Even though I was a bit late getting to school, the morning lessons ended without any further incidents.
And, lunch time.
“Takizawa.”
After the end of the fourth period, I called out to Takizawa.
“You are having lunch at school today right? Can I join you?”
“Of course.”
Takizawa ginned and answered me without hesitation.
He and I left the classroom. I usually eat bento with Yagami, but I informed him already when class ended.
“Did you forget your bento today?”
“I woke up a bit late today, so I didn’t have time to prepare it.”
Half truth, half lie, I wasn’t the one preparing bento.
“Thinking back, you were almost late this morning.”
“That’s right.”
“Just that, I find it strange that you are making bento when you are living alone. I remember that when you decided to move out, you said you would eat at the canteen starting from the second year?”
“I changed my mind about it.”
I did say something like that. It’s just I never knew that I would be having bento made by a girl from the same school this year.
“What kind of mind do you have?”
“Just the normal one. You can just think of it as me awaking to the joy of cooking.”
Hearing that, Takizawa laughed scornfully. I had no idea if he felt I was ridiculous or he didn’t believe me.
While talking to each other, we reached the canteen.
Takizawa, who ate here everyday, headed to the food area without hesitation. He must have decided on what he wanted for lunch, so I followed him.
Each of us took one portion of the meal and brought the shays back. We sat opposite to each other and dug in. Our chat topic wasn’t anything serious, just some light discussions with friends.
And then…
“Ah, that’s Takizawa”
A familiar voice.
Raising my head, I saw Saeki coming with the friend who was with her at the Literature club 2 days ago. Both of them were bringing their trays.
Why the hell are you here? – I managed to swallow that stupid question down. I cursed myself for not predicting this situation sooner. If I did, I would eat much later.
“Thank you for my dear seniors help a few days ago.”
“Ah, but Yagami isn’t here today.”
Takizawa forced a laugh.
“Can we have lunch with you guys today?”
“Hmm? Oh okay, suit yourself.”
“Great~~ please excuse us then.”
Both breathed a sigh of relief and sat down. Saeki next to Takizawa, her friend next to me. In other words, Saeki was sitting diagonally to me… Why was Saeki sitting in my field of vision? Well, if she was right besides me then I would be even more awkward.
“Ah, my name is Sakurai Kyouko. While Kirika is too popular, you guys would know of her right?”
Saeki’s friend introduced herself. According to the Hiragana order, then it’s pretty close to Saeki’s name. Their numbers should be close to each others’, so she should be one of her first friends in high school. I was friends with Yagami last year because of that.
“Just call her Kyou.”
“Don’t!”
In face of Saeki’s tease, Sakurai pouted, looking dissatisfied.
“Sakurai huh, I’ve remembered it.”
Takizawa smiled like a true senior.
By the way, Saeki’s tray had canteen food, while Sakurai’s had her own bento box with cute outer decorations. Takizawa noticed this.
“It seems Saeki usually buys lunch at school, while Sakurai brings your own bento with you right?”
“No, I usually bring my own bento.”
Saeki shyly replied.
“But I overslept today.”
“Understood.”
Takizawa laughed, but not the condescending kind. I thought he was really good at these types of socializing.
“It’s interesting.”
“Me almost being late?”
Saeki deliberately pouted, faking anger.
“Not that. It’s just Yumizuki also got to school super late today, borderline being late. He usually brings his own bento, but he’s buying the canteen food today.”
“That so? Wow, what a coincidence.”
“…ho ho, what a coincidence yeah.”
I laughed weakly.
This was a meaningless discussion.
“I’m guessing Saeki lives along, don’t you?”
“Ah, that’s exactly the case. Actually no, I’m staying with another boy at the moment.”
“!!!!”
After hearing that, my soul almost left my body. What the hell are you saying, Saeki!!!?
“Hmm? This news can’t be ignored.”
“It seems there was a problem with our contract. And we only knew on the day we moved in. But that boy is nice, and both have their own circumstances, so we decided to share the flat.”
“…”
“It seems” my ass, that’s almost all of the truth.
“What, Yumizuki? Don’t tell me you think she isn’t joking?”
“Definitely not.”
Even if I said so, in front of me, Saeki was wearing a devious grin.
“Kirika loves telling these kinds of fiction.”
“I’m not, and don’t you want that to happen to you one day?”
“I do, actually –”
Sakurai seemed to have heard of this, and her smile didn’t seem like she bought the story… But why the hell did you bring this up to others? Give me a break.
“Saeki, you shouldn’t joke like that. If you kept on doing so, rumours would start, and I fear they would get more and more unbearable as time goes on.”
“Yes..”
Saeki stuck her tongue out and shrugged her shoulders. If only she toned it down a bit — I sighed internally. Anyway, rumours were not to be disregarded. I tiredly recalled my experiences in the past.
Right this moment…
“Yumizuki, give me one Tonkatsu~~~”
“Dream on. You have one already.”
Saeki reached over from the other side of the table, seeing that, I quickly moved my dish away.
“But it’s delicious.”
“Doesn’t mean you can take other’s portions.”
“Muu~~.”
After failing in the Tonkatsu stealing operation, Saeki poked the chopstick in her lower lips, wailing in dissatisfaction.
“…Yumizuki.”
Takizawa interjected.
“What?”
“You two are close.”
“…”
…I was trapped.
That was my own undoing, how careless of me. This was definitely not normal acquaintance behaviour. Thinking back, she used polite speech for Takizawa, yet none for me, it’s strange enough. (Tl note: In the raws, she calls Takizawa “senpai”, yet Yumizuki “kun”)
Takizawa stared at me with dubious eyes. Suddenly, Sakurai, after being surprised by our conversation, was suddenly excited.
“Seeing Yumizuki so quiet, I thought you were a scary person. But you are an unexpectedly interesting guy.”
“…”
She knitted her hands in front of her chest, exclaiming.
No idea, I had never considered myself interesting.
However, it seemed Sakurai was interested in me, and she inched closer.
“Yumizuki, are you living alone?”
“Ermm, mostly.”
“That’s cool. Both Yumizuki and Kirika are living alone. I also want to move out myself.”
Sakurai returned to her seat and looked at the ceiling.
“It would be tiring.”
“Really?”
“…I think.”
Thinking back, I had no idea how tiring it would actually be. My main difficulty was living together with a girl close to my age without even knowing each other prior to it.
“So, can I come to my senior’s house to play?”
“No, terminate that line of thought.”
I really wanted to ring a bell to alert her of her lack of awareness, but more importantly — I couldn’t let her know I was living together with Saeki.
My eyes naturally turned to Saeki’s direction. Since, not just me, but Saeki was under the same threat as well, so I needed her help
However, on her face now wasn’t the usual everyday smile, instead, there was a glare in my direction, and an unnatural expression on her face.
“That’s a pity. Then …”
Sakurai approached me. Had she forgotten about social distancing? If she wasn’t careful, she would fall into my laps.
“Can I have your email address! I’ll give you mine.”
“Err, well…”
I didn’t think this was a smart idea. I thought about how best to avoid it, and was interjected by Saeki who was observing since the beginning.
“Kyou.”
Immediately after saying that name, she stood up.
“If you’ve finished, let’s return to class.”
“Eh, that’s too quick. We still have time!”
Sakurai checked the clock in the canteen, and argued.
“The next lesson is English, right? There’s a chance I would get called, and I’m not confident in my ability to translate to Japanese. So let’s prepare for the lesson together.”
“Oh, that. Kirika can just return. I never have much opportunity like this, so I want to talk with my seniors a bit more.”
“Kyou come with me.”
“Why?”
A perfectly reasonable question.
“Why..”
But Saeki couldn’t give a clear answer. Instead, she glanced at me for a sec.
And…
“Oh well.”
She sat down.
“Didn’t you want to return to class?”
“No need.”
Saeki turned her head the other way, as if sulking.
“…”
My head hurts. I never thought things would develop like this. What a surprise, you had to be joking, please spare me… Ah, it seemed to be that time.
“Takizawa, it’s time to return to class.”
“Hah? Erm, if you say so.”
Takizawa and I stood up.
“Ehh~~ you guys are returning?~~”
Sakurai lamented. Besides her, Saeki was looking at me. However, she looked like she just had a bright idea and said.
“That’s right, Takizawa. Could we drop by your class sometimes to hang out?”
This again…
Takizawa looked at me, as if asking for my opinion. However, the one asked was Takizawa, not me. So I just shrugged my shoulders as if to say “Who knows?”. It’s his choice.
“Okay. But Yumizuki and I aren’t always in class.”
That’s Takizawa’s reply.
After that, we separated from Saeki’s group.
After confirming there was enough distance between us, Takizawa said.
“I think their goal is you, Yumizuki.”
“…”
Yumizuki my ass.
“…are you dreaming.”
After debating internally, I replied to him.
Let’s hope it’s not like that.
However, it seemed my school life was being invaded by Saeki, or is it just my imagination?