"I thought I was gonna die…"
"See? It was crazy, right? Feels like it could turn into a big problem in a bad way if you serve this."
"Rather than it could, it absolutely will."
Having regained consciousness, Sandai borrowed Shino's shoulders and got up while staggering, and Takasago repeatedly lowered her head.
"I truly don't know how I should apologize for this… O-Other people in the cooking group could do it right, but I'm the only one who's like this, that's why then I'm practicing alone… and Shihouin-kun did encourage me to keep trying, but… like, Shiouin-kun also collapsed and… but…"
Apparently the class president had eaten the cookie, and then judged that this wasn't at the level where self-help could do anything, and then brought this up to them.
The class president had requested Shino for this, but well, he got an eye for people. Including confectionery making, she was good at cooking as a whole, and her personality wasn't bad either, so she would certainly be cut out for helping the timid Takasago.
Shino herself seemed to catch on to her role and patted Takasago's shoulder, pom-pom.
"Eh? Umm, err…"
"I might not seem like it, but I'm good at confectionery making, so I'll be sure to teach you how!"
"…Are you sure? Even if you know that all I can make is poison-like sweets that will knock you out if you eat it, are you still going to teach me?"
"It's turning poisonous must absolutely be because of a series of weird mistakes, so we just need to fix the mistakes one by one, don't you think? It's gonna be OK."
"…Th-Thank you so much."
"Well then, now try making it again from the beginning."
"Yes!"
Takasago wiped away her overflowing tears, placed a bag of wheat flour on the desk… and then took out a small tube from her pocket.
He thought it might be some kind of flavoring or condiment, but on a closer look, the packaging was different. That strangely familiar-looking thing was the paint used in art classes.
He got a bad feeling.
"…What is that?" Shino asked with her cheeks twitching—
"It's paint, you know? I mean, this is needed to add colors to sweets, isn't it?" Only for Takasago to give a carefree smile as if that was absolutely normal.
Frightening.
Of course, Sandai who was listening from the side, and as well as Shino who was being told that directly to her face, were taken aback with their cheeks twitching.
"Y-You don't need it, you know? You don't use something like paint."
"Eh? But to add colors…"
"We add colors with something different. There's one used for sweets."
"Is that so? Then we need this, right? Sa*poru."
"That's… a toilet cleaning agent."
"That's true, but it would be a disaster if some germs get mixed in and cause food poisoning, so I thought it would be best to use something with enough sterilizing power to clean a toilet."
"It's very dangerous so don't do it."
"Is… that so?"
"It'll be okay if you wash your hands properly beforehand, and you're going to bake it in the first place, so it'll be totally safe there. …By the way, what did you plan to add after the paint?"
"After that is… err… it's been getting colder lately, so I thought of using something like the content of a hand warmer so that it would keep the body warm. So I divided them into small bags like this and brought them with me…"
Takasago seemed to be taking it seriously in her own way, but ignorance is a cruel thing, making her go in all the wrong directions for what she thought would be the right thing to do.
…Well, I also can't go that far in making fun of people, though.
Naturally, Sandai wasn't as bad as Takasago, but nevertheless, he was an amateur all the same and he himself fully knew that. There was the possibility of ending up somewhere like Takasago if he opened his mouth.
Thus, You go girl, Sandai cheered for Shino in his mind and stealthily migrated to the corner with a nonchalant look.
At a time like this, it would be best to observe quietly.
Despite being stung by Shino's gaze who seemed to want to say something, Sandai turned his face away and pretended he hadn't seen it.
"Geez…"
Seemingly also understanding that her own lover would be of no help, Shino let out a deep sigh and began to teach Takasago all by herself.
5
Sandai was gazing out the window—the sun was gradually sinking, the sky became deep orange, the dead leaves of trees planted on the school grounds danced in the wind.
It was the very essence of tranquility.
Ah, today too has come to an end, as I gaze far beyond the clouds where the fall breeze blows—someone once wrote such a poem.
Indeed, it was Fujiwara No Sadaie.
The conversation between Shino and Takasago and the sound of confectionery making could mysteriously be heard vividly. However, a short time later, that ceased.
"…I think we managed to make a decent one. Hey Sandai, don't just go looking like a melancholic poet like that, here give this a try."
They had made normal-looking macarons, apparently the confectionery making guidance had gone off all right. But even though it looked normal, his instincts might reject it, as Sandai's body had remembered the toxic-substance like taste from earlier.
That being said… he couldn't run away from this one, and besides, he could tell it wouldn't end terribly from looking at Shino's reassured expression.
Sandai resolved himself and threw a macaron into his mouth. And then a taste of a moderate, just right sweetness spread out.
"…This is good," Sandai spoke.
With a smile, Shino shrugged her shoulders and turned to look at Takasago. "See? If you just follow the recipe, there'll be no problem."
"Y-Yes! To think that I can make sweets that could be eaten, I'm moved! Moreover at the level where it would be okay to charge money for it…!"
"I think you're just exaggerating, though… In any case, don't go making strange alterations from thinking like it might be better this way or that, okay?"
"Yes!"
While ignoring Shino and Takasago's exchange, Sandai glanced at the clock to check the time.
It was almost six.
Looking around, the school was also practically becoming devoid of people.
Especially staying behind any further than this without any particular reason, they might get scolded by the patrolling teacher.
"It's already getting dark, so let's head home."
"It's already this late…? You're right, then let's head home. Takasago-chan, see you later."
Having quickly left the cooking-class room along with Shino, Sandai casually looked back, and then noticed Takasago hanging her head down with blushing cheeks.
At first he thought that maybe she was feeling sick, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"…I did my best, so I wonder if Shihouin-kun will praise me. …N-No, but, but, I'm sure there must be other girls who think he's cool. He's so cool with how he's always giving his utmost, so I'm sure I'm not the only one who notices that, right?" muttered Takasago.
It appeared that Takasago was harboring some kind of a special feeling for the class president, but well, from her standpoint, it wasn't an impossible-to-understand feeling. Despite her making poison-like sweets, the class president had encouraged her without abandoning her, and even sent help on top of it.
That kindness that wouldn't forget to be considerate, from the standpoint of a girl like Takasago, would be seen as a great charm that could make up for the shortcoming of a quirky personality.
And then, having sensed such a bittersweet atmosphere of love, Sandai at the same time fell into an indescribable, odd feeling.
Perhaps, it could even be said that he got affected by it.
"Hmm? Sandai, what's wrong?"
"Well… it's like, somehow I want to kiss you now, Shino."
Hearing Sandai honestly expressing his current feeling, Shino grinned and came to a stop.
"I see, so you want to, huh. Then sure, here you go," she said, crossed her hands behind her back, and closed her eyes.
The cute girlfriend he was proud of apparently would, and generously as well, accept his desire, so Sandai would love to take action, immediately right this instant… or so how it was, but he would have to do something first.
Checking the perimeter.
Although there were few signs of people, this was still at school.
Everyone and their dog already knew that they were dating, but however, he was nervous about kissing at school.
Eating lunch together and clinging close like glue would be no more than expressing 'intimacy,' so it would still fall in the category of a wholesome relationship.
However, to kiss is not an act that would give off the feeling of 'intimacy,' but that of a 'man and woman.'
Something like a kiss was something they would regularly do and was nothing more than a confirmation of love, and in the first place, it is something just about every adult does, for example.
That said, neither Sandai nor Shino was an adult, and at the same time neither were they a child—a place called school was where one would be faced by that reality.
By no means are there only people supportive of how those with the unripe title of a student are going into romance. In other words, he couldn't even guess what would happen if someone with uptight public morals were to witness them in a kissing scene.
If it was at their home or outside, they could just play dumb that it was an accidental resemblance; it would work out one way or another. However, they wouldn't be able to make an excuse if they were spotted at school.
Sandai restlessly checked the surroundings. No eye-catching figure of a person could be seen but Takasago a short distance away. That being said, Takasago was heading towards the entrance with an unsteady gait without even looking over here; she didn't seem she would turn around either.
Sandai patted his chest in relief, and pressed his lips against Shino's in the hallway illuminated by the flickering fluorescent lights.
"…Nnh."
"…Nh."
Sandai's face spontaneously heated up from the tension he was holding and the strange sense of guilty pleasure coming a beat late.
It was then—
Sandai heard the sound of footsteps suddenly getting closer from somewhere and got startled.
Someone was coming.
Shino didn't seem to have heard it, but given that it was around the time where breathing would become hard, Shino pulled her lips back albeit slowly, which was a godsend.
"Your heart… is beating so hard, Sandai. Even though we've kissed countless times… but I do understand the feelings. Because when we kiss, actually my heart is always pounding too, and deep inside my body will get so hot that I feel like it might break."
Although Sandai was brimming with the feeling of joy at how cute his girlfriend was, right now wasn't the time to be saying such a thing.
The kiss was over for now, so he grabbed Shino's shoulders in order to get out of that place. "Shi… Shino!" Sandai's expression was ghastly; he was that serious.
But that backfired and gave Shino a strange misunderstanding. "What now~? Wanna do it again? …Sure," Shino said in an excited, shrill tone, and then without even waiting for Sandai's next words, wrapped her hands around his neck and quickly pulled him closer and kissed again.
…It's no use. We're screwed.
Sandai felt happy at the feel of her soft lips applied with a lip balm of his favorite fragrance, but at the same time he was filled with despair at what would unfold.
However, the so-called small mercy occured. The one showing up, the owner of the footsteps, was his homeroom teacher Nakaoka.
"…Hrmm."
Holding a flashlight with a 'Patrolling' plate hanging around her neck, Nakaoka was fixedly staring at them kissing.
Perhaps because of her tolerance towards students' youth… rather, perhaps also because Nakaoka was the perpetrator who had incited Sandai at the very beginning, she seemed to have read the mood perfectly instead without even getting angry nor surprised.
She retreated back without making a noise and quietly disappeared.
That was a close one… thank god.
They somehow managed to weather through, but it was just luck this time. Had it been a teacher other than Nakaoka, it would have undoubtedly led to problems. He should be careful from now on.
"…?"
Shino finally noticed that Sandai got a relieved expression on his face, but she tilted her neck looking puzzled.
6
Although there had been hair-raising events of collapsing due to poison-like sweets and being seen kissing, they had managed to get involved with the school festival at any rate.
When sandai reported the matter to the class president the next day, "Very well," the class president nodded contentedly. And then apparently they could just give a little behind-the-scenes help on the day of the event. "Do tell Yuizaki-kun that I appreciate her efforts."
"She's just right there since we're all in the same class, so go tell her yourself."
"U-Uhuh. That's as you said, but I just can't deal with Yuizaki-kun, you see… Since I got kicked, I'm actually kind of scared of her."
The class president was apparently beginning to feel not able to handle Shino, but that being the case, because exactly this reason to want to talk alone with Sandai was a bad move.
That kick was fueled by her jealousy in addition to the circumstance of her not being good with men, and hence Shino had reminded the class president to stay away from Sandai.
And yet, when it came to creating a situation like this one now, he could tell from looking at Shino's face as she was sitting in her own seat; it was beginning to look unbelievably scary.
As it seemed like it would turn ugly, Sandai decided to cut it here.
"Prez… see you later."
"Y-Yeah."
On the way back to Shino, Sandai passed by Takasago. He looked back on reflex, and saw Takasago talking to the class president.
"Shihouin-kun, umm, I can now make sweets from being taught by Yuizaki-san! I also tried to make it after I got home yesterday, and here it is, but would you like to taste it…? I-It's all right! It doesn't taste weird anymore!"
"…Looks like the colors are normal now. The taste seems like it'll be fine either. All right. …Oooh! These are sweets with a normal taste here!! It's not poison anymore!"
"Poison… So you really did think that way, Shihouin-kun."
"Eh? No, you're wrong! I-I wanted to say it now lacks originality, and I was just kind of lacking for words! It is originality that lacks flaws! Me of all people, though… That's rude of me, my apologies."
That really sounded like a forced excuse, but Takasago didn't seem particularly unhappy about it; she gave the feeling of, 'it's fun to be able to chat with the one I like.'
"Speaking of which… There will be end of term tests after the school festival is over, and I'll be cheering for you, so please do your best, Shihouin-kun!"
"Yeah. My goal is first place in the school year. …However, there is a strange thing nevertheless. I usually put all my energy into studying and also go to a preparatory school and cram school to a certain extent. That's why I can get a high score, but not even once have I been able to get first place. It's the second. …I'm curious about who is in the first place, but under the name of protecting personal information or whatnot, our ranks will only be told to each of us. …I intend to take first place next time for sure."
"Yes! I-I will celebrate it if you get first place!"
"N-No, you don't really have to… you should think about your end, Takasago…"
Not knowing at all about the class president eyeing for first place, Sandai, having been secretly and always maintaining first place, idly scratched his head.
To think that his own grades would play a role in the development of a man-woman relationship of a pair…
I think I'll cut corners a bit in the next end term test, Sandai began to think such. Not that he was fixated on the first place, but he had simply found himself always being in the first place from having been studying to pass all the time he'd got in the world during his long-term loner period before meeting Shino.
He neither got emotional attachment nor obsession with rankings.
I wonder how many points I should drop. Well, if Prez is second place, I think the margin is slim, but… five points… nah, I guess I can drop ten points to get a safe margin.
While Sandai sat on his seat while ruminating about it, poke poke, Shino poked his shoulder with her finger.
"Nn? What's up?"
"I just thought you're making a serious face for some reason."
"Ah well, I just caught up in thinking about the end term test."
"End term… test?" Shino suddenly turned to look serious.
"What's with that face?"
"I-I'm fine. Just some test is no big deal. I've managed to get by till now anyway." Shino was putting up a bluff that was somehow giving him a bad feeling. Since Sandai could not simply pretend not to see, he decided to just send a helping hand indirectly.
"Well you know, I don't want to brag, but I'm the type who's good at studying. You can count on me when push comes to shove, alright? You can think of it as me wanting to show my good side."
Shino pouted and hung her head down. "…Thanks."
"I've got no clue what you're talking about. That aside, Prez said he appreciated your effort."
"I don't wanna talk about Prez."
"I see."