And so, it’s lunchtime.
We’re in the usual cafeteria, but unlike usual, Satou is sitting next to me.
It’s a somewhat strange feeling, but since I was the one who invited her, of course, I don’t regret it at all.
「Satou-san, do you cook?」
「Um… I-I can cook a little.」
In response to my casual question amidst the cafeteria noise, Satou stopped eating her bento and turned to face me.
By the way, Minato isn’t here today because of club activities.
「T-This bento, I made it this morning.」
「Eh, amazing.」
「I-Is that so…?」
「I can’t cook at all. But even without that, it looks really delicious.」
「Awawa, t-thank you very much.」
Satou’s happiness clearly shows on her face.
Thanks to that, I feel less hesitant to compliment her.
In a word, Satou’s bento was colorful.
Bright red cherry tomatoes, vibrant tamagoyaki, green stir-fried vegetables, and browned chicken breast.
Not only colorful but also seemingly healthy.
And above all, it looks simply delicious.
「U-Um… would you like to try some?」
「…No, it’s okay. I don’t want to eat your portion.」
Besides, I only bought yakisoba bread from the store as usual, so I don’t have chopsticks. Borrowing chopsticks from a girl feels awkward… or rather, I just can’t do it.
「I-It’s okay with me. A-Also, I have some spare chopsticks…」
「Hmm… then I’ll just have a bite.」
「Y-Yes, please do!」
Feeling that she wanted me to try it, I gratefully accepted the disposable chopsticks from Satou.
Umm…
I thought it would be rude to eat a cherry tomato, so after a brief consideration, I decided to try the yellow tamagoyaki.
When I pick it up with the chopsticks, I can feel the moist elasticity even in my fingers.
Having tried making it myself, I know that even though tamagoyaki looks simple, it’s surprisingly difficult to make it beautifully.
At least, it’s not something you can master overnight.
Satou said she only cooks a little, but I feel like she’s being somewhat modest… that’s just my amateur opinion, though.
「Itadakimasu.」
「P-Please enjoy.」
Under Satou’s watchful and nervous gaze, I put the tamagoyaki she made into my mouth.
The softness and slightly sweet aroma are just as I expected.
As these elements blend perfectly, the gentle sweetness of the sugar spreads in my mouth, supporting the flavor of the egg.
Although the seasoning is slightly subtle on its own, the lingering sweetness on my tongue stimulates my appetite for rice and other dishes.
「It’s delicious.」
「I’m glad…!」
When I honestly shared my thoughts, Satou’s anxious expression instantly transformed into one of relief, her cheeks relaxing.
Seeing her face different from usual, I can’t help but relax my own cheeks a bit.
Satou then reaches for the tamagoyaki herself, munching…
I find myself staring at her as she chews slowly, perhaps because she’s eating with a happy smile.
「…Ehehe, it’s very delicious.」
「That’s good to hear. …Wait, that’s my line.」
「Fufu.」
Feeling a slight sense of closeness to Satou as she laughs covering her mouth, I take a bite of my bread.
「H-Hinata-kun, do you have any foods you don’t like?」
「Hmm, not really.」
「I-I’m not very fond of celery.」
「Ahh, now that you mention it, I might be the same. It has a unique taste.」
After I tried a bit of each dish from Satou’s bento at her insistence, the conversation until the afternoon classes start settled on “Let’s get to know each other better”.
After all, it’s only been three days since we (properly) met.
──Light Novels──
──Read Here──
There’s an infinite amount we don’t know about each other.
「Satou-san, do you have any siblings?」
「Y-Yes… um, I have an older sister who’s three years older.」
「Three years older means she’s nineteen this year. A university student?」
「Y-Yes, kind of…」
「Kind of?」
「Um… she’s technically a university student, but she’s mostly working and hardly attends, so she’s just “enrolled”… I guess.」
「Heeh… working, huh.」
When it comes to university students working, the closest thing would be part-time jobs?
Otherwise, maybe creative work like writing, or perhaps something in the entertainment industry… well, it would be rude to dig deeper.
「I have a younger sister who’s two years younger. She just started her second year of middle school this year.」
「Hinata-kun’s sister…! She must be absolutely cute.」
「Miu would be happy to hear that. She’s in a phase where she loves being complimented.」
「M-Miu-chan, is it… such a cute name…」
「Satou-san’s “Ayane” is a beautiful name too.」
「…!?」
It’s true that Miu is a cute name, but Satou’s Ayane is equally as nice.
Ayane, meaning “colorful sound”.
If I rudely perceive Satou as “ordinary”, the name Satou Ayane can be seen as “the sound that colors ordinary days”, which is an incredibly beautiful name.
I don’t know what her parents were thinking, but the pure goodness of Satou’s character that I’m starting to see bit by bit seems worthy of that name.
…That was the conclusion I reached after reflecting on my previous name teasing.
「Hinata-kun’s, Kaoru…」
Satou mutters as she averts her gaze.
「Mine is kind of like… sun-dried, you know?」
「S-Sun-dried…?」
「Didn’t you think so? The characters in Hinata Kaoru.」
「Um… I didn’t think that. I-I felt that Hinata-kun’s name is like a sunflower, it’s wonderful. …Um, when Hinata-kun helped me that time, you were really… like a sunflower to me, dazzling and a, a cool boy.」
「That’s kind of… thanks.」
「N-No, I’m sorry… I-I suddenly said something weird, didn’t I? Ah, but really, really, I mean it when I say you’re cool…」
「T-Thanks. Let’s stop there.」
「I’m sorry…!」
It was something I kind of felt, but I guess Satou likes me.
Whether it’s romantic or not is unclear, but at least it’s certain that Satou sees me as a “source of comfort”.
Since I helped her from the molester, she always comes to sit next to me on the train and bus, and she always looks happy when talking to me.
「U-Um… Hinata-kun.」
「What is it?」
「Well, if Hinata-kun is okay with it…」
「Hmm?」
Satou looks down, averting her eyes.
Fidgeting.
「W-Well… could you call me “Satou” without honorifics?」
「Eh…?」
Satou looks up at me with moist eyes after having looked down, and I’m at a loss for words.
「I-I want to become closer with Hinata-kun…」
「Ah, ahh, sure. Want me to call you Ayane? You can call me Kaoru too.」
「T-That’s still a bit embarrassing for me.」
「I see. Then let me know when you’re okay with it… Satou.」
「Y-Yes, of course…」
I’ve been calling her Satou in my mind anyway, so I have almost no resistance, but it seems that suddenly using first names is a high hurdle for Satou, who is still not good at conversations.
On the other hand, if Satou were to call me “Hinata”, I’d probably laugh.
「T-Then, Hinata-kun. I-I look forward to being with you more from now on.」
「Same here. Looking forward to it, Satou.」
When I replied to Satou’s strangely formal greeting, she smiled “ehehe” with the happiest expression I’ve seen today.