After I Picked up a Notebook Filled With Intense Emotions, the Girls Started Acting Strange - Chapter 44

From the observation deck, I could see the entire nature park.

Not only the paths we had walked earlier, but also the pond and flower fields we visited at the checkpoints were visible from here. The view was amazing.

On the other side of the path we’d come from, there were several lakes in the center of the park. According to a rumor we’d heard on the bus, that’s where we could see the “Ring of Light.”

…And also the so-called “Edge of Shadow.”

The sun shone brightly overhead; it was perfect weather for lunch.

Because it was so clear, I was sweating just a little, and my body felt pleasantly tired. If I lay down on the grass after eating, I could probably fall asleep comfortably.

I just hoped it wouldn’t be more than that.

In front of me, a lunchbox silently gave me pressure. There was an unbelievable amount of fried food, including the usual chikuwa tempura.

No, there were vegetables nicely arranged, too, but compared to all the oil, they barely made a dent.

“I also made baked apple tart for dessert!”

Whoa…!

Mizuki’s backpack must be connected to a fourth-dimensional space. I mean, it did seem a little big, but how did she keep all this from falling apart until now?

“Here, Yuu-kun. A wet towel. I’ll wipe your hands carefully. Next, tea. We’re almost out, so I’ll swap the empty bottle for a new one. Oh, you’re sweating. Let me wipe it for you! …Aah.”

While Mizuki hit me with the physical weight of her care, Sena was always one step ahead, helping in small ways.

No… She wasn’t just helping. She was secretly taking anything I used and slipping it into her own backpack.

…She’s going to throw it away later, right? I can trust her on that, right?

After wiping my sweat (though I hadn’t really sweated much), she even pressed the towel against her face and wriggled in delight.

“W-what?! You didn’t make lunch!?”

“What…?”

Just as we were about to say let’s eat, a man’s loud voice came from far away.

The two girls frowned as they heard it and looked in that direction. Their expressions clearly showed they didn’t want their fun spoiled.

And, there were Shindou and Kuroe-san.

Other students were also looking over with curiosity.

“Did I hear that wrong? Can you say it again?”

“You don’t have lunch. That’s what I said.”

“W-what do you mean?! You should at least make me lunch!”

“I wasn’t asked to make one.”

“…What am I supposed to do?! I don’t have lunch?!”

“Even if you say that, there’s nothing I can do. If it’s not here, it’s not here.”

From what I could hear, Shindou had assumed Kuroe-san had made lunch for him. When he realized she hadn’t, he got angry.

But expecting her to make one just because she’s a girl and is a bit unreasonable without being asked.

“Damn, what should I do…!”

Shindou looked around, then spotted us and walked straight over.

I already knew how this would go.

“H-hey, Mizuki. That’s a really fancy lunch. There’s a lot, should I help eat some?”

“Here, Yuu-kun. I’ll put some on a paper plate for you!”

“Yuu-kun. Try this too! The rolled omelet! I’m proud of it!”

They ignored him. They completely ignored him.

Honestly, I thought it would be fine to share some of this huge lunch with Shindou…

“If Mizuki’s okay with it, maybe we could give Shindou a little…”

“Shiomi…! Don’t you get it?!”

“No.”

“Eh.”

“I said no. Even if Yuu-kun asks, I don’t want to.”

“W-why, Mizuki!? There’s so much, you could at least share a little! We’re childhood friends?!”

“Stop saying that just now. Back when I made lunch for you before, you barely ate. And I still haven’t forgiven you for spilling all the fried chicken on me.”

“─Gasp…”

With that said, I couldn’t argue.

Shindou let out a squashed sound and froze on the spot.

“Shindou-kun. I’ll share my portion with you.”

“R-Rei…!”

“Come on, let’s eat over there.”

In the end, Shindou was led away by Kuroe-san somewhere.

I noticed Kuroe-san’s lips curl up slightly at the corner.

◆

Damn it! What the hell, Rei.

She only made one rice ball for lunch!?

There’s no way that’s enough to fill me up…

And she didn’t even make a proper lunch, of all things!

And that Shiomi, even though she had so much food left, wouldn’t share any with me. What a jerk!!!

“If that’s the case, maybe I should’ve eaten with Imaoka and the others…”

Since I started going out with Rei, I’ve grown more distant from my friends. I still talk with Imaoka during breaks, but whenever there’s an event, I’m always with Rei.

It’s nice being with my girlfriend… but it feels sometimes like a little bone is stuck in my throat.

Is this what being in a relationship is supposed to feel like…?

I’ve never actually had a girlfriend before. I’ve hung out with girls a few times, but after a couple of meetings, we’d just stop talking.

Lunch was finished, and now we had free time until the next scheduled activity.

I planned to spend the time with Rei.

We were supposed to go find the rumored “Ring of Light” together.

Rei had gone to the bathroom, so she wasn’t at her seat.

The girls’ bathroom was probably crowded, so it might take a while.

I got up from the bench and started exploring the area.

If I ran into classmates I knew, maybe they’d share some of their leftover lunch with me.

That was the plan.

As I wandered around, I spotted a picnic sheet under a tree. This was… where Shiomi and the others had been sitting.

Now there were three backpacks left behind, and no one was around.

“Where did they go? They’re careless… Wait, the lunch! There was so much. Maybe some is left!? I could take a little?”

I stepped onto the picnic sheet while looking around, and picked up Mizuki’s backpack.

The lunch was made by Mizuki. So if there was any left, it would be in her backpack.

Mizuki was my childhood friend and was like a family. It shouldn’t be a problem if I peek inside.

Telling myself that, I unzipped the bag and opened it. Inside was a cloth wrap, and when I opened the lunchbox.

I grabbed it, but it made a hollow clanging sound.

“No… way…!? She ate it all!? Damn it!!!”

I was frustrated as I carefully put the lunchbox back so no one would notice.

Still, I couldn’t calm down. Probably because of hunger.

“…Gasp. Wait!!”

What caught my eye was Yuu’s backpack.

A wicked grin spread across my face.

“This is punishment for getting too full of yourself lately.”

Just a little peek wouldn’t hurt. I’d mess up the inside a bit!!!

With that mischievous thought, I unzipped the bag and started rummaging through it. I looked around carefully so no one would notice as my hands dug through the contents.

“If there’s a wallet, I could even take the money. That’ll teach that careless guy a lesson… huh?”

But what I felt in my hand was nothing like a wallet.

“What’s this?”

I pulled it out, and it was a dark blue notebook.

And then I saw it.

The word “Ethics” is written on the cover.