Chapter 7

"Delicious—!!"

My cheer echoes through the multipurpose room during lunch break.

When I opened the lid and saw what was inside, I couldn't help but shout.

In one container, there were golden tamagoyaki (Japanese omelet), crispy fried chicken with honey mustard, nira tamago (scallion and egg stir-fry), and kinpira gobō (braised burdock root).

In the other, there was a rice bowl cooked with burdock and bamboo shoots, a dish that clearly wasn't a ready-made meal but a homemade one. The effort put into it brought my excitement to its peak.

"Don't shout so suddenly, you're not a child."

Despite her sharp words, Rin's lips were relaxed, and her cheeks were slightly flushed.

The way she clenched her fists wasn't because she wanted to punch me, but because she was happy and excited, I think.

...This isn't just my imagination, right?

"It's fine, it's just me and Rin here."

"That's not the issue... Besides, we don't have to eat secretly in a place like this."

"If we eat together in the classroom, the other students will start calling us 'the stray dog and the queen.'"

"What are you imagining? You really are a pervert, Tō-kun, that's disgusting."

"Calling me a queen is why they say that."

"Ugh, shut up. First, you should realize how disgusting your own words are."

"Ugh... I felt a chill even saying it myself, so I can't really argue back!"

"I can only hope that your chill isn't something sinister."

"I'm not an M!?"

"You are a masochist."

"Okay, I get it, let's stop this conversation. Anyway, Rin, you don't like being the subject of rumors, right?"

After I said that, Rin swallowed her words and then said, a bit sullenly,

"...I don't really care."

"Well, just in case. But also, it's more fun to eat alone together!"

"Stop saying silly things and hurry up and eat your calories!"

Encouraged by Rin, I clasped my hands and said, "Itadakimasu!" before taking a big bite of the honey mustard-coated fried chicken.

"Mmm!"

It's warm!

While it's not freshly fried, the fried chicken was still hot.

The crispy batter crumbled with a satisfying sound, and the meat juices spread in my mouth.

The rich honey mustard sauce made me crave rice, and then the flavors of soy sauce, mirin, and a hint of ginger wafted through my nose.

After scooping up some of the rice bowl, I asked a simple question.

"Isn't bento usually cold?"

"It's an insulated bento box from Aamus. I thought it would be better warm."

Rin's thoughtfulness warms my heart.

"So, how does it taste...?"

She glanced at me with a slightly anxious expression, and I gave her a thumbs up.

"Amazing!"

Rin sighed in relief and clenched her fist.

This is definitely because she's happy and excited.

She's so cute.

We continued eating.

"But it really is delicious."

The large tamagoyaki had a subtle sweetness and the umami of katsuobushi (bonito flakes).

The fresh, crunchy nira (scallions) mixed well with the half-cooked egg and was very tasty.

The rice bowl, with its textures and flavors of burdock and bamboo shoots, was a masterpiece and brought back a nostalgic taste.

Thinking about the effort she put into this for me, I felt a warmth and gratitude that words can't express.

"Delicious, this is amazing!"

"Please don't keep saying 'delicious, delicious.'"

"Why not?"

"...It's embarrassing."

She averted her gaze and covered her mouth with her fist, a gesture she makes when she's embarrassed.

She's so cute.

Just as I thought this, I realized it.

"By the way, isn't this all my favorite stuff? Like the rice bowl, Rin's mom used to make it for me a lot."

After a brief hesitation, Rin said,

"Well, we are childhood friends, so I know what makes Tō-kun drool."

Ah, I can't take it, I'm at my limit.

My hand reflexively reached for Rin's head.

"Hey..."

A voice that sounded like the air had been sucked out.

"Thanks, Rin."

I slid my palm over Rin's head.

The soft, smooth texture.

The sound of my palm rubbing against her hair.

The sweet, peach-like scent.

I petted her head like I would a cat named Syrup.

"Hey... What are you doing?"

Her unexpectedly sultry voice made me catch my breath, and I pulled my hand away.

"Sorry, sorry, I couldn't contain my gratitude."

"You're a lecherous man who touches people's heads under the pretense of gratitude."

Rin placed both hands on her head and gave me a sidelong glance with a glare.

Her puffed cheeks made her look like a hamster that had been denied a sunflower seed.

"You don't seem to mind that much."

"Don't get too cocky... I'll get angry."

"Sorry."

I felt her fists, which had been clenched, might turn into a punch, so I quietly continued to enjoy the bento.

To be honest, I was happy to be this close to Rin again.

We haven't had lunch together like this in a long time.

In elementary school, I often went to Rin's house, and we would eat the meals her mother made.

The frequency decreased in middle school and disappeared entirely in high school.

It's not that we became distant.

If anything, our mental connection became even stronger.

But because I was so aware of Rin, I couldn't just drop by for dinner like I used to.

So now, eating lunch with Rin like this makes me very happy.

Especially with the bonus of her homemade bento, it's even better.

"What are you staring at, it's creepy."

"No, it's just that eating with you like this, after so long, is really nice."

To my words, Rin simply said,

"...Is it?"

She then covered her mouth with her fist.

Just before her fist covered her mouth, I thought I saw the corners of her lips turn up slightly.

"Hey, Rin?"

After we finished eating, Rin suddenly leaned in to look at my face.

I was flustered.

Her clear skin and well-defined nose were right in front of me.

Her deep, clear black eyes pierced through me.

A gentle, sweet scent wafted over.

A familiar scent.

"Um...?"

I'm not used to Rin getting this close.

I averted my gaze, which only made me focus on her perfect chest, making me even more uncomfortable.

Where are you looking? That's creepy.

I expected her next words to be something like that.

However,

"Still..."

She said something different.

"Tō-kun, you don't seem very energetic today."

"Huh?"