Volume 2 - CH 1.2

“Of course because you all are having fun.”

“Well yeah but—”

“And also, I was worried that my senpai might get food poisoning.”

Don’t say sad things like that.

Though I think this point is valid.

I glanced at the watering area where Hinagata Shiori was still working on ingredients.

Then my eyes met Hinagata, who suddenly looked up.

Hinata gave a small wave with an embarrassed grin, and I responded by raising my hand.

It seemed that her hair was getting in the way, that’s why she tied her hair up.

Hinagata is a childhood friend and classmate of mine.

There was a time when we drifted apart, but now we sit next to each other, we spend lunch breaks together, and we go to and from school together.

Unlike Honma, Hinagata, who is considered a cool beauty by those around her, has a small group  of friends. Maybe that’s why she doesn’t have anyone to ask for love advice. For some reason, she has been asking me for advice on love.

Sometimes I think, “Isn’t that about me?” I guess I’m just overly self-conscious.

As we started going out and spending time together as a practice for when she would spend time with someone she liked, I became more and more aware of her, and finally, or rather, I fell in love with Hinagata.

Was I in love…? Or Did I fall in love…?  Or I must have been in love…?

“…Senpai what are you smirking about?”

Honma called out to me in a low voice.

“I didn’t.”

Maybe.

I rubbed my cheek and tried to keep a straight face .

“Mumumu….”

Homma glanced at Hinagata as she continued her preparations and wrinkled her brow.

Everyone was finally together when Hinagata brought in the items she had cut.

“Has it started yet?”

As Hinagata sat down next to me, Sugiuchi handed me a paper cup with tea in it

“We will start now, Hinaga-san.”

“I’m glad Shiori was there to help me. You are so good at what you did, it was a big help.”

When Uchinokura-san complimented her, Hinagata shook her head.

“No, not at all. That’s not true.”

I don’t have the image of Hinagata as a good cook at all, but sometimes she makes me bento. I wonder if that’s how she improved her cooking skills.

“Thanks for preparing the ingredients…”

I handed Hinagata the plate and chopsticks that I had already prepared for one person.

My voice was strangely low, but Hinagata seemed to have heard me.

“You too, Ryu… Tonomura-kun. Thank you for preparing the fire.”“Yeah.” I simply replied .

Sugiuchi, wanting  to take  charge, took out a pack of meat from the cooler and used tongs to cook them one by one. 

“It’s been a long time since I’ve been to a BBQ. I haven’t been to one since a party back in elementary school or something.”

He said as he watched the meat being laid out by the Hinagata.

“Me too, It’s been a long time.”

“Thanks for inviting me, Tonomura-kun.”

“…You’re very welcome.”

Hinagata chuckled, amused that I spoke  in such a formal way.

“Oii, stop flirting! It’s burning, eat it.”

Sugiuchi pointed with his tongs at the meat which was cooked perfectly.

“We’re not flirting. And I’ll pick it up without being told.”

As I was about to extend my chopsticks, Honma interrupted me.

“Oh, senpai, I’ll get it for you.”

Until a few months ago, I was in a baseball club, an organization that is the epitome of athleticism and vertical society, so I don’t have much resistance to having my juniors do things for me. But this isn’t normal, is it?

“No, it’s okay. I said it myself, right? I’ll do it myself.”

“…It’s getting burned. Here, eat this.”

While I was talking to Honma, Hinagata put some meat on my plate.

“Ohh, Thanks.”

“Don’t mention.”

When Hinagata, who is never very talkative, says it simply, she gives a cold impression.

“The vegetables are cooked.”

Hinagata grabbed a piece of grilled onion with her chopsticks and placed it on my plate.“Vegetables in BBQ? Ahhh, they aren’t required, right?”

“Eat them.  Kura-chan and I  cut them together.” She said she cut them while enduring the pain, so I guess I’ll have it.

It’s not that I don’t like vegetables, but why bother eating them at a BBQ? Is what the carnivores  think?

“That’s right, senpai. We cut it for you, so please eat it properly, okay?”

“Honma-san didn’t do it, though.”

The correction  pierced Honma just like an icy arrow.

Looking sideways at her side, Honma smiled awkwardly and affectionately at the expressionless Hinagata.

On the other side, Sugiuchi, holding the tongs, was trying to get the meat for Uchinokura-san.

“Ucchi, here. I think it’s cooked nicely.”

“Thanks. Why don’t you get your own, Sugicchi?”

“Y-Yeah. Ri-Right. I’ll.” He’s having a pleasant conversation….

Isn’t there too much of a difference in energy between there and here?

Suddenly, Sugiuchi noticed that there was a strange feeling in the air.

“Tonomura, crack a joke man.”

“Don’t be so reckless as to make me look like a troublesome senpai.”

And then. Sugiuchi laughed, as if it was funny.