A Mysterious Senior

Takumi walked hurriedly down the hallway, moving only his eyes to check his surroundings.

The school was filled with people enjoying themselves during the lunch break, and it was hard to find a quiet spot where he could spend time alone.

Furthermore, the students passing by naturally avoided him as they walked, causing a deep sigh to escape his lips as he involuntarily hung his head. However, at that moment, he noticed a figure approaching that made no attempt to avoid him.

Thinking it was unusual, he raised his eyes and saw a male student walking unsteadily while carrying three stacked cardboard boxes.

Was he carrying some kind of teaching materials? Although they didn’t look very heavy, they were bulky, completely blocking his forward vision. Takumi knitted his brows.

Judging by the color of his indoor shoes and school badge, the boy seemed to be a fellow first-year.

As a decent human being, this was the moment to call out and offer a hand. Besides, it might even serve as a catalyst to start a conversation. However, based on past experience, it was easy to imagine being rejected or perhaps even misunderstood as trying to start trouble.

It would probably be better not to offer unsolicited help. Besides, if he left the area, some kind-hearted person might step in to help instead.

Just as he was about to turn on his heel with those pessimistic thoughts, an unusually bright voice echoed out.

“You look like you’re having a rough time! Let me help!”

“Huh?”

Saying that, a female student lightly took one of the cardboard boxes from the boy carrying them, wearing a bright, charming smile.

Judging by the color of her indoor shoes, she was likely a second-year. She was somewhat petite, with wide, large eyes and a clearly defined nose bridge. Her lustrous, well-kept, medium-length hair complemented her neatly pleated skirt, which was shortened just enough without losing its elegance. She was a bright, honors-student-type girl who suited the word “pure” perfectly—a girl so cute that Takumi involuntarily gasped. When a girl that beautiful suddenly showered someone with unsolicited kindness, any guy would be flustered. The male student blinked repeatedly, his mouth agape in amazement.

When she tilted her head slightly as if asking “Is that okay?”, he nodded repeatedly in rapid succession.

With such an adorable appearance and friendly manner, especially when offering help to someone in trouble, no one could possibly refuse.

As Takumi watched the two of them with slightly envious, narrowed eyes, his face naturally scowled into even more of a villainous look, when his eyes suddenly met hers.

Ah, crap. She’s going to run away— or so he thought, but instead, she flashed a brilliant smile at Takumi, just as she had toward the other boy.

“You over there, help us out too!”

“Eh?”

Saying that, she trotted over and handed a cardboard box to him.

Letting out a foolish voice, Takumi deftly accepted it while still holding his yakisoba croquette bread.

She took another cardboard box from the male student—who was staring at Takumi in shock—and asked in the same bright, casual voice as before.

“I’m Akira. Second-year, Akira Ikoma. What about you guys?”

“I-I’m Tsutsui, a first-year.”

“I see, Tsutsui-kun! And you over there?”

“I’m Hashio…”

“Hashio-kun, then!”

“!”

Being treated no differently than the other male student carrying boxes made Takumi’s heart leap once again. Not only was it a completely normal interaction, but being smiled at by a stunningly beautiful upperclassman who could easily pass for an idol made it all the more intense.

She—Akira—asked Tsutsui with a beaming smile.

“This is lighter than I thought~. What’s inside?”

“Cloth, or rather… aprons we’re making for home economics class…”

“I see~. Then should we carry them to the home economics room?”

“Y-Yes.”

“Okay!”

And with that, Akira winked as if saying “leave it to me” and began walking toward the home economics room.

She moved with such natural confidence that Takumi and the other boy couldn’t help but watch in awe.

Then, noticing the two of them standing still behind her, Akira puffed out her cheeks and complained playfully.

“Hey~! You guys hurry up and come too~!”

“Y-Yes!”

“’Sup…”

When the flustered Tsutsui and a slightly delayed Takumi caught up to Akira, she nodded grandly yet playfully in satisfaction. Then, resetting the mood, she began chatting cheerfully.

“Aprons, huh? That brings back memories~! I made one during my first year too~. They have everyone make one during the first class of the year, after all~.”

“Is that so?”

When Tsutsui chimed in with a question, Akira answered while putting on her upperclassman airs.

“Well, you can’t start cooking class without an apron, right? You see, the other day we made okonomiyaki in class, and when I tried to squeeze out the last bit of sauce, it splattered out super hard! Luckily it hit my apron, so it was safe in a way!”

“Ahaha, that happens sometimes.”

“Speaking of okonomiyaki, when I made it at home, I tried using lettuce instead of cabbage. The crunchy texture was fresh and delicious! Do you know any unique ingredients like that?”

“Hmm, it’s pretty common, but maybe mochi?”

“Mochi is a popular one~. What about you, Hashio-kun?”

“!”

Unexpectedly called out by name, Takumi’s mind briefly went blank.

However, faced with Akira’s expectant gaze, he couldn’t just leave her without an answer. Desperately searching his brain for anything, he squeezed out a voice.

“…K-Kimchi.”

However, the word that escaped his lips was simply Takumi’s personal favorite ingredient.

Taken aback by the somewhat out-of-place answer, Akira and Tsutsui fell silent for a moment.

Takumi grimaced, realizing he had messed up.

“Kimchi is spicy and delicious, isn’t it? Speaking of kimchi, put it in takoyaki and it’s surprisingly—”

Yet Akira immediately shifted the subject, keeping the conversation flowing smoothly.

Takumi let out a sigh of relief.

After that, Akira brought up topics like feeling defeated if she had to use a needle threader, or accidentally sewing a dragon applique meant to showcase her personality onto the lining instead.

She asked easy-to-answer questions not just to Tsutsui but to Takumi as well, such as “Don’t you prick your fingers when using a needle?” or “If you were to attach an applique, what would you choose?”, keeping the conversation lively.

Thanks to that, it felt like they reached the home economics room in no time at all.

Upon entering the room, Akira set her cardboard box down right next to the teacher’s podium and spun around lightly.

“Well then, see you!”

With a smile and a wave, Akira departed.

Tsutsui watched her retreating figure longingly, looking completely dreamy.

Takumi could understand the feeling. Having a lively conversation with such a beautiful girl would make anyone smile.

They had both been completely swept into the atmosphere created by this mysterious, caring upperclassman.

When their eyes met, Tsutsui offered him a silly, relaxed smile.

However, Takumi opened his eyes wide in surprise at Tsutsui’s completely normal reaction toward him.

Takumi returned a vague smile, quickly stacked his box on top of the one Akira had placed, and left the home economics room before the magic of the atmosphere she created could fade.

As he walked, his heart throbbed painfully inside his chest. He couldn’t make sense of it. Was this what it felt like to be bewitched?

Reflecting on what had just happened, talking with the upperclassman named Akira had been genuine fun.

Silly banter within a group had felt truly enjoyable.

Questions and confusion swirled inside his chest, along with a tiny hint of nostalgia.

Bewildered, Takumi put the feeling into words and asked himself: When I was with Akira-senpai just now… was I treated normally?