewing to using a sewing machine.

I’ve studied it on my own, after all…

Since it’s a free-assignment project, I am making a sashiko-style drawstring bag by hand.

Obaa-chan taught me how to do it a while ago, but since it’s quite a challenge, I decided to give it a try.

It takes time, but it’s fun.

By the way, Natsumi seems to be making a pillowcase.

「Man, Sara, you’re doing something pretty intense. I knew you were good with your hands, but what are you going to do with that once you’re finished?」

「I intend to use it to hold something, of course. I haven’t decided what yet.」

「Your Home Ec skills are perfect, including the cooking. Sara, you’re like a concentrated mass of feminine power.」

「Seriously. Is there anything you’re bad at, Satsukawa-san?」

There are girls from the same group as us, so they joined the conversation.

It’s fine, I can handle this much normal interaction.

「Of course there are. Especially when it comes to my sociability…」

「Sara is pretty fatal on that front. Well, maybe that’ll improve a bit soon. I’ve got high hopes for the future.」

「? What do you mean by that?」

She said something I don’t quite understand.

「Really? But with your level of feminine power, Satsukawa-san, you could take down any guy around here if you felt like it.」

「I have no intention of dealing with men I have no interest in. If I were to do something for someone, it would be for Takana… ah…」

That’s right, Takanashi-san.

I should make this bag for Takanashi-san.

I can just rework the bag slightly so it’s a drawstring pouch for Takanashi-san’s bento box.

Thinking that gave me a sudden, massive burst of motivation.

「That’s the look of someone who just thought of something regarding Takanashi-kun…」

「Natsumi-chan, who’s Takanashi-kun…?」

Crap, I accidentally said it out loud.

Well, it’s not like they’re totally in the dark, so a little bit should be fine.

「Ah, you know, I mentioned it in the class group RAIN the other day, right? Not to carelessly bring up that first-year boy as a topic.」

「Ah, so that’s the Takanashi-kun guy.」

「Did something happen with Takanashi-san?」

Whoa, when did she reboot?

Her reaction speed is as sharp as ever.

「N-no, we were just talking about how you seemed to have thought of something for Takanashi-kun. I just explained a bit about him in the process.」

「Yeah, I knew about him, but I didn’t know his name until now.」

「I see. No, I just realized what I wanted to use this bag for.」

Phew… managed to avoid suspicion…

「Is that so? Are you going to use it as it is?」

「No, it will need a few adjustments. Well then, I’ll get straight to work.」

It looks like she’s found a purpose for it and her motivation has spiked all at once.

「What’s the deal between him and Satsukawa-san?」

It looks like she noticed that saying his name triggers a reaction.

「He’s her only male friend. Sara herself still isn’t used to guys in general, so she tends to overreact.」

「I see. But a guy friend for Satsukawa-san… that’s kind of hard to believe.」

Well, considering how Sara has been until now, it’s a natural reaction. I couldn’t believe it at first either.

「Wait! That guy whose shirt she was wiping in class… was that his? ……Just a friend?」

「A friend. When Sara got mad in class the other day, she said he was her friend, didn’t she?」

「Come to think of it, did she? Just a friend, huh…」

She seems a bit unconvinced.

Well, it’s a bit excessive to just call them friends.

…By the way, her attitude today was milder than usual, and not just with me.

Maybe becoming close with Takanashi-kun has started to change the everyday Sara too?