Well it is a bit late for Christmas and today is Boxing day where I’m at, so Happy Boxing Day for those who see this or Merry Christmas if it is still Christmas. I spent the past week getting a SCUBA diving licence. hopefully my counting is correct and this should be 30 pages of this chapter done.
“Hey, Satou! Are you even listening?”
A few days later.
When I first entered the classroom at school, I was immediately pulled aside by Kimura. It was the first time that I had seen those two in such an excited state. Even if we have only known each other for a month, having not seen such a thing before is expected, but I really admire the fact that he is able to muster such an expression so early in the morning.
“What, what?” (I think: なになに?)
Saitou came over. It was as if his face had written on it “What are you guys talking about that has you so excited?”.
“It is a student restaurant, it is a student restaurant!”
Kimura was spouting air out of his nose. As if he was from a manga, you are too happy. Even saying so, a student restaurant?
“Our school has that kind of eatery?”
Saitou immediately replied.
“Nonono! You guys are wrong!”
Those kinds of words piss me off.
“That is already yesterday’s news! So right now, as if it was from the Stone Ages which is far past, civilisation has finally reached high school!”
The era has changed so quickly, jumping from the Stone Age to the Meji Period of Japan. What kind of change happened.
“Look!”
Kimura dumped an advertising flyer onto my table.
On the flyer was written “Student Restaurant Opening”, in fact the date is set for today. The opening date is really abrupt, clearly there was no sign of such a flyer yesterday.
“Opening like a cafe style?”
Saitou’s face was full of confusion. The location is … The car park? Looking at it, It should be some kind of stall. If it is like so, it is quite possible to open upon within a day. You simply need to bring in a car with a built in kitchen, then prepare some tables and chairs for people to sit on.
“Whatever, I will go an have a look!”
Kimura excitedly pointed at the poster. I put my hands together in front of me, facing him in apology.
“My apologies, I brought my own bento.”
As luck would have it, I woke up early to make my bento. Certianly I feel interested in a cafe run as a student restaurant, but I simply cannot just throw my lunch away. 況且,the surrounding temperature is quite high.
“That so. Saitou, what about you?”
“Please excuse me, I also brought my own bento.”
“So suddenly, you guys bring your own bento, where should we go to eat? Because I don’t want to sit with people that I don’t know, hogging all the seats by myself is quite embarrassing. Even if it is a bento, eating in there should be no problem, is that not so?”
“Ah…”
The image of the courtyard floated to the top of my brain.
I originally planned to eat lunch at that place. The air was really fresh there, in fact I feel that eating a bento I made with my own hands will be a lot better compared to eating the bread that I bought previously, hence I planned to go there.
However, giving up on that.
I am not really strong characteristically, I am easily influenced by invitations from others and become unable to refuse them. Facing other ordinary villagers, the lifestyle of working alongside other high school students of the same class is very important.
There was the possibility of being labelled as hard to get along with, being pushed aside by friends and then becoming unable to rejoin that group.
On that matter – I don’t find it hard to reconcile with.
“Okay, I understand.”
Brushing off the regret felt at leaving the courtyard, I smile in reply. Saitou also replies in a similar manner. Nothing can be done, this is simply the normal person’s way of life.
Even leaving the classroom immediately after the bell rang, the parking lot was already crowded with people.
“I’ll go there first!”
Finishing up, Kimura rushed out. If he does not go out to get a spot early, at the end, he will have to wait for a long time and so become unable to find a seat and have to give up.
When Saitou and I arrived, we were able to see Kimura lining up in the queue right in front of the stall.
However, that is not possible. Not only does it sell the staple curry and noodles, but there are also Italian and French style cuisine? However there are no Japanese style meals. Also, those that are not preferential about there food can only say that there really is a large variety to choose from. Not right, beef on rice should be considered a Japanese style food. Oh heaven, hamburgers are guaranteed, there are also flour based foods, even crepes are sold.
“I shouldn’t even choose a bento.”
Saitou spoke with a face full of regret, while I fully agree with his words. Looking at the situation, from today onwards, it seems the canteen may be put to retirement. Not limited to students, even the teachers are there. Not only that, you can also see a few Persona scattered around. They are really cool, there is also a person carrying a gas mask included. That is really mysterious. What kind of profession is that person going to become?
Speaking of which, Ryuugamine didn’t come to school today. The teacher did not specify a reason for her not coming to school, so I can only presume that she has the flu or some other illness.
“Waited long enough.”
Upon Kimura’s return, he placed the tray of food onto the table. After Saitou and I look at it, we both let out “Wahh” noises. What is with those proportions? Port cutlet curry rice with beef on top of rice and takoyaki! Then on the side there is also a miniature proportion of pork bone ramen?”
“Really extreme right?”
Kimura looked on snugly.
“What is extreme is your stomach…”
After the shocked me finished speaking, Kimura sat down with a laugh, continuing on with his surprising words:
“This is only 300 yen!” (around 3.05 AUD or 2.5 USD at current exchange rates)
“True or false?”
“Absolute truth. I heard it is because of the new opening, hence the speacial discount. Too much chatter ~More action~” (I replaced the chinese idiom “A thousand truths and ten thousand guarantees” with “Absolute truth”)
Kimura lifted up the soup spoon and wolfed down the food. He scooped the curry into his mouth, gulped down the pork bone ramen soup, swallowing as if he was unable to stop eating.
Saitou and I glance at each other, opening up our own lunches. The content that I had today was green onion and mushroom leftovers fried in tempura as a pattie, covered over in a thick sauce on top of rice, looking at it today, it seems quite poor.
Unfortunate!
Tomorrow I want to eat at the Student Restaurant!
“There is really something weird going on!”
It happened on the day after. (Chinese is day after tomorrow or day before yesterday, tense is ambiguous)
“…During class time, you randomly enter a classroom and make statements that don’t make sense.”
I am unable to put up with the annoyance any further and look up at the one who is leaning on the table, the Tsubasa who is looking down on me. Going with what I was saying, it is the third period and classes are still ongoing.”
“What is it about?”
“How can you simply call it what is this about! As you can see, it is in the middle of class! Shouldn’t your class also be having lessons? How can you simply enter another person’s classrooms without any care!”
“Ha!”
Tsubasa placed her hands on her waist, greatly pushing out her chest.