Chapter 11: This school is legit.

“Wowzers, it’s a lot cheaper than I thought.”

“Sure, I just don’t think I’ll ever use it.”

After having our inflated hopes burst by that ordinary shop, we just went “It is what it is” and walked to the cafeteria.
The vending machine next to the daily meal showcase was a surprise, to be honest.
The sheer number of items exceeded my expectations, sure, but the real kicker was the price.
Even full meals, noodles and rice included, had dirt-cheap tags.
240 yen was enough for the whole shebang.
(TL: 2 freedom eagles, ish.)

I had none of these stores back in middle school, so is this the norm?

Back then, we had the school provide us with meals.
From now on, we either bring our boxes or use the cafeteria.
Me and my sister, Sayu, usually have a set dinner duty, so I can at least make something in the kitchen.
What I don’t have is the will to wake up with the sun to prepare my own stuff.

Honestly, if I had to do it, I’d just use the leftovers from the day before and call it a day.
Now, if I had to go that far, I would rather just use a convenience store or the cafeteria.

Incidentally, my dad told me he’ll give me a lump sum of 500 yen per day for lunch, for every work day of the month, so there’s my decision.
(TL: 4 ish white and blue bucks).

“What about you, Momiji? Will you bring some lunch boxes or something?” I asked her.

“My mom told me she always makes her own, and that it makes no difference cooking for one or two people.”

“I recall auntie’s food tastes great.
For real.”

“Mhm!”

Bah, I’ll just go to the cafeteria anyway.

Ey, what the heck?

“Amazing.”

Normally, this girl would’ve said “Wow! this is incredible!” or something, but she was so flabbergasted only one single word could come out of her mouth.

A stone path led us to a wide expanse of greenery.
The lawn had been primely mowed, without any sticking strands of green, and benches under trees lined up around us so tidily it almost scared me.

Yup, this is the school’s pride and joy.

How does the cafeteria compare to other schools? I’m not sure, but this is undeniable.
Special, even.
This could be compared to the level of top-tier universities for all I know.
Heck, I could even say this was a famous park or something and I’m sure people would buy it.

“What’s that?”

There was a building at the end of the street where the burning leaves of autumn pointed.
I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

“Hold up… It says that’s a club building,” I checked the booklet and so it said.
Skimming through it, I read many different clubs used that separate place due to the shortage of space in the main building.
Yeah, it made sense.

The school’s edifice, the separate club building, the cafeteria, the resting area, these grounds.
Just looking at this whole place made me wonder why and how the tuition fees were so low.

“Wow, they have a building just for clubbing and stuff.
I’m really glad I enrolled here.
Let’s grab a bite together sometime,” she slipped that in.

“We’ll see.”

I’ll just come back here alone to eat someday.

After meandering through the three planned places, we decided to walk back together as the social flow of things demanded.
We were almost home.

“Hey, do you wanna walk to school together like we did back then?” She asked.

There it is.
I don’t want to tolerate us being together as a routine again.

“I don’t want that.
If we happen to do it once in a blue moon, sure, but I’ve got a lot on my plate.”

“A lot?”

“I just wanna walk around by myself, easy breezy, and look around for different places.
Maybe have lunch somewhere different.
Besides, I’m not comfortable going back to the way things once were.”

Icing on the cake, she planned to be in a sports club while I wanted to join a culture one.
At that point, it was wholly unrealistic to walk home together.
Feelings aside.

“I see… Okay, I got it,” she answered.

“Sorry, I guess.”

“No, it’s fine.
It’s my fault, to begin with.
But you said once in a blue moon was fine, right?”

I shouldn’t have said that to soften the blow.
Even if the timing doesn’t work out, I’m sure she’d force the circumstances to fit her will.

“…Sure.”

“Okay! I’ll ask you out again!”

“See ya, I’m going home now,” I waved half-heartedly.

“See you!”

My first day of school left me drained to the bone, all because of Momiji’s presence.
I’m beat.