Episode 3: Just Bento
“Speaking of which, I wonder if Akimoto-kun saw us?”
“I wonder. I immediately went down the stairs on the opposite side, so I think it’s okay, but… does Ayano really not want people to know about us?”
“It’s not that I don’t want to, but…”
Yuuto Kamijou and Ayano Ichinose were walking slowly, hand in hand, on their way home from school.
If a classmate saw them about to kiss—well, technically it was an attempt—it would be embarrassing for a girl.
But she didn’t think it was necessary to hide the fact that she was now in love with her “most beloved” from everyone around her.
“He wouldn’t go around spreading rumors, would he?”
“Fuyu isn’t the type to do that. Besides, if it spreads, it’ll save us the trouble of explaining to everyone.”
“…I feel like you can put a spin on anything. Well, I guess I’m not helping by agreeing….”
“We’ve been worrying for nothing until now, so let’s keep it simple from now on.”
“I feel like I’m going to get dumber during these three years…”
The two laughed shyly, and then,
“By the way, did you watch the drama that started at 9 PM yesterday?”
“I did, I did. That one’s based on a shoujo manga, but they’ve changed the script so much. It’s causing a minor uproar every week. Hey, did you know? In the original manga, that date scene yesterday was…”
Just trivial, pointless talk.
But they felt a sense of peace they had never felt before.
From the warmth of their connected hands, they could feel that they were thinking the same thing.
As they approached their houses, they found themselves on the same road they used to take in middle school days.
Originally, it was a scene they should have walked together back then, but they were seeing it three years later.
It was a very happy time. For some reason, they were reluctant to go home, and their pace became strangely slow.
However, the distance wasn’t that long.
They stretched it out as much as they could, but they finally arrived in front of their houses.
They exchanged words to make up for all the time they couldn’t talk, but a few tens of minutes was not enough to satisfy them.
“We’re here.”
“We’re here, aren’t we?”
Their houses were next to each other. Their rooms were so close that they could go back and forth through the windows if they wanted to.
They could talk as much as they wanted now, but… for some reason, they couldn’t bear to let go of each other’s hands.
Well, they couldn’t stay like this forever, so they both loosened their grip.
Just before they completely separated, they hooked their fingers together, reluctant to let go.
“Have you decided what to do for lunch tomorrow?”
Ayano suddenly muttered.
“My Mother always makes it for me, but when she’s busy with work, I usually get something at the Convenience Store or the school store. I won’t know about tomorrow until I ask her.”
“Hmph,” Ayano said, pretending to be uninterested,
“I make a Bento Box for my father every morning. I usually fill it with leftovers from dinner or frozen food. There’s not much difference between making it for two people and making it for three.”
The strength in her fingers increased slightly.
“…If you want, you can eat—”
“I’ll eat it! I’ll take it!”
“You’re too eager!?”
“Just Bento.”
“…Huh?”
“Forget I said that.”
Her boyfriend turned away from her cold gaze.
Ayano chuckled softly,
“The Bento Box. I’ll lend it to you later, just through the window of my room.”
“Ah, got it. Well, see you later.”
“Yeah, see you.”
And with that, they finally went home.