0014: Bland Bentou

Bland Bentou 

"So? Why did you break up with her?" Jito asked me. He was trying to skip pebbles on the waterside. Summer was gone and it was starting to get colder.

"Hm... I wonder why."

It had been a turbelent fairy tale like romance. Yuki Nagasato, the angel of Kumo-Highschool. Sheer black hair, a petite lithe body, she was everything a boy could wish for, and she was so, so kind too. Popular, smart.

And I'd never wanted her. Not at first, at least. I mean look at me. I'm barely above average. Too average to even be average, and nothing special other than the ability to never have a mark on my school record. I think, because of my struggle to find an identity I force myself more than anyone to not neglect my responsibilities. I suppose in that way I'm the perfect citizen.

Regardless, that's not important. I suppose this story is about her.

It took a long year. A long summer of pining for a girl. There were many awkward requests to study together. Lots of small talk. A lot of support (and jeering) from both sides. Everyone knew the super average boy was going after the angel of Kumo High. Somewhere along the line I got caught up in that romantic idea.

And finally. Finally at the end of Summer, out of an impulse I never knew I had in me, I kissed her.

And she was mine.

And the next week, out of an obligation more than anything, Yuki Nagasato made me bentou lunch.

The bento itself was not bad.

It was... Nothing.

I think I'd seen it in her eyes before I actually got to start dating her. A great... Emptiness. It wasn't even the kind of emptiness that makes you think there is a deeper story behind it.

No... It was that Yuki Nagasato was even more than me, a perfect citizen. In her case a perfect popular female high school student. She played her role excellently, and would have a salary man of a husband, a couple of children and grandchildren and die not ever doing anything for herself.

It... horrified me.

But how could I explain that to Jito? That i broke up with her because of a bland tasting bentou?

"I think I just got scared... Or something." I finally responded.

Jito skipped a pebble on the water. He didn't seem convinced, but that was fine. "I see... It's getting cold. Let's go home."

"Fine."