Chapter 4 - The First Lunch Break (1/2)

The First Lunch Break

The long awaited lunch break has finally arrived. My hunger was to the max as I had not eaten anything beforehand. Now, let’s go and see the slightly airheaded, slightly devilish Hiiragi-chan, who was waiting in the World history preparation room.

“Sanada? Where are you going? You aren’t going to eat?”

My friend, Fujimoto, brought out his bentou that was wrapped in a handkerchief.

Sorry, Fujimoto.

I have already left the stage of discussing how to be popular with girls, about how big someone’s chest should be, and various other things like that. That’s because, a goddess was waiting for me within the World history preparation room. She’s bringing a handmade bentou!

“I’m going to eat lunch. But for a little while, I might not be able to eat with you.”

Fujimoto stared at me with a serious expression.

“What do you mean? Your only friend should just be me!”

“Be quiet. Don’t say that as it’s true.”

“You, eating with someone else during lunch? That’s not possible!”

“It is possible. It is.”

With a sad, or maybe sympathetic face, Fujimoto struck my shoulder.

“Don’t push yourself. You really don’t have any, there’s no need to put up an I have friend’s other than Fujimoto appeal. I already know you don’t have any after all.”

“Stop making me out to be such a sad character.”

“Weren’t you going to go to the bathroom or some other place and eat your lunch alone to hide it?”

“That’s wrong!”

“Alright, alright. You have lots of friends. That’s right, you have so many friends so that you can eat lunch and have happy conversations with different ones every day.”

A strained smile surfaced on his face as Fujimoto nodded along. W-what is this, all of a sudden… No, more importantly, I don’t have that many.

“I already understand. So don’t act so tough and come eat with me. If you don’t have money, I can lend you up to 300 yen. Alright?”

“It’s not that I have no money so I can’t eat.”

“If that’s the case, I’ll treat you today. We’re friends. Isn’t that right?”

“Eh, ah, yeah.”

“Now, let’s go. Cafeteria? Or do you want bread from the store? Pick whatever you like.”

Fujimoto shrugged his shoulders like a comedian.

“No, I’m telling you. I’m going to be eating with someone else. Alright?”

“Now now. Don’t say that.”

Fujimoto started to pull me along by force. Ah, fine then.

“Now… who else would you eat with besides me.”

“No.”

He gave a fast rejection.

“No, you’re really wrong.”

“There isn’t any, right? There’s no one else that would eat with you.”

“Don’t say that.”

“I’ll give you 100 yen, so let go of my hand. Lonely man.”

“Kuuu. You’re my friend, right!? Friends are ones who eat lunch together, right!? While eating lunch, they have meaningless conversations with you. That’s what they’re for, right!?”

I peek into my wallet for some change.

“Now then. Lonely man, I wonder if there’s 100 yen that I can bless you with.”

“Dammit…! Is this alright? We’re always together in class, so the girls from our class talk about how we might be gay.”

“What’s with that rumor!? It’s completely baseless!”

“When juniors come into our club and say stuff like, “Fujimoto san, you eat lunch alone don’t you? (laugh)”, what are you going to do!? I won’t be able to keep my dignity as their senior! Help me out, I beg of you!”

“What is this, in the end, you’re only thinking about your own image. Then it’s fine if it just doesn’t leave this classroom, right? This is my last piece of advice to you from me, who has reached a completely different stage.”

Patto, I slap Fujimoto’s hand away and leave the classroom.

“Sanadaaaaaa, come baaaaccckkkk!”

Hearing him let out such loud voice, I slam the door shut. Because of the lonely man, I incurred some time loss. With fast legs, I walk to the building designated for all the preparation rooms, with the world history preparation room as my destination. While feeling nervous, I put my hand on the door.

In the staff room, I’ve interacted with Hiiragi-sensei as a male student, but this time, she was Hiiragi Haruka, who had gave an okay to his confession and became his girlfriend. Just in case, I look around to confirm that there was no one watching and then I enter inside.

“Ah, Sanada-kun. Thank you for your hard work in class.”

Hiiragi-san greeted me with a smile. Looking at this smile, I really feel relieved…

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“Here. I made this myself.”

On top of the well-organized desk, there were two bentous, just as she said yesterday.

“Thank you very much. Sensei, you really can cook.”

“I won’t give it to people who say such mean things.”

“But girls who can cook have a sort of charm.”

“Mou, you say that so suddenly.”

Hiiragi-chan who hides her embarrassment with anger is cute. “Come come”, Hiiragi-chan said, as she indicated the seat prepared next to her. After sitting down, I immediately open the bentou.

… It was covered with karaage. There wasn’t a single bit of rice or another side dish inside.

“I put karaage in it, right?”

“No, you did put it in, but that’s all you put.”

I did say I wanted karaage, but why did you only put karaage!?

“Ah… S-sorry! N-normally, I would…”

This is bad. I really was happy, but because of my weird reaction, I made Hiiragi-chan feel down.

“No. It’s not that, it’s alright! I really really like karaage.”

“Sorry, for not being thoughtful… normally, I would put a little bit of lemon… squeeze a little bit of the juice, you know?”

“It isn’t thaaaat!”

Where did you leave your common sense!?!?