"Takanashi-san, what do you think of this one?"
The bento box Sara-senpai held out was, as I expected, incredibly cute. It was covered in stylized animal illustrations—certainly not something designed for a guy.
I couldn't say I wasn't embarrassed, but more than anything, I was just happy that she had chosen it for me. That alone was enough to make me want it.
"Thank you. It’s... well, it’s very cute."
"It is! But... do you think it's a bit too childish?"
"As long as you're the one who picked it out, Senpai, I’m happy with it. Truly."
Those were my honest feelings, and I wanted to make sure I conveyed them properly.
"So, if you're okay with it, let's get this one."
"Yes, let's."
With that, the bento box hunt was over. I took the package from her; I could give it to her when we headed home, but for now, I would be the one carrying it. I certainly couldn't let her carry the bags.
Now, what should we do next?
The options were to find a cafe for a break, have an early lunch, or head straight to a general goods store to look for her present. I decided to just ask.
"Sara-senpai, what would you like to do now? We could take a break, or we could go grab an early lunch..."
"Let’s see... I don't feel like I need a rest just yet."
"In that case, is it alright if we look at some other shops?"
"Of course. Please, lead the way to wherever you’d like to go."
I decided to try browsing some general goods stores. I'd spent last night trying to come up with a plan, but I hadn't been able to settle on anything. I’d already ruled out accessories; it felt a bit too forward, or perhaps too flippant. Of course, it would be a different story if she actually wanted one.
"So he's buying Sara's present first," Natsumi noted.
"Yeah. He mentioned he wouldn't be able to relax until he had that settled," Yuji replied.
The two watched as the pair headed toward a general goods store.
"I wonder if he’s actually decided on something?"
"I doubt it. He said he didn't want to just pick something generic."
"Accessories are the standard choice, but Sara’s never really been interested in that stuff. Then again, she’d probably be happy with anything Takanashi-kun gave her."
I tried to gauge Senpai's reactions while we browsed aimlessly. It was difficult; it would have been easy if she had been drawn to something specific, but her eyes were mostly on me.
"By the way, Senpai, are there any kind of goods or trinkets you're interested in?"
"Let me think... I enjoy looking at them, but there isn't really anything in particular that I want..."
Ugh. I’d hit a wall already.
This was harder than I thought. If I chose something too expensive, it would feel heavy and burdensome, but choosing something random felt meaningless. That left me with daily necessities, but...
"Come to think of it, Sara rarely buys anything for herself even when she visits shops like this," Natsumi whispered.
To avoid looking suspicious, she and Yuji had entered a shop on the opposite side of the walkway, keeping an eye on the couple while pretending to browse. Since they were currently in a fancy boutique, Tachibana-kun looked painfully out of place. Natsumi stifled a giggle at his discomfort.
"R-really? That’s going to make things tough for Kazunari, then."
"You saw that bento box earlier—Sara definitely has a soft spot for cute things. I bet she’d love a plushie or something, but I’ve never actually seen her buy one for herself."
"I see... Anyway, I really feel like I don't belong here. Can I wait outside?"
"No way. What if they spot you? Just be patient, okay?"
"......Fine."
We eventually drifted into the kitchen section. I figured I might find something useful here. If I couldn't find a lead in this department, I was truly in trouble.
"Senpai, do you usually cook at home, other than making bentos?"
"Yes. Since I’m usually home alone, I tend to make my own meals. I also cook whenever I visit my grandmother's house."
"I see. And... what about your parents?"
"My father is a bit of a workaholic. He comes home late and even works when he is at the house, so we don't often have the chance to eat together. My mother assists him with his work, though she does try to share a meal with me whenever she can find the time."
...I realized then that this was the first time I'd ever heard about her family. No—the realization hit me even harder than that. I realized I didn't know anything about Sara-senpai at all.
Why was I only noticing this now?
I’d told myself she was a precious person to me, yet I only knew the version of her I saw at school.
"...Is something the matter?" Senpai asked, looking at me with a puzzled expression.
"No... it's just, hearing you talk made me realize something. I don't know anything about your daily life, your hobbies, your home, or even what you do in the student council. I didn't even know why you were the only one taking care of the flowerbed..."
I didn't mean to sound presumptuous, as if I had some right to know everything about her. But didn't I know far too little?
I was suddenly overwhelmed by a wave of self-loathing.