Volume 1 - CH 3.5

Shimizu-san’s Bentō 5

“Err, Shimizu-san? It’s hard for me to eat with you staring at me like that.

“Hondō, are you okay? Are you forcing yourself to eat that? “

I just said what I was thinking.

“I’m a little scared of that question. Does this ginger pork have any seasonings that you normally don’t put in? “

“I didn’t put anything like that but… I mean, Hondō, did you really feel nothing after eating that ginger pork? “

When Ai tasted it for the first time, she told me that ginger pork could express despair.

“I don’t know. I like ginger pork, so I ate it with anticipation… “

As I have heard before, Hondō seems to have been a ginger pork lover. But that’s not the answer I want to hear now.

“If you don’t like it, you can say it tastes bad.”

“Why? I wouldn’t say that. Especially after you gave me the bentō you made, Shimizu-san.”

“You, why did you think I made it…? “

Since I did not say that I made the Bentō before, anyone would think that my parents made it. I wonder where Hondō got the idea.

“Because Shimizu-san, when I asked you if there was anything in the ginger pork, you assured me there was not, right? I thought this was something Shimizu-san wouldn’t have said if she wasn’t making this ginger pork.”

“But that’s not enough evidence, is it?”

“Also, you said earlier that it’s okay to say it’s bad if I think it’s bad. I don’t think Shimizu-san would have said that if she didn’t make it herself.”

“Ughh… “

I want to make excuses, but I have a feeling that a bad lie will be exposed immediately.

“I guess I’m right. Anyway, a Bentō that you worked so hard to make, are you sure you’re okay with me eating it, Shimizu-san? “

What should I do? Should I just tell him the truth? I made that Bentō because I wanted Hondō to eat it, and I’m glad you ate it… No. Just the thought of saying it makes me want to disappear in embarrassment. Silence fell between Hondō and me.

“Shimizu-san? “

Hondō breaks the silence, perhaps feeling puzzled about my lack of response.

“…worry.”

“What? “

“I said don’t worry about it. That Bentō was just something I wanted to make on a whim. And I gave it to you because I didn’t think I could eat it all by myself today. “

“Is it a whim to keep cooking for a week? “

Hondō hits a sore spot. I think he was just expressing his doubts, but it made me wonder if I unintentionally said something important.

“How did you know I’ve been making Bentō for a week…? “

I hurriedly tried to cut my words off mid-sentence. But Hondō seemed to already know the answer. Hondō points to my hand covered in band-aids.

“You put that band-aid on your hand because you injured your finger when you cooked, right? At first, I didn’t understand why you were injured, but after seeing today’s Bentō, I finally understood.”

Hondō, unlike the rest of my classmates, did not think I had been injured in the fight.

——An indescribable, itchy feeling growing inside of me.

“Shimizu-san? Hey? “

I was so shaken by Hondō’s words I had abandoned the thought of explaining the reason why I’d been making bentos for a week. I hurriedly tried to think, but nothing came to mind immediately. I decided to push my way through with momentum.

“…it doesn’t matter when I started making Bentō. A-anyway, there’s no specific reason why I gave you that Bentō! Got it?! “

“Um, okay. Well then, it’s fine if Shimizu-san says so.”

Hondō seems to have decided not to pursue the matter any further.

“If you understand, then eat it quickly.”

“Yes. Thank you very much.”

After that, Hondō continued to eat the bentō silently and eventually finished it.

“Thank you very much for the food.”

” …Give me the Bentō box when you’re done.”

I reached toward Hondō and urged him to hand over the Bentō box.

“I’d like to wash it and return it later. “

“I told you it’s because I can’t eat two Bentō all by myself, and this Bentō was a thank you for the cooking class. Of course I’ll be doing you a favor to the end.”

“…Okay. Shimizu-san, thank you again for the food.”

With that, Hondō handed me the package containing the Bentō box.

” …yes. “

“And—Can I say one more thing? “

“W-what is it?”

I slightly tensed up when he asked me something like this.

“I’m really grateful for the bentō today. I forgot my wallet and was in real trouble, so it was a big help for me. I was happy to have the bentō that Shimizu-san made. Next time, I’ll do something for you as thanks.”

——I was happy… I was happy… I was happy…

The words play over and over in my head. I felt that Hondō had affirmed that the hard, grueling, and hellish week up to today had not been in vain.

“Are you okay, Shimizu-san? “

Hondō’s words brought me to my senses. It seemed that I had been so moved that my consciousness had wandered far away.

“No need to thank me… just… “

“What?”

“If I ever make Bentō again on a whim, eat it.”

Hondō looked surprised for a moment, then quickly returned to smiling.

“Yes. Then, I’ll be looking forward to it.”

Inside my heart, I did a fist pump (Victory gesture).