07: Misshapen Rice Balls and Overly Salty Rolled Omelets
──Ding-dong-dang-dong──
Ugh, I’m tired. So incredibly tired...
I spent all of last night gaming with Morishita.
I finally fell asleep at 4:00 AM.
At that point, you might as well call it morning...
Rubbing my sleepy eyes, I listened to the Principal’s long speech in the auditorium.
『In this new term, infinite possibilities lie before you. Effort, challenge, and a strong heart that never gives up is──────』
(Aah... so break is really over...)
That’s right, today was the Opening Ceremony. Finally, the start of the new term.
I want to go home and sleep... Thinking that, I collapsed onto my desk as soon as I reached the classroom.
The other students seemed to be buzzing with excitement.
It made sense; once summer vacation ends, the sports festival, cultural festival, and all sorts of events are waiting in the wings.
But... for me, whose lifestyle habits were completely wrecked, I couldn't feel even a shred of that new-term excitement.
And even though it’s the Opening Ceremony... why the hell do we have regular classes starting right from the get-go...?
On days like this when you’re especially sleepy, time seems to flow so slowly.
First period, second period, third period drifted by, and finally, I was in the middle of fourth period.
“Aah, 30 more minutes... just a little longer...”
◆◇◆
And finally──it was lunch break.
To be honest, I didn't have much memory of anything up to this point.
It wasn't that I was sleeping, but... if you asked me if I remembered the lesson content, I wouldn't be so sure. I really need to fix my sleep schedule tonight...
Grumble-grumble...
(Dammit... I’m hungry too, but I’m so sleepy I can’t move... I don’t feel like I can even make it to the cafeteria... I’ll just close my eyes for a bit...)
As soon as I decided that, I gave up on lunch and settled in to sleep.
Before long, someone called my name.
“Shintarou...”
...Hmm? What? I’m pretty sure I heard someone call me.
But I’m so sleepy... my head is all fuzzy and I can't even open my eyes...
Whatever, must have been my imagination.
I’ll just indulge in another few minutes of sleep...
“Hey, I said Shintarou!”
Someone shook my body back and forth, calling out again.
“Nn... what is it?”
When I lifted my head, Miu was standing there.
She handed me a small piece of paper while making an "Hmph!" sound. It looked like a scrap torn from the edge of a notebook.
Miu put a finger to her lips as if telling me to be quiet, and gestured for me to read the paper immediately.
On it was written... 〝Leave the classroom in 5 minutes and come to the rooftop. No excuses.〟
Why did she have to go to the trouble of writing this on a piece of paper?
It would have been faster to just tell me... Even so, I decided to do as I was told. I knew if I ignored it, she’d just be mad at me later.
I had planned to spend lunch sleeping, but since an urgent matter had come up, I dragged my heavy body out of the classroom five minutes after the promised time.
“Hah... even though I’m so tired... good grief...”
Even as I muttered complaints, I was amazed at myself for following through on Miu’s request.
Wait... I feel like something like this has happened before... No, must be my imagination.
Anyway, once I reached the rooftop, I started looking for Miu.
(What is this all about? Come to think of it, this might be my first time on the roof... It feels kind of like a scene out of a teen drama.)
“He-y, Miu. I’m here~ He-y, Miu~”
She must have finally noticed me, because Miu popped her head out from behind a shadow and beckoned me over. She was holding a tote bag in her hand...
Apparently, Miu was in a spot on the opposite side of the door.
“Ah, you’re here! Are you alone, Shintarou?”
“Yeah, of course.”
“Great ♪ Operation successful~ ♪”
...?? She’s in an unusually good mood. It’s a rare sight.
“Ta-da! Welcome to Miu-chan’s lunch venue~ ♪”
“Eh? What’s this!”
There was a small, cute leisure sheet spread out with two perfectly sized bento boxes on top.
She’d even prepared a bottle of tea for me. It was a full-blown picnic... or rather, a lunch meeting...? about to begin.
“Awesome! Is this a surprise...?”
“That’s right ♪ Well? Are you surprised?”
“Yeah... I wondered what was going on when you called me to the roof, but I never expected a lunch party!”
“'Lunch party' doesn't sound very cute... Call it a lunch date!! Also, don't just stand there, hurry up and sit down!”
“E-Excuse me... wait?! Does this mean this bento is for me...?”
“Well obviously!! Who else would it be for!!”
“Seriously?! I’m so happy! Actually, I was starving...”
“Fufun ♪ I knew you always eat in the cafeteria, so I thought if I didn't catch you early, you’d head straight there! Sorry for being so rushed earlier.”
“But why did you have to tell me so secretly?”
“Um... that’s because............ I wanted to be alone with you.”
“And that means?”
“I mean, look... Morishita-kun and the others are always glued to Shintarou’s side, aren't they?”
“Ah... so that’s why you kept it a secret from everyone and wrote it on paper...”
“Exactly.”
Miu was looking down, clutching her bento box tightly. She seemed a little bashful.
“This bento... did Momo-nee make it for me too...?”
“N-No! ...I made it...!”
“Eh, seriously?! You... can cook...?!”
I was so genuinely shocked that my face probably looked a bit strained as I replied.
After all, in all the years I’d known her, Miu had never once cooked.
“It’s a little hard to believe... you, cooking...”
I heard a clicking sound like a tongue-clack, and at the same time, I felt like sparks were flying.
“Listen here, I’ve been sitting here being quiet... but I worked really hard to make this for you!!”
“Hieeeeeee!!”
And so, with a trembling heart, I took the bento box she handed me.
Surprisingly, it felt quite heavy.
I wondered what was inside... I felt a little bit of excitement in my heart.
“I made a lot, okay? I hope you like it... Aaah! Even I’m getting nervous!”
Miu hid her face with both hands.
I see... so she worked hard since this morning to make this for me... And she said it was a lot...? Making a handmade bento is a lot of work as it is, but judging by the weight, she must have prepared quite a few dishes...
(Thank you, Miu... you have your cute moments too... sniff)
I was so moved that my eyes started to water.
“Can I open it then?”
“Go ahead ♪”
“Then... pardon me!”
──Pop.
“...Hmm?”
The scene that spread before me was... a bit different from the bento content I had imagined.
“This is... impressive... quite a unique bento...”
“Right~ ♪! I really put my heart into it~ ♪ Fufun ♪”
The bento box was about 15 centimeters...
In the square box were packed some rather misshapen (?) rice balls and rolled omelets that looked like they might have been her very first attempt... and that was it. Just those two items.
Apparently, the weight I’d felt was clearly just the sheer volume of rice.
I almost hallucinated that I’d made this myself; it was the ultimate "Man’s Meal." No, I couldn't say that even if my life depended on it. In the first place, I should be grateful she made this for someone like me.
And besides, cooking isn't about looks. It’s about the taste!!
“Aah, I’m starving! Can I... eat right away?”
“Ah! Wait!!”
She snatched the chopsticks from my hand.
“Look ♡ For stuff like this, you’re supposed to be fed 'Ahn' style, right? ♪”
“Heh?! Seriously?!”
“What are you getting so embarrassed for? This is nothing. Here, say 'aaaah' ♡”
She grabbed a piece of the omelet with the chopsticks and slowly brought it toward my mouth.
Ugh... seriously... an "Ahn" from Miu is a bit...
“Hurry up!!”
“Y-Yes! A-Aah...”
──Munch.
Nnnn?!
I didn't even have to chew to know... The sensation on the tip of my tongue was............
WHOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAA!!!!
SOOOOOO SAAAAAAALTYYYYYYYY!!!!!!
“Well? ♡ How is it? Is it delicious?”
Miu’s eyes were sparkling, waiting for my feedback with bated breath.
There was no way in hell I could tell her the omelet was way too salty... but isn't telling the truth also a form of love...?!
“What’s with that scowl~ Honestly! Okay, I’ll have a bite too... munch.”
(How is it...!! What kind of reaction are you going to show...!! Miu!)
“...IT’S SO SALTY!!”
Woooooo! I’m glad her senses are normal... If she hadn't noticed, I don’t know what I would have done...
“I guess if that much salt goes in at once, of course it’ll be salty... Hmm. Cooking is deep... gununu.”
Apparently, Miu had gained experience points through her failure.
Still, just how much salt did she put in? And did she really not think to start over............ hmm...
Well, it wasn't inedible. If I thought about it differently, it might actually be the perfect seasoning to go with the rice balls.
“I think it’s pretty good. It’s your first time, right?”
“Y-Yeah... but you don’t have to force yourself to eat it, okay? The sodium levels look dangerous...”
“No, it’s good! Look! All gone!”
Partly because I was so hungry (?), I finished every single grain of rice without any trouble.
Seeing me like that, Miu...
“Mooo! I really love you!! I seriously love that about you!”
She suddenly lunged at me and hugged me tight.
“Whoa, hey! You’re exaggerating! It’s hot out here, don’t cling to me like that~!”
“There you go again~ ♡ Shintarou, you’re such a shy guy ♪”
“You really are something else...!”
“Haaa, but I’m really happy, you know? Shintarou, you’re always praising the food Sis makes. You say it’s delicious and ask for seconds... Honestly, I was pretty jealous watching that.”
“What’s that about... (lol)”
“It might not matter to you! But... I want to be praised by Shintarou too, okay?”
Miu looked up at me with watery eyes.
Even now, she was still hugging me, and I felt like I could almost feel her heartbeat...
This is bad... the atmosphere is getting weird...
“Miu... seriously, can you let go now......?”
Just as I tried to undo Miu’s arms...
──BANG!
On the rooftop where nobody should have been, the iron door slammed shut with a loud sound.
“What was that?!”
Surprised, we naturally pulled apart.
“Wait... isn't the rooftop supposed to be off-limits...? If a teacher finds us, aren't we in trouble? I’ll go check things out first.”
“Eh... O-Okay.”
Crap, I can see a future where I get yelled at...
Thinking that, I gently opened the door.
And standing on the other side was.........
“Whoa! You scared me!”
“Wh-what the hell are you doing...”
It wasn't a teacher; it was Morishita. But why are you the one who’s surprised?
“I mean, you went off somewhere alone, so I followed you and ended up here... hehe.”
“Huh? You’ve been here this whole time?!”
“Nah, I went to the cafeteria once and ate lunch. I was starving. But you still weren't back in the classroom, so I came looking for you!”
“H-Hah...”
Just how much does this guy love me?
“So, what were you doing in a place like this?”
“Ah—no... just a nap. Yeah, I was taking a nap.”
“I knew it! I thought that might be the case! Well, break’s almost over, so why don't we head back?”
“Right... I forgot something, so you go on ahead.”
“Roger that!” With that reply, Morishita energetically headed down the stairs.
Seriously... that guy is everywhere...
“...Psst.”
Miu whispered to me. She was holding the large tote bag.
While I was talking to Morishita, she’d apparently finished cleaning up.
“Shintarou, it sounded like you were talking to someone. Who was it?”
“Ah... just Morishita. We didn't talk about anything.”
“Hmm. Well, let’s get back to class then.”
“Yeah... Oh, the bento was good. Thanks for the meal.”
“Hehe... you’re welcome.”
“Make it for me again sometime.”
“Eh~ I wonder~ ♪”
Miu showed a cheeky, mischievous smile.
“Well, it serves as practice for my bridal training anyway ♪ I’ll make it for you again, so let’s have another lunch date~ ♡”
“St-stop calling it that!”
“Why not! It’s a date!”
“It’s embarrassing, stop it.”
“Date ♡ Date ♡”
“Aah, geez!”
“By the way, I’m sure you remember, but we’re going to the hot springs this weekend. Don’t sleep in.”
“Obviously. I can pull it together when it counts.”
“If you say so.”
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