[The Usual Lunch Break] #DialogueThreeStories Submission

▼This week's theme
■Dialogue
"That's unfair"
■Three topics
・Rooftop
・First storm of spring
・Loafers

[The Usual Lunch Break]

The rooftop of the drab building where my office is located.
I always spend my lunch break there alone.

I like the sky, and I haven't really fit in with the office atmosphere. The empty rooftop is calming.
I'm not good at talking to people and my smile is stiff, so I found it easier to be alone.

The rooftop that was always just for me.

For some reason, the sound of footsteps, light and bouncy, echoed as they headed toward that quiet rooftop.
(Clang!!) The heavy door opened.

"Found you~!"

When I turned around, Kawahara-san, who had just joined the company this spring, was standing there with a big smile.

"That's unfair, Senpai. Are you hogging the rooftop all to yourself?"
"I wish you had invited me~."

My surprise was so strong that I even forgot to nod.

Of course, there were no benches on a rooftop like this. I was sitting on a raised concrete ledge. Kawahara-san sat down right next to me.
After lightly kicking the concrete wall with the heel of her loafer, she took something out of her bag and reached out toward me.

"Senpai, here is the first storm of spring for you."

A individually wrapped fried rice cracker was placed in the palm of my hand.

I wondered for a moment if Kawahara-san was joking or if she was just naturally mistaken.
And then, the words that came out of my mouth were:

"Isn't this... Age Ichiban...?"

My first attempt at a retort in my life was a whisper so small it didn't even seem to reach across this quiet rooftop.

"It's sweet, salty, and crunchy, shaped like a flower in full bloom!"
"That's definitely the number one!"

It was the first time I had ever seen someone laugh so much right next to me. I even felt like I was in a different dimension.

The rooftop where I had always spent my time alone had never had a scent before.

"Chinatsu-senpai, you look so kind, so I really wanted to get to know you. I've been looking for you every lunch break!"

Seeing Kawahara-san's cute pout, I find myself smiling a little too.

Staring at this Age Ichiban, a thought suddenly occurred to me.
I am just like a turtle, living my life hiding away from people, pulling myself into a hard shell.

As I was zoning out, Kawahara-san asked,
"Senpai, by any chance... do you dislike Haru Ichiban?"

"Eh... oh, this... I like it."
I panicked a little.

Kawahara-san's laughter blew through me like a strong spring gale, reaching me even as I lived small inside my shell.
I found myself laughing along with her from the bottom of my heart.

The rooftop, fragrant with the scent of sweet and savory,

was unusually lively.

[End]

I participated in
this project.

❈ Until recently, I had been convinced that the product name 'Age Ichiban' was actually 'Haru Ichiban'. No wonder people didn't understand what I meant.