21 Each Other’s Positions
“Here, Suzuna. Say ‘ahh.’”
“…”
I was sitting on the courtyard bench, a spot that had become my regular haunt.
And the beautiful girl next to me was holding a piece of tamagoyaki, poised on her chopsticks, in front of my face.
…I don’t understand.
“Hey, why aren’t you opening your mouth?”
Her name is Hinase Riri.
At first glance, she’s a gal, but she’s a cute girl with a surprisingly serious and domestic side.
I know all that, but I don’t understand this situation.
“Well, I was just wondering…”
“Wondering what? I told you I’d share my bento with you, Suzuna.”
That’s right.
I had forgotten my lunch and was on my way to the school store.
I ran into Riri-chan in the hallway.
“Oh, Suzuna. What are you doing?”
“I forgot my lunch. I’m going to buy something.”
“Ah, perfect timing!”
“Perfect timing?”
“Come on, Suzuna.”
“W-Wait, Riri-chan. Don’t drag me…”
And the result of being forcibly dragged away was this.
Riri-chan opened a large bento box and was offering to share her lunch with me.
“…No, it’s okay. I’ll buy something myself.”
“No, I’m giving it to you. Eat it, here.”
She pushed the tamagoyaki closer, practically to the point of kissing it. She was being very forceful.
“B-But if I eat it, there won’t be any left for you, Riri-chan…”
“It’s okay, I made extra today.”
“Eh, why…?”
“So I could give some to you, Suzuna.”
“Why would you do that…?”
I’ve never heard of someone making extra lunch for a friend.
The Shindo siblings are family, so that makes sense.
…I’ll ignore the fact that Amatsuki Suzuna used to make lunch for her childhood friend. She was an anomaly.
“Just eat it.”
“You’re being too forceful, Riri-chan.”
I couldn’t accept such inexplicable kindness.
“Don’t tell me… you could eat Kokona’s bento, but you can’t eat mine…?”
Ah…
This is bad.
She’s smiling, but her eyes aren’t.
I could sense her unspoken message: “I’ll be angry if you refuse again.”
“You can eat your childhood friend’s little sister’s bento, but you can’t eat your friend’s? That’s unacceptable.”
“…Y-Yes.”
“Right? Here, eat.”
But…
Why is the tamagoyaki she’s offering heart-shaped?
Kokona-chan’s heart-shaped tamagoyaki was bad, but Riri-chan’s is okay?
What’s the criteria? I want to know.
“Come on, say ‘ahh.’”
“…Ahh.”
But right now, I need to deal with Riri-chan’s pressure.
The tamagoyaki entered my mouth.
A fluffy texture and a gentle sweetness spread through my mouth.
“How is it?”
Her serious expression showed she genuinely cared about my opinion.
“…It’s delicious.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, you’re a good cook, Riri-chan.”
I knew she was supposed to be good at cooking, but those words came out naturally after actually tasting it.
“Ehehe…”
This time, Riri-chan’s smile was genuine.
I was relieved that she was no longer angry.
“There’s still plenty, so eat up.”
But she immediately switched gears and picked up a piece of salmon, offering it to me.
…However.
“Um… listen.”
“Hmm? What?”
“Can’t I just eat it myself?”
For some reason, Riri-chan wouldn’t give me the chopsticks and wouldn’t let go of the bento box.
She was determined to feed me.
“It’s fine, I’ll feed you.”
“No, it’s weird.”
“You’re so fussy, Suzuna.”
No, I’m definitely not.
I just want to feed myself.
“Besides, what if someone sees us?”
It’s already strange enough that we’re together.
If someone sees her feeding me, I don’t know what they’ll think.
“It’s fine even if someone sees us.”
“No, it’s not. It’s already weird that you and I are together, Riri-chan. And if people find out you’re feeding me, they’ll definitely think it’s strange.”
“…Then what do you want, Suzuna?”
“I’ll gratefully accept it this time… but from now on, I’ll eat by myself like usual.”
It’s only because it’s early spring that no one comes to the courtyard.
As it gets warmer, more people will come.
Then it will be difficult to use this place as a hiding spot.
“…Humph.”
“Eh?”
This is bad.
Riri-chan puffed out her cheeks.
She clearly wasn’t happy.
Is this really such a big deal for her?
“So, until when do we have to keep sneaking around like this, Suzuna?”
“Well… I think it’s better if we do, for now…”
“Even though we’re friends?”
“Well… everyone will think it’s weird that you and I are friends, Riri-chan.”
“Aren’t you the only one who thinks that, Suzuna?”
“…Because no one knows yet. If everyone knew, most people would find it strange.”
They’d wonder, “Why is that plain girl next to Hinase Riri?”
I can already imagine them saying we’re a mismatched pair.
“Isn’t that strange?”
“Uh, well…”
But Riri-chan didn’t seem convinced.
She glared at me, as if she had something to say.
“I’m only doing this because you told me not to interact with you in public. But I’m not going to keep hiding forever.”
“…No, this isn’t just for me. I’m also saying this for your sake, Riri-chan.”
Of course, I don’t want to be teased by my classmates for getting ahead of myself.
But I’m also worried about Riri-chan.
If the queen bee interacts with the bottom rung, it’ll damage Riri-chan’s brand.
She’s in a good position, so she should stay there.
“…How is that for my sake?”
“Uh, well…”
Ah, this is bad.
The atmosphere has changed.
I don’t think I said anything wrong.
But I’m making Riri-chan more and more upset.
“I just want to be friends with you, Suzuna, that’s all.”
“…Ah, okay.”
And why is Riri-chan so straightforward with her feelings?
Being told that directly makes me unsure of how to respond.
“But you won’t let me, Suzuna. Why?”
“…Because… we’re not a good match, Riri-chan.”
“That’s just your assumption, Suzuna. No one thinks that.”
…No, Riri-chan is being too optimistic.
Social life isn’t that simple.
Everyone is aware of their own position and acts accordingly.
There’s some leeway for moving up or down. That’s normal.
But someone from the bottom can’t suddenly jump to the top.
Because they don’t have the qualifications.
It’s common sense that someone acting above their station will be knocked back down.
“…You don’t understand, Riri-chan. You don’t understand what it’s like to be an introvert like me.”
I don’t expect her to understand, and I don’t think she needs to.
Just like someone at the bottom can’t understand someone at the top, someone at the top can’t understand someone at the bottom.
So this situation is natural.
It’s not Riri-chan’s fault.
It’s my fault for shamelessly being next to her when we’re not a good match.
“…That’s it.”
“…Eh?”
But for some reason, she wouldn’t accept it.
“If that’s how you feel, Suzuna, then I have a plan!”
Riri-chan’s eyes were burning with passion.
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