What If You Spoil a High School Girl Who Looks Like a Landmine? - Volume 1 Chapter 2.5

Making Lunch is Legal 5

“I see, it is arranged so that there is plenty of time to enjoy the hydrangeas.”

“Hehe, yes. The length of the stairs might be one of the attractions too. …Ah, please rest if you get tired along the way. Let’s take it easy and rest if needed!”

“Raihara-san….”

“Yes? Ah…I, I will say it too if I’m tired! Y-yes, of course!”

Stammering her words, Raihara-san finally nodded.

“…Oh, it’s steep.”

Actually starting to climb, I feel its steep incline.

It seems to be a good exercise.

“That’s right~. Please be careful not to slip.”

“Thank you, I will.”

…Such consideration is flowing naturally. It’s probably innate.

I think it’s the shape of her soul.

“Ugh~ I can’t do it anymore! It’s hard!”

“I’m tired~! Seriously!”

“How many steps are there!”

Such voices descend from a group of college-age who are ahead of us.

Meanwhile, looking beside me,

“Oh my…Should I offer to carry their luggage…would it be rude to suddenly speak up?”

A girl in Jirai-kei (Landmine type) fashion, who appears fragile, murmurs such things.

There are multiple things I want to retort to.

But——

A shrine in nature, the long stone steps leading to it.

Hydrangeas bloom neatly on the side, and the descending sunlight is repainting the place in a bright tone.

With this almost fantastical natural scenery as a backdrop, her figure, draped in attire with a theme strongly disharmonious to it, has a beauty that is so dense and devilish that it blows away things that I was idly contemplating.

“…Chifuji-san?”

“Ah…no.”

——I found myself only unwittingly staring intently at her.

… It feels like a creature of a different kind than us.

I don’t think Kusakabe-san’s words refer to her appearance.

But strangely enough, I, at this moment, felt that this person might be a spirit or a fairy.

“…Alright, there… We’ve arrived!”

“It was a good exercise.”

Having passed through the stone stairs, we finally reached the shrine grounds.

Whether it’s because we’ve come to a high place, or the sense of liberation from having climbed up, or maybe because it’s a sacred place, the passing wind feels cool and pleasant.

“Yes, finally! Phew~ It was indeed long.”

Oh?

Raihara-san, who has strong legs contrary to her appearance, seems to have accumulated fatigue.

Good, this is good.

Unlike last time, the conditions have reached a point where she can say, ‘I’m tired.’

“…Ah, Chifuji-san.”

“Yes.”

Is it coming?

It’s one small step from my point of view but a giant leap for Raihara-san——

“You are sweating. Here, I have a handkerchief!”

I almost fell down.

No, that’s wrong, Raihara-san.

“Thank you. But I have my own handkerchief.”

Feeling it would be impolite to soil hers with my sweat, I declined, and Raihara-san looked visibly disappointed.

….If I’m wrong, then it’s just my embarrassing misunderstanding, but I felt that if I had accepted it, she would have wiped my sweat with her own hands.

Anyway, I’m sure that Raihara-san is tired.

“Raihara-san, let’s go and pray.”

“Yes.”

There’s no point in stopping to rest now.

I immediately made the next suggestion, moving as quickly as possible.

Having finished our prayers, what awaits us next, of course…

“Now, it’s our turn to descend these stairs.”

I said, looking down the stairs.

This should build up even more fatigue, and doing that should make it easier for her to say the word ‘tired.’

“Yes~ let’s do our best!”

Raihara-san, with both hands in front of her chest, made a firm fist.

Then, the two of us descend the steep, long stone stairs.

“You mentioned you came here with your family before. It’s probably difficult for your sisters, given how long the staircase is.”

“Hehe, yes, that’s true. By the way, there’s a square lined with stalls just a bit ahead from here, and I really want to get there soon.”

“Ah, I see.”

By the way, it’s almost lunchtime.

The moment I realize that, my stomach lets out a slight growl.

We have been walking all morning, after all.

Well, my situation doesn’t matter right now. It’s about Raihara-san.

While talking, I discreetly checked her face, and it seemed she was slightly sweaty.

We have walked a considerable distance before climbing and descending these stone stairs, so it is impossible for her not to be tired.

It’s strange to hope that the person walking with you gets tired, but… when I remember her saying taking care of people causes trouble, so she wants to change with her shoulders drooping, I couldn’t help but do so.

“Alright, there.”

While letting out such a voice, I finally stepped down the last step.

It must have taken about the same time as climbing.

Now.

… I feel like I shouldn’t be the one to ask Raihara-san if she is tired.

She should state her needs herself.

As I think this,

“Chifuji-san.”

She looks at me intently and speaks to me.

“… I’m sorry, um…”

Is she apologizing for being about to make a selfish request?

Good, good, good, here it comes!

“Oh! There’s a space open over there! I’m sorry for not noticing~! Let’s go to the square and have lunch~!”

With a pleasant smile, she said so.

It was a very pleasant smile.

… Did she hear my stomach growling?

I didn’t think it was that loud, I’m surprised that she noticed.

“No… well, Raihara-san.”

“Yes?”

Don’t ‘Yes?’ me…

Sweat is visible on her face. ‘She wants to rest but can’t say it, so she’s using someone’s hunger as a reason.’ such a possibility is not nonexistent, but… she’s not that kind of person.

Even I, who have known her for a short time, understand this much.

Simply, in any case, she is the type who cares more about someone else’s hunger than her own fatigue.

“…Ah, no, um….well, this won’t do…uhh…”

Raihara-san, who seems to have noticed it herself, begins to panic.