Chapter 9

Eating lunch with her is something every guy must have fantasized about at least once. I think there's no difference between men and women in this regard.

Well, I don't know if it's absolutely true.

At the very least, I have fantasized about it, in my own way. Fantasies are free, after all.

It goes something like this.

She and I go up to the rooftop alone. She looks a bit embarrassed and, while setting up a preemptive defense by saying she messed up, she slowly opens the bento box.

But inside, contrary to her words, is a perfectly prepared, delicious-looking bento. I tell her it's delicious, and she smiles, and we spend a happy lunch break chatting together...

It's a pretty ordinary fantasy.

I never imagined it would actually happen to me. I thought fantasies would just remain fantasies.

Moreover, it's with Nanami.

She, who was supposed to confess as a penalty game, met up with me, held my hand as we went to school, and even brought a bento for lunch.

Her seriousness about the penalty game is on a different level.

Or, could this be a sign that I'm somewhat liked by her? There's a chance, right?

...I shouldn't get too carried away. I don't think I've done anything to make her like me that much. I haven't done anything to make her fall head over heels for me yet.

I should engrave in my heart that this is her way of pursuing her "ideal girlfriend" image.

If I don't think that way... I can't bear it right now, mainly because of the gazes from around us.

We are currently on the rooftop during lunch break. Our high school allows the rooftop to be open, so it's not uncommon for people to eat there during lunch. However...

Today, there are a lot of people.

"Good weather makes the rooftop feel nice. Ah, that bench over there is empty. Let's eat there. Come on, Youshin."

"Sure, Nanami."

The reason for the large number of people is obvious. They've gathered to watch Nanami and me have lunch. Despite the crowd, there are noticeably fewer people around us.

Everyone is gathered around us to watch from a distance, creating a doughnut-like phenomenon we learned about in class.

Incidentally, Ongaku and Kaminai are not here.

They left, saying they were going to have lunch with their boyfriends for the first time in a while. Both of them... seem to be sneaking out of school.

Until yesterday, Nanami and I used to have lunch with the three of us.

That was probably their way of protecting Nanami, who isn't used to guys.

And now, that responsibility has been passed on to me. Their absence means just that. I feel the pressure of being entrusted with a big task.

But more than that, the sheer number of gazes is really tough.

The curious gazes from girls are still okay. While they are uncomfortable, they don't cause any real harm, and it seems their interest is more in Nanami than in me, wondering why she chose me.

The problem is the gazes from the guys.

Hate, resentment, envy, regret, anger... all these emotions are directed at me through their gazes.

It seems they won't attack because Nanami is there, but I can feel the gaze of someone about to pounce.

If hate could kill, or if gazes could kill, I would say I'm being killed by hate and gazes.

I want to shout that Nanami is just doing this as a penalty game, so there's no need to worry, but I can't, so I have to endure.

"Youshin, what's wrong? Come on, hurry up."

Ignoring my inner conflict, Nanami, who had already sat on the bench, patted the spot next to her, inviting me to sit down. It seems she wants me to sit next to her.

I sit down next to her as she prompts me. She holds two small bento boxes, and hands one to me.

"Did you get up early today to do this?"

"...Yeah... that's right."

She blushes a little, looking embarrassed. ...She got up early to make this bento for me.

Yeah, I don't know what it is, but now I feel like I can endure the gazes directed at me. I guess I'm just being greedy or feeling good about myself...

"I actually wanted to surprise you at lunch, but Youshin, what would you do if it was a bento? I got teased by Hatsumi in the morning... I'm glad you didn't bring a bento."

"I didn't expect Nanami to bring a bento either. I'm really happy."

I usually get lunch money from my parents, so I either buy bread from the cafeteria or eat in the school cafeteria... but now I've saved the money for today's lunch...

Well, even if I had brought a bento, I would have eaten this one. I'm not a big eater, but I'm sure I could handle it.

No, I'll eat it even if it's difficult. I understand how important this bento is, even if it's just me.

"Hey, stop spacing out and open it, will you?"

"Ah, sorry. Sure, I'll open it."

I open the bento box with great anticipation.

There's no bad scenario where Nanami is a bad cook and I have to struggle to finish it... The bento looks normal... no, it looks quite delicious.

"Wow..."

The first homemade bento I've ever seen from a girl... it looks so beautiful to me, it's almost blinding.

There are three small, cute-sized rice balls, each with nori or furikake, making them colorful even though they're just rice balls.

The tamagoyaki is perfectly cooked, a beautiful yellow, almost glowing like gold.

The main dish is four pieces of karaage, surrounded by lettuce and cherry tomatoes, making it colorful.

I carefully place the opened bento box on the bench. Nanami tilts her head at my actions, but I ignore her and take out my phone to take pictures of the bento.

I take several photos, from various angles, in rapid succession.

"Hey! What are you doing!?"

"Well, this work of art is too precious to eat without documenting it first."

Ignoring the confused Nanami, I take about a dozen photos, then, satisfied, I put my hands together and bow to the bento and to Nanami.

"Itadakimasu."

"Please enjoy."

Nanami blushes a little and answers, which makes me feel happy.

The rice balls are soft and fluffy, with a texture that makes the rice melt in my mouth.

The tamagoyaki is neither too hard nor too soft, with a sweet flavor that perfectly suits my taste.

The karaage is still crispy, even though it's cooled down, with a rich flavor that makes me want to keep eating.

In short, everything is delicious.

I was so focused on eating that I realized I needed to give a thoughtful comment. I pick up the second rice ball.

"The rice balls are small and cute. They're perfectly round too."

"Thanks. My hands are so small, so they always end up that size."

Nanami flutters her palms towards me, and I strongly realize that her slender fingers formed these rice balls.

...It's dangerous to think about it. I feel like something is off, but I can't quite put my finger on it. It's just dangerous!

Despite being so confused that I lose my vocabulary, I still savor and eat her bento.

Maybe because I was so focused on eating, or because the bento box was small... I finish the bento in no time.

"Itadakimashita. It was delicious."

"Arigatou gozaimashita."

She is still eating, and I regret finishing too quickly.

"Nanami, you're a good cook."

"Making bentos is my role. I secretly made one extra today and brought it."

Does she also have working parents? I thought she was great for making bentos to help out...

Gururu...

My stomach growls... softly, but loud enough for Nanami to hear.

My face turns red, and hers turns a bit pale.

"S-Sorry!! You're a guy, so my extra bento box wasn't enough, right!?"

She hurriedly apologizes to me.

My stupid stomach!

Why couldn't it wait a little longer? At least until we could take separate actions!

To be honest, I'm not a big eater, but this amount was a bit insufficient.

I was planning to buy bread or something from the cafeteria later... but because of my weak stomach, I ended up embarrassing myself...

"Sorry, I still have some... here, have some karaage?"

As I scold my stomach, Nanami offers me a piece of karaage with her chopsticks.

Huh?

What's going on?

This is the classic "a-an" scenario. I've seen it in countless manga, so I know it's accurate.

She seems to realize it too, as her face turns red, but she doesn't retract her chopsticks.

The sound around us disappears, and I feel like everyone is watching us, holding their breath.

I tremble but know I can't wait any longer, so I take the karaage she offers.

...I can't taste it because of the tension, but it must be even more delicious than before. It can't be anything but delicious.

My stomach, you did a good job.

Even though my hands are spinning like a drill, it's okay. You did a good job.

Nanami, who timidly retracts her chopsticks, continues to eat the rest of her bento in silence.

"I... often... do this... with Hatsumi and the others..."

"H... Huh... R... Really?"

For a while, we couldn't have a proper conversation.

We were able to resume our conversation only after the redness on our faces had faded and we looked normal again...

In that conversation, I honestly told her that the amount was a bit insufficient. I'm satisfied in many ways now, but I really wanted a bit more.

"Then, how about we go buy a bento box for Youshin after school today?"

Her unexpected suggestion makes me pause in thought.

"...Does that mean you'll make one for me tomorrow too?"

"That was the plan... but is it a bother?"

"Not at all. I am deeply honored."

My happiness and the shock of the situation make my tone a bit odd, but she only whispers, "I'm glad," and clasps her hands together in front of her chest.

God... I have no regrets even if I die here. The peak of my life is definitely now!

Even if I might be killed by all the gazes, I don't care. I probably won't be any happier than this.

Just as I was thinking that, Nanami tilted her head, blushed, and whispered with a slightly embarrassed smile.

"It's a date after school, then."

...God... Please let me take back my previous statement.

I will do whatever it takes to keep living!

Interlude: Nanami's Thoughts During the Bento Time

Why?! Why am I doing this "a-an" thing?! But it's too late to take it back now...

Youshin, please!! Eat it quickly!! The gazes from around us are painful!! And it's embarrassing even though I did it myself!!

Ah, I'm glad... He ate it. I'll eat the rest too... just a little bit...

Hmm? ...I feel like I'm forgetting something...