Chapter 12: Childhood Friend Chips, a Flavor That Makes Your Heart Ache When You See the Person You Have a Crush On Smiling and Chatting Happily with a Friend Who's Even Better Than You

Childhood Friend Chips, a Flavor That Makes Your Heart Ache When You See the Person You Have a Crush On Smiling and Chatting Happily with a Friend Who's Even Better Than You (The Classic Light Salt Flavor)

Summer vacation is over soon after I commit the atrocity of forcing the kind-hearted, studious, bespectacled boy to eat takoyaki from an outdoor food stall on a hot summer day.

By the time I met Satoshi-kun, another month had passed, so it's only natural.

When I recommended eating it in one bite, the boy shoved the piping hot food straight into his mouth, writhing in agony in front of the waiter, unable to spit it out. I wonder if he was really fooled, or if he was trying to impress me with following my words.

Either way, I was treated with such amusement that I laughed inside, but on the outside I looked worried. It's a memory of a summer that's so silly.

I'll probably forget it in three years.

The look on Satoshi-kun face when I demonstrated the same method to him, who looked frustrated at having tricked him, was quite a sight to behold, but that's beside the point.

Regardless of the boy who has helped me develop my sense of time so much, because I keep the time and date of our last date in the back of my mind, it's school time.

It's time for study, our primary duty as students.

Yay, Hikari loves studying!

I thought as class began, and without learning anything new, we were just asked to review our summer homework. That's how it goes for the first class of the new semester. Of course, I'd already finished it a long time ago, and Tomohiro-kun has as well. This year, he finished it a week early, giving himself plenty of time.

Come to think of it, I haven't seen Tomohiro-kun since the last homework day. This morning, he overslept and arrived just before homeroom, reminding me. He seems reluctant to talk to me at school, so unless we walk to school together in the morning, I don't even get a chance to say hello.

Even when I try to say hello, he just cuts the conversation short with a simple "Oh, good morning."

Is he trying to act cool?

Of course not, he's just keeping his distance. 

Ugh, Hikari is sad!

Even if Tomohiro-kun did something like that, it would be almost pointless since we already walk to and from school together. It's a laughing matter if he thinks he can escape my control with something less than a shallow idea.

In this child's case, he doesn't even realize he's being controlled.

You frog. Know the sea!

As I was thinking about this, my eyes met with Tomohiro-kun, who was looking my way, so I waved my hand in greeting. Ever since I was little, the ladies have always praised me for being able to greet people so cheerfully. I kept it silent because I'd stand out if I spoke loudly.

Despite the incident where the math teacher, who was burning with rivalry towards me, continued the lesson as usual, I still enjoyed math. Even if I already understood the material, it's still more fun to listen to the lecture.

It's a disaster for the others though. Only Satoshi-kun might feel the same way as me.

"It's been 13 days, 22 hours, and 18 minutes. Mashiro, thank you for the other day. Thanks to you, my mom was really happy."

It was Satoshi-kun, his glasses tucked tight, still greeting me in the same cheesy way, but from an outsider's perspective, it sounded like he'd had some kind of summer memory.

Well, I'd be surprised if anyone else was weird enough to greet me like that. I'm accepting it because it's me, but anyone else would be totally turned off, seriously.

"I'm glad you liked it. I don't really have that kind of experience, so I was a little worried."

Any middle schooler with a pink head would probably misinterpret this conversation as me going over to Satoshi-kun's house and treating his mom to a home-cooked meal.

In reality, it was just me bringing him some recommended takoyaki as a souvenir and he is thanking me for it being delicious.

I guess Satoshi-kun's lack of words is just natural. He's probably limiting the information he gives me, not thinking about what others might hear.

Me?

Of course, I do it on purpose. So let this conversation reach Tomohiro-kun.

As I continue chatting with Satoshi-kun, I watch him out of the corner of my eye.

Yes, he looks away disinterestedly, but he's fully focused on the conversation, trying not to miss anything.

That's what I like about you. You're so easy to understand.

Everyone in the class is surprised to see Satoshi-kun, who usually barely talks to anyone, talking at length for once.

For the record, he's just like that.

Between Satoshi-kun, who's a bookworm and stands out, and Tomohiro-kun, who stands out because his sensibilities don't match mine, are all the people around me socially awkward?

...Come to think of it, I'm also bad at communicating, but I'm just using my good looks to cover it up.

Birds of a feather flock together, I guess.

If we were going to gather together, it would have been better if we had brilliant talents.

Facing reality made me sad, so I cut the conversation short. I looked up at the slightly cloudy sky from the window and took a deep breath.

Why am I acting all pretentious?

It's a gesture that might get me in trouble, but even something like that makes a beautiful picture when done by a beautiful girl like me, so lookism is at its best.

Hehe, Hikari loves her beautiful face!

After I regained my composure by gazing at the reflection of my Mama's reflection in the window, my melancholy beautiful girl act was over. I don't need to go to the trouble of doing something like this, I'm a beautiful girl with plenty of mystery. Go look up the word mysterious in the dictionary. Mystery comes from my TS reincarnation.

Mystery is something I only need to show in front of the sparkling candidates and Snack-kun, so it's basically just a flavoring.

If I try too hard from the start, it's hard to become friends with them.

Humans are made to be attracted to the mysterious side of that cheerful, sociable girl who gets along with everyone, but only shows in front of them.

If that's not the case, then they're not human.

The feeling of superiority that comes from being the only one who knows someone's true self can drive people crazy.

Thinking about this, I finished my afternoon class and it was after school. My classmates were complaining about how packed their classes were right after the semester started, but to me, that's just how it was.

If I decline the invitations from the rich kids by saying I don't have much pocket money, it's a fun time walking home.

Finally, I can talk to my Tomohiro-kun.

Actually, it's not pocket money that I don't have, but pocket money (time to play with the rich kids), but I guess it's okay since I'm not lying.

By my standards, it's okay to intentionally mislead people, but lying is wrong. Because it taints the soul. The souls of reincarnated people who smell like sewer are a mass of filth from birth, after all.

It's almost a joke that I, who's far from innocent, am guiding Tomohiro-kun, who is the epitome of innocence because he was raised in a greenhouse.

...Huh?

Hiro-chan, you're saying you're not raised in a greenhouse because you've suffered enough? 

What a funny joke.

Tomatoes become sweeter and tastier when they're kept in a greenhouse and given limited water. A moderate amount of stress is essential for healthy fruit.

As expected, I head home with my Yamato Nadeshiko-like Tomohiro-kun, who follows me half a step behind.

The humid, sticky gazes he casts at me from a little ways behind are quite pleasant. I'm not interested in those gazes from random people, but when they're coming from my precious Snack-kun, it's delicious.

"...Mashiro-san, you and Hasumi-kun are good friends, huh? Did you hang out together over the weekend?"

Tomohiro-kun begins asking about something he's probably been wondering about all day, as if it were just casual conversation.

His uncontrollable jealousy, no matter how hard he tries to hide it, is charming.

Jealousy in men is generally ugly, but I don't see Tomohiro-kun as a man, so I find him adorable.

You know, there are dogs that get jealous and bite you when you pet someone else's dog?  

That's what Tomohiro-kun's jealousy is like.

"Yeah. Satoshi-kun and I have been together since elementary school, and we saw each other in the library."

Raising the tension, I suppress the urge to ask, "Does it matter to you who I'm close to?" and give a noncommittal answer to Tomohiro-kun's question.

By the way, Hasumi-kun is referring to Satoshi-kun.

Tomohiro seems to be holding back, not wanting to hear such things. This pet is really great because what he thinks and does is easy to understand.

The key to a well-liked pet is that it's easy for everyone to understand.

It's nice when the pet is tsundere and only the owner knows about it, but I prefer it when it's easy to understand. It's easier to guess that way.

The reason he doesn't honestly hang out with me or show me his affection is because Tomohiro-kun's self-esteem is completely shattered.

His feelings of guilt for taking up my time and his panic at feeling like he's being left behind despite us being together so much go hand in hand.

He probably doesn't realize it, but he does want to make me his own.

Tomohiro's emotional smoothie is delicious. Just like my Daddy-san.

"I told him about a good takoyaki place on the way home, and his mother was happy too. I liked it, but I wasn't sure if other people liked it too, so I'm relieved to hear that she liked it too."

This slightly thick drink is addictive, but if it's too thick it becomes difficult to drink, so the only downside is that you have to dilute it just enough.

The fact that I always provide aftercare is probably proof I'm first-class, right?

What kind of first-class is that? Of course, a first-class scum.

A dash of salt (to show I'm friendly) and a little lemon (to clear up any misunderstandings).

By adjusting the flavor like this, Tomohiro-kun's gaze loses its viscosity. His feelings of inferiority and misunderstanding will surely make him even more delicious. But instead, I given up on the idea of ​​simply wanting to play with him, because I already feel completely refreshed. 

"It's really delicious, so I'll bring Hiro-chan next time. Let's eat takoyaki together."

I turn around and smile at him, and Tomohiro-kun falls for me right away.

He's so easy to fool and cute.

I'm sure he'll talk to the mom next door and get some pocket money, so I'll buy some for him right in front of him and treat him.

His already shriveled self-esteem will be even more eroded.