As they chatted idly, the line at the shop moved quickly, and soon it was their turn to order.
Despite her petite stature, Iino Miko had a surprisingly large appetite. She ordered five oversized meat buns in one go and didn't hesitate to start devouring one right on the spot.
Natsukawa vaguely remembered that her parents were quite busy with work, leaving her to live mostly on her own. So, it wasn't surprising that all the buns she bought were for herself.
"Ah… I forgot the president was here…" Miko murmured, noticing his occasional glances in her direction. She looked embarrassed. "Usually, I eat much less than this…"
"Right…" Natsukawa nodded, not thinking much of it.
After exchanging a few words with the shopkeeper, who tried to invite him to sit down and chat inside, Natsukawa politely declined and prepared to head home. But to his surprise, Miko hadn't left yet.
"Uh… Iino-san, are you waiting for someone?" he asked, curious.
She shook her head. "No, it's just me…" she said softly. After a moment of hesitation, she took a deep breath and bowed slightly. "I know it's a bit forward, but please don't tell anyone about today."
"...Huh?" Natsukawa was taken aback, confused. Did I accidentally stumble upon some kind of secret?
"What do you mean?" he asked cautiously.
"I mean… about the five meat buns," she said, her voice growing smaller. "I usually don't eat this much! It's just… today I felt unusually… hungry…"
Natsukawa blinked. "That's it? I mean, yeah, five buns sounds like a lot, but it's not exactly shocking. Besides, I could probably eat just as much, if not more."
"Don't compare yourself to me! Girls can't eat as much as boys!" she protested, looking genuinely distraught, as if he wouldn't keep her secret.
Sensing her distress, Natsukawa decided to respond seriously. "Iino-san, listen. First, I'm not the kind of person who gossips about others behind their backs. Second, ensuring proper nutrition is important. I eat a lot to maintain my energy and growth, so there's no shame in that. Finally, people don't usually focus on such trivial details about others. Most of us are too busy dealing with our own lives to dwell on what someone else eats."
For him, juggling school responsibilities and maintaining his social life was already exhausting enough. The idea of caring about how many meat buns someone else ate didn't even register as a concern.
"Hmm… so you're saying…" Miko, who had been listening intently, suddenly looked disheartened. "You don't really care about me, huh? That makes sense. Why would anyone care about a 'serious, uptight busybody' like me…"
"…"
Natsukawa frowned. Something about her seemed off.
Normally, Miko was a strong, determined person, unafraid to uphold her principles. Her role as the school's "inspector" often put her in the spotlight. But now, she seemed fragile, as if his words had shattered her confidence.
After a brief pause, Natsukawa sighed. "I don't know if I'm the best person to talk to, but… would you like to share what's bothering you?"
"Really? You'd listen to me?" Miko's eyes lit up, and she immediately stepped closer, standing on her toes to look up at him with an earnest expression. "You know, this is my first time running into you outside of school… Ah, maybe I should call you Natsukawa-san instead of President? No, wait, we're not classmates, so that feels weird. How about calling you Senpai? Natsukawa-senpai?"
"Uh…" Natsukawa instinctively leaned back at her sudden enthusiasm. "The name isn't important, but… you're standing a bit too close."
The Miko he remembered was the shy girl who had stumbled over her words during the student council elections. While her strong sense of justice often brought her to the forefront, her bashful side had always been more prominent. Yet now…
Taking the opportunity, Natsukawa gave her a closer look.
Miko was dressed in a simple white sundress adorned with petal-shaped ruffles near the hem. Her chestnut-brown hair, usually tied up, was left loose, cascading naturally to her waist with a slight curl. Her eyes, a matching shade of brown, sparkled brightly despite the faint sadness in them.
The most striking detail, however, was her slightly puffed-out cheeks as she chewed on the meat bun, paired with a heartfelt, almost teary expression as if silently saying, Finally, someone's willing to talk to me.
Natsukawa couldn't help but think, So, you're a bit of a lonely girl too, huh?
Though, he did wish she'd swallow her food before trying to speak.
"By the way, what about your friend? I think her name was Kobachi Osaragi, right? Why not talk to her about what's bothering you?" he suggested, hoping to redirect her concerns to someone more suitable.
While he had offered to listen, he instinctively felt that certain topics were better discussed among friends, especially between girls.
"Not today…" Miko shook her head, her expression turning wistful. "Kobachi usually has her own plans on weekends. We only hang out on school days."
"…"
Her answer only deepened Natsukawa's suspicion that something was amiss.
If she couldn't confide in her closest friend, then her worries must be something deeply personal—or perhaps, something she believed only he, as her Senpai and student council president, could understand.
Is this going to be one of those moments where I need to offer life advice? Natsukawa thought, mentally preparing himself.
Given their age, her troubles likely involved academics, love, or friendship. Anything beyond that would be unexpected.
He waited patiently for her to speak, ready to listen.
"Actually…" Miko finally said, her voice tinged with sadness, "Today is my birthday."
"…"
Never mind. This is way beyond my expertise, Natsukawa thought, stunned.