First Love and the Taste of Bread

In the span of a single morning, Tsukasa Jinguuji had already heard rumors from several places about his supposed relationship with Hoshino Morino. During the first semester, the students had only vaguely suspected it, but now it seemed the matter had been confirmed.

Tsukasa suddenly recalled the student council meeting from the previous day. Starting next week, he would have to stand guard at the school gate every morning, inspecting the students’ attire and appearance. In a way, wasn’t this also a form of dispelling rumors? If everyone saw that he hadn’t joined the student council because he was dating the president, then everything would fall into place.

Still, the boy doubted things would go that smoothly. After all, people tended to believe the things they wanted most to be true. There might even be outrageous rumors like, “The president used her authority to give her boyfriend a council position just so they could flirt in the council room.”

Come to think of it, he hadn’t mentioned the guard duty to Sakurakouji Sakuya that morning. If Sakuya was going to walk to school with him every day, she’d have to start waking up early too. Honestly, Tsukasa doubted she could keep it up—she might only last a single day.

After school, as class duty students, Tsukasa and Sakuya were mopping the hallway outside Class 2-A together. The girl filled half a bucket with water, wobbling as she carried it to him. Tsukasa nimbly dodged the splashes that nearly soaked his trousers and indoor shoes.

“Be careful,” he couldn’t help but say.

“It didn’t get on you, did it?” Sakuya pouted.

“I mean you should walk more carefully. What if you slipped?”

“Uuu…” Sakuya widened her eyes at him.

“What is it?”

“My heart just skipped a beat, you dummy! Don’t use those tricks you use on other girls on me! I hate it!”

Tsukasa could only laugh helplessly.

At least, when there were no other students around, even in school, Sakuya was just as lively as he remembered.

When their duties were done, Sakuya slung on her bulging backpack, stuffed full with her gym clothes.

“I’m off to practice. You’re heading to the council room as always, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Hm—ph!” Sakuya jerked her head aside, her ponytail swinging dramatically.

“What’s with the tsundere act, like something out of a Renaissance painting?”

“I’m expressing my displeasure while also showing off the magnanimity and composure of a childhood friend. Can’t you tell?”

Tsukasa could more or less understand how she felt. Far from finding her troublesome, he thought she was incredibly endearing.

After all, this was the girl who had been by his side his entire life—how could she not be adorable?

She hadn’t changed at all, and it was precisely because she hadn’t changed that the boy, who himself had changed so much, found Sakuya so hard to approach.

He feared that with hands stained by mud, he would taint her with the same grime.

It would be enough to watch her from afar.

No—that kind of pretty speech was a lie. Tsukasa wanted to stay as close as possible to her, to watch her, to watch Sakuya.

If one day he could reclaim what he lacked within himself, would he have the courage to…

Sakuya wrinkled her nose adorably and grumbled, “What if I told you, Tsukasa, that unless you quit the student council right now, I won’t be happy? What would you do?”

“I’d quit.”

Sakuya immediately beamed in satisfaction, but then her expression softened.

“Dummy, who wants you to quit the council? I don’t care who you flirt with.

“I would never do anything to make you dislike me.

“So, you mustn’t do anything that would make me dislike you, either.”

Boldly, she stepped up to him, wrapping her arms around his waist, resting her head against his chest.

Even though they were alone, they were still at school—her boldness was evident.

Tsukasa let her hold him, and softly asked, “Would you ever dislike me?”

“I would.”

He was a little surprised at her answer.

Eyes closed, she rubbed her cheek against his chest, her voice as soft as spun sugar. “When I see you with her, I really can’t stand you.”

“How much do you dislike me?”

“So much I wish I could make you eat my cooking every day and lie about how delicious it is.”

“That’s pretty scary, you know.”

She gave him a gentle punch.

“Hey, Tsukasa.”

“Yeah?”

“Pat my head,” she said.

“You really are a spoiled child, Sakuya.”

“I am.”

“We’re at school, you know.”

“That’s why you should hurry up. If you don’t, I’ll be thinking about you and her laughing together in the council room even while I’m running laps.

“If I trip and fall, it’ll be your fault.”

“You…”

So, the boy raised his hand and placed it on her head, his touch gentle as if he were an archaeologist brushing the dust from a thousand-year-old treasure.

The girl hugged him even tighter, murmuring, “You smell really nice, Tsukasa.”

“Really? I can’t smell it myself. What kind of smell is it?”

“The scent of first love.”

“…”

“Hey, Tsukasa, smell me too. Tell me what I smell like.”

He lowered his head, inhaling softly at the spot just beneath her ear, where it met her jaw.

“Haha… Tsukasa, your breath tickles.”

Tsukasa straightened up.

“So, what do I smell like?”

“You smell like Andersen’s walnut cream puffs.”

“I wasn’t asking what I had for lunch! You’re the worst!”

Before he could reply, a loud bang came from the next classroom—the sound of someone closing the door. The class duty students next door must be leaving.

Instinctively, they stepped apart. Tsukasa gave her a helpless look, and Sakuya stuck out her tongue playfully, probably already regretting their display at school.

“All right, I’m fully charged with childhood friend energy. Time to run a few laps and burn it off.”

“Don’t trip,” Tsukasa said.

“I won’t! Relax, relax.”

…

…

Tsukasa made his way to the old school building and entered the student council room, where everyone was already present.

He had just sat down at the desk to handle some paperwork when Yagi Miyako skipped over, steps light and cheerful.

“Sniff… sniff…”

“What are you doing?” Tsukasa asked.

Miyako slowly straightened, her large, pretty eyes narrowing to slits.

“Senpai, you smell sweet, like bread. Fess up! Did you sneak off for a treat without me?”