Haruki was boasting about the basketball game she had with a smug look on her face.
[How was my match? Iām pretty good at it, right?]
[I guess so.]
I, on the other hand, had a bush look on my face and seemed as if I wasnāt listening.
In fact, Haruki had observed that I was being played by feint and techniques in soccer to an interesting degree. This also made her think that I was behaving this way because I was frustrated, which made her look more confident.
But thatās not the case. If anything, itās because I was strongly conscious of Haruki as a girl.
[So.]
[So?]
[How was the game? I didnāt see the end.]
[It was close, but we lost. Who did Hayato root for?]
[ā¦]
[ā¦]
She answered my question with another question. Her mischievous face clearly showed that she was playing around with Hayato.
Now, Harukiās body is on fire from PE, and sheās taking off not only her socks but also her summer knit, and sheās loosening up her blouse to let the wind blow in her hands.
In a way, itās an incendiary sight, but at the same time, itās a disappointing sight that she canāt show to anyone else. It was a figure sheād only show in front of me.
(Oh well, this is Haruki-ish anyway)
When I thought about it, it was kind of silly for me to be conscious of her.
And then, the wrinkles between my eyebrows loosened up.
[Mou, Are you even listening?]
[Yes, Yes. Itās my loss. I canāt beat you, Haruki.]
[Oh, you finally admit it. I think you owe me one for this.]
[What loan?]
[To see which one of us got everyone excited?]
[Itās exciting, youāre a great actor, huh?]
[Actor?]
[ā¦ Haruki?]
Suddenly, the air around her changed.
Her lightheartedness the other days were blown away and replaced by something dark.
Her face is smiling, but itās somber. As if sheās enduring some kind of pain.
I donāt know why she changed the atmosphere around her. What I did realize was that I stepped on a landmine and she got upset.
[Hayatoā¦ Is totally different from me.]
[Hey, Wait, Haruki?!]
The quality of her smile suddenly changed, and she crawled on all fours underneath me like a beast hunting its prey.
And as soon as her hands touched my chest, she moved her fingers in a luscious way as if sheās checking something.
[Itās hard hereā¦ is it a muscle, or do you work out? Or is it because youāre a boy? You didnāt used to be so different from me.]
[S-Stop it, Haruki!]
[Why?]
[Do I have to say the reason?!]
My face was bright red from Harukiās fingertips.
The soft and supple fingers traced my chest with independent movements as if they had a will of their own. Sometimes penetrating between my shirt and rubbing my bare skin.
Thereās no way that I could withstand the unknown stimulation of my childhood friendās fingers.
[Iām ticklish, stop it!]
[Uwaah!]
I forcibly push her away from me with grudges in my eyes.
Haruki, on the other hand, fluttered a couple of times, and then burst into laughter.
[Oh, Iām sorry, Iām sorry! Did I tickle you that bad?]
[Give me a break.]
[Because, heyā¦ What do you think about Hayato acting like this and fooling everybody?]
[Thanks, and I think Iām only like this in front of you.]
[I see.]
Harukiās eyes narrowed, and she took out her lunch as if sheās done teasing me.
She took out her lunch which seemed to be the usual jelly drink she had and a rice ball. It seems to be in rotation with sandwiches.
I followed her and took out my own lunch box.
[Oh yeah, how about I share a bit with you as an apology? Would you like a jelly drink? Or a rice ball?]
[I donāt need it, I have my own. Haruki, you always drink that, donāt you?]
[Itās an easy way to replenish your body.]
[From the convenience store?]
[Yep, I stop by every morning. Well, Hayato always brought his own lunch. Wow, whatās that?]
[This? Itās rice croquettes.]
In my lunchbox, there were four fist-sized rice croquettes sitting on top. No other side dishes, and it was no wonder that Haruki was surprised. There was nothing else on the box.
I prepared this yesterday.
I sauteed chopped onion, eggplant, and bacon cut into bite sized pieces, added leftover rice, and seasoned it with salt and pepper and ketchup. Then use plastic wraps to form a tea towel-like shape, and donāt forget to put cheese inside.
Flour, egg, and breadcrumbs are applied in their respective orders, and then rolled and deep fried on a pan with enough salad oil to soak them.
By the way, Himeko told me that deep-frying rice is so calorie dense and would make her fat. But despite that, she took 3 of the croquettes with her.
[Would you like to trade me half of your rice balls?]
[You sure?!]
[Here.]
[Then, me too!]
I put half of my rice croquettes on my lunch box lid and offered it to her, and she stuffed half of her rice ball into the empty space of my lunch box as a substitute.
[Chopsticks?]
[No need, Iāll just use my hands. Mmmm,m mmm! The strong flavour is perfect for after gym, and the cheese is great! Where did you buy this? Frozen?]
[I made it.]
[You made it?!]
[What, are you surprised?]
[Yeahā¦]
Haruki made a surprised face, observed my face closely. Iām not sure what her objection is though.
[Is it possible that you made all of this?]
[Yep, I did.]
[I see, seven years is a very long time, after all.]
[Harukiā¦]
Then I muttered this with somewhat troubled eyes.
I tried to say something to her, but I couldnāt come up with any words and choked up.
[Ok, letās eat our lunch quickly, lunch break is almost over.]
[Ok, ok.]
It was only for a moment, but now, she immediately returned to her original, mischievous, friendly smile.
Something was bothering me, so I looked out of the window to cover it up.