CH 30

Chapter 30 – Lunch Day

TL: Cheetah

ED: Ryuubii

Since then, the three of us have been going to school together every morning.

I don’t know when it started, but I noticed that the number of people criticizing me was decreasing.

To be honest, I thought they would say a lot more.

There’s no doubt that there’s a lot of people with opinions about me behind their gazes.

However, what I didn’t like was that the class knew about it.

If I stood out that much every day, there was no way they wouldn’t know…

I mean, there have been times when Senpai comes directly into the classroom.

And what I didn’t like was that some of them started approaching me.

Obviously, they just want to get close to the senpais through me, which is even more annoying.

Basically, I ignored them… Not that I really care what they think of me in class now.

Then last night I got a message on LINE saying that Sara-senpai was going to make lunch for us.

I was told to not buy any rice balls this time, as the three of us would eat together.

——————————————

Lunch break arrived.

It was very hard to hide the smirk on my face in the classroom.

Just thinking about Sara-senpai’s homemade lunches made me too happy…

When I arrived at the flower garden, it seemed that they had just arrived as well.

“Hello, Takanashi-san.”

“Hello, Takanashi-kun.”

“Hello to the both of you.”

“The three of us can’t fit on the bench, so I brought us a leisure sheet.”

TN: Leisure Sheet

“I’m sorry for all the trouble…”

That’s definitely true.

I realized that much myself…

This morning, Sara-senpai had brought a bag that she hadn’t brought before, but I thought it was for class or something.

So what she brought with her was a lunch box and a leisure sheet…

“Now let’s get ready.”

We laid out the leisure sheet and put weights on the four corners to prevent it from being blown away.

And as the three of us sat down, Sara-senpai began to serve us our lunches…

“Here you go, Takanashi-san. These are your chopsticks.”

“Thank you very much, Sara-senpai.”

“Because I’ve got my own, let’s exchange some side dishes later.”

“I made a little extra today, so it’s okay. Then, ‘itadakimasu’.”

「「「Itadakimasu」」」

Today’s bento was Japanese-style, with simmered fish and vegetables as the main dishes.

A~h… delicious!

“Takanashi-kun, you look really happy eating. Well, Sara’s food is delicious, so I understand.”

“Actually, calling it delicious isn’t enough. In fact, I like it better than my mother’s cooking.”

It’s not that I don’t like my mother’s cooking.

It’s just a matter of personal preference, or perhaps it’s because of the fact that Sara-senpai was the one who made it specially for me.

“Fufu…I’m glad you said that, but I think it’s an exaggeration to say that I’m a better cook than Takanashi-san’s mother.”

“I’ve also eaten some of Sara’s lunches before and all I remember is how delicious they were. Seeing Takanashi-kun eat them, I might want to try eating a complete meal someday.”

“Then shall I make one for you next time, Natsumi?”

“Hmm, I’m happy to hear that, but it’s hard to cook for three people. I know, because I make my food myself, so no matter how I think about it, it’s going to be a lot of work to prepare for three people.”

As someone who doesn’t cook at all, I feel kind of bad when I hear about such things because I simply eat the food thinking it’s delicious and not considering the fact that a lot of work has been put in…

“Ah, let’s do it this way, Sara will make it next time and I’ll make it the day after. Let’s take turns.”

“Are you sure? I can make enough for three people every day. I enjoy cooking too.”

“I’ve heard that you have a lot of things to thank Takanashi-kun for, but for me, you’re simply being made to do so for no particular reason. And besides, I want you to try my cooking too!”

If that’s the case, Natsumi-senpai will be cooking for us next?

I’m happy but also regretful…

“Hmmm, does that mean Natsumi-senpai…”

“Yeah, I’ll make a portion for Takanashi-kun too, and I want you to eat it, okay?”

… Um…

“I’ll make Takanashi-san’s lunch, so you only need two, okay?”

Yeah, I’ve recently come to understand that that smile is a smile that shouldn’t be opposed…

Natsumi-senpai was also aware of this, that’s why she was a bit taken back.

“Hmm, well, this is a good opportunity for me to thank Takanashi-kun, and if I’m going to make one, so might as well make another for him.”

“Regarding Takanashi-san’s lunch, I’m the one who will continue to make it, okay?”

Senpai didn’t take a step back…

Then she faced me.

“That is, as long as Takanashi-san is okay with it…”

Ugh, that look was not fair…

When asked with such an anxious face, how could I give an answer other than yes…

There was no need to bother thinking because this is what I wanted!

“Umm… I want Sara-senpai to make mine if it’s not a bother. Senpai’s lunches are the most delicious, and I’m really glad that she can cook for me.”

I thought I should tell her this honestly, so I said it even though it was a little embarrassing.

Sara-senpai gave a very happy smile.

“Fufu… I really enjoy making lunch boxes while remembering how Takanashi-san’s face looks as he eats. So, if you don’t mind, please let me continue making your lunch box in the future.”

“Thank you very much, I’m very happy.”

“.. Ah-… I thought we were talking about me, but I’m being left out once again… As soon as I let my guard down, you guys enter your own world, and you say you’re friends with me…”

Natsumi-senpai was murmuring something…

… Ah, we were talking about Natsumi-senpai making us lunch, but before I realized it, we were talking about Sara-senpai’s lunch.

“Okay, well then, make a little less for Takanashi-kun. Then I can give him a small portion.”

“Then… I understand. Takanashi-san is okay with this too right?”

“Yes, I mean, I’m the one who’s only eating it, so I’m not in a position to worry about how it will turn out.”

“Okay! Then I’ll make something for the time being. I wonder what I should make?”

I really don’t know if it’s okay for me to be this happy…