「Eri-san…?」
「Eh…? You two are, a-acquaintances…?」
For a moment, Hoshino’s true self showed, but she quickly corrected herself and managed to cover it up. I’m impressed by her quick thinking.
「Yeah, we met yesterday. Right? Eri-san.」
「That’s right. Until yesterday, I didn’t even know he existed.」
There’s a bit of an edge to her words.
I wonder why?
I was a bit curious, but there was someone next to me who was more important.
The healing Hoshino-san.
The encounter with an acquaintance she had feared so much.
Strictly speaking, Hoshino and Eri-san aren’t acquaintances.
However, Hoshino is very famous in our grade, and everyone knows her. Naturally, Eri-san recognized her as that Hoshino-san.
「Umm… mm… you’re Hoshino-san, right?」
It seemed like a first meeting, and Eri-san carefully measured the distance as she spoke.
「Yes… I’m Hoshino Michika… umm.」
「Ah, I’m Samejima Eri.」
Eri-san said, bowing slightly. Hoshino, caught up in the moment, also bows her head.
What’s with this matchmaking-like atmosphere?
An indescribable mood hung in the air.
「Um… Samejima-san… could it be that…」
Hoshino seemed to remember something upon hearing the surname Samejima.
「Yes… my sister is the student council president.」
「I see… I had heard about you when I spoke with the president before… You do look similar to her.」
「Ahaha… I get that a lot.」
Although they were conversing, the awkward atmosphere didn’t change, and just as I was wondering what to do, Eri-san cut in.
「But, I’m surprised… to see Hoshino-san and Yamanaga-kun together.」
It was the topic we least wanted to be touched on.
What should we do, what should we do…
Hoshino, who is usually composed, seemed flustered.
Her mind must be racing with ways to get through this situation.
Of course, the same goes for me.
Going shopping together could easily be mistaken for a romantic relationship.
Being thought to be in a romantic relationship with Hoshino could attract unwanted attention, so I’d rather avoid it if possible.
I know Eri-san isn’t the type to spread rumors, but I want to be extra cautious.
It seemed Hoshino felt the same way,
「I-I’m surprised too. I just happened to run into Takumi-kun while coming shopping.」
She decided to pretend it was a coincidence.
Naturally, I go along with it.
「Yeah, yeah, I was like, “Hmm, I think I’ve seen this person before”, and it turned out to be Hoshino.」
「Hoshino…?」
Come to think of it, it’s only been a few days since the new term started. The fact that we were on a first-name basis in such a short time seemed suspicious, and Eri-san narrowed her eyes.
「T-That’s because!? On the first day, we talked and I got permission to call her that way!」
「Y-Yes, that’s right. I said so because I wanted to get along with my classmates as much as possible. See? I call him Takumi-kun, and of course, I’ve asked other classmates to call me casually too. Right? Takumi-kun?」
「Yeah, that’s right. My friends and I have been calling her by her first name too!」
It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it perfect harmony.
The result of speaking with momentum rather than stumbling over our words gave it a realistic touch and oddly convincing.
Well, we’re not exactly lying, so there’s no falsehood to it.
Eri-san, pushed by our momentum, also seemed to accept it with a “I-I see…”.
For now, we can say we’ve avoided the most dangerous part.
Having averted the crisis, We were breathing a sigh of relief, but of course the person in question had no idea.
With an expression exuding happiness as if she’d just found a four-leaf clover on the roadside,
「I’m glad. Actually, it’s my first time at this supermarket.」
She began to speak.
Apparently, she feels uneasy about unfamiliar supermarkets.
I understand what she’s trying to say.
In a familiar supermarket, you know where everything is and what to do, but in a new one, you wonder if they sell this type of sausage or if they accept this electronic payment, and various other things.
「But I’m glad I found someone familiar with the area!」
When she smiles at me with such an innocent, bright smile, I feel an immense sense of guilt.
Sorry. It’s my first time at this supermarket too…
However, this is where Hoshino-san comes in handy.
This store is near her house, close enough that she could run out to buy something if she thought she was missing an ingredient.
Naturally, Hoshino must have come to shop here too… she has, right??
…There’s no way she wouldn’t know… she knows, right??
When I glanced at Hoshino, she returned a beaming smile.
But with this girl, a beaming smile isn’t always reassuring.
I have no idea! or Of course, I know!
I can only hope it’s the latter, but only Hoshino knows the answer.
──Light Novels──
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〇
「This is the fresh fish section.」
Thank you, God.
I won the two-choice question this time.
Despite all the disappointing moments she’s shown me, making her image plummet, she’s still Hoshino.
She seemed to vaguely remember the layout, having been here a few times. (The “few times” will need to be questioned later.)
And now, because Eri-san is here, she’s in her school mode as the healing Hoshino.
So even if I say something slightly rude, she just smiles.
This is the perfect situation to vent all the frustration I’ve accumulated towards Hoshino over the past few days, a bonus stage, so to speak.
「This is where the seasonings are. I just ran out of salt, so I’ll buy some here.」
「Waa… Hoshino-san, you’re really domestic.」
Eri-san seemed impressed, but everything this girl is saying is a blatant lie.
She’s just buying more salt, even though she already has two bags at home, to keep up appearances.
To an outsider, it might look like a domestic high school girl buying salt, but to me, it’s just a salt-obsessed woman stockpiling salt she’ll have no use for anytime soon.
It’s amazing how different things can look depending on who’s watching.
It made me realize once again the importance of the information we’re given.
With that, our shopping ended, and the three of us left the supermarket.
I hadn’t planned on buying anything, but it would have looked strange if I left empty-handed, so at Hoshino’s suggestion, I bought some meat.
Since it’s fresh meat, I can’t leave it for too long.
As a result, I’ll have to use it at Hoshino’s house.
I was wondering what I should buy when Hoshino, unusually, spoke up, and this is what happened.
She must have predicted it would turn out this way.
For her, it’s like making me treat her to meat.
I never expected the bonus stage at the supermarket to come back to bite me like this.
When I glare at Hoshino, she looks at me with a triumphant expression.
That girl… I’ll remember this.
「Um… Yamanaga-kun. Hoshino-san. Thank you for today.」
Eri-san holds her shopping bag in one hand and bows slightly.
「No, no, it was a meaningful time for us too. Right? Takumi-kun.」
「Ahh… yeah.」
「You seem a bit down, don’t you?」
「He’s probably happy about buying expensive meat…」
「He looks sad though…?」
「He’s a bit unusual, you see. That happens.」
「Ahh… I see.」
Wait a minute.
Eri-san, I didn’t expect you to agree there, though?
It felt like I had taken an unexpected body blow.
「Well then, I’ll be going this way. Thank you for today.」
「No, thank you.」
「Also, Yamanaga-kun? Don’t forget to come tomorrow, okay?」
「Yeah, I know.」
「…? Some kind of promise?」
「Yes, there’s a Home Economics Club meeting.」
「Home Economics Club…? Why is Takumi-kun…?」
「He joined the Home Economics Club yesterday.」
「Hee…」
「It’s true, okay?」
Hoshino looked at me, so I said that.
Ahh, come to think of it, I hadn’t told Hoshino yet.
「I-I see…」
It seemed unexpected for Hoshino, and I could see the surprise on her face.
「Then, I’ll be waiting after school.」
With that, Eri-san walks off in the opposite direction from us.
Once she was completely out of sight, Hoshino finally spoke up.
「Hey, I didn’t hear about this??」
「I hadn’t told you.」
「Why didn’t you tell me!?」
「Well, it’s not like I have to report to you about things that don’t involve going to your house, right?」
「That’s true, but…」
「Why are you angry?」
「I-I’m not angry!? Hmph!」
「No, that’s being angry.」
「Anyway, it’s all your fault!」
For some reason, Hoshino seemed dissatisfied.
I had no idea why, and it made me want to hold my head in my hands.
(Later, Michika’s mood was completely restored by the meat Takumi treated her to.)