Chapter 2: The Omen of a Storm

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While waiting for Sagara-kun to finish his part-time job, I was making dinner.

Today’s menu was supposed to be beef stew… but because I was out of it, I accidentally bought pork instead of beef. This is more like pork stew…

It was too late to change the menu, so I had no choice but to make it with the pork. As I sautéed the meat and vegetables in a large pot, I thought about what happened earlier.

Itogawa-san, Sagara-kun’s senior at his part-time job, is a mature and beautiful person. I’ve heard from Sagara-kun that she often takes care of him.

…Sagara-kun. He didn’t say we’re dating in front of her… and he didn’t call me by my name either…

Remembering this made me feel gloomy.

Even though we agreed to call each other by our first names, he hasn’t called me by my name since that day. It even seems like he’s actively avoiding calling me by my name. I also want to call him Souhei-kun, but I haven’t been able to switch smoothly.

Even if the name thing is unavoidable… at the very least, I wanted him to introduce me proudly as his girlfriend…

Given Sagara-kun’s personality, it’s understandable. If people knew we were dating, they might tease him. Sagara-kun probably hates that kind of thing. Maybe it was better not to answer on my own, but I couldn’t help it.

Because Sagara-kun is my boyfriend.

Feeling ugly possessiveness bubbling up, I sighed deeply.

As I simmered the pork, feeling down, my phone buzzed in my jersey pocket. Checking it, I saw a new message.

[Haruko-san, did you try the new lip color that came out last week?]

The sender was the high school girl I exchanged contact information with during the open campus. Her name is Ichika-chan. She’s apparently still in her second year of high school, not a prospective student.

Since then, we’ve been exchanging messages frequently. Sharing a love for makeup, we quickly bonded. I eagerly typed and sent my reply.

[I bought it] [It’s a cute, fresh summer color!]

As I exchanged messages with Ichika-chan, my spirits gradually lifted. Come to think of it, I might have held back a bit around Sacchan and the others, not talking as much about the things I love.

Our exchanges are mostly trivial. Not just about makeup, but also about university life, entrance exam studies, future plans, and about my boyfriend (meaning Sagara-kun). Ichika-chan seems to enjoy love stories and often asks about me and Sagara-kun.

[University seems fun]

[It is!] [We had a takoyaki party with friends recently too]

[Was your boyfriend there too?]

[Yes, he always goes along with it despite himself]

[Is Haruko-san’s boyfriend kind?]

I immediately replied without hesitation.

[He’s very kind and a wonderful person]

Ichika-chan responded with [I see].

[If I go to Kyoto again, please hang out with me]

I replied [Of course!] to her message. I thought it would be fun to talk a lot when we meet in person.

Around 8 PM, Sagara-kun came back home. I dished up the stew and placed it on the table. He put his hands together and said, “Itadakimasu,” before starting to eat. I clasped my hands together as well.

“I’m really sorry! I bought pork instead of beef by mistake…”

“Really? No, it’s fine. It’s delicious.”

Sagara-kun said that, but he’s the type who says everything is delicious, so I didn’t fully trust him. Maybe he didn’t notice the difference much. Even if it were chicken stew instead, he probably wouldn’t mind.

Following his lead, I took a bite of the stew. Yep, it’s definitely pork. Maybe it’s fine if I think of it as a different dish… I’ll definitely get it right next time…!

As I was silently regretting it, Sagara-kun spoke up.

“By the way, sorry about today… for being rude when you came.”

“Huh? N-No, I wasn’t bothered at all.”

Though I was a bit bothered, I lied. Asking why he didn’t call me his girlfriend would be annoying, right? I thought, while forcing a smile.

“Oh, that person… Itogawa-san. She was absent from work for a while?”

“Yeah, she recently returned…”

Sagara-kun paused and then changed the subject.

“So, Haru… Nanase… have you thought about your future?”

“…Huh!?”

The sudden question made me drop my spoon. Reflexively, I glanced at the ring on my right ring finger.

Could it be that Sagara-kun is thinking about our future together…!?

In my head, I heard church bells ringing. I leaned forward and answered, “Of course!”

“I-I’ve been thinking about it…! But it’s not just my decision, so I’d like to take our time discussing it…”

Seeing my excitement, Sagara-kun tilted his head.

“Well, it’s not something that can be decided easily… but job hunting is only two years away.”

“Eh?”

“Talking with Itogawa-san today made me realize I should start thinking about what kind of job I want. I haven’t decided on my career path yet either.”

…Job hunting, work? Oh, so that’s what he meant…

Finally realizing my misunderstanding, my face heated up. I was jumping to conclusions again, embarrassed… Sagara-kun wasn’t thinking about that at all!

Trying to cover up my agitation, I shook my head vigorously.

“N-No! I haven’t thought about it at all.”

Saying that made me feel shocked at my own lack of thinking.

Sagara-kun is already thinking about job hunting…

Serious job hunting starts around the winter of the third year at the earliest. I thought it was still far off, so I hadn’t paid much attention to it.

I’ve been aiming for a “rosy university life,” but I haven’t set any concrete goals…

A year ago, Sagara-kun even said, “Your rosy life lacks specificity.” Chasing after vague dreams, I… feel like an idiot.

“…I wonder what kind of job I’ll get…”

I had no idea what I’d be doing after graduation. When I muttered that, Sagara-kun tilted his head slightly.

“…How about something in cosmetics or beauty?”

Hearing his words, I blinked in surprise. He continued eating the stew as if it were nothing.

“You like those things, right?”

“I-I do, but…”

At that moment, an image of my cousin popped into my mind. She was the one who supported me in making my university debut, an admired cousin.

She’s now working hard as a sales representative for a cosmetics company in Tokyo. When I met her during New Year’s, she seemed even more beautiful. Of course, I admire her and think it would be wonderful to be like her, but…

“I don’t think I’m suited for such a glamorous industry…”

No matter how much I change my appearance, the core hasn’t changed. No matter how hard I try, I’ll never be like my cousin.

“Really? I think you’d be great.”

“No… that’s not true.”

I forced a smile as I said that. Hearing my words, Sagara-kun muttered softly, “That’s a shame.”