As expected, once homeroom was over, Hayasaka's classmates crowded into her seat. It was like a festival as many students gathered outside our classroom to catch a glimpse of her.
"Hey, Hayasaka-san, what kind of cosmetics do you use?"
"I don't use cosmetics."
"Huh? Is that what it feels like when you're not using it? That's crazy."
"Hey, Hayasaka-san. Would you like to go eat pancakes after school today? Delicious...Hey I know a nice shop."
"I'm not going. I don't have time."
In this way, Hayasaka san answered the questions from the girls one after another with short words. The situation was so brusque and unfriendly that I, who was listening from the side, found myself in suspense.
However, the girls in her class were undeterred and came to Hayasaka's seat during every recess and bombarded her with questions. As expected of a positive person, her mentality is like a monster.
As I listened to Hayasaka san's exchange with her classmates from behind, I felt depressed, and when lunchtime came around, I hurriedly rushed forward, thinking that I would finally be freed from this hell.I ran away from the classroom with bag in my hand.
Naturally, I didn't have any friends to eat lunch with, so I always ate alone in places where no one could see me.
My favorite spot these days is the stairs in front of the rooftop.Although you can't go up to the rooftop, there are no people coming and you can use the stairs as a chair, so I've been having lunch here for three years unless something happens. I already vowed to take it as my territory.
I sat down at the top of the stairs and took out my bento box from my bag. My mother makes lunch for me every morning. Even though she has other household chores to do, I feel really depressed.
Unwrapping the bento box,lid open it. Inside, as always, there were a variety of simple but delicious-looking side dishes lined up.
Pick up the chopsticks , say "Itadakimasu" and start eating.
First, let's start with fried eggs. Yeah. delicious. Usual taste. It tastes exactly like a egg.
As I was popping side dishes into my mouth, one after another, I heard the sound of someone walking down the hallway.
Is someone coming ? There are a lot of unused classrooms around here, so at least no one should be coming here at this time.
Shut up and wait for that moment. The sound and presence gradually come closer and finally reveal its appearance.
"ah"
The other person looks at me and raises her voice. I guess she thought there was no one on the other side. She gave a blatantly disgusted look.
" Hayasaka san, why...?"
She was supposed to be surrounded by the girls in our class and having fun, but why is she here?
" I ran away because it was annoying."
"Huh? Ah, then I am."
In a hurry, I try to put away my lunch box. If you came here because you wanted to be alone, I would be a nuisance.
"Where are you going? You were the one who was here first, right?"
"but..."
Hayasaka san sat down at the bottom of the stairs, leaving me confused.
"I'll eat here without permission. So, you can eat there as well."
I was surprised by the unexpected words, but I honestly felt like they were acknowledging that we were together.Well, that's just my imagination.
Like me, Hayasaka had a bag in her hand, from which she took out a sweet bun.
"Hmm?"
"what?"
"No, it's nothing."
Sorry, I don't know what to say.
You are thinking about this lunch, right?"
"Ah, huh? ...Yeah."
I automatically assumed that people like Ms. Hayasaka brought home-made lunch boxes.
"My parents both work so I can't afford to have them make it for me."
"I can't make it myself…"
"Because I can't cook."
"Ahh?"
"What? That's bad."
She glared at me every time I turned around, and I shook my head in a panic.
"Is that what you're making yourself?"
"No, this is made by my mother..."
"Hmm"
When I said that, for some reason Hayasaka san turned towards me with a triumphant look on her face.
"But I can cook."
"Ah. What is that? Are you mocking me?"
"That's not my intention..."
I didn't, but I certainly had the desire to retort, which is unusual for me. I may have gotten into a good mood by being able to talk to a beautiful transfer student that everyone was so excited about. Moreover, the thought that I might never have the chance to talk to her again makes me wonder and my feelings grow.
The conversation stopped there, and the two ate in silence for a while.
Even though I felt that way, strangely I didn't feel as awkward as I felt with other people.
Even after finishing her meal, Hayasaka did not return to the classroom immediately. This is probably because when she returns to the classroom, she will be bombarded with questions from her classmates.
Hayasaka san started fiddling with her smartphone, so I took out a paperback book from my bag and read it. I could read it in class, but if I returned too early, the desks and chairs might be occupied, so I wanted to return as late as possible.
"What are you reading?"
"Hmm?"
I couldn't hide my agitation at the sudden question. I wonder how she knew I was reading a book when she was just fiddling with her smartphone in the first place. Do she even has eyes on her backs?
"Because I heard a sound."
Hayasaka san answered as if she could hear my inner voice.
"Ah"
That was a blind spot.
"Light novel"
"What's the title?"
"This is what happened to me"
"What that"
"That's the title."
"Hmm."
Even though she had asked the question herself, Hayasaka san sounded uninterested.
Well, I know that it's a hobby that is difficult for the average person to understand, so I don't really think anything of it.
From then on, silence passed between the two of us again.
Hayasaka san plays with her smartphone and I read a book. Even though we were apart and doing different things, strangely I didn't feel bad about it.