After arriving at the mall, I proceeded directly to the supermarket to buy the things on my list. I scanned through my shopping list focusing on the important things first like food and water. I went to the meat section of the supermarket to buy some pre-cut meat of different kinds while imagining the dishes I wanted to cook. Cooking my own meals is already a skill of mine since I was taught to cook before so it is also necessary for me to choose good ingredients in a dish since it can affect the final product.
I quickly breeze through the remaining items needed in my list and proceeded to the counter after double-checking if I got the correct items in hand. The counters all had a long line of people, so I patiently waited my turn to pay for my groceries. While waiting in line someone called out to me.
"" Eh, is that you Satoshi-kun?""
The voice was someone that I knew in school especially if they are popular among the students in school. I turned to the voice and not to my surprise it was Harumi Ai waving her hand at me like we were friends.
"" Is there something you need from me Harumi-san?""
Although it is weird for me to understand why she knows my name and face even though this is the first time we spoke to each other.
"" Ah, it really is you Satoshi-kun! It is surprising to see you here in the supermarket are you buying food for dinner?""
She asked me a harmless question out of the blue which threw me off thinking about what she wanted.
"" Yes, as you can see, I bought food enough to get me through the week some other necessary stuff.""
Answering her should be the correct call since I acknowledged her presence besides, I'm also curious about her knowing me.
"" So, what is your dinner for today? She continued to ask me while looking at the things in my shopping cart. Eh? You did not buy anything ready to eat?""
"" I cook my own food it saves me money and makes me free to experiment with many dishes."" I replied calmly to Harumi and her eyes widen in surprise.
"" Really! Wow so the delinquent cooks his own food what are you planning to do to poison your enemies?""
The sentence was insulting, but the tone of her voice shows that she was just joking around.
"" Hey now I don't have a hobby of doing that sort of thing besides don't you think that calling me a delinquent without knowing me well is a little bit of a bother to me?""
I struck back at her calling me a delinquent probing her intentions.
"" Ah sorry, I didn't mean it like that, well to be honest I don't think that you are a delinquent since I was there when you took down that 3rd-year senpai. You were just acting in self-defense, right? He was threatening you to give him your money right.""
Now, this is surprising news to me, it seems like Harumi saw me getting mugged by that senpai.
"" Well, I was about to help you but then you just suddenly launched a kick towards his face! I was just surprised to see that you took him down easily! I also wanted to talk to you about it, but you just seem so distant and unapproachable.""
"" Is that really the case? I don't really interact with anyone since I think it is a pain to do so but if needed, I can talk. I didn't really understand how people are so quick to judge others just by giving them little information. Besides, I was also surprised about you know me I'm sorry if I am being unapproachable.""
"" Well, I think seeing you take down that senpai really made me ingrained your name and face inside me. I mean who wouldn't forget seeing you kick that senpai, you looked cool doing that.""
Her eyes sparkled seeing that the person in front of her was the real deal.
"" It was not my intention to look cool I was just defending myself with the martial arts I learned from the past.""
""That's what makes it cool! For a person to learn martial arts takes dedication and effort, also the way you moved that time shows that you are good at it!""
Harumi was filled with excitement she kept praising me out of the blue.
""Okay, stop with the praise please it is making me uncomfortable.""
I wasn't used to be praised; I don't even remember if I was praised my entire life, I guess this was a first for me.
"" Anyway, Satoshi-kun do you really cook your own meals?""
She questioned me again turning the topic back to me cooking.
"" Well, I am quite good at cooking, besides I think it is a necessary skill for me and I also like cooking. It is satisfying to eat a really good meal if you make it gives me a sense of accomplishment for my hard work.""
"" Good at fighting then cooking, Satoshi-kun must have worked hard to be who you are huh?""
She was praising me again, but I felt some disappointment and sadness in her words.
"" Ah, it's my turn to pay.""
While we were talking, I didn't notice that I was next in line I guess we talked for quite a while huh. I quickly finished paying for my stuff and proceeded to go out of the supermarket.
"" Well, Harumi-san I guess I'll see you in school then I'll take my leave now. I said my goodbyes to Hayami before exiting the supermarket.""
"" Alright, see you Satoshi-kun!""
She waved goodbye to me as I was leaving the area.
After exiting the supermarket, I immediately went towards the exit of the mall to start walking back home but I stopped in my tracks since it started raining heavily. I wanted to go back home early so I called out a taxi to ride on.
What a friendly girl even though she doesn't have a reason to talk to me she went up to me and started one.
I muttered thinking about my conversation with Harumi earlier as I sat back further in my seat staring at the window.
I arrived at my apartment door but before going inside I heard someone's footsteps coming closer turning to the noise I was surprised to see Himari who was soaking wet from top to bottom. I couldn't stop myself from asking what happened to her.
"" Hey, why are you soaking wet did you got caught in the rain while outside? Wait why are you even outside I thought you were staying in your room?""
Now I'm acting like a worried boyfriend but still why would she go out when she did not have anything to buy.
"" Don't mind me Satoshi-kun I wanted to take a walk after you left you can guess what happened next after that.""
She replied to my questions with a smile but I felt something was off about that type of smile.
"" Fine, I was just worried, make sure you take care of yourself after getting in your apartment you might get a cold if you don't.""
I said that before going inside my apartment.
I proceeded to set the things I bought to their place before starting to make my dinner. I thought about making an easy-to-make meal but I perished that thought switching my preference to a broth-type dish so I decided on pork ramen. I prepared the broth by using the heated water of the now cooked pork slices. I added some finely chopped onions and garlic heating it up to a boil and added extra pepper to the broth. It took me only 30 minutes to finish cooking the ramen but before eating I decided to take a bath since it was cold outside.
After taking a bath I took out my bowl and started to mix in the broth noodles and pork. The aroma of the broth mixture was in the room giving out a calm mood, I started to pray before eating my dinner. I brought the noodles towards my mouth blowing them before finally putting them in my mouth.
Delicious.
I thought to myself as I continued to eat.
It was the next day, I was in class reading a new book that I have with me to the library during lunchtime. The title of the book was Elites which was recommended by my guardians when I ask them yesterday. Apparently, this was a light novel that shows a story of an emotionless student who is good at everything work behind the scenes manipulating things to his desire. It was an interesting book and I got immersed just by reading the 1st volume.
My reading time was interrupted by someone's voice and it was Harumi who looked like she just arrived at the library.
""Oh, Satoshi-kun! It's been a while, what are you doing here?""
She asked me cheerfully, but she was interrupted by the librarian since she was disturbing the people reading.
"" Ah sorry, I forgot I'm in the library.""
She lowered her voice apologizing to the librarian before walking up towards me.
"" I'm reading a book called Elites it was recommended to me by someone I know, how about you what are you doing here Harumi-san?""
I returned the question back to her since I doubt, she has something to do with me.
"" Well, I was thinking if I could study here since it is quiet but now that I'm here it just became louder.""
She said that with a smile on her face.
"" Well, it was quiet until you shouted my name you should keep your voice down when you talk.""
I replied to her nonchalantly while continuing to read my book.
""Hey, don't say it like that besides you seem like you're enjoying the book so to get your attention I must have a loud voice.""
She puffed her chest in a proud manner which was a little funny since I knew she was joking aaround.
"" Now, now Harumi-san look the librarian is looking at us don't get me into trouble as well.""
I said that pointing at the librarian who was staring at both of us.
"" Ah, sorry.""
She lowered her voice this time.
"" Anyway Satoshi-kun that book your reading is really good that main character is very cool he when he shows off his abilities, I was like woah seriously during my time reading it.""
It seems like Harumi knew the book I'm reading so she may be sharing her thoughts to me.
"" So, you managed to read this novel as well? Then please don't spoil me the events that transpired I want to enjoy reading it on my own I'll share my thoughts once I am finished reading this book.""
This is the first time a person tried to talk to me about books people usually have different hobbies and only a few people like this type of hobby.
"" Sure, I can't wait until you see who the love interest of the main protagonist is I mean it was very unexpected choice. Also, you will love the fight scene in volume 7 I can't even imagine if this gets animated soon, but it was such a shame that there isn't an anime for it the plot is good.""
"" Eh? There is more than one book of this title?""
I curiously asked Harumi since this was the first time, I tried to read a light novel.
"" Wait is this your first time reading this type of book?""
"" Well, it was recommended to me by my guardians I usually read novels, encyclopedias, and inspirational books so this is the first time I'm reading a light novel type of book I thought it would be the same as a novel but a shorter version of it. There is also a novelette but I thought they were the same thing.""
"" Wow to think you misunderstood even though you are a book worm you still have a naive side of you huh.""
"" What do you mean by that?""
I was confused, it was true that I like to read books but what does she mean about me being naïve about light novels.
"" Well light novels are books that are written by Japanese that focuses on young adult stories of fiction specifically targeting high school and middle school students as they are a mixture of fantasy, romance and even comedy stories.""
Harumi explained to me the things I needed to know about light novels I listened intently to her while she talks, I really did make a misconception about light novels. No wonder they recommended me this book it was a collection of stories, and it specifically targets the people my age. So, this is what people my age like?
"" Ah! I kept rambling about light novels but still, talk to me when you catch up with the whole novel Satoshi-kun!""
She said that as the first bell rang which indicated that students should return to their classrooms.
"" Well, that's the bell, I guess! Although I wanted to study in the library, I think making a new friend s better than studying see you Satoshi-kun!""
Harumi left the library after saying that.
Friend huh?
I muttered to myself while leaving the library after her.
Classes ended in the afternoon without trouble while preparing to return to my apartment I visited the bookstore trying to find the other volumes of the Elites. I instantly bought the whole collection up until the newest volume since I got immersed reading the first one. I my dinner outside since I think it was a hassle cooking later because I wanted to read the next volumes when I arrived back at my apartment.
While returning home from the bookstore after eating my dinner, the sky suddenly rained. I luckily brought my umbrella in my bag, so I didn't mind the rain too much as it was not strong as yesterday but sometimes, I feel like something bad is going to happen when it rains twice. I arrived at my apartment door but before I could go in, I noticed someone walking under the rain and I recognized the person.
"" Himari-san why are you out in the rain again?""
She did not respond instead she continued walking forward.
"" Hey, your apartment door is right here Himari-san.""
She still did not respond to my call.
There was something off about her today since I noticed earlier in class, she seemed to be tired and breathing heavily. While I hoped that I was wrong I decided to call out to her once more.
"" Hey, are you alright Himari-san?""
I called out to her touching her hand which confirmed my suspicions.
While I was thinking on what to do about her Himari's body suddenly lost its strength falling but I managed to catch her before her head hit the floor.
This girl.
I muttered and let out a huge sigh trying to think on what to do