Source
https://kakuyomu.jp/works/16818093086929308998/episodes/16818093087615985209
“Ha ! ……Hm? Why am I? Home?”
I woke up suddenly, but I was clearly feeling better than yesterday, probably because I had had a good night’s sleep.
“Ah, by the way, Shindo kun…….”
I vaguely remember that I was almost in danger when my physical condition reached its limit…….
If it weren’t for Shindo kun, I would have been hit by a car.
“But I can’t remember much, what happened after he pulled my hand away?”
I was pulled by the hand, and when I looked up, I saw Shindo kun’s face, and then he lent me his shoulder and went home.
Hm? But I don’t remember walking home.
“Ah ! Come to think of it……”
I suddenly felt embarrassed as I remembered what happened after that.
I was in pain, and Shindo kun noticed me and gave me a piggyback ride…….
“Huh? Come to think of it, I’m saying something even more embarrassing…..”
If it wasn’t my imagination, I would have said something very embarrassing to Shindo kun…..something I normally would never say even if I thought it,…..but my memory is a little fuzzy, so I don’t know. Maybe it’s just my imagination.
I should just ask my mom what happened yesterday.
I was thinking about that when my mom came into the room, probably knowing I was awake from the sound.
“Morning, Mitsuki. Are you okay?”
“Yeah. I’m fine, Mom.”
“I see. We’re going to see the doctor later, so get ready.”
“Okay.
Mom……how did I come home yesterday?”
I fearfully asked my mom if my memory of yesterday was correct.
If possible, I hope I’m remembering it wrong,…..because it would be too embarrassing…..
“What do you mean? Don’t you remember? A boy named Shindo Kei from the same class carried Mitsuki on his back when you almost collapsed on the way home from cram school, right?”
“I-I see…..”
Well, I was aware of it for a while, but I guess it wasn’t just my imagination…….
“Shindo kun is such a good boy. What kind of relationship do you have with him?”
“Erm What kind of relationship? Friends? I guess?”
When asked about my relationship with Shindo kun, I don’t really know.
Unlike Yui, I don’t talk to him, and he’s one of the few people who knows about my interests, but we haven’t really talked since then…….
“You’re being very vague, aren’t you? Well, it’s true that he helped you, so you should thank him, right? I’m sure Shindo kun will say it’s not necessary.”
“Right……but what should I do to thank him?”
“I think anything would be fine….but I think he would refuse if you offered to treat him to something, so why don’t you make him some food? Mitsuki is good at cooking, right?”
I don’t know how he can say no when I offer to buy him a drink, but if my mom says so, I guess she’s right……did she talk to him yesterday?
I mean, home-cooked meal…..I might have said something embarrassing already……but it’s even more embarrassing.
No, but I want to thank him, and the least I can do is cook……I want to make sure I’m remembering correctly, so it’s probably a good idea.
“I’m sure you’re right. But I have to get in shape first.”
“Of course. Well then, I’ll be there when Mitsuki finishes getting ready, so please get ready.”
“Okay.”
◇
–After three days of rest, I’m feeling better than ever.
“What should I do……I’m at a loss as to what message to send and I’m running out of time……”
I was going to contact Shindo un this morning to thank him for his kindness, but I still haven’t been able to contact him even now that it is almost noon.
When it came time to send it, I felt embarrassed and nervous.
“Not good ! If I don’t thank him before school starts, things will get more and more awkward !”
I thought and sent the message with a single thought.
It’s a very awkward text, but I hope it’s okay……
As soon as I thought that, I got a reply.
[No, I’m fine. Are you feeling better already?]
[Yes. I went to see a doctor, but I hadn’t been sleeping well because of studying for tests and cram school, so it seems my fatigue came suddenly.]
[I see……it’s great that you’re studying so hard, but take care of yourself, okay?]
Hearing Shindo kun’s words of concern, I felt a little bit of my nervousness dissolve.
[Yes. I will take proper care from now on…….um, do you have any plans from now on, Shindo kun?]
[Let’s see. I was just about to have lunch, I don’t have anything special to do, but what’s up?]
[Erm? I wanted to thank you for your hospitality, would you like to have lunch with me? I’ll make it…..]
[As I told your mother, you don’t have to worry about thanking me or anything, okay?]
[This is how I feel……and she also told me to do that much.]
I was a little embarrassed and used my mom as a reason to say so.
[Okay, well, I’ll take your word for it.]
[Okay ! Are you coming to my house now? I have the ingredients, so I’ll make it and wait for you.]
[Oh, okay, I’ll be there later.]
[Yes. I’ll be waiting for you.]
“Okay…..I need to get ready.”
◇
–Just as I finished preparing the food, the doorbell rang.
(Ding dong).
I opened the door a little nervous.
“Hello, Miyamoto san.”
“Oh,……hello…..Shindo kun,……please come in anyway.”
I wanted to confirm something, but I decided to let him come in anyway.
Or rather, I can’t speak properly…I speak in a really awkward way.
With that in mind, I led the way to the living room.
“Did Miyamoto san make all of this?”
Shindo kun looked at the dishes lined up on the table and said with some surprise.
“Yes. I did……”
“Amazing. It looks so delicious.”
“Thank you…….”
I was a little happy to hear Shindo kun say that with a smile.
Cooking is something I have worked hard on after studying, so I’m happy when I’m praised for it.
“Erm, Miyamoto san? I’ve been thinking about it ever since we were messaging each other…..why the honorific?”
My heart skipped a beat when I heard Shindo kun say that.
But there’s no better time to ask than now,…..I thought and decided to say it fearfully.
“I’m sorry,……but I vaguely remember that I owed Shindo kun….and I felt like I said some very embarrassing things……”
I said that, and Shindo kun thought about something for a moment before speaking.
“Ah, so that’s why the honorifics. I don’t think it’s anything to worry about, right? I didn’t feel bad either.”
He didn’t say anything specific because he was worried about me, but when I saw his reaction, it was true after all…I could feel my face turning bright red knowing that fact.
“So, it wasn’t my imagination after all…”
“Can I eat Miyamoto san’s cooking instead?”
“Ah, yeah, it’s okay.”
When Shindo kun saw that I was embarrassed, he quickly changed the topic, so I thought it was a little helpful.
Seeing Shindo kun like that, I felt that he was a very considerate person.
When Shindo kun put his hand on the omelet rice, his eyes widened and he said.
“Eh ! This omelet is so delicious ! You’re such a good cook, Miyamoto san.”
“Thank you. I’ve been practicing since I was little to please my mom and dad.”
I was really happy with Shindo kun’s reaction. When I looked at Shindo kun’s face, I felt that it wasn’t just flattery, but that he really meant it.
I was embarrassed, but I was more than happy to see him so happy.
“It’s seriously delicious. Even if you say you’re aiming to become a chef, I can see it.”
“I’m glad to hear you’re so pleased.”
Honestly, I thought that was an exaggeration, but it makes me really happy when someone says something like that with a smile on their face, and I naturally started smiling too.
–After we finished eating, we had a little chat.
“Speaking of which, how did you do on your test?”
“Right. I guess it turned out better than I expected.”
“I see, after all, Yui chan taught you. She praised you for being a quick learner.”
“No, no, no, that was just Yui who taught me well.”
“…..When did you start calling her by name?”
When I asked, a little surprised, Shindo kun answered with a slightly worried look.
“Erm, well, we got to know each other, and it was decided that I could just call her like that.”
“Is that so? But yeah, Yui chan looks like she’s having a lot of fun talking about Shindo kun, so maybe that’s it.”
Shindo kun gave a vague answer, but Yui chan also seemed to be having fun talking about Shindo kun, so I thought it wouldn’t be a problem if I asked too much about it.
“Speaking of which, how can you study so hard until you collapse, Miyamoto san?”
“Right…..I guess I’m not the type to get the gist of things…..Yui chan is the type who can do it with a little study, but I’m not……”
Of course, it’s not only because of Yui chan, but ever since I was in junior high school I had to work harder than others to get good grades.
That’s why I have no choice but to work hard to become a teacher.
“Miyamoto san is awesome……”
“Eh? I’m awesome?”
I was honestly surprised to hear such words from Shindo kun.
What part of me that he thinks I’m awsome? I told him that I’m not the type who can study well if I don’t know the basics well.
“Because being able to work hard until you collapse isn’t something that everyone can do. If you can put in that much effort, there’s no reason you can’t do anything.”
“That’s not true…because even if I do that, I’m still dumber than Yui chan…”
Even though Shindo kun praised me, I didn’t have confidence in myself, so I responded like that.
This kind of self-deprecation is why I haven’t had many friends in the past,…..
I know, but it’s hard to change.
“No, there’s meaning in being able to work hard…….even Miyamoto san is at the top of the class in terms of grades, so I don’t think you need to be so pessimistic. At least from my point of view, Miyamoto san who can make an effort is very cool and wonderful, okay?”
Shindo kun’s words were like nothing anyone had ever said to me before.
And even though he heard my words, he still praised me……
I’ve never had anyone tell me I was cool and wonderful for my efforts.
Of course, there have been people who have praised me, but no one has said it as seriously as Shindo kun.
The same goes for Kanata kun and Sora kun, but somehow it felt appropriate.
Well, maybe it’s because there was someone nearby who could do it better than me…
Compared to that, Shindo kun’s words have a lot of heart in them.
The way he speaks, the look in his eyes, I can tell that he is not lying and that he is speaking from his heart.
I felt my efforts being recognized for the first time in a real sense, and I was so happy that I could feel my body temperature rising.
“……I see. Thanks…….”
I could feel my feelings fluttering, so I turned my head down and gave such a curt reply.
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