The door rattled open.
Even when I stepped into the classroom in the morning, I didn't bother with greetings. I already knew that no one would answer me anyway.
But lately, things had been a little different.
"Takanashi-kun, good morning!"
"Morning!"
To start with, several of the girls had actually begun to greet me. I had no idea why it was specifically the girls, but since there was no way they actually liked me, there had to be some underlying motive.
"Morning," I replied.
"Did you come with Natsumi-senpai and the others today, too?"
"Yeah, I did."
"Lucky... I wish I could..."
"Hey, stealing a march is a rule violation, you know."
"I know, I know!"
Rule violation... What on earth were they talking about?
"Yo, Takanashi."
"Takanashi-kun, morning!"
Now these guys, I understood. They just wanted a way to get closer to either Sara-senpai or Natsumi-senpai. That was why I barely gave them the time of day.
"Morning."
"Do you hang out with the senpais after school or something?"
"What do you do on your days off?"
"Just whatever," I said, cutting them off.
It was best to end the conversation as quickly as possible. I started organizing my things, radiating an aura that said I had no intention of talking anymore. Even if people approached me now, there was always some hidden reason behind it.
...In other words, the fact that I was isolated hadn't actually changed. Well, I'd rather be alone than deal with people like that, anyway.
"Hello, Takanashi-san."
"Hello, Takanashi-kun!"
"Hello, both of you."
This was the only place that felt like a healing spot to me.
"Here is your bento, Takanashi-san."
"Thank you. I'm sorry you're doing this every day..."
"No, it is simply what I wish to do. In fact, it makes me happy just to have you eat it."
Yes, before I realized it, this had become a daily occurrence. When I had left the frequency up to Sara-senpai's discretion, the intervals between meals gradually shortened until it finally became every single day. Well, my only concern was not being a burden to her, so as long as she seemed happy, I didn't see a problem. It certainly made me happy, too.
"Takanashi-kun is such a lucky man," Natsumi-senpai chimed in. "Getting one of Sara's bentos every day... I'm honestly jealous."
I really was a lucky man.
"Oh? But didn't I tell you before that I would make a bento for you too, Natsumi?"
"No, once in a while is plenty for me. If I relied on you every day, I wouldn't get any practice in myself."
So it doubled as practice... It would probably be boorish of me to ask what she was practicing for.
"Still, since I'm receiving a bento every day like this, I feel like I'm getting far too much as a thank-you," I said. "I'd really like to think of something to give you in return."
"............"
Sara-senpai went silent. She had an expression like she had just remembered something important.
"Oh, Sara," Natsumi-senpai teased. "You forgot you were supposed to be making these as a thank-you, didn't you?"
"...Yes. Now that you mention it, I did start making them as a way to repay you, but I was so happy to have you eat them, Takanashi-san, that I forgot they were meant to be a repayment."
"Ah, Sara-senpai... Honestly, if it's meant to be a thank-you, I've already received more than enough, so..."
Sara-senpai's expression instantly turned sorrowful.
"Wait! Does that mean... you don't want my bento anymore?"
"No! That's not it at all! I'd love to eat your bento every single day, Sara-senpai! I just meant that since I've already been repaid enough, I want to be the one giving you something in return now!"
"I-Is that what you meant? What a relief..."
"In fact," I added, "I can't even imagine my school life without your bento anymore."
I realized I was saying some pretty bold things, but it would have been a disaster if I let her continue to misunderstand.
"...You like my bento that much..."
Sara-senpai began drifting off into her own world. I felt like her stoic persona was crumbling more with each passing day—though she didn't change at all when she was dealing with anyone else.
"Good grief," Natsumi-senpai muttered while smirking. "If the guys in the Fan Club saw Sara in a rom-com scene like this, they'd literally drop dead."
Lately, Natsumi-senpai had been making comments like that while watching our interactions.
"Anyway, I really want to do something for you," I insisted. "Since this is a daily thing, I can't just keep saying 'thank you' and leave it at that."
"For my part, I truly enjoy making the bento, so I do not feel it is a burden in the slightest..."
I frowned. Forcing a gift on her didn't feel right, either. If I was going to give her something, I wanted it to be something she actually wanted.
"At the very least, is there anything you'd like?"
"Sara," Natsumi-senpai nudged her, "if you just accept his offer, Takanashi-kun will be able to eat your food without feeling guilty. If you're too reserved, it just makes him feel reserved, too."
Nice assist, Natsumi-senpai!
"...I see. That would be a problem. Very well, then... anything I want, you said?"
"Yes. I can't afford anything too extravagant, but if there's something..."
I'd been saving quite a bit on my living expenses thanks to her, so I didn't intend to hold back within reason.
"Something I want... Let me see... Oh! I have one request."
"I'm glad. What is it?"
"I want a bento box... specifically for you, Takanashi-san!"
...Wait, what?
"Up until now, I have been using a makeshift one I had at home," she continued, "but if I am to continue making meals for you, I want to use a bento box that is dedicated solely to you."
That... was something that I should technically have been the one to provide in the first place.
I glanced over at Natsumi-senpai, who wasn't doing a very good job of hiding her laughter.