Volume 2 - CH 2.3

As I was changing into my uniform the next morning, I heard my doorbell ring.

“Ahh– yes, coming.”

I sprinted  towards the front door and opened it to find  Hinagata.

“Good morning, Ryuunosuke.”

“Yeah, G-Good morning. What brings you here?”

“I thought we could go to school together.”

“Ahh, I see…”

I didn’t want her to know that I liked her, so my voice was quite low in reply.

I had her wait for a while, and when I was ready, I put on my shoes and went out.

“Fufu~~” Hinagata let out a small chuckle as she looked at me. 

“Ehh? What?”

“You have bed hair.” she said as  she gently ruffled my hair with her fingers.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ll do it myself.”

I tried to brush my hair over the part where she touched me.

“Fufufu~~”

Maybe it’s still not fixed now.

“Nope.”

“Forget it. I don’t have time for this.”

Is that so? I walked quickly away from Hinagata, who nodded her head.

“What did you do after school last night?”

“I started work at my new part-time job.”

“Ehh? Part-time? For what? Why?”

Hinagata asked a series of  seemingly curious questions. 

She seemed to be very surprised to hear that I began  working part-time.

“At a Family Restaurant. I just wanted to save some money.”

“Do you want something?”

“Well, sort of.”

Getting a license through the motorcycle inspection would cost quite a bit of money. I’m not going to keep it a secret, but I don’t think I need to go out of my way to tell her.

I quickly  glanced at the side of Hinagata’s face.

She held her shiny, long black hair as wind was blowing through it, and the hem of her skirt was also stirred up by the wind.

Her reddish cheeks and lips were coloured like a flower petal.  Her eyelashes are so long that they seem to make a fluttering sound every time she blinks.

“Ryunosuke? What’s wrong?”

“….No, it’s nothing,” I shook my head and turned my head away from her.

As of late, when someone talks to me, I don’t really reply. I just find myself replying, “It’s nothing.”

Actually, I want to deceive myself into thinking “it’s nothing,” but even if I don’t want to lie to myself, I find myself just wanting to end the conversation.

“Where’s the family restaurant you are working at? I want to come in sometime.”

“I’m in the kitchen  so you probably wouldn’t see me if you came in anyways.”

“Is that so?” Hinagata was searching for something in her bag.

She glanced at me, trying  to say something as if she was timing it, and then quickly put her hand back in her bag.

As the hesitant pause continued, the school was getting closer and closer, and more and more students were walking on their way to school.

“Ryuu─ Ryuu….nosuke.”

As soon as I  pulled  her back to the side of the road, she had made up her mind. Hinagata took out a lunchbox from her bag. Her face was red…

“!!”

she shoved me and ran off towards the school without saying a word.

“Ahh── Hi-Hinagata!”

Hinagata stopped and turned her head to look back at me.

It’s not hard to imagine she got sidetracked because she was embarrassed to be seen giving it in public.

“Thank you very much!”

I thanked her.

Hinagata loosened her still red cheeks and nodded. When Uchinokura-san spotted Hinagata, she started walking by her  side.

She glanced at me again with concern and waved a small hand, and I also waved back.

We will meet again later in the classroom;  you don’t have to wave to me.

….I’m the one who should have returned  the favor though.

The lunchbox was wrapped in a familiar handkerchief.

Perhaps because it’s been a few days, the experience I’ve had has been reset.

She looked quite nervous at first glance.

“I mean, the way she gave me the lunchbox, it’s just like how someone gives Valentine’s Day chocolates….”

It felt like a huge event.

“What? Huh? Working at a family restaurant? Seriously?”

When I arrived at school, Sugiuchiwas already near my seat and asked me the same questions Hinagata asked as soon as I sat down.

“I told you I’d do it.”

“I didn’t think you’d do it for real. …You’re not that type, dude.”

“What type am I then?”

“It means you’re not the kind of guy who works hard and diligently.”

That’s…. That’s who you are.

“Ryu…Tonomura-kun is a hard-worker who does his best .”

Hinagata seemed to have overheard  what Sugiuchi was saying and joined the conversation .

“Ehh… I wonder. He doesn’t look like that at all to me. As expected of a childhood friend, you know a lot.” At Sugiuchi’s casual words, Hinagata nodded with a look of confidence.

“Also, thanks for arranging the BBQ, Sugiuchi-kun. It was fun.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed it.””

Heheheh, Sugiuchi laughed.

“Uu… U… Ucchi, does she… also… have something… to say to me?”

“No, nothing.”

“Ahh… I see.” Sugiuchi nodded in disbelief.

He’s easy to read .

I took Sugiuchi’s place and asked the question he wanted to know the answer to.

“Hinagata, Uchinokura-san’s birthday is coming up, right? Is there anything you know she likes?”

“……”

I could feel the peaceful spring-like atmosphere turning into an extremely cold blizzard.

“I can’t hear you very well.”

“Something she wants. For Uchinokura-san…

“You, Idiot──”

Sugiuchi punched me on the shoulder with a bang .

“That  hurts! Why did you do that?”

“Why are the one asking?”

“It’s out of kindness….”

HUHHHHHー Sugiuchi let out an oversized sigh.

“Kura-chan told me already that she didn’t want a present from Ryunosuke.”

That’s a little shocking.

Why do I look like an obstacle….

“By the way, you can hear me.”

“…..”

Hinagata turned away with a pout.

“Hinagata, what about me? What about me? Am I an obstacle like Tonomura?”

“Sugiuchi-kun is alright. You can give as many presents as you like.”

“YES! OK!”

Well, you did say ok, but you can’t afford to give more and more gifts to her with your allowance.

Uchinokura-san came over with a suspicious look on her face, as if she felt or heard her name being called.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s about your birthday. It’s coming up soon. I get the feeling that you don’t want a present from me. “

When I asked fearfully, she gave me a puzzled look.

“Why? I’ll accept it if you give it to me.”

“Oii, Hinagata…”

That’s now what Hinagata told me.

When I looked at her, Hinagata was still looking away, pouting.

“Oh. I see. It’s totally fine… I will accept it. I’ll gladly accept your feelings for me but not the gift.”

Uchinokura-san, sensing something, rejected my gift with a bitter smile.

Why….?

I didn’t originally intend to give her anything, but I don’t intend to give her anything weird either.

Or do they think I have no sense of decency? That would be a shock.