CH 18

The long awaited lunch break time arrived. I hate my classes. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like to study. …Well, I don’t like it.

It’s just that I don’t like studying in a class where the pace is set by someone else’s scale.

“So-kun! Let’s eat on the roof again today!”

“Ah, y, yes.”

I was about to head to the rooftop with Hatsune, but before I did, I looked at the girl and saw that she was still eating her lunch alone in her seat. …Is there anything I can do for her?

“What’s wrong? So-kun.”

“Ah, n, no, it’s nothing.”

I really wanted to eat with her, but if I said that, I might really get stabbed. So I meekly headed to the rooftop with Hatsune.

I could feel her eyes behind me….

“We’re blessed with sunny weather today! So-kun!”

“Th, that’s right!”

I felt like I was cheating on her, which was a little awkward, but that wasn’t it, so I didn’t care.

…Maybe I’m getting poisoned too.

“…So-kun, is there anything you’re not telling me?”

“Eh!? Wh, what are you talking about? I’m not hiding anything!”

“Really?”

“Y, yeah! Really!”

If this is what you call a woman’s intuition, then please, God, give me that kind of cheat ability.

“…If you’re lying, you understand, right?”

“…Of, co, urse, I, under, stand?” 1

“……”

“……”

The silence is painful. Please say something.

“…I understand! So-kun! I believe you!”

“Th, thank you!”

I feel a little guilty, but we just talked for a while, so it should be fine.

“Then, So-kun, aah ♥”

“Eeh!?”

The rooftop is not very crowded. It’s a little embarrassing because even though there are not many people on the rooftop, there are still a few people here.

“U, um, w, we are in a public place…”

“No, ahh ♥”

“….Ah”

I put the octopus wiener that Hatsune offered in my mouth.

“Delicious?”

“Yes! It’s delicious!”

It was so delicious that my embarrassment became irrelevant. I didn’t know it was possible to make wieners this delicious. It was cooked just right, with just a hint of salt and some garlic seasoning added.

“Ehehe///”

“….Thank you for everything, Hatsune.”

I stroked Hatsune’s head to express my gratitude.

“So, So-kun///”

The embarrassed Hatsune is really cute. I really wish humans didn’t have jealousy.

After eating the lunch that Hatsune made for us, we went back to the classroom. And after school…

“I’m sorry, So-kun. It’s the beginning of the school year and I’m a little busy with the student council.”

“No, it’s fine. I’ll wait for you.”

“Thank you!”

Then Hatsune ran off again. I guess the student council is busy. It must be very busy, especially when she’s the vice president. And right after that, someone spoke to me from the other side.

“Hey, do you like light novels?”

“Huh? Yeah, I do.”

I didn’t expect this girl to talk to me… I mean, looking at her again, she has a cute… I mean, a calm face. If this were a novel, she would be a cool character.

“Have you ever heard of ‘The Saint Who Can See Through a Lie’?”

“Yes, I have!”

…I can’t tell her that about two days ago, the main character, the saint, had her breasts cut off and was thrown away by Hatsune.

“Then—“

From that point on, we talked about light novels in the classroom where no one else was around but us. It was not difficult to talk with her, and I could tell that she was adapting to my behavior and pace of speech. It was already 6PM in the evening, the time for the sports club to go home.

“It’s getting late. We should probably get going.”

“…Right, I’ll tell you my name while I’m at it.”

“Ah, y, you don’t mind?”

“I guess.”

I never imagined that this girl would be able to tell me her name.

“My name is Kuronomiya Tsukiai.”

“Ah, my name is—“

“Saioji Soumei, right? It’s a strange name so I can easily remember it.”

“Uu…”

That’s what my friends used to say to me, and that’s what the game said to me the other day too, so please don’t say it.

“Then, see you tomorrow.”

“…Yeah, if I feel like it.”

Then Tsukiai left the classroom before I did. I wondered if it was time for me to leave the classroom and wait for Hatsune at the school gate. That’s what I thought as I walked out of the classroom. But at that moment, I heard a familiar voice from the side.

“So-kun, what were you talking about with that woman?”

“Eh…?”

I froze for a few seconds as I saw Hatsune with the scariest expression I’ve seen in a while.