Takanashi-san and Natsumi had become friends, we walked to school together every morning, and the three of us shared our bento...
I was so happy right now... truly blissful.
Until then, I had never thought school was fun, even as a figure of speech.
While there were naturally events like the Sports Festival and the School Festival, I had always wanted to keep my social interactions to the bare minimum. Instead, I had buried myself in my duties as an officer and my work for the Student Council.
Ironically, that dedication led to my high reputation, but I certainly never found the process enjoyable.
If not for Natsumi and my other friends, attending school would have been nothing more than a chore.
But since I got to know Takanashi-san—since meeting him, becoming close enough to be on friendly terms, and spending time with him and Natsumi as a trio—I had actually begun to feel that school was fun.
If the "me" from only a short while ago saw me now, she would think I was a different person entirely.
When I thought about it, Takanashi-san was the common thread in everything.
Takanashi-san was just that important to me.
Now that we had finally become friends, I should have been overjoyed, and yet...
Why did I find myself becoming so stubborn over such trivial matters?
I considered Natsumi to be an irreplaceable, precious best friend.
Since she was the one offering to make a bento, I should have been looking forward to it; I should have been happy.
But... I couldn't allow anyone else to make Takanashi-san's bento.
I was the one who would make it for him.
My Grandmother had asked me to do it, after all... though, when Natsumi first suggested making a portion for Takanashi-kun as well, I hadn't been thinking about that promise.
The only thought in my mind was that I was the one who was supposed to make Takanashi-san's bento.
Natsumi didn't mean any harm; she had only offered out of kindness and goodwill.
In contrast, I wondered what was wrong with me for acting that way.
It was the same with the first-name basis. Why did I let such childish thoughts consume me?
I knew I had to apologize to Natsumi.
I just didn't quite understand myself—why I inevitably became so stubborn whenever Takanashi-san was involved.
Hmm, she was definitely brooding over something again.
Sara had been wearing a pained expression ever since the lunch break ended.
It was probably about the conversation we had earlier, so most likely the bento.
She got quite stubborn when I mentioned making a bento for Takanashi-kun, after all.
The same went for the first-name basis thing. Sara clearly had feelings for Takanashi-kun that she wasn't willing to concede to anyone else.
That was surely jealousy.
The only question was... to what extent Sara herself had realized her own feelings.
I wouldn't be able to move things forward without confirming how much she actually understood.
After school, Sara called out to me.
"Natsumi, do you have a moment?"
"Hmm? Sure."
"I'm sorry, it's about what happened during the lunch break..."
So Sara was the one to bring it up.
This was a good opportunity, so I figured I'd try pushing the topic a bit further.
"Let's change locations. There’s something I want to ask you, too."
"In that case, I have to go to the Student Council Room after this, so would somewhere nearby be acceptable?"
"That works for me."
As I watched her expression while we walked, she still seemed to be wrestling with her thoughts.
Once we reached a spot where no one else was around, Sara began to speak.
"First, regarding the lunch break, I was rude regarding Takanashi-san's bento. I am truly sorry..."
"Yeah, I was actually thinking of asking you about that. Oh, and just so you know, I'm not offended. It's okay."
"Thank you very much."
Now then, time to probe a bit and see how deep this went.
"So, about the bento... you felt like making Takanashi-kun's bento was your job, right?"
"...Yes... that's right... but I don't really understand why I became so stubborn about it myself..."
"I see. Well, for example, if it wasn't about a bento, but say Takanashi-kun got hurt or caught a cold and needed someone to look after him?"
"I would take care of everything myself, so it would be fine."
Yep, no doubt about it. She was fixated on Takanashi-kun himself.
"What if Takanashi-kun were to go out somewhere with another girl? Would you follow them?"
"...If there were some necessity for it, I would want to be the one to help him in the first place. But if Takanashi-san specifically requested that person's help... it would be... wrong for me to interfere... and yet..."
"Even though you know logically that it's not right, your heart hates the idea?"
".........Yes. Am I strange, after all? Rationally, I know I shouldn't intrude... but..."
I see.
While there was no doubt she was jealous, she was suffering because she didn't recognize the feeling of jealousy for what it was.
Which meant, naturally, she didn't understand the source of that jealousy.
Hmm... it was probably her first love...
I decided to just provide support until she noticed it for herself, rather than rushing her.
"I see. Look, first of all, it's not strange to have feelings that defy logic when it comes to someone you care about. It's just that you never let anyone get close before, Sara, so you simply never had anyone you felt that way about. It's okay."
"Is that so... then I am relieved. Since it was a feeling I've never experienced before, I thought perhaps I had grown broken."
"Nope. However, if you let those feelings out at the people around you without thinking, you might end up causing trouble for Takanashi-kun. So, if there's something you want to do for him, it might be best to just ask him directly."
"I understand."
"Alright, I've asked what I wanted to ask. Are you doing okay now, Sara?"
"Yes, thank you very much. I feel much better thanks to you. Well then, I shall head to the Student Council."
I finally understood Sara's feelings.
If her partner was Takanashi-kun, I was more than happy to help.
Now... I wondered when she would finally realize the truth?