When I reunited with my arrogant childhood friend, she had become a talented and beautiful girl – Even though she has probably forgotten about me and I don’t want to be toyed with, for some reason she keeps getting involved with me!?

Chapter 6 - Childhood Friend's Homemade Bento



Monday lunch break.

“Hey, Sato. You’re not with Shinjo-san today?”

As I was taking out my usual bag of nutritional food and jelly drink, Takeda-kun, one of the higher caste members of our class, approached me.

Takeda-kun is the ace of the soccer team, has excellent grades, and is famous for being handsome.

Not only that, but he’s a good guy who often talks to me, someone who doesn’t have many friends.

“Ah, she probably went out of the classroom for the student council or something.”

Yes, today was an unusual lunch break without Akane, and I was thinking it would be nice to eat with someone else.

Well, I was prepared for the worst-case scenario of eating alone.

“Oh, then why don’t you eat with us today?”

“…Huh?”

I was at a loss for words at the unexpected and welcome invitation.

“…Is it okay?”

I couldn’t help but ask. Although he talked to me, it was usually just a greeting, and I had no recollection of being invited to eat together.

“Of course. Actually, I’ve been quite curious about you, Sato. You remind me of a benefactor from middle school.”

“………………”

“Besides, I’ve been wanting to have a leisurely chat with you. Everyone else is saying the same thing, so if you don’t mind…”

Takeda-kun said, glancing at his group. In response, one boy and three girls waved their hands in our direction.

All of them were good-looking and exuded a dazzling aura with their fashionable school uniforms.

Could it be… would I be able to join them? To become one of those outgoing people!

“Well, since it’s a rare opportunity…”

Suddenly, someone pulled my sleeve from behind.

No, there’s only one person who would do this.

But even so, seriously… now?

As I turned around with a bad feeling, Akane looked at me shyly.

I involuntarily tensed up.

What is it? What’s going on?

“Hey, Itsuki. Can I talk to you for a moment?”

“…What’s up, Shinjo? Do you have something to do?”

Her somewhat restless appearance… I have a bad feeling about this.

“Um, well… It’s kind of embarrassing to talk about it here, so why don’t we go to an empty classroom?”

“!?”

Takeda-kun looked at us in surprise, speechless.

This flow of events… is pretty dangerous. Nothing good will come of it.

No, calm down, don’t give up hope.

“…If you have something to say, say it here.”

“U-um, it’s fine… I’d rather not do it here.”

Akane doesn’t seem to back down. It seems more like she doesn’t want to say it, rather than she can’t say it.

“Not here, huh… On the contrary, is there a reason you can’t say it here? I can’t be convinced unless you explain that.”

I hate to say it, but I need to be clear about this. This is a rare chance to make friends. I don’t want to miss this opportunity, which could even help establish my position in the class.

Unless it’s a really important matter, I want to be with Takeda-kun and the others…

“Ugh… that’s why… I’m saying I want to go somewhere private because I want to do something embarrassing that I can’t do here!”

With that single phrase, the atmosphere froze, and the gazes of the entire class gathered all at once.

“Eh… something embarrassing you can’t do here?”

“Wow, seriously… what are they going to do?”

“Are those two… dating after all?”

And so, the whispering began.

Ah, what is this… I’m dumbfounded.

“Ah, sorry, Sato… It seems like we were in the way. Go have fun together.”

On top of creating a huge misunderstanding, they’re even being considerate!?

Wait a minute!! Give me a chance to explain! No, please!!

My inner cries went unheard as Takeda-kun walked away from me.

Can I cry now? Is that okay?

In a daze, I was led by Akane to an empty classroom.

An empty classroom, just the two of us… What on earth is going to happen to me?

“…Hmm.”

On the table was a lunchbox.

“This is… a thank you for the other day… You helped me out, Itsuki.”

She turned her face away, looking embarrassed. Both her hands were hidden behind her, and she seemed restless and fidgety.

…And this lunchbox…

“Eh, is it homemade?”

“Y-yeah! It’s, it’s homemade!”

“…R-really?”

Akane’s homemade lunch…?

I couldn’t help but cover my mouth with my hand. My hand was trembling from the shock. W-what kind of side dishes are in it?

Damn, I’m super curious!!

“Don’t you think you’re overreacting?”

“O-oh…”

I calmed my heart, and when I opened the lid of the lunchbox, the side dishes appeared.

Slightly burnt fried chicken and rolled omelet, ah, there’s octopus-shaped sausages! But the legs were torn off. The only things that looked decent were boiled broccoli and frozen food.

It was a lunchbox that would make anyone go, “Ah…”

“Ugh…”

She seemed to be aware of it, as she took out another lunch bag.

“…N-no, never mind! I’ll eat this, so you eat the lunch your sister made-”

“I’ll have this.”

I put my hands together, picked up the chopsticks, and started eating the lunch Akane made for me.

She looked at me with wide eyes.

Hmm, I’ll start with this burnt fried chicken.

“…You don’t have to force yourself.”

“I’m not forcing myself. You woke up early to make this, right? It takes some effort to make a lunchbox. I’m happy, even if it’s a thank you. So, thanks.”

The frozen food was probably included because the other side dishes she made were at a level where they couldn’t be eaten due to her failures.

It’s true that the lunchbox Akane made doesn’t look good, to put it mildly.

But I know she tried her best to make this lunchbox early in the morning. How could I say I don’t want such a lunchbox?

“Hey, Shinjo, this fried chicken is delicious. Did you start marinating it last night?”

For some reason, there’s an occasional crunching sensation when I bite into it.

“!! Y-yeah! That’s right! I marinated it from last night so the flavors would properly soak in and make it tasty!”

“Ah, I see. Yep yep.”

“Hey! Listen to me properly!?”

I casually listened to Akane’s explanation of the side dishes while enjoying the lunchbox.


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