A beautiful girl who would talk to me, much less invite me like that, is something that only exists in my imagination. But when she actually said that, there was no reason for me to refuse.
"Y-yes..." I replied, and the completely unknown event of eating lunch with a girl began.
"I was in the basketball club in middle school, so I was thinking maybe I'd join in high school too..."
As we ate, the conversation progressed at Sasai's pace. Very student-like topics like studying and club activities kept popping out of her mouth.
As usual, I was somehow managing to respond, but at one point Sasai stopped the conversation. Then, with her chopsticks, she picked up a small omelet from the lunch box in front of her.
"Sato-kun, this bento is mostly made with frozen foods, but I made the tamagoyaki myself."
Sasai-san holds the tamagoyaki between her chopsticks in front of me. I don't know what she's saying, or how to respond in this situation, or the correct answer to such interpersonal communication problems.
"I-I see... I-I think it's very beautifully made..."
So, the comment I chose was very ordinary and boring. After hearing that, Sasai-san thought for a moment, and then continued.
"Thanks Sato-kun, and... if you don't mind, I'd like you to taste it. I think it turned out well."
I wonder if it's okay for me to eat a girl's homemade tamagoyaki. I can't help but feel that it's not worth her effort. Besides, I don't think my comments will be of any use, but when she asks me to eat it, I can't refuse.
I nodded silently and tried to slide my lunchbox so that he would put it in my lunch. However, Sasai stopped me with his hand.
"Oh, it's okay... I think it's easier if you just put it in your mouth."
Saying that, Sasai extended her chopsticks directly to my mouth. The omelet between my hands gradually closed the distance between us. My thoughts stopped and I was a little late in opening my mouth, but I regained consciousness just in time. And then, a single omelet was thrown into my mouth.
If you think about it for a moment, it was outrageous. This was the so-called "Aah" from a girl, a privilege of a popular guy that I thought I would never experience in my life.
I even worried if it was okay. I couldn't read Sasai's intentions at all, even if she was willing to take money. Even if she wanted to be friendly, her actions were a bit too stimulating for me, and there was no way I could recognize the taste.
Still, I felt that I had to say something, so I told her how I felt, using polite language, "It's delicious." Sasai blushed a little, but smiled and said, "Hehe, that's good."
Meanwhile, Yamamoto looked at her own lunch box several times for some reason, but in the end, she seemed troubled as to what to say. But there was no way I could ask her the reason.
Even if what happened just happened on Sasai's whim, I should be grateful that someone like me was able to encounter such a whim. Nervously, I told Sasai, "I'm sorry I took it, okay?"
In response to me, Sasai looked down a little and replied, "It's okay," in a quieter voice than usual.
I'm sure I'll never see such an adorable sight again, so I'm going to save it for future nourishment. With that resolve, the time passed as I shared my first lunch with a girl.
"I'd be happy if you could eat with me again!"
With that, Sasai-san left the classroom, and Yamamoto-san bowed and returned to his seat for some reason. After a memorable 40 minutes, the fifth period began.
The class ended, and it was time for after-school time. I had been thinking about visiting a couple of cultural clubs. I had no idea what school life would be like in this world, but I still wanted to see what club activities were like.
For now, this world has been kind to me. But, like in my old world, there's a chance that I'll lose my place in a club during my provisional membership period. I have to do whatever I can to erase that anxiety.
In fact, during lunch break, Sasai-san had asked me if I wanted to go to the basketball club with her. She probably asked me because she thought it would be reassuring to have someone to go with me as a classmate.
However, I had no interest in sports clubs, and I thought that if I went without any interest, it would be a bother to Sasai and the basketball club.
Sasai looked a little disappointed when I turned him down, and I thought I had done something wrong, but now that he said to me with a smile, "See you tomorrow!", my anxiety was eased a little. I'm worried that I might make a bad move one day by communicating like this.
And just as I stood up, thinking I'd go see the clubs by myself, Yamamoto walked towards me.
"...Um, Sato-kun, if you don't mind, let's go to the cultural clubs together..."
Yamamoto invited me while trembling, so much so that I thought she was scared of me. What feelings she had towards me remains a mystery.
(T/N: Come on guys, please give stones and comment. All encouragement is very appreciated, even the smallest bits.)