Ichijō Riku Brings a Bento

[Eh——]

Tsukihi Uetsuki let out a puzzled sound.

[Captain, you’re having Riku-nii go up?]

[He looked pretty interested, so I thought I’d ask.

How about it, want to give it a try?]

Amano Sora extended the invitation once more.

But no matter how you listened to it, it didn’t feel like that was his real reason.

There was more of a competitive edge to it.

If it was rivalry, then there could only be one cause—

Ichijō, getting to know me really isn’t a good thing for you.

In this situation, refusing would have been the best choice.

There was no commanding tone in Amano Sora’s words.

And in front of so many people, in order to maintain his image, he couldn’t possibly force a beginner.

Facing sharpness head-on instead of avoiding it is the behavior of a fool.

But—

[Alright, Sora-senpai.

Please go easy on me.]

Ichijō might really have come to like kendo.

Still, undeniably—

He’s kind of an idiot.

Even as I thought that, my gaze had already fixed itself on Ichijō Riku, now fully suited up in protective gear.

If you get crushed, I’ll comfort you properly, Ichijō.

That’s what Higashi Hazuki would do.

He awkwardly picked up the shinai, then bowed to Amano Sora, copying the others.

With their shinai held ready, the tension between them was clear.

[Men!]

Perhaps to take it easy on Ichijō, a beginner.

Or perhaps to show his absolute superiority.

He called it out in advance.

In the blink of an eye—

[Kote!]

Another shout.

Was it over?

Only after a moment did I realize Ichijō Riku had already removed his protective gear and let out a sigh.

[As expected, it’s harder than it looks.

Sora-senpai, you’re amazing.]

[You did pretty well, Riku.]

Amano Sora shook his head.

[I didn’t expect you to dodge my first strike without any kendo training.

If you had some fundamentals, I wouldn’t have been able to hit your wrist that easily.]

[You flatter me, Sora-senpai.]

[If you’re interested, feel free to come train with me here when you have time.]

He said it with a smile, clearly impressed with Ichijō.

[Then I’ll gratefully accept your invitation.]

[Hehe.

Of course, Higashi, you can come along with Riku anytime too.

You’re always welcome here.]

[Then I’ll be imposing on you a lot, Sora-senpai.]

I clasped my hands together playfully, speaking in a joking tone.

[Haha.

It’s getting late, everyone should head back now.]

On the way home, Ichijō Riku looked lost in thought.

Tsukihi tugged on his arm and shook it energetically.

[Riku-nii, Riku-nii, what’s wrong?

Are you still thinking about what just happened?]

[Yeah, Tsuki.]

As expected, losing so quickly must have made him feel a bit down.

Even though I’m already a man gradually rotting away with little feeling left, I can still understand the competitive drive normal men have.

Ichijō Riku is probably in that exact state.

[Riku-nii, don’t be discouraged.]

Tsukihi thought so too and comforted him softly.

[The captain is the strongest among us.

It’s normal that you couldn’t beat him.

You haven’t trained at all, and the captain even said it himself.

Dodging his first strike already means you’re really impressive.]

He seemed comforted.

Ichijō Riku shook his head and showed his usual smile again.

[Let’s hurry back.]

[Mm-hm.]

Watching the two of them chatting happily, I tilted my head slightly.

When Ichijō Riku seemed to glance my way by chance, I pulled my lips into a smile.

And he returned it.

[Hehe—]

I narrowed my eyes.

—If you need comforting, Ichijō, you can ask me, you know.

—I’m not that fragile, Higashi.

—Then what were you thinking about just now?

—I was thinking about what I might have done to make Sora-senpai angry.

He sent the message, filled with confusion.

—I could feel it.

His sword felt like it was full of hostility toward me.

—That, huh.

I gave my own judgment.

—Maybe it’s because of me.

It sounded pretty self-centered.

But given that Amano Sora and Ichijō Riku had no other connection, it was the only possibility left.

—I’m a pretty troublesome person, you know.

—Then I guess I’m the type who brings trouble upon himself.

[Hehehe.]

I laughed softly, then put my phone away and looked up at the entrance.

[Higashi, it’s time to head back.]

He had just pushed open the store door, meeting my gaze.

Even though I felt they wouldn’t attack again tonight, unknown variables are always hard to predict.

They might even violate common sense and come again.

Everything was uncertain.

Ichijō Riku was afraid of that possibility.

That’s why he came here.

This time, he even brought something with him.

A bento he had prepared himself.

[Won’t Tsuki get suspicious?]

My gaze stopped on the packed bento box in his hands.

A childhood friend making a bento late at night and going out to give it to someone.

No matter how you look at it, that’s suspicious.

Unless Tsukihi were foolish enough to overlook everything.

From what I know of her, she’s not that kind of person.

[Tsuki already fell asleep.]

He answered my concern naturally.

That’s true.

Unless there’s something special going on, no one would stay up as late as I do, getting home only at ten before showering and sleeping.

In the end, I’m just a part-time worker scraping by.

Thinking that way made me want to laugh.

And I did.

Though not because of that.

[Higashi, eat it while it’s still warm.]

He gestured to the bento.

As expected, it was prepared for this counterfeit version of me.

My smile must look strange right now.

Well, it’s not something I can change.

I really am hopeless.

[If you think about it, Ichijō, you’ve basically taken care of all my meals.]

[Didn’t I say I’d take responsibility for you?]

Responsibility probably doesn’t mean that, though.

[Then, let’s wait a bit.]

I turned my gaze to the security camera outside the store.

[I don’t want people seeing me eat.]

[Eh—]

Ten o’clock arrived quickly.

Just as expected, the power wasn’t cut.

After closing the store, it was time to walk home with Ichijō Riku again.

Before that—

Even though Ichijō’s cooking can’t stop the nausea that comes afterward, at least while I’m eating, I can slowly take it in without discomfort.

I can even feel a bit of comfort and enjoyment that only comes from good food.

[Why are you looking at me like that, Ichijō?]

[Because you look like you’re really enjoying it, Higashi.]

[Hehehe.]

I finished the entire box.

A full stomach.

And along with it, the familiar urge to throw up.

It was still within what I could endure.

I put my hands together.

[Thanks for the meal.]

Walking at night feels easier with one more person.

With his presence and the gentle music accompanying us, I returned home in what could be called a pleasant mood.

After showering, I collapsed into bed from exhaustion and fell into a deep sleep.

[Higashi, someone’s looking for you outside.]

A somewhat familiar girl said with a giggle.

[Maybe it’s another confession for you, Higashi.]

She was teasing me about past events.

Since I entered this school, more than ten boys had confessed to me.

But as time went on, it gradually stopped.

And now—

[Murata, have you made your decision?]

The one who came to see me was Murata Daisuke.

His expression wasn’t pleasant.

Gone was the indifferent attitude from before.

[We can apologize for what happened before.]

He lowered his stance.

[If that’s not enough, you can do whatever you want to us.

Even if you hit us back, that’s fine.]

Hit them back.

That would be only natural.

Still not sincere enough.

It seems he didn’t truly take me seriously even at the end.

[I already told you.

I just want to know all of your members and the instigator behind it all.

That’s all I want.]

My smile didn’t lose its perfection.

Though to Murata Daisuke, it probably didn’t look beautiful at all.

[Even if you know, you can’t do anything to us.

Why not just make peace like this?]

He was helpless in the face of me.

[And who knows if you’re lying to us or not.

This is the greatest concession we can make.]

[No matter what, Murata, you can only choose to believe me.]

I bowed slightly.

[The time I can give you isn’t much.

Please think carefully.]

Murata Daisuke left with a sour expression.

[Eh, Tsuki.

Was that a confession that got rejected?

That boy looked really unhappy.]

[Something like that.]

I smiled and brushed it off with Tenzan Kaoru.

[Could it be that you’re still thinking about Ichijō?]

She tried to guess.

[But Ichijō seems to be interested in Noriyuki.

He’s always getting close to Noriyuki.

Sometimes he spends the entire club session hovering around him.]

Interested in Noriyuki—

I don’t know who Ichijō Riku might like.

But one thing is certain—

[Ichijō definitely doesn’t have feelings for Noriyuki right now.]

No matter how you hear it, it sounds like a loser’s powerless denial.

It fits my recent behavior perfectly.

At least, Tenzan Kaoru’s eyes showed a trace of pity.

[Sometimes, Tsuki, you have to be more proactive.

If you really think you like someone, you need to make a move while you can.

That’s how you step onto the road to happiness.]

Tenzan Kaoru launched into advice based on the manga she’d read.

Before long, it faded into background noise for me.

But—

Truly liking someone?

[Hehe—]

I laughed just like that.

[Um, can I ask something?]

A girl I’d chatted with a few times walked over.

Mm.

I think I remember her name.

It was… Hanaumae Yōko, I think.

[What is it, Hanaumae?]

[Higashi, do you remember me?!]

She looked excited.

A person without friends, living in her own little world.

[Mm-hm, of course I remember.

After all, when I met you, Hanaumae, I’d just lost my umbrella.]

[Eh—]

[Hehe, just kidding.

So, what do you need from me?]

[I—I want to be friends with you.]

She seemed to have mustered her courage.

Closing her eyes, she said it to us.

You see—

Becoming friends with me isn’t a good thing at all.