When I Thought I Was Reborn, My Family Turned Out to Be a Huge Landmine - Chapter 02: Friends

Chapter 02: Friends

The morning classes had ended, and it was now lunchtime. As I put away my study materials and took out my lunchbox, Sogo just walked over to me.

“Finally, time for food. I’m starving.”

“Was it you whose stomach was rumbling so loudly?”

“No way… Eh? You heard that?”

“So, it was you, huh?”

Sogo’s seat was only separated from mine by two other students. Even though it was slight, I could hear the sound of his stomach. 

Even if I didn’t mean to, I couldn’t help but chuckle a little when I heard stomach noises during class. 

In fact, the students sitting next to and behind Sogo were trying so hard to suppress their laughter that their shoulders were shaking.

“Maybe I should eat something during the break next time?”

“Just bring some snacks.”

It wasn’t explicitly prohibited by the school rules, and as long as we didn’t throw our trash in the school bins and took it home, no one would complain. 

While Sogo moved his desk closer, I heard another boy’s voice.

“Good work, you two. Man, I was sleepy.”

“You were sleeping, weren’t you?”

“You noticed?”

“It’s easy to see from behind.”

The one who called out was Kenichi Watanabe. He was another guy who I often talked to in class, just like Sogo. If Sogo was the athletic type, then Kenichi was more of the studious type. 

Usually, it was just the three of us having lunch together, unless something else came up. But today, it looked like there would be one more person.

“Sogo~! I’m here!”

“Oh, you came?”

The one who hurried over from the corridor was a girl from the next class, Yuka Shinjo. I knew it was her because she called out Sogo’s name. She’s Sogo’s girlfriend.

“Tch, Riaju…”

“…Ahaha.”

By the way, just like me, Kenichi also doesn’t have a girlfriend. 

Kenichi might give off the impression of being solely focused on his studies, but in truth, he really loves reading romcom novels.

That’s why he sometimes envies the youthful experiences in these stories and occasionally makes snide remarks about guys who have girlfriends.

“Here you go, Sogo. Your lunch box.”

“Thanks! A lunch box from my girlfriend is really the best!”

“…Tch!”

That was Kenichi clicking his tongue again.

He looked like he was about to murder Sogo with his gaze, but at the end of the day, including me, the three of us were friends.

I supported Sogo and Shinjo’s relationship, and even if Kenichi’s attitude seemed like he disapproved, I took it as part of his charm… right?

Then, it was lunchtime for me, Sogo, Kenichi, and Shinjo. I took out the lunch box my sister had made and opened it to find a colorful array of dishes waiting for me. 

As I said this morning, despite her terrible taste in other things, my sister is an exceptional cook. Not only my lunch but also all the meals at home are prepared by her, and her cooking skills are so good that even my brother acknowledges it.

“Kamisato-kun, your lunch always looks delicious.”

“It really does. Your sister makes it for you, right?”

“Yeah.”

“…Tch!”

Why did I get a tongue click for that!?

“Getting your sister to make your lunch, that’s totally something a Riaju would do.”

“…Is it?”

But she’s my blood-related sister, you know?

Well, it’s true my sister is beautiful… She’s beautiful, but as I’ve said multiple times, she’s a bit of a character, delighting in the despair of men. 

How many men she’s controlled and broken, I’m afraid to even imagine. Shaking my head to clear these thoughts, I decide to forget about it.

I take a bite of the omelet… Delicious. There’s a saying about food capturing the heart, and my sister’s cooking truly is fantastic. 

It’s a bit of a shame that, aside from her other quirks, she would make a great wife.

“…?”

While eating my lunch, I suddenly felt someone’s gaze on me. 

The usual noisy chatter of lunchtime surrounded me, but when I looked around, no one seemed to be watching me. Everyone was busy talking and eating their meals.

“Ren?”

“…No, it’s nothing.”

I often feel like I’m being watched… Am I overthinking? Being too self-conscious? If that’s the case, I guess it’s kind of embarrassing. 

But feeling it so often makes it a bit scary.

Across from where Sogo and Shinjo were sitting, Yumeno and Arisaka were eating their lunches together. 

They seemed to be enjoying a conversation, laughing together.

Yumeno’s expression was as usual, but Arisaka’s cheeks were red… It was endearing in its innocence.

Only I knew that those two would eventually end up together, so to the guys glaring enviously at Arisaka, give it up. 

She’s meant for Arisaka… but in the end, it’s my brother who…

“…Sigh.”

What was it again, the circumstance under which my brother and Yumeno first met?

I remember, it was when he reconnected with some flashy friends from his middle school days and was invited to hang out by one of their girlfriends… that’s when he met Yumeno, if I recall correctly.

In any case, that event happens in the second year… so it seems there’s no need to worry about it just yet.

As I was absentmindedly poking at my lunch and watching them, my eyes met with Yumeno’s. 

Startled, I tried to look away, but feeling it might be awkward, I winked instead… why did I wink?

“…! …Pfft.”

Ah, I got laughed at.

I thought I looked reasonably cool just now, but it seems I only managed to amuse Yumeno to the point of snickering. 

Yumeno smiled and waved modestly, but a boy sitting between Yumeno and me misunderstood and seemed delighted.

“So, about yesterday… Kenichi?”

“Watanabe-kun?”

Sogo and Shinjo looked puzzled at Kenichi, so I glanced over too. Kenichi was staring dreamily at Yumeno with a flushed face… I see, Kenichi, you too, huh?

Shinjo also glanced briefly in the direction of Kenichi’s gaze and seemed to understand.

“Yumeno-san really is beautiful, isn’t she? And with such a great figure, too. I’m envious.”

“What are you talking about? Yuka’s beautiful too, you know? I’m so into Yuka that I can’t see anyone else.”

“…Sogo, you dummy.”

Shinjo leaned into Sogo as if to embrace him, burying her face in his chest.

Sogo gazed at her with an incredibly gentle look… But you said quite a bit about Yumeno this morning, didn’t you? What was it again?

“Beautiful~ considerate~ and those big breasts…”

“Ren, I’ll treat you to juice for a week.”

“Thanks.”

“?? What’s this about?”

“It’s nothing. I love you, Yuka.”

“I love you too~♪”

Then the lovey-dovey couple started their display right in front of me. Hey, Kenichi, you’re about to break your chopsticks with that grip. Ease up a bit.

“We should annihilate all these happy couples, right, Ren? Let’s stay single together forever, shall we?”

“…I do want a girlfriend, though.”

“Of course I want one too.”

“Let’s both make an effort to find someone, okay?”

“…It’s so easy in games, but reality is hard. I hate it.”

“…True.”

He might be a lost cause.

After watching the couple’s antics while finishing my lunch, I watched as Shinjo left for her classroom, and then we all headed to the restroom together. Such a common scene for students.

“I’m satisfied with my Yuka dose for the day.”

“Sure, sure. Good for you.”

…?

I felt someone’s gaze again and turned around. The hallway was crowded with students, so it wouldn’t be surprising if someone was looking at me.

But, could it be a ghost? I mean, I’m the type who believes in ghosts, and this is seriously freaking me out.

After using the restroom, I returned to the classroom to prepare for the next lesson. 

“Crinkle,” I reached into my desk and heard a sound I didn’t want to hear.

“…Ugh.”

[Is it true that you want a girlfriend? I want to be your girlfriend. I love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you, love you so much~.]

This is about the conversation Kenichi and I had earlier, isn’t it?

Sure, we weren’t speaking in particularly low voices, so it’s possible someone overheard us. 

But for someone to respond this quickly… Naturally, I looked around. 

Everyone seemed busy enjoying their time before class, chatting and laughing without paying any attention to me.

Could it be a prank by one of the boys? But this rounded handwriting looks distinctly like a girl’s. Regardless, it was creepy, so I crumpled up the letter and stuffed it into my pocket. 

I’ll throw it away in a trash can later.

“…?”

My phone vibrated, and I was surprised to see a message from my sister.

“What do you want for dinner tonight?”

Such a simple question, but replying with ‘anything’ feels a bit rude since she’s cooking. It’s not like I’m being picky, but I’ll just say hamburger steak.

I sent the reply and immediately got a two-word response: “Got it.” Could she be staring at her phone the whole time?

Regardless, my sister’s cooking is delicious, and I’m looking forward to it.