The case where I was gradually getting buried in the heavy love of my childhood friend who had miraculously recovered from their illness was perfect! - Chapter 33 : Bento and Hug

“How is it?”

“…Delicious.”

During lunch break, I muttered these words.

In my hands was a lunch box. Well, it’s natural to have one during high school lunch break, but today’s lunch was different from usual. Because this wasn’t made by my mom; it was made by Rion specially for me.

“…It’s really delicious.”

“You don’t have to say it so earnestly.”

“No, no, it’s that delicious.”

“J-Just stop it!”

Oh, it’s unusual for Rion to blush and get embarrassed. 

In her case, there’s a possibility of acting… but seeing this face, I can’t help but want to see more. Such desires sometimes surfaced in my heart and sometimes didn’t.

“Please take it easy on me, Nagi-kun.”

“Yeah…. Sorry about that.”

Oops, It looks like I teased her too much and she got angry.

Well, even if she scolds me, it seems Rion isn’t genuinely angry. Her minute gestures and enticing action were nothing but a  feast for my heart.

“Well, that’s fine. As long as it tastes good, that’s all I want to hear.”

“…Yeah.”

No, it really was delicious. There was a time when she came to my house and cooked dinner for me and it was really delicious. So, I was already confident that this lunch would be tasty even before eating.

“Phew, thanks for the meal.”

“Your reactions were not satisfying, Nagi-kun. I thought you would be a lot excited. Sigh…”

There wasn’t anything I particularly disliked, and rather, almost everything in the lunchbox was something I liked. Of course, even if there was something I didn’t like, I would still eat it out of gratitude to Rion or my mom for making it.

“Should I make lunch for you every day from now on?”

“Huh?”

Every day from now… EVERY DAY?!

I’ve said this many times, but I genuinely admired the existence of childhood friends… and that includes the handmade lunch they make!

But really… If she would make lunch for me everyday, then it would be nothing but amazing.

Rion giggled and looked extremely embarrassed, I couldn’t help but want to see more of her adorable reactions!

“Every day might be difficult. Rather, it’s difficult because of your mother.”

“Well… I guess so.”

“Though, I think I know what Nagi-kun will say.”

“…..?!”

My thoughts… It’s true that I was thinking of saying something to Rion here… Is she really going to guess that too?

Rion continued as if she knew exactly what I was thinking about.

“Nagi-kun seems to enjoy the lunch I make, and I’m sure you want to eat it again. However, you might refuse, thinking it would be tough for me. Right?”

“…..”

“It’s true that it would be tough, and I don’t want to force myself to prepare lunch every day. It might be better to wait a bit longer before preparing lunch with a certain frequency.”

“…So, you’re still going to make it?”

“I’m just thinking that if it works out, I’ll do it.”

Well, that’s only half of the story, so let’s nod along with her words.

It’s genuinely nice that Rion will make lunch for me. I really want to eat it… But as she said, I don’t want her to overdo it. If she has something else she wants to do, I want her to spend time on that.

“Rion.”

“What is it?”

“…You don’t have to spend time just for me, you know?”

Right, Rion’s time belongs only to Rion herself.

It’s genuinely nice that she cares for me equally, but still, the time given to someone is that person’s alone.

I haven’t said anything bad, and I actually said something normal, right?

Even though it was supposed to be that way, when I gazed at her, Rion firmly grasped my shoulder.

“No… What’s wrong with using my time for you? What else would I use my time for?”

“Hey, Rion?”

“Why shouldn’t I use my time for you?!”

Rion raised her voice loudly and her pupils strangely dilated, but the thing that surprised me here the most was that this was the first time she had raised her voice like this.

I was glad that I was on the rooftop instead of the classroom or cafeteria, but I couldn’t take my eyes off Rion.

“I… because of you who saved me…”

“Rion!”

“…..”

This time I put my hand on her and called her name out loud.

Rion’s behavior was unusual, but my voice seemed to reach her, and she returned to her usual state with a start.

“Ah…I…huh?”

“…What happened to you all of a sudden?”

“…..”

Rion was left stunned… Her body was trembling without any thought.

It’s probably not cold, so maybe… Rion feels fear or something similar to it…

“Can I hug you for a while?”

“…Yes.”

In situations like this, how can one calm her down? Because we’ve been together for so long, I understand Rion well, and the experiences from the past came into play.

I held Rion’s small body in my embrace, but her trembling didn’t stop.

“It’s okay… It’s okay, Rion.”

“N-Nagi-kun… I…”

“It’s okay… Rion is okay.”

I conveyed my thoughts through my actions, and alternately stroked her head and back. Doing so, Rion gradually regained her composure, and her body’s trembling completely disappeared.

“Are you okay now?”

“Y-Yes… I’m sorry, Nagi-kun. I… just…”

“No, no, it’s totally fine.”

I didn’t tease her because she was blushing right now. I didn’t even ask what her previous behavior was about. Right now, it’s enough that Rion is calming down.

‘But… there’s still a side of Rion that I don’t know.’

Indeed, I had never seen her acting like this earlier. I had never seen Rion so dedicated to something. It might sound rude, but she is too perfect… So seeing her desperate is too rare.

‘When she was in the hospital, she didn’t struggle to live… she had already given up at that time.’

…Well, that’s already in the past.

Rion is now fine. That fact alone is in front of me, and that’s the end of it.

“It’s okay now, Nagi-kun.”

“I see… That’s good.”

After that, Rion was back to her usual self.

The behavior from earlier was completely hidden or maybe it was just his imagination. Well, anyway, if Rion is okay, that’s what matters.

“For now… ah, well. Make sure to take some time for yourself too, okay?”

“I understand. Yes… I’ll take care of myself.”

Alright, that’s the end of this conversation! No objections allowed!

After returning to the classroom, Asumi-san immediately jumped on Rion — perhaps she felt lonely during the lunch break.

The sight of two beautiful girls hugging is picturesque, almost refreshing to watch.

“Hey, you’re back.”

“Yeah.”

“What were you doing? Don’t tell me it’s a secret bento for a childhood friend!”

“What? Is that true?”

Ugh… they are speaking so loudly in the classroom.

I thought I was finally getting along with friends other than the ones I usually talk to, but at the same time, Rion’s charm was once again known to those around me. Some even go as far as to joke about me exploding, though it’s likely just a joke. Wada also joined in, making the atmosphere even more lively… oh, and as he was saying some weird things, he looked around and realized that we were being glared at.

“Wow, the princess’s bodyguards are giving you the evil eye.”

“There’s something seriously wrong with you.”

Rion is beautiful and intelligent but physically fragile. Hence, the nickname “princess” has become established specially for her. This isn’t due to the influence of my friends, but rather because Asumi-san had spread it around. Well… there is no helping it.

“But thanks to that, things are pretty well-organized. Anyway, it’s not like the princess would go after her childhood friend she gets along with, right? She’d end up hating you. It’s stupid to try. Right?”

“Yeah, normal thinking is that the princess wouldn’t try to get close to her childhood friend. After all, wouldn’t that make her hated? It’s foolish.”

“But it’s complicated for me, you know?”

They both grinned, and I can’t help but feel like hitting them.

Amidst this, Wada’s words change the atmosphere.

“Oh, I’m a part of the bodyguard squad too.”

Haah… really?

We get along well, and I want to stay friends with him for a long time, so I hope he will leave that group as soon as possible.

☆☆☆☆☆☆

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TL : Zenon#4120