After the after-school activities of the beautification committee, the sun was already setting.
dividing up the seedlings of a flower called Nantoka and planting them in the flower beds took longer than expected.
Next month, they would plant the seedlings in another flower bed.
As soon as Hinagata finished, she went straight to her club activities.
I, who did not have a part-time job, was in no hurry to get home.
“Sen~pai~”
I heard Honma’s voice and footsteps.
When I turned around, I saw Honma running towards me with flowery steps.
“Please wait.”
“What happened?”
Does she need something from me?
Honma never spoke to me during committee activities, so I assumed she had no particular business for me.
After catching up with me, Honma lined up next to me and said while catching her breath,
“Let’s go home together.”
“Well, sure, but…”
“You’re being/acting a little salty, but you’re kind of happy to see me, aren’t you?”
“Why would I be?”
I couldn’t help but laugh in dismay.
“I know that you’re not the kind of person who would disregard a request from a junior colleague.”
What should I do? I shrugged my shoulders and Honma smiled.
“You don’t go home with Hinagata-senpai, do you?”
“It’s not like we’re together every day.”
“I was wondering, why did Senpai join the beautification committee?”
It was a perfectly reasonable question.
“Do you like flowers or something?”
Honma looked as if she was about to chatter off.
If so, it wouldn’t look good on her.
I explain with a wry smile.
“If you join an appropriate committee, you are less likely to be forced to take on troublesome roles.”
For example, the sports festival committee, the school festival committee, etc.
“The beautification committee has very easy jobs, with activities like today’s only happening once a month or so, and morning watering duty is only about once a month when we split it up.”
“Ahh-. So we have to think of such stuff…”
She finally got to the point.
“Why are you on the beautification committee, Honma?”
“Me? What do you think?”
She asked me with a twinkle in her eye, perhaps happy that I am interested.
“What, you ask…”
There are rumors that Honma liked me in the past.
She didn’t chase after me apparently… but I don’t really know the truth.
“Ah! Do you think I got in because you were on this committee?”
“…”
“Ah, You’re off the markkk~!!”
“I didn’t think that.”
I guess it’s too late to say that.
“Mou~ Senpai, you’re so self-consciousー!”
She bumped me on the shoulder.
“Well, I like flowers and plants.”
“That’s surprising.”
“Ehhhー? That’s mean, what do you mean surprising…”
Honma’s lips twitched angrily, as if offended.
“I like to water and take care of them. I get a little emotional when they sprout and bloom.”
“Amazing. I’m not good at this kind of thing. When I was in elementary school, I used to let my morning glories die right away.”
I think it was a summer homework assignment to take care of them and keep a diary of their observations, but I remember being at a loss because they died quickly one after another.
“I’m a devoted person. If I fall in love, I will devote myself to them.”
Honma said, as if singing.
I gave an appropriate response, “Oh, is that so?” Apparently, she is a surprisingly strong woman.
“Honma, is your house this way?”
“Oh, yes. You don’t have to trouble yourself.”
Honma smiled and fluttered her hands.
I know which elementary school she was from, so I could guess the general area from the school district, but I don’t know much about the details.
“Well, It’s not a problem, I’ll get home soon anyways…?”
“It’s okay. You don’t need to bother yourself.”
I do mind.
“Do you have any plans for today, Senpai?”
“Plans? I’m free today, I guess.”
“Well, Please let me have a bit of your time then.”
“Sure, but I don’t have anything?”
“Yay.”
Honma clapped her hands together happily.
“Ahh, it’s alright, it’s alright, there’s no need for anything.”
Is that so?
If it was a house like of Sugiuchi’s, there would be a video game console to pass the time, but I don’t have one at our house. There are only a few comic books, and I think there is nothing worth seeing at my house.