I have already lost the natural feeling of 'a year difference' for a high school student.
I felt that I said something I should not have.
This was the wish I set for myself when I arrived at this school, and the promise I made with my
mother.
That I have to handle my studies well, make good friends even if they are few, and enjoy the high
school life I will only have once.
In other words, being a 'high school student.
But-
I ended up grounding myself regarding this matter. I made a miscue right from the first day.
"...That's how things are. Please take care of me..."
What's with that 'That's how things are. Please take care of me' line? That's ridiculous.
I was the one who said 'I'm a year older than you!". Wasn't I the one hiding this fact until a while
ago?
After ending this greatest failure in my life, I slump weakly on the chair, feeling myself to be so
foolish that I don't have the strength to sigh.
"Hm, well, next. You must be the last one, I suppose?"
The teacher did not follow up with this, but this was probably to prevent the wound from
expanding any further.
"Yes!"
And then, I hear a cheerful voice from the girl seated behind me, coupled with both the sound of
her pulling her chair back and standing up. At this moment, I realized that she's a girl.
I didn't have the strength to look back, so I continued to maintain this position, despite it being
rude to her.
"Eri Nitadori. My given name and family name both rhyme with 'ri"""
Her voice was intriguing.
She surely wasn't loud, but I can hear her clearly. The voice seems to pass through my ears and
reach the brain directly.
"I transferred into this school last Autumn, and I was in the second class. My favorite foods are
basically all kinds of them, but the one I really want to eat for all 3 meals a day is-"
I begin to guess her answer.
Is it a sweet befitting a girl? Cake or parfait? Or was it some ordinary curry or ramen? Maybe
some unexpected katsudon with sauce on it?
I started to challenge her.
And I began thinking all sorts of possible dishes she could mention before she answered.
What she said next was,
"Horse sashimi!"
She said.
I lost.
This was overwhelmingly, or I should say, something not many would say to be a favorite food,
and so my classmates laughed heartily. Even the teacher laughed.