Episode 9: Favorite Things…

Next day

Today as well, having evacuated the classroom quickly, I head toward the flower beds as usual.

I don’t want to be in the classroom for a single second anymore except for during lessons.

My school life has become entirely composed of the events within this designated space called the flower beds.

When I arrived at the flower beds, unusually, Senpai was sitting on the bench.

「Hello, Takanashi-san.」

「Hello, Senpai.」

Looking closely, it seemed like Senpai was in the middle of spreading out her bento.

…It was the first time I’d seen her bring a lunch.

Senpai has never eaten her lunch here before.

She probably eats before coming here, or if she has to head back early, she likely eats afterward.

「Would it be alright if I also ate my meal here today?」

「Eh, yes, I’m totally fine with it!」

「Thank you.」

Since it would be rude to stare too much, I also sat on the corner of the bench and started peeling the wrapper off my convenience store onigiri.

「Excuse me, I have a small favor to ask…」

「Yes, if it’s something I can do.」

Just as I was about to start eating now that my preparations were done, Senpai spoke up.

Since I had no reason to refuse, I gave her an answer, and Senpai moved her own bento box that was on the bench slightly closer to me.

「I tried making this as an experiment, so if you don’t mind, I would like to hear Takanashi-san’s thoughts. If it’s not a nuisance, would you be willing to eat a bit of it?」

「Eh… are you sure? Honestly, I’m not confident I can give you a proper review, though.」

It was less about being happy and more like the kind of thing I’d want to ask for myself, so honestly, I think I’m lucky.

「Yes. You don’t have to think about it too hard. Even just whether it suited your taste or not is fine.」

「In that case… I’ll have some.」

Part of me didn’t want to ruin my impression by acting greedy, but it would also be a problem if I couldn’t give a review, so I tried to eat it little by little to savor the flavor.

My impression after trying a bit of everything… honestly, no thought other than「it’s delicious」came to mind.

It isn’t like I’m thinking that just to be flattering.

I resent my own lack of vocabulary for only being able to say it’s delicious.

In the end, I tried telling her everything honestly, including that.

「I see, that’s a relief. It seems it turned out alright then. Sorry for the trouble.」

Senpai’s expression is the same as ever, but I feel a somewhat relieved atmosphere coming from her.

I mean, I’m the one who wants to say thank you, and to think I’d actually get to eat Senpai’s home cooking…

「Thank you as well. It was truly delicious.」

「I am happy to hear you say that.」

Senpai started neatly packing away the empty bento box.

Once she put it back in her bag, she suddenly asked me a question.

「By the way, what is Takanashi-san’s favorite side dish?」

「My favorite?」

「Yes, I was just curious for some reason.」

For a second I thought about picking something from the bento I just ate, but I’ll decide to tell her straight.

What I like has been decided for a long time.

「It’s Hamburg steak… even if it’s a bit childish.」

「No, I don’t think there is anything like adult or child when it comes to favorite foods.」

Honestly I thought I might be laughed at, but Senpai replied normally, and it seems she really thinks that way.

「It helps to hear you say that.」

「No… well, so we don’t run out of time, shall we start the watering?」

With that, Senpai stood up and immediately started preparing the hose.

「Right.」

I also prepared the watering attachment and started picking out the obvious weeds to pull.

To think I’d get to eat Senpai’s bento, I was lucky today.

I see, so it was Hamburg steak…

I had planned that whole sequence just now yesterday, but it succeeded much more smoothly than I expected.

It seems my efforts to be as natural as possible paid off.

This time, I made the bento without thinking too deeply as a way to learn Takanashi-san’s tastes, but not including Hamburg steak was the right choice to save it as a treat for later.

And I was honestly happy that he said it was delicious.

Now… it’s just a matter of when to do it.

Before that, I have to practice my Hamburg steak.

Of course I can make it normally, but since I’m doing it, I want to make something he’ll truly find delicious.

Considering the practice time, let’s set next Monday as the tentative date.

To think the day would come where I make a bento for a man…

As she remembered Kazunari while he was eating the bento, Sara didn’t feel bad about it.