Volume 1 - CH 25

“Thanks for all your hard work!”

I called out to all the remaining staff in the hall and headed back to my office.

Himekawa also greeted me and returned to the office with me.

We both finished changing our clothes and were about to go home when the manager came back into the office.

“Thanks for your hard work. I’m sorry for assigning you to work so suddenly. Have you gotten used to it?”

Himekawa, who had changed out of her uniform, answered the manager.

“Yes, Tendo-san has been teaching me, but I’ve gotten used to it.”

“I see, it was worth leaving it in Tendo’s hands. I’m sorry Tendo for the sudden change.”

The manager lightly bows his head. On the one hand, I wish he would stop bowing his head so easily, but on the other hand, I guess it can’t be helped since he’s taking care of me.

“No, I’m glad I could be of service.”

“Himekawa must be tired from her first job, so please come in after school on Thursday and Friday for your next workday. I’ll let you know about the rest of your shift when you come to work next time. Also, please bring me the documents we talked about earlier.”

We were about to leave the office after that.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Tendo, please stay here for a bit”

Himekawa leaves the office first, and the manager and I stay in the office.

I sit across the table from the manager, facing him.

“Tendo, is Himekawa the Himekawa that was reported on the news?”

I nod silently.

“Well, I’m sorry I was a little harsh with her earlier. I shouldn’t have said that, but I wanted to make sure that I knew how much she was aware of her job. Please don’t take offense.”

“Could you please tell that to Himekawa instead of to me?”

“I apologized to Himekawa earlier. Tendo, I know you will be entrusted with more work from now on, but please take care of her. As a senior.”

“Yes, as long as it’s something I can do myself”

“Just don’t take a leave of absence from your next shift, okay?”

Ugh. I didn’t know you were going to come on about that here.

“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure my shift is full”

After saying this, I stand up and leave the office.

When I left the restaurant, Himekawa was standing alone there waiting for me.

“Sorry, I’m late.”

“It’s all right. I’ve only been waiting for a little while”

“Well, let’s go home quickly”

“Yes, let’s go home quickly”

We left the coffee shop and started walking toward the station.

Himekawa’s first job ended without incident, and we headed home.

We walked through the shopping street and passed by a store that has always taken care of us.

Maybe I will buy some menchis today. I haven’t bought it for a long time.

“Hey, how about some menchikatsu tonight?”

“That sounds good. Let’s buy some and on our way home”

We order some menchikatsu at the butcher shop and head home again with bags in hand.

Then at home, I cook a little late dinner with Himekawa.

“Now, it’s late, and I was wondering if we could have leftovers from last night and some menchi”

“I think we have cabbage, don’t we? Shall I shred it?

“Yes, I do. Do you want me to make a side dish?”

I put the cabbage on the cutting board and Himekawa prepares the kitchen knife.

Can she shred it? I decided to leave it to her while thinking.

Well then, I’ll get something else ready for us.”

A few minutes later, something else was ready, not shredded as expected.

Roughly chopped cabbage? The shreds were quite thick.

“I’m sorry…”

“Look, this is how you shred it.”

I show her the example. I’m not a pro at this, but I’m able to cut it into reasonably thin strips.

Himekawa, who is watching me closely, will probably continue to improve her cooking skills.

It would be a great help to me if I can share the responsibility of cooking with her soon.

Incidentally, the cabbage Himekawa created turned into stir-fried vegetables with other vegetables.

“”Itadakimasu””

Himekawa and I have dinner together again today.

Why is it that two people’s meals taste better than one person’s meal, even though they are the same food?

We eat without saying a word to each other for a while.

I wonder what Himekawa talked about at school today. The teacher talked to me directly, so I must have had something to do with it.

“”Um…””

I was surprised at the beginning. I didn’t expect Himekawa to talk to me at the same time.

“I’m sorry, Himekawa can talk first.”

“No, Tendo-kun, you can go first”

We debated for a few minutes which one of us would speak first, but in the end, I spoke first.

“You know that teacher who called you out during our class? I was wondering what he said to you.”

I asked Himekawa as I picked up the menchis with my chopsticks.

Himekawa put her bowl on the table and her chopsticks down as well.

“There was a call from Imai-san to the school. He also asked me if I would be willing to talk about this matter in front of everyone”

“I see. That’s good. It looks like you’re going to be able to continue your school life as before.”

She threw the menchis into her mouth and ate her rice.

“I guess so. Just when I thought everyone suddenly stopped talking to me, they suddenly started talking to me again”

Does such a situation happen often? Well, it must be common in a school environment.

I guess you have to socialize in moderation.

“May I ask you something?”

“Anything you want.”

The eyes of Himekawa, who is looking straight at me, are serious.

I wonder what she will ask me.

“I’d like to ask you why you left me there when we first met Imai-san”

This is a very difficult question to answer. I put my bowl and chopsticks on the table and drank some water.

I honestly don’t know why I acted the way I did.

But I do remember that I was frustrated.

“Do I really have to answer that question?”

“Yes, you must. I really want to know what’s on Tendo-kun’s mind”

“You might be disappointed or feel bad if you hear the answer, but do you still want to know?

I still want to know.

A few moments of silence pass. I think back to that moment and begin to reflect on my actions.