The Classmate Who Is Adored by Everyone Smiles Teasingly Only at Me-Chapter 2Volume .3 - Late Night Caramel

Late Night Caramel 3

“I think it’s fine to ask for help like this. It’s not just one-sided reliance. If Chika helps out too, it’s mutual support.”

『Well, I suppose that’s true』

“By the way, it’s perfect timing. I’ve got something I don’t understand too. Can you teach me?”

『Ah? Oh, sure, go ahead』

Seizing the opportunity, he asked her about some English syntax that he couldn’t grasp and had tossed aside earlier.

Chika, who hadn’t expected to be asked a question in return, was taken aback but kindly explained it to him.

『That part? Yes, the phrasing is a bit tricky. The meaning of that syntax is――』

He had often felt it during their study sessions, but her explanations were very easy to understand.

“I see. That helps a lot. Thanks.”

『No, thank you』

After that, there was a brief silence on the other end of the phone.

“Something wrong?”

『It’s just… ‘I thought that teaching someone feels like this’.』

Chika murmured her thoughts as if she were talking to herself.

『This is the first time I’ve ever taught someone something. It really makes me feel like I’m being helpful』

“You’re exaggerating.”

He chuckled, but Chika’s voice through the speaker was serious.

『It’s definitely better to do something for someone else than to always be taken care of. It’s good to have a relationship where we can teach and learn from each other—』

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Being on the receiving end of one-sided generosity can make one feel constrained.

『I was supposed to put off trying new things until after the tests, but I managed to do it now』

Chika’s voice sounded a little more cheerful.

『…』

Just when he thought the call was over, she didn’t hang up.

Should I be the one to end it? As he reached for his smartphone, her voice came through again.

『In the past week, we hardly had any conversations, did we, Sōma-san?』

“It’s because of the test week.”

It might sound odd for me to say, but he had been quite the diligent student this past week.

『I was a bit surprised.』

“Surprised?”

『That we would stop talking so much. Recently, I think I’ve been talking to you almost as much as to Miki-chan, or maybe even more. And then, all of a sudden, it dropped to zero. It made me realize that maybe this is all there is to our relationship.』

” ….. “

Sōma fell silent.

It was as if she was tracing the thoughts Sōma had during lunch break, and he didn’t know how to respond.

『It’s not strange at all. We have a relationship where we support each other for our own goals. If those goals are put on hold, it’s natural for our conversations to decrease.』

“…well, I guess so.”

He forced out a response.

『Right. That’s normal. But still――』

Chika’s voice paused for a moment.

Then, in a voice that was not loud but clearly audible, she said,

『――I missed you.』

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Her straightforward words made Sōma’s heart skip a beat.

『Sōma-san?』

“N-nothing.”

He managed to suppress his voice from cracking. He was glad this was over the phone.

Otherwise, she would have surely noticed.

『Hey-hey, can we talk a little more?』

“Shouldn’t you be studying?”

『Let’s call it a break. Even during our study sessions, we took breaks, didn’t we?』

I couldn’t argue with that.

“Alright, just for a bit.”

『Yay!』

He could picture Chika cheering on the other side of the phone.

『What do you do during your study breaks? I usually play with stuffed animals. Lately, I’ve been fond of a bear plushie. I hug it tight.』

“Playing with stuffed animals in high school?”

『Is that a problem?』

“Not a problem, but…”

It’s childish, but you could say it’s very ‘Chika-like’.

“I usually play games.”

『That’s unexpected. I thought you’d be looking at sweet recipes.』

“I do that too, but looking at recipes makes me think too much and tires out my brain, so I try to avoid it. If it’s a game where I just have to pull the trigger, I don’t have to use my brain.”

『Like that smartphone game we played before? Actually, I’ve been practicing it a bit. My rank has gone up to around fifty. Shall we play against each other sometime?』

“The self-proclaimed intermediate is getting cocky. I’ll beat you black and blue again, so be prepared.”

『I don’t mind. But if you lose, it’s a punishment game, okay? I wonder what I should make you do~』

“Chika’s penalty games sound so harsh, I’m scared.”

『Not at all. It’s just that I might make you reveal a little weakness that’ll prevent you from ever defying me for the rest of your life.』

“I don’t want to bet something that could affect my whole life on a game.”

As he frowned, a playful chuckle came through the speaker.

『Just kidding, just kidding. Even without that, I’m confident I can control Sōma-san.』

“That’s not a funny joke.”

『It’s not a joke though.』

“Please, just say it’s a joke.”

A pointless, utterly trivial conversation.

There was neither substance nor benefit to it. In a week’s time, he’d probably forget what they had talked about.

But there was a certain comfort in its insignificance.

『By the way, do you eat snacks while you’re studying, Sōma-san? My mom used to make them for me, but she said she won’t anymore. I have to make them myself now, but I have no idea what to make.』

“I don’t make them, but I do prepare snacks in advance.”

I picked up a glass jar from the corner of my desk and shook it, making a rattling sound.

『What’s that sound?』

“Caramel.”

When you study, your brain craves sugar. So, I always have homemade caramel on hand.

I casually tossed a piece of caramel into my mouth. A gentle sweetness spread through my mouth.

『Are you eating caramel?』

“Yeah, it’s sweet.”

『That’s not fair! Let me have some too! If you don’t give me caramel, I’ll play a trick on you!』

“Don’t start talking like it’s Halloween all of a sudden. It’s impossible over the phone.”

『That means, it’s definitely a trick, huh?』

“That’s just unreasonable!”

He might have to make a ton of caramel after the midterm exams.