Lonely Me and the Lonely Caring Goddess - Chapter 98

“Hmm, Takanashi-kun’s right hand is injured, so she’s taking care of him?”

“To go so far as to make him a lunchbox, Satsukawa-san is so kind.”

When lunch was over, as I was taking a breather, they asked me about Sara-senpai.

“I, I see. So there was that situation.”

“But Takanashi-kun is enviable. Even if you’re injured.”

These people were throwing words lightly even though their eyes were not smiling.

I guess my escape from a while ago failed. It’s incredible how these people mix the conversation with talks about relationships.

“They say that lunch box preparation for one or two people is the same. But to suddenly make lunch for two people, isn’t it hard?”

“No, it has always been for two people. I’ve always packed for two people, so it’s not sudden.”

“Oh, is that so? Are you also the one making for your family?”

The flow of the conversation was so unpleasant that I was left feeling nervous inside, or rather, I thought it was only a matter of time before they reached this point.

It’s times like this when the Student President should interrupt the conversation by saying something like, “Now, now, let’s get started,” but that smirk seems to be saying that he knows and is keeping quiet.

“No, on school days, I prepare lunch boxes for the both of us, Takanashi-san and I.”

「「「「 Eh…? 」」」」

I’m finished…

There are many things the Student Council doesn’t know, but I assume it’s too late to stop them…

“Did you make lunch boxes for Takanashi-kun before?”

“Yes.”

“What was the reason?”

“There’s no reason. I just want to make them for Takanashi-san.”

“Why were you making them for him?”

“To make Takanashi-san happy.”

Ooh… p-p-please stop… I can’t stand it anymore…

「「「Hee~」」」

The girls were looking at me awfully with tepid eyes.

And the boys were silently grabbing my neck. Of course, they don’t mean it, but can you please stop thinking about it so openly?

“…Won’t you please stop with your jokes now?”

Senpai, who was having a friendly conversation with the girls, suddenly turns around and shoots a sharp look at the boys with a blank expression.

「「「…We’re so sorry!」」」

…I wonder when she realized.

——————————————

“Well, now that things seem to have settled down, it’s time to start.”

The Student President, who had been observing until it was all over, said.

…I’ve got to thank this person for the live coverage… I will tell Natsumi-senpai everything he’s done, like teasing me.

“Our agenda for today is about the community volunteer cleanup that we do every year around this time…”

After he said that, the Student President looked at my right hand.

Well, to be honest, it’s a tough call right now.

“President… you wouldn’t make an injured Takanashi-san attend, would you?”

Sara-senpai’s pressuring smile is activated, making the President scared.

Serves you right. Ahh, what a good feeling.

“N-no. Of course, I won’t ask Takanashi-kun something unreasonable like that.”

“Then it’s all good. But I’m afraid I can’t help too. Since I also have to take care of Mr. Takanashi, I will not participate. I’m sure everything will be fine as long as the President is there.”

“I-I understand… Yeah, I can do this alone.”

I am a little sorry for him, but it’s volunteer work, so you can’t force everyone to participate.

I’ll be sure to attend the next one.

——————————————

Then a sudden thing happened.

*Ding-dong*

I was relaxing at home when the doorbell rang, indicating a guest.

I wonder who it is…

Senpai went home to get some stuff after she finished changing my clothes.

It could be Senpai, but it’s too early…

“Hi.”

I opened the door anyway, and… wow…

I opened the door to check… Uwaa!

“It looks like you’re still alive. I’ve come to check up on you.”

While saying that, she entered the room… It was my mother.

Ha? Why so suddenly?

“I-If you’re going to visit, you should’ve at least called?”

“Didn’t I contact you?”

I looked at my phone hurriedly and saw a message from LINE about 5 minutes ago.

Even if she contacted me, this was…

“Five minutes ago!? What if I’m not home?”

“You were, so no problem.”

Ha~a… It’s been a while, but she’s still carefree as ever.

This is my mother, Fuyumi Takanashi. She has many flaws, but is a good person.

She came here because… she probably got a call about my injury.

“So, you were hit in PE class and hurt your wrist? You were probably just spacing out, weren’t you? You’re really a handful.”

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t expect you to come here so suddenly.”

Okan (as I call her) sat down on a chair at the table and looked around the room.

“Hmm… I thought I’d have to do a lot of cleaning up, but you’re doing a surprisingly good job. Even the kitchen is clean. Did you get sick and go crazy?”

Why does she have to say that much…?

Well, I never cleaned up at home, so she wouldn’t expect me to live in such a tidy house, right?

Or rather, I want her to go home soon… before the Senpai comes back.

“You made sure I’m okay, didn’t you? Now that you know, I know you’re busy, so you can go home now.”

“Hmm… well, let’s brew some tea. Ara, you’re using a gorgeous mug. And an apron that doesn’t suit you.”

…Is she going to find out? Should I just tell her?

No, it’s too early to give up.

“It was a gift from an acquaintance.”

“Right, right. You’re the only one who thinks you have an acquaintance, even I can’t imagine it.”

Knock, knock… Click.

After knocking, I heard the sound of the door being unlocked.

It seems that the Senpai has come back.

It’s over… What to do? How do I explain…?

“I’m sorry I’m… late?”

“…”

Sara-senpai’s expression of wonder and my mother’s expression of astonishment are frozen in place.

I’ve never seen this look on Mom’s face before.

Ha~a… What should I do?

“Umm… I’m sorry, but who are you? Ah, are you Takanashi-san’s relative by any chance?”

Senpai, who asked Okan with a curious expression, appeared to have thought that, probably remembering the story of my relative.

“Umm, this is my…”

“Ha!?”

Okan, who had been frozen, started to move.

Okan staggered as she moved a little closer to Senpai and looked at her slowly from head to foot, then looked at her face again.

Please, don’t be so rude…

“Yes… It’s nice to meet you. I’m Fuyumi Takanashi… this guy’s mother.”

Okan, still feeling surprised, began a brief self-introduction. And now, it was Sara-senpai who looked surprised.

“Ta-Takanashi-san’s mother!?”

Then Senpai put down the luggage she was carrying, straightened her posture, and bowed deeply with both hands stacked in front of her body.

She continued doing so for a few seconds, then looked at Okan with a smile.

“Sorry for my impoliteness. My name is Sara Satsukawa. I am very much indebted to Takanashi…no, Kazunari-san. I am delighted to meet you, dear Mother.”

“…Dear Mother.”

Okan, frozen again at Sara-senpai’s smile and greeting, can only utter that single word.