06 A Slight Discrepancy
“Is that all you’re having for lunch?”
Hinase-san tilted her head curiously, looking at the sandwich in my left hand.
My right hand was still trapped in her grip.
“Yeah, this is enough.”
“Seriously? You’re a light eater, Amatsuki-san.”
Hinase-san’s free hand held a transparent plastic bag.
Inside were a hamburger bento, salad, melon bread, snacks, chocolate, and a plastic bottle of tea.
My sandwich was exposed, while Hinase-san’s various purchases were contained within the bag.
…Hinase-san eats quite a lot, surprisingly.
There weren’t any detailed descriptions of how much she ate when I played the original game.
There was no mention of portion sizes during date meals either…
Or maybe she was just putting on an act in front of Shindo-kun?
A girl in love probably feels self-conscious about eating a lot in front of the person she likes.
Seeing that side of her made her seem kind of cute.
“Oh, right. Let’s eat lunch together, Amatsuki-san.”
Hinase-san invited me as casually as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
…It didn’t seem like a bad suggestion.
I’m not so steely-hearted as to willingly choose to eat alone.
It’s just that I have a tendency to push people away…
It’s not like I never want to be with someone.
Besides, I’ve gotten a little used to Hinase-san, so it might be okay…
“Okay.”
But just as I was about to say it, my throat tightened.
“…On second thought, no.”
“Rejected again!”
Because if I did, I would inevitably end up eating with Hinase-san’s popular group.
A plain girl with glasses mixed in with a circle of sparkling high school girls… a complete anomaly.
I can’t imagine it being a pleasant experience for either of us.
“Because I’d feel out of place.”
“Eh? That’s not true. You’re interesting, Amatsuki-san, and everyone’s easygoing, they’ll accept you.”
…No, non-verbal communication like that, with all the high energy and banter, is what I’m worst at.
The more I think about it, the more I imagine myself sticking out like a sore thumb.
I’ll refuse.
“No.”
“So stubborn!”
Hinase-san swung our joined arms back and forth.
“Come on, it’s more fun to eat together!”
Hinase-san wouldn’t back down.
What do I do? What can I say to convince her?
I racked my brain for another reason.
“…After school.”
“After school?”
Hinase-san asked back, puzzled.
“Let’s go eat something after school. I turned down your offer of thanks yesterday, Hinase-san.”
“Ooh.”
Hinase-san stared intently at me.
Her eyes were a beautiful almond shape, and her already large pupils were wide and sparkling.
“I-If you don’t want to, it’s totally fine. I don’t particularly need you to thank me…”
“No, no! Let’s do that!”
“S-So, we’re eating separately for lunch…”
“Okay. That’s a shame, but I’ll be looking forward to after school!”
…Hmm.
I agreed to her request so she’d listen to mine, but…
I wonder if this was the right thing to do. I’m worried.
◇◇◇
“Ugh… bleh…”
Back in the classroom, Shindo-kun was slumped over his desk, his face pale.
He was making strange noises, and he didn’t look well.
“…Are you okay?”
It was concerning to hear those weird noises right before I was about to eat.
I’d prefer him to act normal.
“Ah, uh… Suzuna. Hey, um, what do you think if… the tamagoyaki was sour?”
“…I’d think the seasoning was wrong.”
“What if the stir-fried vegetables were incredibly hard?”
“I’d think they weren’t cooked through.”
“What if the rice was crunchy?”
“I’d think it wasn’t cooked properly.”
“That… that’s it.”
That’s right, Kokona-chan is a terrible cook.
That’s why Shindo-kun was so insistent on Amatsuki Suzuna’s lunch.
I forgot.
“But you ate it all. You’re a good older brother.”
“She… watched me until I finished it all. I ate it like my life depended on it, and this is the result.”
“…She’s a thoughtful little sister.”
“Think about it, Suzuna. My little sister brought me lunch to the classroom and wouldn’t leave. It looks like I’m obsessed with her! Everyone’s staring, I couldn’t take it.”
Well, I understand what he means.
Still, it’s not normal for a younger sister to be so devoted.
It might be more trouble than it’s worth, but I also feel like he should appreciate her love a little more.
“…So please, Suzuna. Make me lunch tomorrow. My life depends on it.”
“Impossible. Look, I only have a sandwich.”
“Then what am I supposed to do tomorrow…?!”
“Eat Kokona-chan’s lunch.”
“Are you saying you don’t care if I die, Suzuna…?!”
Such an exaggeration…
Besides, Kokona-chan’s cooking will improve.
If you go down her route, her skills dramatically improve, and she learns to cook just the way Shindo-kun likes it.
In that respect, she has a family advantage.
Knowing that, I’m not worried.
“More importantly, please stop making those weird noises.”
“That’s all you’re worried about?! Suzuna, don’t you have anything else to say?!”
“…I’d also like you to stop calling me by my first name.”
“That’s not the point!” Shindo-kun shouted.
“Is there any other way to call you?!”
“Amatsuki-san.”
“We’re childhood friends, aren’t we?!”
“There’s such a thing as politeness even between close friends.”
“Isn’t that way too distant?! We’re not even close anymore at that point!”
“Yes.”
“You agree?!”
Well, lowering my affection level this much should be fine.
I’ll leave the rest to Kokona-chan.
“If you have the energy to shout like that, you’ll be fine. I’m going to eat my sandwich, so be quiet.”
“No, this is what you call a ‘tsukkomi.’ And to tell me to be quiet after making me shout… that’s a pretty advanced…”
I silently opened my sandwich wrapper.
I chose an egg sandwich.
I peeled off the sticker and pulled it open.
Opening the clear plastic bag, I picked one up and brought it to my mouth.
The bread was fluffy.
“…That’s unusual.”
Shindo-kun looked at me eating and spoke curiously.
“I told you to be quiet.”
“I’m not allowed to say a single word?!”
“No. Face forward.”
“You’re rejecting even my gaze?!”
It’s one thing if we were eating together, but it’s unsettling to be stared at while I eat.
“It’s distracting. Come on, face forward.”
“Fine, I’ll turn around, I’ll turn around, but… since when did you start eating egg sandwiches?”
“…Eh?”
That was a slightly unsettling question.
“Well, Suzuna, your sandwiches were always ham and lettuce, or potato salad, right? You always said, ‘Egg is good, but I like these better.’”
“…Did I?”
That was information I didn’t even know from the game.
Even though I share her memories as Amatsuki Suzuna, our preferences are different…
Well, I guess it’s natural for there to be some differences.
And hardly anyone would notice anyway.
Probably only her childhood friend, Shindo-kun.
“With your changed attitude and now your different food preferences, you seem like a different person.”
“Eh…”
My heart skipped a beat at those words.
It was a little scary that he could see through me with just that much.
“…It was the only one left.”
“I see,” Shindo-kun said, seemingly convinced, and turned back around.
It’s nothing.
I’m not the real Amatsuki Suzuna, after all.
It’s natural for there to be some differences.
A discrepancy this small shouldn’t be a problem.
Chewing thoughtfully, I swallowed the sandwich along with my anxieties.
The egg was properly sweet.
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