I Realized I Was the Cheating Bastard in a Hentai Manga only after I Had Already Stolen the Heroine - 10

Chapter 10: My Interest in Shuuya Hiiragi-kun

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~Kyouko Takanashi’s POV~

I almost ended up late again today. Lately, this had been happening more often, and it was starting to really bother me. At lunch break, I handed the bento I hadn’t been able to give Kouta in the morning.

“Kouta, here.”

“Hm? Ah, crap! I forgot to tell you—I’m going out to eat with Tanaka and the others today!”

Our school had long lunch breaks. Some students even went outside to eat or played sports afterward.

“What!? Wait! Then you should’ve told me yesterday!”

“I said I’m sorry! Ah, Tanaka and the guys are waiting, so see ya!”

Looking awkward, Kouta slipped away as if running from me. I was left behind in the classroom. Because of that exchange, people around us were staring. I felt this indescribable, frustrating heaviness.

If I stayed in the classroom and ate alone like this, I would only end up feeling miserable. So, still carrying the extra bento I had made for Kouta, I quickly left the classroom.

I wandered around, looking for somewhere I could eat alone, and then I came across a staircase that led up to the rooftop. Maybe no one would be there.

“Oh?”

“Hm?”

Near the door at the top of the stairs to the rooftop, someone had gotten there before me. It was Hiiragi-kun.

He was holding some sweet bread—probably his lunch. When Hiiragi-kun saw my expression, then noticed no one was behind me, he seemed to put the pieces together.

“Ah… No one comes here, you know. It’s quiet, perfect for being alone. Well then, see you back in class.”

“W–wait, wait! You were here first. I’ll go find another place.”

“Don’t worry about it, you just wanted to be alone, right? I eat here every day, so I know—no one ever comes up here. It’s actually the perfect spot for you right now, Takanashi.”

His thoughtfulness really touched me. If it was him, I felt like being together wouldn’t make me feel bad.

“Then… How about we eat here together?”

“…Well, if you’re okay with it, Takanashi, then I’ll accept your kind offer. Ah, the back’s more comfortable—use that space.”

“Fufu, thanks.”

I ate lunch with a classmate who I wasn’t even sure I could call a friend. Strangely enough, it didn’t feel awkward, but it still felt odd. Hiiragi-kun was considerate of me. He was eating with his back turned so he wouldn’t look at me.

“…Hey, Hiiragi-kun, do you always eat here?”

He turned toward me when I addressed him. 

“Yeah. Ah, but for me, it’s not like I want to be alone.”

“Huh…? Then why?”

“Ah… When I first entered school, I ate in the classroom too.”

I remembered that. Back then, I hadn’t figured out what kind of person he was. So seeing someone who looked scary just eating a normal bento had surprised me.

“But then, while eating, the guys in class started chatting, and maybe they got too hyped up, because they burst out laughing real loud. After that, they suddenly realized I was there, and they all got real quiet, looking awkward.”

Did that really happen? Though, now that I thought about it, when Hiiragi-kun ate in the classroom, everyone was unusually quiet.

“I don’t really care if it’s noisy or not. But, well, look at me. If someone like me said, ‘It’s fine to make noise,’ they’d still feel uncomfortable, you know?”

“So you stopped eating in the classroom and started eating here instead?”

“Exactly.”

He really was such a kind person, so thoughtful of others. Even now, he wasn’t trying to pry into my situation.

“…You’re not going to ask about this bento?”

“Ah… Well, I’ve seen you give Yamada bentos a few times. And since Yamada isn’t here now, well… I mean… Y’know?”

“Yeah… He said he was going out to eat with Tanaka-kun and the others. He should’ve told me first, right?”

“Sorry, on behalf of the guys in class, let me apologize. That was really rude of him.”

“Fufu, what’s that supposed to mean? Why are you apologizing when you didn’t do anything wrong, Hiiragi-kun?”

“Well, guys our age are all idiots anyway. I figured I should reflect on it too.”

But Hiiragi-kun didn’t seem like he needed to reflect at all. He probably said that just to make me feel better.

“Speaking of bentos, don’t you usually bring one, Hiiragi-kun? I think I’ve seen you eating bento a few times.”

“Well, if there are leftovers from dinner, I’ll pack them into a bento. But it’s about half and half with buying food.”

The way he said that, it sounded like he made them himself. What kind of life did Hiiragi-kun lead?

“…Hey, if you don’t mind, would you eat this bento?”

“…Are you sure? I mean, even if you got ditched, it was your boyfriend’s lunch, right?”

Ah—so Hiiragi-kun thought Kouta and I were dating. …Well, I’d never explained, and I was always with Kouta, so I guess it was only natural to misunderstand.

“He’s not my boyfriend. Kouta’s my childhood friend. I was raised by a single mom, and since my mom often came home late, I’ve been taken care of by Kouta’s family since I was little.”

“…I see. Sorry, was that something I shouldn’t have asked?”

“No, it’s fine. I’m not a kid anymore, after all.”

“I see… You’re strong, Takanashi. In that case, can I have the bento? I lost the morning battle at the convenience store, so this was all they had left.”

“Fufu, that must’ve been rough. Please, go ahead.”

“Thanks, then I’ll dig in. …Whoa, amazing. Yamada always gets food this good? Alright, here goes… …Damn, that’s tasty. Is this tamagoyaki handmade?”

“Y-yeah. I just hope it suits your taste…”

“It’s seriously delicious. The dashi flavor really comes through. It doesn’t need anything else—this is perfect as it is.”

He ate it so happily, with such a genuine smile. Even though there were frozen items in there, he noticed exactly which parts I had actually made.

…I hadn’t meant to compare, but  with Kouta, I could never even tell if he was genuinely enjoying it. In fact, Kouta never said that my bento was good. He also dropped rice all over the place when he ate. The difference between him and Hiiragi-kun was so stark. 

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