Vulgar Laughter
“Good morning. Honestly, I didn’t think you’d really come. I figured you probably wouldn’t show up, Yuuki-kun.”
Yuuki, with no real choice, decided to keep the promise he had made with Yume yesterday.
For Yuuki, it wasn’t that the promise with Yume itself was important, but if she had actually gone through the trouble of making a bento and was waiting, letting the food go to waste would be wrong. On top of that, it could leave a bad impression on Kyousuke, and that was something he wanted to avoid. That was the only reason he came.
Incidentally, he still hadn’t thought of anything to say back to Yume.
“Good morning. I came, at least.”
“Thank you. Even though yesterday I forced you into agreeing, you still came.”
Yume smiled, happy that Yuuki had shown up.
In her hand, she held the promised bento.
“Here, this. There might be something you don’t like, but if there is, it’s fine to leave it.”
Yume held out the bento to Yuuki.
Yuuki hesitated for a moment, then accepted it.
“Thank you.”
“No, no. I did this on my own. Like I said yesterday, I made it because I wanted to. Really, I should be the one thanking you. Thank you.”
“No, you made this for me, so I don’t think that’s right.”
“It is right.”
Talking like that, Yuuki and Yume started walking.
“Sorry about yesterday, for forcing the promise without even waiting for your answer.”
“That’s true.”
Yume gave a wry smile at Yuuki’s reply and carried on.
“Since you accepted the bento, there’s something I want to talk to you about, Yuuki-kun.”
“What is it?”
He had a bad feeling, but since nothing could begin without hearing it, he reluctantly decided to listen.
“Why don’t you come live together with me and my dad?”
Yume had made an even bolder proposal than the bento.
“That’s impossible.”
“It’s not impossible. I think my dad would say it’s fine too.”
“Even if he did, there’s no way I could.”
He had a very clear reason.
Because it would cause too much trouble for Kyousuke.
Kyousuke had already worried about him and helped him many times, so Yuuki couldn’t trouble him any further.
Kyousuke was too important to Yuuki.
“It’s hard to say, but you don’t really like being at home much, do you, Yuuki-kun?”
“That’s true, but even so, I’d rather endure it than cause more trouble for Master.”
Since Yuuki answered with a firm attitude, unlike yesterday, Yume gave in easily this time.
“Alright. I didn’t expect you to agree from the start anyway, so I’ll respect your feelings. But if you ever really get into trouble, it doesn’t have to be me, just make sure you rely on someone, okay?”
Yuuki was at a loss for how to respond, and after hesitating, he said,
“Alright, I understand.”
That was all he said.
He probably wouldn’t rely on anyone, but maybe there could come a time when he would. That was what he thought.
“Well then, I’ve given you the bento and said what I wanted to say, so I think I’ll head home and get some more sleep.”
Yume stepped away from Yuuki.
“See you tomorrow.”
She waved to Yuuki as she said goodbye.
“See you tomorrow.”
When Yuuki replied, Yume smiled brightly and walked off toward her home.
Yuuki turned his body toward the school and started to walk, but then remembered something.
Having her make a bento every day would surely be too much of a burden, so he had meant to suggest cutting it down to about twice a week.
But Yume’s sudden proposal had distracted him, and he had completely forgotten to say it.
When he turned around to look, Yume was already gone, and he let out a sigh.
“What am I doing…”
Reflecting on himself, he walked on to school and went to class just like yesterday.
The moment Yuuki opened the classroom door, the atmosphere instantly turned cold, but he paid it no mind and went straight to his seat.
Suddenly, he noticed that his knees were wet.
Water was dripping from inside his desk.
When he looked inside, his textbooks were soaked through.
Somewhere nearby, he could hear stifled laughter.