Chapter 16: Walking Home with My Best Friend (?)

「Kanato-kun, whose name combines "fulfill" and "person"~ Haven't you been kind of cold lately~?」

During the headache-inducing break after math class. I couldn't keep up with Sena's energy as he approached me just after waking up from sleep.

Sena sits in the seat next to mine and hangs his head with a serious expression.

「I've been thinking lately. …My Kanato is about to be stolen by Shigure-san.」

「Who said I belong to you. …What, jealous?」

「Yeah. Jealous. Super jealous. I mean, just a little while ago we used to eat lunch together, walk home together! But now you're all infatuated with some girl who just showed up... Hang out with me sometimes!」

I push away Sena's face as he leans in close and lets out a sigh. Never thought I'd have a guy be jealous of me.

Normally when someone's jealous of you, you'd feel complicated emotions or some sense of superiority, but what is this melancholy feeling? This sense of "this isn't it"?

「Besides, this relationship is fake anyway, and it'll end once the Minazuki-senpai situation gets resolved. Just endure it until then.」

「...When's that gonna be?」

「...Don't know.」

「See! That's what I mean! You're just dragging it out and trying to dodge the question! It's so obvious!」

「You're starting to sound like a troublesome woman...」

Sena puffs out his cheeks and keeps complaining nonstop. It seems like no matter what I said, Sena wasn't going to listen in his current state.

▼▽

「That's oh shit.」

A few hours have passed since then, and now it's lunch break. I'm eating my bento with Shigure on the rooftop.

When I told her about Sena, Shigure responded casually. She seems used to being talked about by now. She's operating normally enough to respond with light jokes.

「Well, you have your own social circle. I can understand what Nanase-kun is saying.」

「So then...?」

「Yes. You can go hang out today. I'm an understanding girlfriend.」

Shigure declares this proudly and confidently. The "fake" part is missing, but her understanding helps.

When Sena gets like that, he's a pain. Even though he has plenty of other people to hang out with, he stays grumpy until I play with him.

「...If you cheat, you know?」

Shigure makes a gesture of slicing her throat with her thumb. If I cheat, it's the death penalty, apparently.

「Don't worry. I have no intention of switching to anyone but you.」

「I see. Then I'm relieved. Have a safe trip.」

I took out my smartphone and contacted Sena.

▼▽

Time passes and it's after school. I came to a hamburger shop in the city with Sena.

This hamburger shop was a place Sena and I had visited often before, and on days when Sena didn't have club activities, we'd chat here.

「It's been a while since we came here.」

「I... well, I don't think it's been that long. When Kanato was flirting with Shigure-san, I was coming here alone and lonelyー.」

I ignore Sena as he pokes my side with his elbow and enters the shop.

I head to the counter near the entrance with Sena who follows me in. What I always order here is a double cheeseburger set. I've decided to always order this when I come here.

「What are you ordering, Sena?」

「I'll... ah, I'll try this new pineapple burger.」

After ordering, we take seats by the window.

This hamburger shop is frequently used by students from our Shinshin Academy. Looking around the store, I can see several people wearing the same uniform as us.

「So? How are things with Shigure-san?」

「That's sudden... Nothing special. We're just managing somehow while getting caught up in some trouble.」

「What~ You're next to a beautiful girl, so couldn't you be a little more excitedー?」

「I'd like to, but there's so much trouble that I don't have time for that...」

I then complained to Sena about the hardships of being caught between Shigure and Minazuki-senpai.

After I finished telling the whole story and looked at Sena's expression, it seemed somewhat clouded.

「W-What?」

「No, I was thinking you've changed.」

「Kaa-san told me the same thing this morning. …Do I really look that different?」

Sena nods vigorously. We waited for the staff to bring our order to the table, then Sena began talking.

「Kanato, you weren't such an action-oriented person. You didn't do things like working hard for someone else's sake. You always ordered cheeseburgers. Never adventured with other menu items.」

「...Well, that's probably true.」

「Right? But when it comes to Shigure-san, you try to do things even when they're troublesome. …I'm kind of jealous.」

「Why?」

「I mean, it feels special, you know? ...Uwa, so much pineapple.」

Sena makes a sour expression.

If you take risks, your field of vision expands. But there are risks involved too. There's a possibility of painful backlash. So there's a part of me that feels it's not bad to be content with the status quo.

But now I think it's a little different. Even if there's no foothold after taking that step forward, it remains as a vivid experience within yourself.

Shigure took a step forward and dragged me toward her. That wasn't just because it was convenient for her, but a courageous step aimed at breaking away from the status quo.

I want to face things like that too. I reached for the pineapple burger left in Sena's hands. And take a bite.

「...It's awful.」

「You got your comeuppance.」

「Sweet. But greasy.」

I'm a little scared of myself changing because of Shigure. But more than that, this change is fun.

▼▽

「I'm home~」

When I got home, I dove onto my bed without even changing out of my uniform.

After leaving the hamburger shop, Sena and I were exhausted from hitting up the arcade and karaoke.

Shigure's face suddenly floats in my mind.

We went home separately today, but did she get back safely? Didn't Minazuki-senpai do anything to her? Strangely, I find myself worrying about Shigure.

I open Shigure's contact information. The conversation is still stopped at the earlier rooftop meetup exchange.

I think about sending a message, but throw my smartphone away thinking I might be worrying too much.

「......」

But I'm still concerned and pick up my smartphone. I repeated this flow several times and ended up staring at the ceiling.

(Too many things... too many things to think about...!)

Ding dong

The intercom rang, cutting off my thoughts.

I figured someone would answer, but I heard my mother's voice from the living room saying "Kanato, get it~".

「No choice...」

I get up and head to the monitor in the living room. When I got to the living room, my mother seemed busy with dishes and couldn't leave.

When I press the button, the entrance appears on screen.

「Eh...」

I froze in shock.

「...Um, is Kanato-kun there...?」

Standing there was Honoka.