Chapter 370 (Self Edited) – Meeting Another Childhood Friend
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Aina went to the infirmary after delivering what she wanted to say one-sidedly, leaving him with only what she wanted to say. Since he had been told that that was enough, Soma turned around after seeing Aina enter the infirmary. What he thought as he returned to the cla.s.sroom is that there seems to be a connection between Aina and Felicia in this situation. However, there was something that he understood from the beginning, and that was there hadn’t been any progress.
Still, the fact that he heard such a thing from Aina’s mouth means that there was a high possibility of progress eventually. Just knowing that might be enough of a harvest. Or perhaps, it would be better to prioritize hearing more from Aina or investigating Aina’s movements further… From her tone, it was certain that something will happen to Felicia eventually. Therefore, it would be best to look for Felicia again first.
Well, there was a possibility that the person herself didn’t know anything and she might already move on somewhere for lunch, but that was something to deal with if it happened.
“Hmm… Or perhaps I should have gone to the store first…?” (Soma)
I realized that when I reached the fourth floor. But if he had come this far, it wouldn’t make much difference to return to the cla.s.sroom for the time being.
Thinking that as he returned to the cla.s.sroom, he did find Felicia. Just like before leaving, she was sitting at her desk… But what made him tilted his head was that Iori was sitting in the next seat. And Iori, who noticed him, raised his hand.
“Yo, thanks for your hard work.” (Iori)
“What, I just took her to the infirmary. It wasn’t particularly hard work. Anyway, haven’t you eaten yet?” (Soma)
Soma asked that because he noticed why Iori was sitting there as he approached there. Thinking back, during high school, a few friends including Iori would gather like this to have lunch. Thinking that, it was somewhat natural for this to happen. He returned to his seat, wondering if Aina would end up joining us if she settled in, and then…
“Hmm…? Is this… Iori’s homemade bento?” (Soma)
“No, why would it be? It would be weird if I gave you a homemade bento.” (Iori)
He shrugged as if it was a joke and looked at the lunch box on the desk before moving his gaze away. In that case, there was one thing Soma could think of. The girl in question was smiling before his eyes.
“I forgot to give it to you this morning.” (Felicia)
“I really admire you for making food for Soma every day.” (Iori)
“No, I’m just helping a little, and besides, I’m the one who are grateful every day.” (Felicia)
It seemed like not going to the store was the right decision after all. Still, Soma had noticed that Felicia was doing something in the kitchen after breakfast, but he didn’t expect her to be making lunch.
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“Hmm… I have to be grateful for every grain of rice I eat.” (Soma)
“Yeah, you better.” (Iori)
“Ah, no, it’s just an exaggeration.” (Felicia)
As Felicia said so with a wry smile, he opened the lid of the bento box, revealing a variety of colorful side dishes inside. He thought that he should eat this with genuine grat.i.tude, but he didn’t reach for his chopsticks because he somehow became more interested in what was beyond the door. And that hunch seemed to have been correct. There was a familiar girl there. There’s only one person among Soma’s acquaintances who had such beautiful golden hair. It was Sheila.
Well, Soma probably a.s.sumed she would be somewhere, so he was not surprised. However, there was a question of why she was there now. Apparently, Soma was the only one who harbored such a question. Judging from Soma’s demeanor, it seemed that Felicia and the others also noticed Sheila, but they greeted her as if it were natural as she entered the cla.s.sroom.
“Hey, you’re a bit late today.” (Felicia)
“…Mm, I had duties as the cla.s.s representative.” (Sheila)
“Ah, right, I forgot about that. That’s why you went to school alone today, right?” (Felicia)
“…Yes.” (Sheila)
As Soma listened to their conversation, he nodded in understanding. Unlike Iori and Aina’s relationship, he sensed that Sheila and Felicia were still sisters. But if that was the case, Sheila should have been at his house in the beginning. Judging from the conversation just now, that seemed to be the case. Considering Felicia’s situation, it wouldn’t make much difference if one more person was added.
However, such thoughts probably stem from having become accustomed to the current situation. It was certain that things would have been even more chaotic if Sheila had been there in the morning, so perhaps he should think that things turned out for the best. As Soma pondered over these things, Sheila turned her gaze towards him and tilted her head.
“…Mm, Soma, is something wrong?” (Sheila)
“No… it’s nothing, you don’t need to worry about it.” (Soma)
“…Is that so?” (Sheila)
“This is the first time we’ve met today, right? In that case, you must have been entranced.” (Soma)
“…Mm, does that make you happy?” (Sheila)
“You’re being too casual about this, aren’t you?” (Soma)
“While chatting is nice, shouldn’t we start eating soon? Lunch break is fairly long, but considering Sheila has to move cla.s.srooms, there isn’t that much time.” (Felicia)
“Hmm, that’s true.” (Soma)
Sheila remained Felicia’s sister, so logically, she was a junior. This meant that in a school with one year per cla.s.s, either the first or second floor would likely be a.s.signed for first-year cla.s.srooms. Regardless of which floor it was, considering the time needed for movement, it would indeed be best to prioritize eating over conversation.
“Yes, this is Sheila’s bento.” (Felicia)
“…Mm, thanks. …By the way, what’s with this seat? …I’m pretty sure it wasn’t here until yesterday.” (Sheila)
“Ah, a transfer student came.” (Iori)
As Sheila received her lunch from Felicia, she looked at Aina’s seat and tilted her head. Soma mutters “Hmm” while listening to Iori’s answer to Sheila’s question. Of course, he noticed that Iori didn’t seem particularly concerned about Aina. By now, it was safe to a.s.sume that Aina and Iori were at least strangers in the current situation.
‘Well, it’s not like it matters either way.’
“…Mm, would it be bad if I sit here?” (Sheila)
“Well, I wonder… Soma, what do you think?” (Iori)
“Why are you asking me?” (Soma)
“If you’re going to come back during lunch break, it might be better not to sit down, right?” (Iori)
“Hmm… It might indeed be safer not to, but I can’t say for sure either. Well, not sitting down seems like the safer option, doesn’t it?” (Soma)
“Yes, I think so too. Even if someone does sit here, I don’t think Aina-san would mind, but it would be safer this way.” (Felicia)
“…Mm, understood. …That’s a shame.” (Sheila)
While saying so with a truly disappointed look, Sheila heads to the seat in front of Felicia. Judging by her decisive steps, it seemed that Sheila usually sat there. The original owner of that seat might be absent, either joining one of the groups formed within the cla.s.sroom or perhaps going somewhere else like Sheila.
‘Well, if it’s been like this before, there’s probably no need to worry.’
But still, as Soma surveyed the scene. In the nostalgically familiar cla.s.sroom, Iori, Felicia, and Sheila were present, while Aina was next to them even though she wasn’t present at the moment. Considering what Aina had said, it was almost certain that something will happen in the future, and even if not, there was no way nothing would happen――
“It’s still a strange situation… but at the same time, it feels like a kind of peace, doesn’t it…” (Soma)
Or perhaps feeling this way now was just a reaction to the various things that had happened recently. The current situation was probably quite unusual as well. But regardless of the situation, it seemed that hunger remained unchanged. Thus, with that in mind, Soma clasps his hands in front of the bento box made by Felicia and murmurs, “Itadakimasu”.
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