“Bitter gourd bread, green pepper bread, carrot bread…”

Jin was looking at the leftover bread. None of them seemed appetizing, and he wondered why the company that made them thought to create such kinds of food.

“Today, I’ll go with bitter gourd bread and green pepper bread.” 

“Thank you for your purchase. That’ll be 500 yen for both.”

(Why are these unpopular and seemingly unappetizing breads sold at this price?)

Jin chose the bitter gourd bread and green pepper bread, and while he couldn’t understand the somewhat high pricing, he wasn’t in a position to be picky, so he paid the school store clerk.

“Now I’ll get something to drink and find somewhere less crowded to eat.”

Jin purchased a carbonated drink from the vending machine next to the school store and decided to eat in a less crowded place.

“I’ll eat here today.”

Jin sat down on a bench in the courtyard and opened the package of bitter gourd bread he had purchased. The courtyard was maintained like a small park centered around a flower bed managed by the gardening club. Benches were also placed there, and some students like Jin ate their lunch in this location.

“Ugh, it’s bitter. I wonder how they can sell something with this taste.”

Jin was eating while feeling the bitterness of the bitter gourd sandwiched in the bread. Frankly speaking, this bread would be classified as bad-tasting, and he found it strange that something with this taste could be sold. However, thinking it was better than being hungry, he finished the bitter gourd bread by washing it down with the carbonated drink.

“Next is green pepper bread. Still tastes bad.”

Next, Jin opened the green pepper bread package and took a bite. Bitter gourd bread and green pepper bread were often left unsold, so they were breads that Jin, who aimed for leftovers, frequently ate. Although he had relied on these breads many times to satisfy his hunger, they were only marginally better than being hungry and not at all satisfying in taste.

“Ah, thank you for the meal. There’s still time before afternoon classes start, so I’ll lie down for a bit.”

Jin quickly finished his lunch and lay down on the bench. Looking up, he could see the blue sky spread out above the school buildings surrounded by them, and he gazed absentmindedly at the small clouds floating by.

“Maybe I’ll go to the school cafeteria tomorrow.”

While enduring the lingering bitterness of bitter gourd and green pepper in his mouth, Jin vowed to have lunch at the school cafeteria tomorrow. As he was half-thinking about tomorrow’s lunch and half-daydreaming, lunch break ended quickly, and afternoon classes began.

“Good, it’s over.”

After time had passed, the afternoon program ended, and it was after school. Since Jin wasn’t part of any club, he had no further plans and would simply go home.

(Hmm? What is Tsukimizato-san doing?)

Suddenly, when he looked at the seat in front of him, Otowa was holding something that looked like a letter.

“Sigh, what a hassle.”

Otowa sighed as she gazed at the letter. She then shoved the letter into her uniform jacket pocket and left the classroom, leaving her belongings behind.

(I’m curious about this.)

Jin was concerned about Otowa’s dejected figure, and although he felt it was wrong, he decided to follow her.

Chapter 24: After School Confession

(I ended up following her without thinking.)

Jin had followed Otowa to the back of the school building without being noticed. It was the same place where Otowa had called Jin out the other day.

“So, do you need something from me?”

A male student who appeared to be a classmate was standing in front of Otowa. She addressed him cautiously.

“W-w-well, um…” 

“If you can’t say it, I have a part-time job later, so I’m leaving.” 

“W-wait! Otowa-san.”

Growing impatient with the male student who couldn’t get to the point, Otowa raised her voice and told him she was leaving, clearly in a bad mood. However, the boy desperately tried to stop her as if he didn’t want her to leave.

“Tsukimizato Otowa-san, I like you. Please go out with me.”

And with what appeared to be all his courage, the male student confessed his love to Otowa.

(I kind of thought that’s what this was about when he called her to the back of the school building, but how will Tsukimizato-san respond?)

Jin felt something pierce his heart and watched the exchange between Otowa and the male student from the shadows.

“Huh? We’ve never even spoken once, so how did you come to that conclusion? I think these things should be done in stages. So I’ll have to decline.” 

“Th-then, let’s start as friends…” 

“I’m not interested in making friends right now. Goodbye.”

Otowa clearly rejected the male student who had confessed to her and returned to the school building.

(I’m glad.)

After watching the entire scene, Jin felt relieved that Otowa had rejected the dating request.

“Damn it! I thought she’d go out with me since she looks ordinary and probably doesn’t get many guys interested in her. I thought I could sleep with her right after too, but I didn’t expect her to reject me. What a bitch.”

(That bastard! How dare he say such things about Tsukimizato-san!)

Jin couldn’t forgive the rejected student’s abusive words and impulsively stepped out in front of him.

“Hey, I won’t allow you to insult Tsukimizato-san.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? Were you watching my exchange with that bitch? Peeping is a bad habit. I don’t want a girl like her anyway. See ya.”

The male student left some parting words for Jin and went back to the school building.

“I’m relieved that Tsukimizato-san rejected him, but remembering what he said makes me feel sick. It’s good that Tsukimizato-san won’t be involved with a guy like that.”

Jin decided to return to the classroom with mixed feelings.

“Ah!” 

“What is it?”

As Jin was about to enter the classroom, he encountered Otowa who had just finished preparing to go home. Jin inadvertently let out a sound as he recalled the earlier scene. Otowa, thinking she was being accosted, stopped and questioned Jin.

“That issue should have been resolved last Sunday. Do you still have something to say?” 

“…Nothing. Sorry for stopping you. Goodbye.” 

“Goodbye.”

Otowa was taking a hostile attitude toward Jin, who looked like he wanted to say something. Jin was shocked by her way of speaking, which was different from yesterday’s gentle manner, and became unable to say anything. He could barely exchange greetings with Otowa.

“…Tsukimizato-san.”

As Otowa brushed past Jin, he caught the same shampoo scent as yesterday and his heart unexpectedly skipped a beat, but he felt confused by her completely different way of treating him.