My Childhood Friend Seems to be the Main Heroine. - Chapter 25

“Hey, Saito. Do you need more lunch these days? “

　Riri, who was standing next to him, asked him this question while he was eating a steamed bun he had bought at the convenience store on their way home from school.

“What makes you think that? “

“Because you’ve been buying something on our way home from school lately. I was wondering if that was the case.”

“Hmmm. Well, I guess you’re right. I’m a little short on bento.”

　Saito honestly answered since there was no reason for him to lie.

　In junior high school, the school provided school lunch, and he had been eating second servings, so he had never felt hungry, but in high school, the situation had changed, and he had to prepare his own lunch.

　Thankfully, Saito does not feel inconvenienced because his mother, Yabane, prepares his lunch box.

　However, the quantity of food has decreased compared to that of junior high school.

　By the end of the school day, his stomach would growl, and he would end up buying something at a nearby convenience store.

　Riri, who had been going to and from school with him, seemed to have somehow noticed this.

　She was not surprised and listened to him, [I knew it.]

　Then, after some hesitation, Riri made a surprising suggestion.

“Well, why don’t I go make an additional lunch for you? “

“Ha? …Uh, I almost dropped it! “

　Saito, who had never expected that his childhood friend would make such a proposal, was so surprised that he almost dropped the steamed bun he held.

“What kind of wind is blowing today? “

　Saito was alarmed by such words from the usurper who had always stolen half of Saito’s buy when he bought it, wondering if there was something more behind it.

　Saito is wary of such things.

“No, my hobby lately is cooking. And, well, I want a guinea pig…someone who eats and tests my cooking.”

“Hey, I think I just heard an ominous word. I’m not a lab rat.”

“No way! Don’t think that way about your precious childhood friend! This is my 100 percent good intention to help my childhood friend who’s in trouble because he needs more lunch.”

　Riri says this with a half-smile and a half-fake smile on her face.

(I’m sure she’ll do something weird! )

　His long-accumulated intuition sends out a danger signal.

“I don’t want to add to Riri’s workload, so you don’t need to mind it.”

“Don’t worry. I usually make my own lunch. One more serving won’t be a problem.”

“Well, it costs a lot of money.”

“My parents won’t care if it’s for Saito.”

“It’s annoying to wash the lunchbo──”

“I’ll wash it, don’t worry.”

“Is that so…”

　Saito’s escape route was gradually blocked, and he was completely trapped, so he said, [Okay, just one time. Please.]

　Judging from his childhood friend’s behavior, he was sure that she’d put something strange in the lunch box.

　Taking advantage of that, he would say, [I don’t know how anyone can eat a lunch box from someone who serves something like this!?] Then he’ll be able to avoid eating the lunch box from the next time onward.

　He told himself that he would only have to endure it once.

　 * * *

　The next day at lunchtime.

“Saito, let’s eat together.”

“…hmmm, I knew it.”

　At last, the devil came.

　As she had said yesterday, two handbags filled with lunch boxes were in her hands.

　One of them must have some kind of weird food in it.

　He doesn’t want to eat them.

　Saito runs away from her.

　But he cannot escape because Riri has gone around him.

　He fails to escape.

　Once again, Saito runs away.

　But again, he cannot escape from Riri.

　He fails to escape.

　Their classmates are watching their interaction with strange eyes.

( ( (What are those two doing?) ) )

　Then,

“Hey, I’m going to the rooftop!”

　Saito, feeling embarrassed, tells Riri that he is going to the rooftop, which is open to the public, and leaves the classroom.

　Riri followed him a few steps behind.

　When they open the door, the wind blows in so fast that they both squint their eyes.

　However, it soon subsides, and they go through the door.

　They arrive at the rooftop, just as he had said earlier.

　Most high schools nowadays have their rooftops sealed off, but Kazan High School is unusual because it is open to the public as a place for the students to relax.

　They sat down side by side on an empty wooden bench.

“Here, this is for Saito.”

“…thanks.”

　Saito sits down, and his childhood friend hands him a lunch box, which brings an indescribable look to his face.

　He is grateful for the extra lunch, but it is hard to be happy when he thinks that there is some kind of bomb in it.

　What exactly did she make?

　With some trepidation, Saito opens the lid of his lunch box.

　It contained white rice and fried chicken. There were soaked spinach, octopus sausage, and fried egg. There was also a hamburger steak, Saito’s favorite dish.

　At a glance, it looks like an ordinary lunch box.

　And there is no difference in the menu from that of Riri’s lunch box, which was opened next to Saito’s.

　The quantity is also the same.

　So far, there is nothing strange about it.

　However, looking at his childhood friend, who is still smiling beautifully next to him, he won’t let his guard down.

“…Itadakimasu.”

　Saito takes the chopsticks and first puts the rice in his mouth.

　It does not taste strange.

　It is cooked a little hard, sprinkled with salt, and tasty.

　So, the rice is not a miss.

　It is something else.

　Then,

“Everything tastes good?”

　He nervously ate fried chicken, sausage, soaked vegetables, egg, and hamburger steak, all of which were tasty.

　When Saito expressed his surprise, Riri blew up and laughed, “Pfft!”.

“Hahaha! I wouldn’t put anything strange in a lunch box that I might eat! Saito is too cautious! Ha-ha-ha! Hufftt! My stomach hurts! “

“Huh~ ! ? “

　Saito, realizing that he had been dancing on Riri’s palm, let out a muffled voice in humiliation.

　He wants to hit his childhood friend, who is flapping her legs up and down and laughing, but he can’t do that.

　It’s because Saito has simply misunderstood Riri’s words and attitude.

　Riri has done nothing wrong.

　If he makes a move at this point, Saito will be in the wrong.

　He managed to hold on with his fists tightened.

“You really have a good reaction, you know? Saito, you have the talent to be on TV as a reaction comedian.”

“I’m not happy to hear that! “

　Riri praises Saito for reacting in such an interesting and expected way, but he is not happy at all.

　Saito turned away and fretted.

“Sorry, sorry. But it’s been a while since I’ve laughed like this. It was worth making lunch for you.”

　As she apologized to her tormented childhood friend, Riri was glad she had done it.

[Everything tastes good.]

　Honestly, even though she knew Saito’s tastes to some extent, she wasn’t sure if the food would suit his palate.

　So, she did a lot of preparation from the night before and practiced how to make a perfect omelet.

　However, Riri’s fears were unfounded, and her childhood friend praised her cooking.

　Although he seemed to be very unhappy with this situation.

　On the contrary, it was good that he thought that she was not flattered by his praise.

(But, well, maybe I overdid it a bit. )

　Riri felt a little sorry for him when she saw Saito eating his lunch while still looking away from her.

　But it was his fault that he had doubted her when such a cute childhood friend had offered to make lunch for him out of the goodness of her heart.

　It seemed reasonable to her.

　From then on, the two of them eat their lunch silently without any conversation.

　Saito was the first to finish his lunch.

　In addition to the usual bento, Riri had also prepared a bento for him, but he finished it without any difficulty.

“…Thanks for the food.”

“Yes, you’re welcome.”

　Saito stood up and held out the lunch box to Riri without looking at her.

　Riri tried to take it but could not because Saito did not let go of his hand.

　──What is wrong with him?

　Riri looks up at Saito curiously.

　Silence.

　A gust of wind blew, and Saito opened his mouth.

“It was delicious. I mean, If this is the way it tastes… I can be your guinea pig anytime.”

“…..”

　After saying this, Saito left the rooftop.

　The girl left alone on the rooftop let her mind wander in a daze and then rested her body deeply on the bench.

“…That’s cheating. “

　She covered her face with her hands and muttered quietly. Her ears were dyed bright red.