About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 4

Chapter 4: A Healthy, Balanced Relationship

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

『Is something like this really okay…?』

A few hours later. Around the time the number of cars on the road began to decrease, we were connected through our smartphones.

“Opportunities to be taught by one of the high school’s star pupils don’t come around very often, after all.”

『Please don’t deify me on your own. That’s not the main point. I’m saying that if it’s studying in exchange for meals, the money problem isn’t actually being solved, is it?』

It seemed that Ayano still hadn’t realized her own value. Having the class’s cool beauty stick by your side to teach you… To the other boys, that was a situation they would probably pay money to obtain. Well, for me, the reason I gave earlier—“being able to be taught by a bright student”—really was everything.

“Knowledge is like an asset for life.”

『Ah, I like that way of thinking. Wait, you’ve made me dodge the subject again.』

“You caught me?”

『Sigh… Please keep in mind that you should prioritize yourself, okay?』

“I know, I know.”

Since she continued to worry excessively, I talked back a bit sulkily. And then, I instinctively laughed at myself for acting that way.

『What are you laughing at?』

“No, sorry. I was just acting so childish that I couldn’t help it.”

I picked up the mug I had placed on my desk and took a sip of coffee while sitting back deep in my chair. The rich flavor spread through my mouth, and I let out a breath, “Phew…” at the bitterness and the faint warmth.

There was no doubt that getting help with my studies was the main goal. However, I couldn’t help but be a little shaken by the current situation when looking at it objectively. Until just the other day, it was unthinkable that I would even speak to that “Cool Beauty,” yet here I was talking to her on the phone after sunset.

That embarrassment was something even the bitterness of the coffee couldn’t overwrite. Though I was pulled back to reality by Ayano’s proposal of “Now, shall we start studying?”—spoken as if she felt nothing at all.

We focused on the work for about two hours. During that time, there was absolutely no awkwardness like feeling “I have to say something.” It was a very meaningful time where I asked Ayano about things I didn’t understand, and otherwise, we applied ourselves to our studies in silence.

『Tomorrow is finally the end of the week…』

The studying was temporarily interrupted by a remark Ayano let slip.

“So you’re happy about the weekend too, Ayano. Well, I don’t mean that in a weird way.”

As I checked the time, I shared a sudden thought with Ayano. The time was just about to cross over into the next day.

『That can’t be anything but a weird way to put it… I’m a normal student too. Of course I’m happy to have time off.』

Ayano replied while giving a pleasant-sounding stretch.

“Maybe my wording was a bit lacking, sorry. From my perspective, at this time of year when school has only just started, I’d never think, ‘Let’s stay after school and study!’ So I always wondered if people like that just really loved being at school.”

I packed up my study materials as I spoke. I stuffed the things I’d need for tomorrow into my bag and headed to the kitchen while holding my phone.

『There are people like that sometimes. As for me, I don’t particularly have feelings of liking or disliking school itself. It’s just like what you said, Kirihara-san. It’s the feeling of wanting to build up assets for life.』

“Look at you being all cool. Even though you can’t manage your own meals.”

『Be quiet.』

Laughing a bit at Ayano’s baseless protest, I took a few raw eggs out of the refrigerator. I felt like eating rolled omelets tomorrow, so I decided to make them today.

“If you cooked for yourself, it would be a lot cheaper. Even with the amount you get from your parents, you could have three meals every day.”

『I’d do it if I could make it.』

“…True.”

『In the first place, since I can’t eat very much, it’s not like the money is insufficient. Besides… Right now, I don’t really feel like eating anything other than your cooking, Kirihara-san.』

I’m sure Ayano meant that in the sense that my cooking “has a gentle seasoning and is easy to eat.” Still… still, that’s just not fair.

I was grateful that we were talking over the phone. Because, there was no way I could let her see my face right now.

“Well, it’s fun and makes me happy to cook for someone who tells me the food is delicious. I’ll handle the cooking for a while.”

Tap-tap. I cracked the eggs and put the whites and yolks into a bowl. I continued with a second and third, then used chopsticks to whisk and blend them.

“Come to think of it, did you eat properly today?”

『Of course. It’s hard to resist something that delicious.』

“You little glutton.”

『…I’m not exactly a little glutton.』

When I asked with a smirk, Ayano denied it while becoming cranky. The way she specifically phrased it as “a little glutton” felt very much like her, and I laughed quietly as I carefully whisked the eggs. Once they were mixed to a certain extent, I added a small amount of soy sauce and sugar and stirred.

Ah…Somehow…

“…This is nice.”

『Eh?』

“Ah, sorry. Did I say that out loud?”

As I was lost in thought while cooking, the words had accidentally slipped out.

“No, I mean. Times like this, where we’re just working while talking, are nice once in a while.”

『Hehe, using time like this is good, isn’t it?』

Ayano gave a refined giggle. Me, with no particularly special traits, and the cool beauty who excelled in both looks and brains. I thought there was no way our paths would ever cross, but now time was just passing by while we enjoyed chatting.

Neither of us thought about stepping further than this. That was exactly why I was certain we had been able to build a healthy and appropriate relationship. Because of that, an indescribable sense of comfort might be filling both our hearts.

『Are you cooking right now?』

When I poured the egg into the heated frying pan, Ayano asked a question. She must have heard the sizzling sound of the egg cooking.

“I thought I’d just make some rolled omelets for tomorrow’s lunch. Sorry for doing this while we’re on the phone.”

『No, not at all. It makes me feel at ease when you prioritize yourself. That aside, rolled omelets…』

Ayano let out a longing voice.

…So that’s how it is. Seriously, she’s too cute.

“After school tomorrow, okay?”

『Eh, really? Yay…』

Knowing she would get rolled omelets, Ayano rejoiced honestly in a small voice. With that small-animal-like cuteness, I imagined she was probably doing a tiny fist pump or something. A pure question of which one was her true self and a selfish-like feeling of wanting this to be her true self intertwined in a complex way.

…Wait?

I stopped my hand as I was stirring the eggs. It was because I couldn’t understand my own current feelings. I didn’t harbor any special feelings toward Ayano. I had only just realized that this appropriate relationship was comfortable, so there was no mistake about that. That was exactly why I couldn’t understand my own current feeling, which was harboring something akin to a sense of possessiveness.

…No, I must have just been half-asleep.

I shook my head to drive away the idle thoughts. I still needed more time to understand what this feeling was.

◇ ◆ ◇ 

After saying goodnight and hanging up the call with Kirihara-san, I turned off the lights and immediately sank onto my bed with a thud.

『No, I mean. Times like this, where we’re just working while talking, are nice once in a while.』

Kirihara-san’s words from a few moments ago played over and over again in my head.

Ever since middle school, or even elementary school. Precisely because I had lived my life constantly being flattered as “cute,” the sensation of time passing by without having to worry about anything made me incredibly happy.

And the fact that Kirihara-san felt the same way… Made me feel just a little bit embarrassed.

“…Haa.”

I rolled over onto my back in my narrow bed. I didn’t have the composure to care that my clothes were disarrayed and my stomach was exposed. I closed my eyes and placed the back of my left hand on my forehead. I wanted to let out a breath, but my mouth wouldn’t open, as if it were sewn shut. I could feel my cheeks turning a faint shade of vermilion.

But this strange feeling tightening my chest…For some reason, I didn’t dislike it at all.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー