I decided to say something that had been on my mind for a while.

What, specifically, I neglected to mention.

I figured Hazuki should be able to tell what I meant.

Actually, I expected Hazuki of all people should know.

...She was genuinely giddy.

She really was a mystery to me.

Whenever I tried to engage her, her negativity could be set off by the strangest things, so I always had to be on my guard.

Wait, so she did know?

Right after the summer break, we had a transfer student join us out of season.

A broad grin was spread across her familiar face.

She introduced herself as Onohara Hazuki, and took the empty seat next to me, as our homeroom teacher instructed.

She hadn't said, "Let's get along, okay?" but, "I hope we get along."

There was no sign of worry in either her expression, or her outstretched hand.

Seeing that confident smile of hers in person made my heart skip a beat.

I remembered our exchange from the night before.

I couldn't really remember how I'd answered.

Probably something like, "If you don't fit in, worry about it then."

Or, "If you get teased, just tease them right back."

I probably just gave some random response that was half-appropriate (or at least sounded like it).

That carefree, smiling face.

She was a transfer student, so I realized she couldn't possibly know anything about me or my family.

But... But even so, it had been who knows how long since anyone at school had shown me such an innocent-looking smile.

It was so refreshing to see someone smile in my direction without any ulterior motives of trying to charm me, or any intention of trying to ingratiate themselves with the daughter of the Suoh family.

She grasped my hand tightly, and the transfer student's cheeks turned bright red.

Her incredible honestly took me surprisingly off guard.

There weren't many people close to the Suoh family who would speak so sincerely, or say whatever was on their mind.

If I hadn't been so accustomed to dealing with people online, my confusion probably would've been written all over my face.

...She was as interesting as always.

The lack of worthwhile people around me was precisely why I had taken to conversing online.

I'd already had my fill of boring people.

I got excited thinking about what kind of entertainment this girl would offer me throughout my school years.

I gazed from the school building at the practice field.

My little elf was running around full of energy, as always.

I opened the window and leaned out as far as I could, waving enthusiastically.

I'm not sure whether she just heard my voice, or actually got my message, but she looked back over her shoulder.

Nagisa waved back at me across the great distance.

She looked like she was trying to tell me something, but of course I had no idea what she was saying.

Too bad.

I hadn't had much opportunity since the last time, but at long last I'd managed to make her lunch again.

It finally happened this morning!

I cheerfully sprinted out to the practice field, headed straight for Nagisa.

I dove at her as she stood there, waiting with her arms out wide.

I wouldn't trip. And even if I did, it would've been all right.

Today's lunchbox was a Tupperware container with a lid that wouldn't pop off so easily, even if it was turned sideways.

I'd come to realize how hard it was to walk while carrying a regular multi-tiered lunchbox.

Nagisa gently caught me as I leapt into her with a soft cry.

...Did she mean me? Or the lunch?

Well, either way was fine, I guess.

She probably meant both anyway.

The club president shooed us away with her hand.

Walking hand-in-hand, Nagisa and I made our way to the central courtyard.

Not many people here were here on a Saturday... It was perfect♡

We sat down under the shade of a nearby tree and laid out the lunch.

I couldn't get enough of that grin of hers.

Using her delicate fingers, Nagisa picked up the food I had just fried this morning.

She parted her pink lips and bit down with her pearly white teeth...

I gingerly put a piece in my mouth.

I was greeted by a gritty, sand-like texture, followed by cavity-inducing sweetness, and eye-watering heat...

Her voice was so calm.

Nnnnh, I couldn't even look her in the eye!

Nagisa munched away as tears started to well up in my eyes.

So that was how Nagisa felt.

After all, I was always in a good mood, so even I knew what a cheerful and sparkling personality I had.

Joy welled up in my chest and spread to my outer extremities.

Aww, I was so hopeless... I was unbelievably happy right now...♡

I gazed from the school building at the members of the track and field club training on the practice field.

It was the shape of my little elf in particular that had my attention.

Nagisa turned away with an uncomfortable look on her face.

Aww, she embarrassed so easily♡

I started to race toward her...

*crash!*

...and tripped over my own two feet.

Nagisa, never one to mince words, focused all her concern on me.

That alone was enough to make me forget all about the pain from my skinned knee.

Sure, she had totally dismissed the lunch I'd poured my heart and soul into making, but that was just how she showed her concern for me.

She looked so worried.

As she leaned in and closed the distance between us, I gently pecked her on the cheek.

Going just by her expression, you'd think she was upset.

But I could tell she wasn't really that upset.

Because when I put my face close to hers, she didn't push me away.

The truth was, she didn't hate it at all.

I quickly took the overturned lunchbox, its contents practically spilling out, and stuffed it back in my bag before rising to my feet again.

....I'd really wanted Nagisa to try it.

I'd gotten up extra early just so I could make it.

The pain in my chest from that was worse than any skinned knee.

As I watched her walk away to tell the club president that she was leaving early, all I could think of was how much I liked her.

We'd been raised together, grown up together, and now we were developing feelings together.

The girl I liked could be a little brusque, it was true, but she really was crazy about me.

And because I knew that, I was able to pursue her without fear.

Nagisa took the bag from me that had the ruined lunch in it, and walked slowly alongside me.

She carried not only her own things, but mine as well.

She gently brushed my cheek with her hand.

I knew she liked me.

She really liked me.

I wanted to kiss her more than anything right now, but kisses were for consoling, so I had to restrain myself.

It was so hard to let her know how much I liked her.

...What did other girls do in this situation, I wondered.

Aya's smile was so cheerful.

It was enough to make me smile too.

And what we were pouring scalding hot water from the electric kettle into... was cup noodles.

I was always the one nagging Aya about this stuff being poison for you, so it wasn't something I was comfortable doing out in the open.

...and that was how I got caught secretly eating cup noodles myself.

What the heck was that?

I wanted to have it too, if I could...

Aya was looking exhausted.

Huh? But why?

Was I not making sense?

We peeled back the lid, and a mouthwatering aroma poured out.

.........

And then, the two of us...

...exchanged numerous kisses with a hint of spice.

*slurp*...*slurrrrp*...

I shouted as I flung open the closet door.

There, bathed in the light of a lamp she had swiped at some point, sat an electric kettle on its base stand.

In that tiny space, holding a plastic bowl in her hand, Aya looked back over her shoulder.

I didn't want to cry, but tears welled up in the corners of my eyes.

How could Aya put that poison in her body?

It didn't matter how many times I told her, "Stop eating that stuff," she just never listened.

Things had gotten to the point where she was eating it behind my back now.

The best thing would be if she stopped altogether, but if she was going to eat it no matter what, I wished she would at least do it openly, without all this sneaking around.

I quickly wiped my eyes with the back of my hand.

What did I have to say to get through to her...?

I only yelled because I cared about her so much.

I hated the fact that the more I told her, the more it seemed to upset her.

She slurped her noodle broth right in the middle of talking to me!

Didn't she understand?

Didn't she hear a single thing I'd been saying?!

I took away her bowl, which still had a little bit of broth left.

I held my breath and downed the rest of it in one gulp.

The way she peered at me with that look of concern on her face made me happy, and I nodded, "yes."

Wah, that look was no fair!

She was too cute!

It made me want to kiss her so baaaad!!!

.........

.........