After Distancing Myself From the Childhood Friend Couple Who Looked Down on Me, I Started Interacting With a Small Animal-Like Beautiful Girl - Chapter 19

“Hey, those two over there…”

“Isn’t it obvious that they’re keeping their distance?”

“It’s kind of creepy on the contrary.”

I can hear whispers coming from all over the classroom.

The topic of their conversation is Daiki and Serika, the central figures of the class, who are happily chatting with their respective friends.

At first glance, it seemed like an ordinary scene, but it left a significant sense of discomfort in those around it.

The couple are like the poster children for clingy couples as they haven’t exchanged a single word since arriving at school separately.

“Hey Yoshizaki, do you know anything? About those two.”

Kubo asks in a low voice as he comes to my seat.

Even if he doesn’t like them, the people who are always in his sight suddenly becoming distant must be bothering him.

“No, I don’t know.”

I answer while the image of Serika, who had broken down crying on the evening street and unjustly berated me, flashes through my mind.

If there is a reason for Serika to be crying and getting so upset in a place like that, it is undoubtedly related to Daiki. Did he break up with her, or did he say he wanted to keep his distance?

“As expected. In any case, it’s only a matter of time before they break up at this rate.”

“They’re not breaking up yet?”

“Yeah, I heard Higashi was spreading it to others, so there’s no doubt.”

At least burst vividly, murmurs Kubo with a refreshing smile.

From his perspective, the situation where the sunshiny couple he dislikes is having trouble must be extremely satisfying. Other classmates also showed similar behavior to Kubo.

Daiki is surrounded by several extroverted people, including Higashi, and they are having a great time. He is in his usual popular mode, so much so that it doesn’t seem like he’s having any awkwardness with her.

Serika, who was with Kimura and Ueno, kept glancing over there while talking to them. Since there is a close female friend of Daiki’s over there, she must be worried that he might switch to her and break up with her.

Serika really likes Daiki that much. I have seen the two of them together and listened to Serika’s stories, so I know them well.

…Even though I know I shouldn’t care anymore, I can’t help but think about it. Is the relationship with my childhood friend truly something that can’t be severed?

Or…

Just as I averted my gaze from Daiki and Serika, the bell rang.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

I was planning to have lunch with Kubo today.

Yes, that was supposed to be the case.

“…Mmm, delicious.”

Muttering contentedly, the little girl takes another bite of the yakisoba bread she bought.

The way her slightly puffed cheeks move every time she takes a bite is so adorable that I can’t help but watch. The stairs of the second school building, which have a somewhat dark atmosphere, instantly transform into a forest in a fairy tale world.

I was just spending my lunch break with Saitou Ino.

After the fourth period, Kubo invited me to eat together.

Of course, I tried to nod, but…

“Do you always eat with Kubo?”

Saitou-san from the next seat asked me that.

“Most of the time, I’m with Kubo, but sometimes I’m alone.”

“Hmm…”

We only exchanged a brief exchange.

Just from that, Kubo made a face as if he had noticed something, and then he said in an exaggerated voice.

“Ah~, sorry Yoshizaki! I totally forgot I had a prior engagement with the guys from the next class!”

Raising one hand in front of his face, Kubo left the classroom.

I was staring blankly in the direction where Kubo had left, not understanding what was going on.

It didn’t feel apologetic at all, and the movements were just too smooth. Is he really in the go-home club?

“…That guy is more perceptive than Yoshizaki.”

Saitou-san mutters quietly.

Kubo was highly praised, and I was subtly told that I was not very perceptive.

Come to think of it, I was called slow on the day we exchanged contact information too…

“Yoshizaki, let’s have a meal together.”

Even though I was a bit hurt, I was thinking about what Kubo might have sensed when Saitou-san said to me.

Several classmates who had already spread out their lunchboxes nearby turned to look at us.

The other day, I suddenly had to invite Saitou-san over to my house, and we had lunch together there.

I might think it’s strange that I’m still confused about something I’ve already experienced once, but I’ve realized a significant fact.

Saitou-san always spends her lunch break alone. In other words, I will be the first person to spend lunch with her at school.

…I can understand why Daiki was looking at me again before leaving the classroom. He had a deep furrow between his brows.

What if that guy tries to hit on Saitou-san again?

Such concerns cling to my mind, making it hard to eat. My favorite, Mom’s homemade green onion omelet, is still left.

Saitou-san quickly finished eating the yakisoba bread and opened the bag of curry bread.

“Saitou-san, you really like hearty food, don’t you?”

What I thought just came out as it was.

When she came over to my house the other day, she was eating katsu sandwiches, and now she’s eating two loaves of bread that look like she would fill them up quite a bit. It’s a mystery why all that food fits in her body so easily.

“I hadn’t really thought about it much, but… maybe that’s true. These kinds of savory breads feel more filling.”

“Don’t you like sweet bread very much? Cream, jam, and stuff.”

“I like it. But over there, it has a strong impression of being dessert or a snack, so it doesn’t feel like a proper meal.”

“Woah… Do you have a favorite type of bread?”

“If I had to choose, I’d say croquette bread… Oh, but maybe the yakisoba bread I just had. Both eating it with a side dish and having it as a carbohydrate with other carbs are good.”

“Ah, I get it. Both have a high level of satisfaction, right?”

Before we knew it, the conversation was flowing smoothly, and we ended up sharing our top three favorite breads and decided to exchange recommendations. The concerns had naturally faded to the back of my mind and no longer bothered me.

Knowing Saitou-san’s preferences, I feel like I have gotten a little closer to understanding her. That somehow made me happy.

“…It’s kind of mysterious.”

Saitou-san says while hugging her knees after having finished eating the bread.

“It’s been a while since I have talked or eaten with someone like this, but it doesn’t feel burdensome at all.”

“…When did you start spending time alone?”

“Hmm… Maybe it was in fifth grade. Because I’m too much myself, I don’t vibe with those around me, and before I knew it, it felt like that.”

“Uh, uh…”

I was told casually, but I think I might have overstepped a bit.

When it gets a bit awkward, Saitou-san looks over here and says, “That’s why.”

“It’s strange how I’m just as relaxed with Yoshizaki as I am when I’m alone. It was awkward with the ‘friends’ I had before.”

Saitou-san tilted her head slightly and looked at me, “I wonder why.”

I froze like a person who had turned to stone after looking into Medusa’s eyes.

Only my heart is still racing.

Is this person really unaware of this?

If that’s the case, it’s just too much.

“If I want to eat together again, I will invite you. I think it will probably be soon, though.”

My heart rate increases at the sight of Saitou-san’s small smile.

The joy of there being a next time, the cuteness of the smile I get to see again, all sorts of feelings come rushing in at once.

Even though I know in my head that I shouldn’t have these feelings for her, who is supposed to be my friend, I can’t help it.

Nodding at Saitou-san’s words, I focused on finishing the remaining side dishes, trying not to notice the heat in my cheeks.