"Everyone is looking at you like you're an enemy of a guy!"
"It's fine." Tobe was calm and said, "As long as those whom I care about don't misunderstand, I don't care about the rest."
When Maaya and Saki invited him to lunch, and got into a quiet space to eat, many saw the three together, and as expected, all the guys looked at him enviously as if wishing to bite him to death, but the girls, while some were mixed, they looked at Maaya and Saki with jealousy, wondering whether the two tried to take him down with a quantity advantage.
"It should be me who asked you that question." Tobe looked at the two and asked, "If you stay with me, you might be misunderstood. If you have someone that you like, he might misunderstand our relationship, you know?"
"....." Maaya and Saki.
Did they have someone they liked?
Naturally, they were girls and as they were at the age of love, of course, they were curious about it, but unfortunately, many of those who got close to them were so childish, and they weren't that interested in them, but the one who they wanted was already owned by someone, which made them helpless.
"...I don't have someone like that."
Still, Saki answered in her usual awkward voice, and a little quietly, too.
However, what about Maaya?
Maaya was usually expressive and was also often made a joke, probably, the joker suited her well, and the two expected her to give them such an answer, but—
"M-Me too..."
"...it's weird to see you all shy like that."
"What do you mean?! I am also a maiden!"
Facing Maaya's anger, Tobe nodded. "You are right. A cute one at that."
"..." Maaya and Saki.
"Still, if you two like someone, I am sure that person will like you back."
After saying those words, Maaya and Saki looked at Tobe with an awkward and helpless expression, thinking that it was so easy for him to say those words that they had easily messed up their hearts.
Was it because he didn't have feelings for them?
If one had a feeling toward someone, it was awkward and a little hard for them to be honest with themselves, and somehow, whether they wanted to or not, they tended to lie, making themselves appear better or trying not to show an interest.
Yet, if one had no such interest, even if they praised others as beautiful, sexy, attractive, and other words that were hard to say, all of them could be said so easily as they had no feelings.
Still, those two, who had no experience, knew nothing about that, and their faces turned as red as a tomato as they heard his praise.
"... Did you often say those words to Yukinoshita, Tobe-kun?"
"...what do you mean?"
"I mean, did you often use those Casanova-like lines on your girlfriend?"
"...you made me sound like I am a playboy."
"Are you not?"
"...do you think I am one?"
"Hmm..." Maaya rubbed her chin as she took her time to observe Tobe, staring at his face that made her slowly become shy, her heart raced hard, and she felt like a forbidden feeling might emerge from her heart. "You are!"
"..."
Well, Tobe was one, but how could he say that?"
"Maaya."
Still, fortunately, even if he said nothing, Saki lightly reprimanded Maaya as she felt like Maaya talked too much.
"Sorry, sorry." Sticking out her small, cute, animal-like tongue, Maaya acted like she just made a joke. "But... have you liked Yukinoshita-san from before, Tobe-kun?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean... did she really confess to you?"
"Well... yes, but don't spread it, okay? If a girl is known to confess her love first, it won't be good for her reputation, right?"
"Well, that's true..."
While some girls were bolder, as they would confess their love first to the guy they liked, they didn't expose the fact that they made the first move, as it was a bit... embarrassing.
A guy made the first move.
That was the social norm, so it was a little embarrassing for a girl to make the first move.
"More importantly, are we really going to talk about my love life? Aren't we here to eat lunch?"
"Well, that's true." Maaya nodded as she folded her arms. "If your bento tastes bad, I won't forgive you."
"...why did it sound like I made my bento for you? I am going to eat my bento by myself."
"What a cheapskate! I want to taste yours!"
Still, Saki was surprised and asked, "Did you cook your own bento, Tobe-kun?"
"I did."
"Why?"
"What do you mean, why?"
"I mean... your mother didn't cook for you?"
Blinking his eyes, Tobe showed an expression as if he had just realized something. "Oh, right, you don't know."
"Er... what?"
"I lost my mother before I graduated from middle school, so it is just me and my father now."
"...." Maaya and Saki.
"I-I am sorry!" Saki quickly apologized, and she showed the most nervous expression.
"M-Me too!"
"You don't have to apologize like that, Ayase-san. You too, Narasaka-san. You will make me feel awkward. Just treat it casually since my situation, while it might seem uncommon, you will see it isn't as uncommon as it seems."
Losing a mother, a father, or both wasn't as uncommon as one might think.
What was important was one's attitude when that incident happened, but then again, it was painful, yet life would go on, and time wouldn't wait for one to get better.
Still, fortunately, he had his father, so he wasn't alone.
Having someone by their side was probably something taken for granted, yet for others, it was something enviable.
"But..."
"If you feel bad, treat me to something."
"I will! What do you want?"
"Get me a cold tea."
"Then, please wait here."
"What about me?" Maaya also asked.
"Er... a strawberry milk?"
"Eh? Do you like strawberry milk?"
"Is that bad?"
"No, I will get it for you! Strawberry milk, right?"
"You don't have to repeat it. It is a bit embarrassing. Also, wait, don't leave me alone. It feels lonely if you leave me alone here."
"Hahaha..." 2x
Still, while it was a little awkward as they knew the fact about how his mother had passed away, when Saki and Maaya tasted his bento, the two were in silence as they realized how good it was, but it was hard for them to ask for more.
Regardless, their time was fun, and it was also because it was fun that it had become painful when they thought that his time with them was limited, and after this, he would go back to his class and become Yukinoshita's boyfriend once again.
Yet, while Maaya could only try to maintain this friendship as she didn't want to just stop, Saki was just afraid, thinking that it would be hard for them to meet, so while it was bold, and while it was bad, and shouldn't be done, Saki decided to be sneaky.
"Um, Tobe-kun, I am sorry for before."
When Maaya left since she wanted to buy a strawberry milk like the one that she bought for him, Saki took her chance to apologize.
"It's fine. You don't have to worry about it."
"Um... if you don't mind, can I apologize by treating you again?"
"Hmm?"
"But let's talk on the smartphone."
"...okay?"
As Tobe was unsure, Maaya returned and asked, "What did you two talk about?"
"I am asking about the exam."
"Oh, right, are you ready for it?"
As they talked, Tobe realized that Saki was craftier than he had imagined.