Nyanta & Pomeko

Chapter 62: coffee milk

"Pomeko-san ......, this is how you cut vegetables. Yes, your hands should be in the shape of a kitten. ......"

"Y-yeah, is this how it's supposed to be?　Aren't you kinda too close?　I don't mind, though......."

"No, it would be a disaster if Pomeko's hands were cut off. I have to assist you properly......"

　We're whispering back and forth.

　The bus arrived safely at the forest school site without any accidents. I was worried because in old novels about transference, there was a group transference due to a bus accident.

　When I told this to Anri, she laughed at me.

　After the first day of hiking and orienteering, we were preparing for dinner.

　Unlike the excursions, the forest school was more of a coursework, and the students were divided into groups in order of their names.

　Shinozuka and Shinjo. We were lucky enough to be in the same group.

　......Saito-san was also in the our group.

　I am embarrassed now to recall our conversation on that bus. I didn't say anything wrong. No one was making fun of me. It was just that I was terribly afraid to tell them what I thought.

　My words and actions could hurt people. In junior high school, Saito-san was hurt by my cold attitude.

"Wait~, you guys, you have to help me. Let's go over here and prepare the soup and salad."

"I mean, Sato should do it

"Seriously annoying ......"

　Saito-san is must to be really popular person in the class. Yet some students don't talk much in class. Those are Seo-san from the volleyball team and Sato-san from the basketball team.

　The two of them had a cheerful feeling that is characteristic of an athletic club among girls.

　They are the type of girls who are strong-willed and call themselves savvy.

　I have never seen Saito-san and the girls talking in the classroom.

...... The girls' world is a scary place to be. Just like Nanako-san was abused, anything can happen behind the scenes.

"Oh, Mako, Shinjo-san. Let's go visit Nanako-san and Haruka-chan later. After all, you' re getting to know each other so well."

　Anri returns to her previous tone of voice in the presence of other students. She calls me Shinjo, for instance.

　It was strangely cute to see her shyness.

"Yeah, no problem Anri. My sister can't cook at all. I'm worried that she's doing something terrible. She has a history of trying to put red bean paste in her curry."

"Wait, Shinjo, name......."

"Hmm?　It's too late for that now, right?　I've decided I'm going to call you Anri in all circumstances."

"I-I see ....... I-I will......, wait a little longer. ......"

"I'll wait as long as you want. You see, this is how you peel a potato–"

　Suddenly I realized that Seo-san and Sato-san were out of sight.

　I don't think they are bad kids. They never said anything bad about us. She is not a problem child either. It's just that I don't get along with Saito-san.

　She is very popular among the boys.

　When we are standing at the kitchen table and Saito-san is alone preparing the dishes, the boys visit her one after another. One of them, Hiratsuka, came over.