Chapter three: The Bento Box

By the time I got home, the rain had already stopped.

I leaned Kasume's umbrella beside the front door and quietly headed upstairs.

For some reason...

I couldn't stop thinking about her.

Not just her—but her father, too.

The look in his eyes.

The way she smiled as if everything was normal.

It made my chest feel heavy.

After taking a shower, I laid my uniform out for tomorrow and finished the homework I'd been putting off.

Normally I'd stay up playing games or scrolling through my phone.

Tonight...

I climbed into bed early.

I wanted tomorrow to come.

The next morning, I slipped Kasume's umbrella into my school bag.

"I'll return it today," I quietly told myself.

As I walked beneath the bright morning sky, one question kept replaying in my head.

Why did she talk to me?

Out of everyone...

Why me?

The classroom buzzed with conversations the moment I stepped inside.

My eyes drifted toward the back of the room.

Her seat.

Empty.

I looked again.

Still empty.

"...She's late."

At least, that's what I wanted to believe.

As first period passed...

Then second...

Then lunch...

Her chair never moved.

I stared at it longer than I probably should have.

Why am I so worried?

We've only talked once.

...

Right?

An idea suddenly crossed my mind.

Yesterday...

Her bento box had been completely destroyed.

Maybe I could replace it.

It wasn't anything special...

But after everything she'd done for me, it felt like the right thing to do.

The only problem...

I had no idea what she'd like.

I closed my eyes and tried to picture yesterday.

It was hopeless.

The box had been crushed before I ever got a good look at it.

"Hmm..."

What kind of bento box would make her smile?

Flowers?

Yeah...

Flowers felt like something she'd like.

I pulled my wallet from my pocket.

2,742 yen.

"...Please be enough."

The final bell rang.

As I packed my bag, a familiar voice stopped me.

"Hey."

I looked up.

The girls from yesterday.

"Where's that white-haired girl?"

My jaw tightened.

Do they bother her every day?

Without realizing it, my fist slowly closed.

"Why?"

One of them rolled her eyes.

"She was supposed to bring me lunch today. Guess she forgot our arrangement."

Lunch...

The image of her crushed bento flashed across my mind.

So that's why...

"...I don't know."

The girls shrugged and walked away.

I watched them disappear into the crowd.

I should've said something.

Anything.

Instead...

I stood there.

Again.

After school, I stopped by a small shop near the station.

Rows of colorful bento boxes lined the shelves.

Animals.

Cartoons.

Simple wooden designs.

Then...

I saw it.

A soft pink bento box covered in delicate white flowers.

For some reason...

It reminded me of Kasume.

I picked it up and smiled.

Until I looked at the price.

6,291 yen.

"...You're kidding."

I laughed quietly to myself before checking my wallet again.

Not enough.

With a sigh, I placed it back exactly where I'd found it and hurried home.

Luckily, I'd been saving money for a while.

When I returned...

The shop was already closed.

"...Guess tomorrow it is."

Kasume still didn't come to school the next day.

As soon as classes ended, I rushed back to the shop.

The flower bento box was still there.

I bought it immediately.

Now all that was left...

...was giving it to her.

Before I realized it, I was standing outside her house.

The bag in my hand suddenly felt much heavier than before.

What if she wasn't home?

What if her father answered?

What if she thought I was weird for coming here?

I took a slow breath.

Then stepped closer.

My hand rose toward the door.

I hesitated.

...

I couldn't do it.

I turned to walk back home defeated until..