25 – Manmade Lunch
I lay down on the bed with my exhausted body.
A lot happened today. It felt like I was expending much more energy than when I was running around as a track and field manager.
With this, my problem has been settled, so now it’s next.
I couldn’t get rid of the feeling that the ending was a bit clumsy, but the soccer team was arrested anyway.
I remembered the conversation I had with Eri Takase before we parted ways.
If you think about the future, it is better to avoid getting attention or being known. If my presence grows, Masao Suda, who is a nuisance to be dealt with immediately, will also be wary of me.
Until then, I had a good agreement with Takase.
At the end, she was asked a rather embarrassing question. Is she leaving the track and field club?
Of course I have no intention of doing that.
In that case, Eri Takase definitely asks “Why?” The reason.
To be honest with you, I know the future, and I want to save you… I can’t say that.
I can’t repeat the words that I want to work hard as a track and field team manager.
“……… It must have looked strange.”
I just kept my mouth shut and smiled.
It was the last resort to gloss over.
Of course it didn’t work.
But anyway, it’s already past, and I’m tired from the series of events I’ve been through.
My eyes are slowly closing… I heard a loud vibration somewhere, but I collapsed just like that.
***
It was the day of the battery training.
I packed my things… I also checked the schedule.
Why are you so busy?
There were a lot of things I did without even studying.
I entered the classroom and sat down.
I was still floating alone like a lonely island.
I caught Sakai last night.
It will take some time before the matter is revealed. I still had no choice but to endure it. As I was sitting still, I saw Yuuki and Haruna coming through the door.
Ah, come to think of it, I didn’t tell you that I saw the solution yesterday.
I was so tired that I fell asleep. When I woke up in the morning and checked her phone, there was a call from her.
She raised her hand towards her. It was something I hadn’t done before.
“…… Ah.”
As expected, I was ignored.
Ah… What… Because it was what I asked for.
A promise to keep our relationship secret until we solve the case. Haruna accepted without hesitation, but now his attitude seemed to have completely changed.
I… Is there a difference after being ignored like this?
“…… hahahaha.”
I laugh out loud.
Even so, it was a case where I had nothing to say. Because I made Haruna wait all the time.
When I talk to you, “Who are you?” The answer will not come back… Or the face-to-face relationship you had when you were just possessed by this worldview.
I have to tell you about yesterday.
The timing didn’t come easily at school. I kept giving her her attention during her break time. You might notice, but… No, as you probably knew, she deliberately ignored it and left the classroom or had a conversation with another student.
Oh… Am I a car?
It was lunchtime, and after the students had left the classroom, I sat down at my desk by myself.
It wasn’t even yesterday or today, but it was a situation where she could hardly recover from the shock of being dumped by her first girlfriend.
By the way, as soon as it was lunchtime, Haruna and Yuuki left the classroom.
Without even looking at me.
“……… Ugh.”
What can I do? After lunch, I have to go out for battery training.
If that happens, she won’t be able to see Haruna for several days.
After that period, it seemed that she would never be able to talk to Haruna again.
Is she a ship that has already left? She can’t catch it again.
But… But… !
She didn’t know it would turn out like this… !
“Hello, Minsu. What are you doing there?”
She raised her head at the voice she heard.
Yuuki was in front of her eyes.
The main character of this manga.
The man I tried to protect.
“Huh? You… ….”
I just went out with Haruna.
Why are you in front of me?
“Would you like to have lunch together if there is nothing special?”
“Huh?”
“Are you feeling unwell?”
“No, nothing like that….”
“That’s great. Come with me.”
Minsu gestured as he approached the classroom door.
Unbeknownst to me, I get up from my seat and follow him.
It was the first time I had a conversation with Yuuki.
I watched you from afar, felt frustrated, or cheered you on.
That Yuuki was right in front of me.
“You guys are packed lunches. I have nothing….”
“Oh, don’t worry about that.”
Yuki looked back at me and said lightly.
“There is something left.”
What’s left… Is it.
At that moment, I remembered the missed calls list I checked this morning.
Follow Yuuki to the rooftop.
That means I’m also going to be part of their meal.
I….
Is that okay?
“Haru-chan~! I brought you!”
Yuki opened the door on the roof and shouted.
On his first day as a student at this school, he secretly watched from behind the door… Formally invited. It was an indescribable feeling.
It’s as if I’ve become the main character among them.
“Haru-chan~! I didn’t eat first… Eh?”
Following Yuuki, who had stopped, I also looked in that direction.
“……… How about a day?”
Haruna turned around and sat down.
The mats, thermoses, and lunch boxes that were spread out were neatly placed just like the time I saw them.
Haruna turned away from us.
“What are you doing? He said he brought Minsu.”
“……… ….”
“Haru-chan. You said to bring it.”
For an instant, Haruna turned around and glared at Yuuki.
From noble mtl dot com
“Aww… Was this a secret? Sorry sorry.”
Did Haruna tell you to bring me?
Yuki sits on the mat and gestures. As I sat down next to him, Yuuki handed me a boxed lunch.
“Now, this is Minsu’s.”
“Yes… thank you.”
I receive it with a strange feeling.
Is it okay for me to be here? Actually, I’m still confused.
“Haru-chan felt like the extra ingredients were a waste, so he had no choice but to make another one.”
“Yuu-kun!”
“Ah~ yes, yes. Sorry for being lighthearted.”
The lunch box I received was warm.
“Haru-chan, how long are you going to stay like that?”
“……… ….”
“Ah, Minsu. Don’t mind and eat.”
“Yes.”
I’m pouting.
I could definitely tell that the target was me, not Yuuki.
I opened the lid.
This is Haruna’s lunch box… It was second. At that time, I ate it while swallowing the impression at the same time.
This time, she checked her contents, confident that she would feel that overwhelming feeling.
“Uh… ?”
“Huh? Haru-chan, this….”
The lunchbox was full of raw rice.
It was just hot white rice with a single umeboshi in the middle.
“Wahhahahahaha! Haru-chan, what is this?! What are you kidding?”
“……… ….”
I grabbed my chopsticks and ate the rice.
Yes. Delicious.
As expected, it is impressive.
“Minsu, would you like to share mine?”
“No. It’s okay… I have enough of this.”
I am sincere.
Haruna turned her back and ate lunch as it was.
I ate raw rice while chatting with Yuuki.
I am satisfied with what I received.
I thought it must have been kicked, and Haruna was tired of me.
“Haru-chan, that’s too much. Call me like that, and ask me to bring you. Is this the lunchbox they give you?”
“Yuu-kun is noisy!”
“Ouch…. Minsu, I’m sorry. I’ll apologize instead.”
“No… ….”
I have to apologize.
Now that his back has been turned away, and Yuuki is also here, it was difficult to say anything.
As I scooped up the white rice with my chopsticks, I could see the bottom of the lunch box.
That’s….
“Huh? What.”
Yuuki shows curiosity and sticks his head out.
After I saw that too, I pushed the rice with my chopsticks and checked the bottom.
“It’s sincerity~”
To the point where he nodded his head in agreement with Yuuki, who whistled and spoke sarcasticly.
I was impressed.
The side dishes were laid right below.
Under the top of the rice.
You could say it was hidden.
“Kato… thank you.”
I said as I put the fried egg hidden under the rice into my mouth.
“……… ….”
Haruna still didn’t answer.
After lunch and tidying up after her, I saw Haruna’s back as she went down first.
In the end, we couldn’t talk until the end.
By the way, Takase-senpai is not attending today.
During lunchtime, she was informed that she would be away for a while to check on Sayoko’s condition.
“That is strange. Haru-chan isn’t the kind of person who puts up thorns on others like that.”
Putting the pod behind her head, Yuuki said calmly.
“Did something happen with Haru-chan? I didn’t even know you two were close.”
“Ah…… What….”
It was a stormy relationship.
You, Yuuki, were also in the middle.
I couldn’t bear to say that, so I just nodded.
Lunch time is coming to an end soon.
I wanted to meet and talk with Haruna before that.
When I went down to the classroom with Yuuki, Haruna was nowhere to be seen.
He went down before us.
No answer even when I call.
What can I do?
I have to go to the clubhouse now.
“Yuuki, do you know where Miss Kato is?”
“Huh? Didn’t you go to the bathroom?”
I move along with Yuuki.
Standing at the bathroom entrance, Yuuki raised her voice.
“Hey~! Haru-chan! Are you inside!”
“……… There is no need to shout.”
Aren’t you too lacking in delicacy?
Seeing Yuuki casually muttering, “I don’t think there is,” His body’s strength drained away.
“What can I do? I have to go to the clubhouse soon.”
“Ah… Were you the track manager?”
“Yes. To Haruna before lunch….”
He scratched the back of his neck.
“I have something to hand you….”
After tilting his head, Yuuki held out his hand.
“What is it? Then I will deliver it for you.”
No, I have to hand it over myself.
Because it’s meaningless for Yuuki to give it to you.
I was in the middle of looking around the other classrooms and looking for Haruna.
I really don’t have time right now.
While stamping his feet, Yuuki said playfully.
“Ah, couldn’t it be that you were called to confess again?”
“Huh?”
“Why, you were called by Sakai-senpai before. On the subject of Haru-chan.”
“……… ….”
“Even so, he is secretly popular. Last time….”
“Yuuki, thank you for looking for me. You can go back now.”
I cut him off and looked out of his window.
“Huh? Are you giving up?”
“Yes. I really don’t have time anymore.”
Waving at Yuuki, I hurried down the stairs.
Oh, really… How come you take on a job like a manager?
I applied voluntarily.
I couldn’t miss the battery training. Because I didn’t know what Suda would do while I was out of my reach.
You can’t miss that event.
But at the same time, don’t hurt Haruna.
Although it seems to have already been tidied up.
This and that were all the result of my own mistakes.
“………… Found.”
Haruna was there.
The place where we met.
Haruna was sitting alone at the back of the campus, dark and bleak, where sunlight did not shine.
“Dismal… Why is she sitting alone?”
With her sigh, I approached her.
“…… What did Minsu say? That.”
Haruna turned her head and muttered in her voice as if her feelings for me were still unresolved.