Chapter 113: Valentine's Day Melancholy [side Yukari Tomonaga]
Today is Valentine's Day, and for some reason everyone is restless and in a rush.
Valentine's Day is great! Even if you buy a ton of chocolate at the supermarket, nobody gives you a "Huh?!" face!
Usually, if I buy too much, I kind of feel the cashier's eyes on me...I think.
But! On Valentine's Day! I can look like, "Oh, it's for baking!"
I ended up eating most of it myself, but for my very first boyfriend, Tatsuo-kun.
For Kuzu Tatsuo-kun! I made handmade chocolate for my prince...!
Will he be happy? Will he give me a big hug like he used to?
...Lately, he's been busy? We hardly ever see each other.
Since he got suspended, he's been working hard at tennis club, apparently.
*Kuzu is looking for opportunities outside of school.
I asked him to make time after school, so I could give him chocolate!
Fuhn fuh fuhn♪ I get to see Kuzu-kun!
...But since we're boyfriend and girlfriend, I want to call him by name, and I want him to call me that too...
I go to school, finish the morning, and head to the cafeteria at lunch.
"Miso ramen set, please. Extra rice, extra noodles."
Fuhn fuh fuhn♪
Waiting for your food to come out is the absolute best!
It makes me so excited!
As I start eating at a seat in the corner of the cafeteria, here she is again across from me...
She's tall and, though I hate to admit it, beautiful—Mishima Satsuki sits down.
Satsuki: "...Yukari! I was looking for you. Eating alone again without saying anything...! If you'd just call me, I'd eat with you, you know?"
Ugh! That "Oh well, can't be helped" look. Why though?
"How did you know I was here?"
Satsuki: "I've never seen you anywhere but here or at the vending machines, you know?"
"..."
I ignore her and slurp my miso ramen.
At first I was like, cafeteria ramen? Really? But the guys in my class rave about it. It's delicious! There's a lot! And the umami is off the charts!
...It's so true!
Lately, I'm hooked on this.
Satsuki is all about the health-conscious set here? Sandwich, salad, coffee.
It's 150 yen more than the miso ramen set, and it's barely anything!
If it were a pork cutlet sandwich, I could forgive her.
Satsuki: "It's healthy, right?"
"...Healthy? Is that necessary?"
I reply flatly.
Satsuki says this ramen is just the kind of thing high school boys wolf down, right?
Something about "girls' awareness" or whatever...huh?
"You're ruining my meal. It's rude to the auntie who makes this, so could you leave...?"
That's how I really feel.
She's so noisy. I'm way more drawn to the kind of food high school boys love than what health-conscious girls go for, it's super tasty!
Satsuki: "Sorry! I'm sorry, Yukari, I didn't mean to criticize you...I'm really sorry."
Satsuki rushes to apologize.
...No, I just want her to go.
Satsuki quiets down and, muttering, tells me she made Valentine's chocolate for Yamamoto-kun, but when she saw him earlier, they argued and she didn't give it to him.
And that, being seen by people again, really got to her.
I eat the (plentiful) bean sprouts from my miso ramen as I listen, totally unmoved.
I just listen. I can't say a thing.
Satsuki gives a little laugh,
Satsuki: "...Yukari, you never say anything, huh...?"
"..."
Satsuki: "...But honestly, I'm way happier with that than with meaningless pleasantries. Right? Are you giving chocolate, Yukari?"
I mutter that I'm giving it to Kuzu-kun, at least.
Satsuki's face clouds over,
Satsuki: "...But, Kuzu-kun lately...? ...You haven't seen him, have you? ...Your boyfriend."
Mishima Satsuki seems like she wants to say more, but I ignore her and take my tray back.
Satsuki: "Ah! Wait!"
I move to the vending machine corner, buy a matcha latte, and sip it slowly on a bench.
Satsuki: "Matching!"
Satsuki buys the same matcha latte and follows me over.
So sweet, so good.
The only thing that can heal me is something sweet!
Satsuki: "Whoa! So sweet! How many calories is this? If you drank this all the time, your bodyline would get ruined!"
No matter what I eat or drink with her, it all tastes bad...
I guess I'm at my best when I'm feeling a little down, like when I have a boyfriend.
In the end, Satsuki stays by my side all through lunch break.
It's been like this for a while now...
☆ ☆ ☆
After school, special classroom building hallway
Kuzu: "...Thanks. ...If we're together too much, you know...?"
When I go to give him chocolate after school, Kuzu-kun avoids meeting my eyes and quickly thanks me before leaving.
...He said he had plans at lunch today, so after school was the only time I could see him.
He's busy, right? It can't be helped, right?
We both already got suspended for inappropriate relationships...
"Hey, wait?"
I call out to Kuzu-kun as he's leaving.
Kuzu-kun turns around—in winter, he looks so cool in a black tracksuit with flashy lines down the arms.
He's tall and slender, lean but muscular, with a face as gentle, neat, and princely as ever.
But, but his eyes are different.
They're nothing like the eyes he had back when we got together in the fall.
He says kind things to me, but that's all.
I'm pretty sure he's just not interested in me anymore.
I could see it plainly when I looked in his eyes.
Kuzu Tatsuo-kun has no interest in me at all.
He's just going through the motions, staying with me out of obligation.
What does it even mean to be together? When we can't even meet.
I knew it, but I kept looking away.
I knew it, but I pretended I didn't.
Probably about three months ago, after the suspension, rumors started up, and to calm things down I talked to Osada-san and we promised not to break up while still in school...I think that's when Kuzu-kun's heart started to drift away...
I kept looking away, refusing to think about it.
"See you, Kuzu-kun."
"Yeah, see you."
So he won't even call me by name?
Haha, well, I guess it can't be helped. Kuzu-kun always said he hates chubby girls, right?
Lately I've stopped looking in the mirror, and I don't step on the scale anymore.
I'm done.
No, I'll try again!
My heart says it's over...
One more thing,
There's one more thing I've been avoiding.
"...Maybe this is karma for betraying Kousuke-kun?"
With a heavy heart, I return to the main entrance.
Mishima Satsuki is leaning against the wall with her arms crossed next to the shoe lockers.
I don't even feel like talking to her, so I ignore her and head home.
When I walk past her, she follows me.
...I keep ignoring her and continue on,
Satsuki "...Here. I'll give you some chocolate."
It's probably chocolate she didn't give to her boyfriend, Yamamoto... The chocolate didn't do anything wrong...
I accept the chocolate she offers me.
The only thing that can heal me now is something sweet...
After that, Satsuki silently walks beside me.
She doesn't say anything, so I'll let it go, but honestly, I wish she'd just leave me alone.
We arrive at Toko Station. I get off here, and Satsuki gets off at the next station, Shinkawa, so we part ways here.
I'm grateful that she didn't say anything.
But today... I really just want to be alone.
As I'm about to get off, Satsuki calls out to me.
Satsuki "...Hey..."
"..."
I have no intention of answering, so... later.
Satsuki "...Wanna go to Ore Kare? I'll treat you."
"Let's go."
I replied instantly, without a moment's hesitation.
The only one who can heal me now is Kagetora-san, the manager of Ore Kare...!