Takumi walked quickly down the hallway, his eyes darting around to survey his surroundings.
The school, bustling with students enjoying their lunch break, was filled with people having fun everywhere he looked. It was difficult to find a quiet place to be alone.
The students passing by naturally walked to avoid Takumi. He let out a big sigh and his head drooped.
But at that moment, he noticed a figure walking toward him without trying to avoid him.
Thinking it was strange, he looked up and saw a male student precariously carrying three stacked cardboard boxes.
Was he transporting some kind of teaching materials? They didn't look heavy, but they were bulky, so his view of what was in front of him was blocked.
Takumi furrowed his brows.
Looking at the color of his indoor shoes and school emblem, he was in the same year.
As a decent person, this would be the time to offer to help. And maybe this could lead to a friendship.
However, based on his past experiences, he could easily imagine being rejected, or worse, being mistaken for someone trying to pick a fight.
It would be better not to meddle. Besides, if he left, maybe someone kinder would come along to help.
Just as he was thinking such negative thoughts and about to turn on his heel, a very cheerful voice rang out.
"You look like you're in trouble. I'll help you!"
"Huh?"
With that, a female student casually took a cardboard box from the male student carrying the load and gave him a bright, friendly smile.
Judging by the color of her indoor shoes, she must have been a second-year. She was a little short, with big, clear eyes and a well-defined nose. Her glossy, well-kept semi-long hair and a skirt that was respectfully but not too short made her the epitome of purity. She was a bright, good-natured student, so cute that Takumi involuntarily gasped.
Any male student would be flustered by a sudden helping hand from such a beautiful girl. He blinked repeatedly, his mouth agape in a daze.
She tilted her head as if to ask, "Is this okay?" and he nodded his head vigorously.
When a cute, friendly girl offers to help you when you're in a pinch, no one would be able to refuse.
Takumi, who was watching them, narrowed his eyes with a hint of envy, which made his face look even more intimidating. Just then, his eyes met hers.
Oh, no. She might run away—but to his surprise, she gave Takumi the same radiant smile she had given the other boy.
"You, over there, help out too!"
"Huh?"
With that, she bustled over to him and handed him a cardboard box.
Takumi, who was still holding his yakisoba croquette bread, let out a stupid sound and skillfully took the box.
She then took the other box from the flustered male student and, as if it were nothing, asked him in the same cheerful voice as before:
"I'm Akira. Ikoma Akira, from the second year. What's your name?"
"I-I'm Tsutsui, from the first year."
"I see, so you're Tsutsui-kun. And you over there?"
"H-Hashio..."
"Hashio-kun, got it!"
"!"
His heart leaped again, as she treated him the same as the male student carrying the boxes. It wasn't just that she was treating him normally, but that she was smiling at him, a first-year, with the beauty of an idol.
She—Akira—smiled at Tsutsui and asked, "These are lighter than I thought. What's inside?"
"It's cloth... from home economics class, for aprons..."
"I see. So we're taking them to the home economics room?"
"Y-Yes."
"Okay!"
Then Akira winked, as if to say, "Leave it to me," and started walking toward the home economics room.
Takumi and the other boy were so mesmerized by her confident demeanor that they stopped in their tracks.
Akira, who had gotten a little ahead, noticed them and puffed out her cheeks in a complaint.
"Hey, you two, hurry up!"
"Y-Yes!" "...'sup."
A flustered Tsutsui and a slightly delayed Takumi caught up to Akira. She gave them a grand but mischievous nod, as if to say, "That's better." She then started talking in a cheerful tone, as if to reset the atmosphere.
"Aprons, that brings back memories. I made one in my first year, too. We make them in the first class of the first year every year, you know."
"Is that so?"
Akira answered Tsutsui, who was just trying to keep the conversation going, in a more senior tone.
"Well, you can't start a cooking class without an apron, right? The other day, I was making okonomiyaki, and when I tried to squeeze out the last bit of sauce, it came out with a big squirt! It went all over my apron, so I guess it was a 'safe' hit!"
"Haha, yeah, that's something that happens sometimes."
"Speaking of okonomiyaki, when I made it at home, I tried using lettuce instead of cabbage. The crunchy texture was a fresh and tasty surprise! Do you know of any other unique ingredients that are good?"
"Hmm, it's pretty common, but maybe mochi?"
"Mochi is a popular one. How about you, Hashio-kun?"
"!"
Takumi's mind went blank for a moment, not expecting to be called out by name.
But with Akira's expectant gaze on him, he couldn't just stay silent, so he desperately wracked his brain for an answer and squeezed out a word.
"---...K-Kimchi."
But the word that came out was just his favorite ingredient.
Taken aback by the slightly out-of-place answer, Akira and Tsutsui fell silent.
Takumi's face twisted into a grimace. He had messed up.
"Kimchi is spicy and delicious. Speaking of kimchi, it's surprisingly good in takoyaki---"
But Akira immediately changed the subject and kept the conversation going.
Takumi breathed a sigh of relief.
After that, Akira brought up other topics, like how she felt like she was losing if she used a needle threader, or how she accidentally sewed a dragon applique she made to be unique onto the lining of her apron.
She asked questions that were easy to answer, not only to Tsutsui but also to Takumi, like, "Don't your fingers get pricked when you use a needle?" and "What would you put on your applique?" The conversation became lively.
Thanks to her, it felt like they reached the home economics room in no time.
As soon as they arrived, Akira placed the cardboard box next to the teacher's desk and turned around gracefully.
"See you later!"
With that, Akira waved and left.
Tsutsui watched her go, with a dreamy, reluctant look on his face.
Takumi understood how he felt. When you have a good conversation with a beautiful girl like that, you can't help but smile.
He had been completely swept up in the magical atmosphere created by this strange, kind-hearted senior, Akira.
When their eyes met, Tsutsui gave him a sloppy smile.
But even Tsutsui's reaction, as if he were just a normal person, made Takumi's eyes widen.
Takumi returned an ambiguous smile, quickly placed his box on top of the others, and left the home economics room before the magical atmosphere she created faded.
As he walked, his heart was pounding so hard it hurt.
He didn't understand what had just happened. Was this what they called being bewitched?
He replayed what had just happened in his mind. The conversation with his senior, Akira, was fun.
The simple chatter in a group was truly enjoyable.
A whirlwind of questions and confusion swirled in his chest. And a small bit of nostalgia.
Takumi, still confused, put his thoughts into words and asked himself:
—Was I treated like a normal person just now, with Akira-senpai?
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