Volu 1 Chapter 3.5 - Shimizu-sans Bentō
Shimizu-san’s Bentō 5
“Err, Shimizu-san? It’s hard for to eat with you staring at like that.
“Hondō, are you okay? Are you forcing yourself to eat that? “
I just said what I was thinking.
“I’m a little scared of that question. Does this ginger pork have any seasonings that you normally don’t put in? “
“I didn’t put anything like that but… I an, Hondō, did you really feel nothing after eating that ginger pork? “
When Ai tasted it for the first ti, she told that ginger pork could express despair.
“I don’t know. I like ginger pork, so I ate it with anticipation… “
As I have heard before, Hondō seems to have been a ginger pork lover. But that’s not the answer I want to hear now.
“If you don’t like it, you can say it tastes bad.”
“Why? I wouldn’t say that. Especially after you gave the bentō you made, Shimizu-san.”
“You, why did you think I made it…? “
Since I did not say that I made the Bentō before, anyone would think that my parents made it. I wonder where Hondō got the idea.
“Because Shimizu-san, when I asked you if there was anything in the ginger pork, you assured there was not, right? I thought this was sothing Shimizu-san wouldn’t have said if she wasn’t making this ginger pork.”
“But that’s not enough evidence, is it?”
“Also, you said earlier that it’s okay to say it’s bad if I think it’s bad. I don’t think Shimizu-san would have said that if she didn’t make it herself.”
“Ughh… “
I want to make excuses, but I have a feeling that a bad lie will be exposed imdiately.
“I guess I’m right. Anyway, a Bentō that you worked so hard to make, are you sure you’re okay with eating it, Shimizu-san? “
What should I do? Should I just tell him the truth? I made that Bentō because I wanted Hondō to eat it, and I’m glad you ate it… No. Just the thought of saying it makes want to disappear in embarrassnt. Silence fell between Hondō and .
“Shimizu-san? “
Hondō breaks the silence, perhaps feeling puzzled about my lack of response.
“…worry.”
“What? “
“I said don’t worry about it. That Bentō was just sothing I wanted to make on a whim. And I gave it to you because I didn’t think I could eat it all by myself today. “
“Is it a whim to keep cooking for a week? “
Hondō hits a sore spot. I think he was just expressing his doubts, but it made wonder if I unintentionally said sothing important.
“How did you know I’ve been making Bentō for a week…? “
I hurriedly tried to cut my words off mid-sentence. But Hondō seed to already know the answer. Hondō points to my hand covered in band-aids.
“You put that band-aid on your hand because you injured your finger when you cooked, right? At first, I didn’t understand why you were injured, but after seeing today’s Bentō, I finally understood.”
Hondō, unlike the rest of my classmates, did not think I had been injured in the fight.
——An indescribable, itchy feeling growing inside of .
“Shimizu-san? Hey? “
I was so shaken by Hondō’s words I had abandoned the thought of explaining the reason why I’d been making bentos for a week. I hurriedly tried to think, but nothing ca to mind imdiately. I decided to push my way through with montum.
“…it doesn’t matter when I started making Bentō. A-anyway, there’s no specific reason why I gave you that Bentō! Got it?! “
“Um, okay. Well then, it’s fine if Shimizu-san says so.”
Hondō seems to have decided not to pursue the matter any further.
“If you understand, then eat it quickly.”
“Yes. Thank you very much.”
After that, Hondō continued to eat the bentō silently and eventually finished it.
“Thank you very much for the food.”
” …Give the Bentō box when you’re done.”
I reached toward Hondō and urged him to hand over the Bentō box.
“I’d like to wash it and return it later. “
“I told you it’s because I can’t eat two Bentō all by myself, and this Bentō was a thank you for the cooking class. Of course I’ll be doing you a favor to the end.”
“…Okay. Shimizu-san, thank you again for the food.”
With that, Hondō handed the package containing the Bentō box.
” …yes. “
“And—Can I say one more thing? “
“W-what is it?”
I slightly tensed up when he asked sothing like this.
“I’m really grateful for the bentō today. I forgot my wallet and was in real trouble, so it was a big help for . I was happy to have the bentō that Shimizu-san made. Next ti, I’ll do sothing for you as thanks.”
——I was happy… I was happy… I was happy…
The words play over and over in my head. I felt that Hondō had affird that the hard, grueling, and hellish week up to today had not been in vain.
“Are you okay, Shimizu-san? “
Hondō’s words brought to my senses. It seed that I had been so moved that my consciousness had wandered far away.
“No need to thank … just… “
“What?”
“If I ever make Bentō again on a whim, eat it.”
Hondō looked surprised for a mont, then quickly returned to smiling.
“Yes. Then, I’ll be looking forward to it.”
Inside my heart, I did a fist pump (Victory gesture).
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