Episode 89: A Small Change

「Morning, Takanashi!」

「Mornin’~」

「Good morning!」

With the daily life of the class becoming normal like this, the biggest hurdle of my high school life has been improved.

With the matter of Sara-senpai too, if the me from a little while ago heard that such a fulfilling high school life was waiting, he would probably say it’s a lie.

While I was thinking about that, Yamakawa approached me.

「Morning, Takanashi. Were you okay yesterday? I talked to Yokogawa, but did those weird guys do anything to you?」

Apparently, he knows about yesterday’s incident.

It seems he talked to Hayato, but he didn’t hear anything in particular.

「I see. Thanks for worrying about me. I talked with them for the time being, but everything was fine.」

「Oh, that’s good then.」

Yamakawa doesn’t really give off a two-faced feeling, or rather, he’s easy to deal with like this, and being able to talk casually is a good thing about him.

Rattle rattle rattle

「Excuse me~」

The sight of Hayato entering before the morning HR has also become a standard lately.

「Morning, Kazunari.」

「Morning, Hayato.」

When he approached my seat, he greeted me with a raised hand.

I have to say thanks to Hayato for yesterday.

「Hayato, thank you so much for yesterday. I want to give you some kind of reward.」

When I said just that, perhaps he sensed the atmosphere, as he replied vaguely so as not to say the crucial parts.

「Something like that is no big deal. But let’s see… since we’re at it, why don’t you hang out with me next time?」

「「Kyahhhhh!」」

！？

When I’m talking to Hayato, that corner over there is always noisy… what is it?

「Yeah, sure. But you think of the place, okay?」

「Roger that. Tell me what happened after that later, okay?」

Saying that, Hayato went back to his own class.

It’s been a while since I’ve hung out with a friend other than Yuji.

That’s right, it might be fun to call Yuji too and hang out with the three of us…

It became lunch break, and the long-awaited lunch time began again.

I ate Senpai’s bento, which is incredibly delicious and my greatest source of nutrition.

By the way, today Sara-senpai has been staring at me and smiling since we started eating.

Whenever our eyes meet, she shows a happy smile, so every time it’s embarrassing, or rather, I feel self-conscious.

「Takanashi-san, how is the bento? If there is anything on your mind, or if you have any requests, please tell me, okay?」

Come to think of it, I feel like this is somehow the first time I’ve been asked something like this.

It was the same this morning, but her asking directly like this might mean there’s been some change within Senpai.

「Sara-senpai, I’ve never had any thought about your bento other than ‘delicious.’ I truly think it’s delicious, so I want you to continue making it however you want to make it from now on.」

「Takanashi-san… yes, I understand. Then, I will do my best so that you will continue to think it is delicious in the future as well. By the way… fufu, after all, this kind of thing might be hard to notice by yourself, isn’t it?」

Just as I thought Sara-senpai laughed, she moved a bit on the plastic sheet and approached me as if snuggling up.

「Sara?」

「Sara-senpai?」

Just as I thought she approached while looking at my face, she took a handkerchief out of her pocket and reached her hand toward my face.

「Takanashi-san, you mustn’t move, okay?」

When she reached toward my mouth just like that, there was a sensation of wiping.

However, just when I thought she would finish and pull away, she didn’t try to pull away, just like this morning.

I wonder what’s wrong… she’s approaching more than usual…

It might be my imagination, but it feels like I’m being pampered by her, just as I usually pamper myself with her.

「Please teach me about love.」

I was told that by Senpai.

By any chance, Senpai might also have things on her mind and be acting on them.

If that’s the case, I think I should move proactively too.

It’s difficult all of a sudden, but I should gradually tell Senpai the things I’ve suppressed or hesitated to say because I thought they were embarrassing until now.

Sara-senpai’s head suddenly caught my eye.

Speaking of which, I’ve been having my head patted by Senpai all this time lately, but how about I try patting her head for once…?

I reached my hand around behind Senpai and secretly tried patting her.

「Takanashi-san…!」

Sara-senpai showed a surprised expression, but as I continued patting, she narrowed her eyes happily and closed the distance with me even more.

「Sara-senpai… what are your feelings right now? When you do this for me, I’m always happy, and I feel a sense of security from being able to touch you.」

「…Yes. Until now, I was happy that Takanashi-san was pleased when I did this for you. Now that you mention it, I certainly feel a sense of security from having you by my side, Takanashi-san. I am happy to be touched like this…」

「I feel happy being with Sara-senpai and being by your side. I’d be happy if you could feel the same way, Sara-senpai.」

To be honest, I felt embarrassed, but I told Senpai the feelings I was experiencing.

Pressed by her happy and blissful expression, I continued patting for a while.

「………Hey, I’m right here.」

Sorry, I forgot about her midway through…