L.G. Ch.3

Futaba Senpai

Futaba Mifune, third year high school student, shoulder length brownish hair, 155cm tall, skinny, slightly short skirt. She has a small mouth and large dark eyes that always seem to be scowling.

“…Are you a freshman?”

“Second year.”

“I’ve never seen your face before…”

Futaba-senpai said, and moved her mouth in a squirming motion.

It was the first time I’d seen her face, too. If you’re not in a club or committee, you rarely have any contact with upperclassmen.

I spread out my own lunch a little farther away from Futaba. The summer vacation had just ended, but it was still hot outside.

“…Musha”

“…Mogu”

We ate our lunches in silence for a while. It’s nice to sit nearby when asked to “eat together,” but it’s still awkward.

Let’s finish eating quickly and walk away.

When I glanced back at her, she had already finished her bread and was drinking her yogurt.

And she was looking at me.

“You, uh…”

As she put the straw in her mouth, she squirmed as if she wanted to say something.

“Name…”

“… Kaneshiro. Narumi Kaneshiro.”
“Narumi-kun, right. I’m Futaba. Mifune Futaba.”

Nodding her head, she said.

“What brings you to this rooftop?”

“I didn’t expect it to be open. It just happened.”

“Where do you usually eat?”

“…Classroom.”

When I averted my gaze, the senior came up to me and sat down a little closer.

“Really?”

“…Really.”

She looked at me suspiciously, then shrugged her shoulders and said.

“All right, it’s the bathroom.”

“What does it matter where I go?”

“You poor thing.”

I don’t understand why people look at me like they feel sorry for me.

“ …You eat alone, too.”

“No, I’m not.”

The senior crumpled up the finished carton with both hands.

“I like to eat my lunch here.”

“Why don’t you eat in the classroom?”

“Well, you know…”

“Do you have any friends?”

“No…”

“You’re a loner.”

“…Yeah.”

She admitted it.

However, she seemed to have her own thoughts on the matter and puffed out her cheeks, put her hand on her chest and said.

“But I’ve been a loner longer than you.”

“…huh?”

“Look at this.”

She pulled a small silver key from her pocket.

“What’s this?”
“The key to this rooftop.”

“How did you get this…?”

“It was just lying there. Here, give me your hand.”

Futaba-senpai squeezed my hand and forcibly twisted the key into my hand.

The skin was cool to the touch. The coldness of it surprised me.

“This is for you.”

“…Is it okay?”
“I have another one.”

She smiled and pulled out a key of the exact same shape from her chest pocket.

“You can have it. You don’t have anywhere to eat.”

“… But…”
“Hmm?”

“You’re in the way, aren’t you? If I’m here.”

“No, you’re not. Because you’re alone.”

The pre-bell rang.

She’s looking into my face.

“Loners help each other.”

It was at this moment that I got my first proper look at Futaba-senpai’s face.

She has a much clearer face than her voice suggests.

Honestly, it’s cute.

“I’ll take… for now.”

I put the key in my pocket and stood up.

“I can’t promise I’ll come.”

“Come on, don’t be so tough.”

“You’re not going, are you? Class is about to start.”

“It’s my third year. Sixth period is next.”

Futaba-Senpai yawned loudly. She then went to the back of the water tower, which was in the shade, and leaned against it.

“I’m going to take a nap.”

“…I see.”

I closed the door to the rooftop, leaving Futaba-senpai behind as she began to doze off.

I walked down the same dusty stairs I had come down. The small key in my pocket made a chirping sound.

It was awfully heavy and slightly warm to the touch.


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