"Here it is, what do you think?"

What he was led to by Hakari was a small empty classroom in the corner of the fourth floor.

Because it is being used like a storage room, half of the classroom is piled with desks and chairs.

The sunlight is just streaming in, and it's pleasantly warm inside.

(I have a really strong sense of déjà vu... I can't believe I've come back to this place...)

For Yuito, it feels like déjà vu. This is the place where he had a solo meal during the first week.

It's quiet because there aren't many people passing by, and it's warm because the sun comes in.

Best place.

"I think it's a really nice place. Should we go ahead and set up the desks?"

Yuito effortlessly carried two sets of desks and chairs and set them up facing each other.

They were supposed to sit facing each other, only to have Hakari move her chair right next to Yuito.

(...Eh?)

Close enough to feel her body heat.

When he looked at Hakari in surprise, he saw tearful eyes looking up at him.

His heart skips a beat. A sweet and sour atmosphere envelops the classroom with just the two of them.

To break that atmosphere, the sound of hurried footsteps could be heard coming from the hallway.

When Yuito looked down the hallway, the classroom door was roughly opened with a clatter.

"I-I found you...!!"

The one who opened the door and came in was Kirika.

Kirika approached Hakari, panting heavily.

"Hey, Hakari-chan... isn't it unfair to go ahead without me!?"

"I... don't understand what you're saying. By the way, why this place?"

"Too bad. Yuito-kun was already making a scene from the very first homeroom, so everyone was watching him."

"Eh, did I do something..."

Kirika shows her smartphone.

On the screen is a photo of the "flower-shaped eraser" that Yuito gave to the girl next to him.

It seems like it's been uploaded to SNS.

By the way, he thinks he was asked, "Is it okay to post this on SNS?" and he replied, "Oh, feel free to do so..."

"Thanks to that, I was able to easily determine where Yuito-kun was headed."

"...I was careless."

"Alright then, let's have lunch together, just the three of us!"

Kirika thuds the lunchbox onto the table.

It wasn't really a bento box; it was a huge jubako.

No, he has a question before they eat lunch. Yuito tilted his head.

"Wait, isn't Kirika-san eating at my seat...?"

"Hey, if you were watching, why didn't you say something? I was waiting for Yuito-kun!"

"Huh, you were waiting for me? Why?"

"Why, you ask... There's no other reason than to have lunch with Yuito-kun..."

"...Huh?!"

What a surprise. It seems Kirika was waiting to have lunch with Yuito.

He thought she was coming to eat with the students sitting close to her, just like in the first week.

(Huh, did she have something to do with me even in the first week? No, that's not possible. There was no connection between me and Kirika-san...)

Yuito throws away the perfectly correct answer. It will probably never come back.

Anyway, Yuito and the others decided to have lunch together.

"Are you a bread person, Yuito-san? If you don't mind, would you like to have some of my lunch? I made a bit too much this morning."

"Oh, then I'll share mine with you too!"

Kirika pulls out additional chairs and arranges them.

When they drew a triangle with Yuito at the center, Hakari and Kirika spread out their lunch on the table.

Each bento has its own charm.

Hakari is focused on Japanese food. The portions are a bit large, but it's an ordinary bento.

Kirika's is centered around Western cuisine. Expensive-looking dishes are neatly arranged in a huge lacquered box.

"...Isn't Kirika-san's more like... a New Year's feast than a bento?"

"Hehehe... This is a masterpiece crafted by our family chef. Want to give it a try?"

"Well then, I guess I'll have a little bit..."

"Yes. Disposable chopsticks."

"Well prepared..."

Yuito received the disposable chopsticks, snapped them cleanly, and extended them.

Following Kirika's suggestion of "This one is recommended," he took the thinly sliced meat.

"Eh, it's delicious!? What is this, roast beef?"

When he bit into the meat, the umami burst forth. Even though it was cold, the flavor was still intact.

Maybe they're using ridiculously expensive meat.

"It's delicious, right? I also have salmon, smoked duck, marinated dishes, and more!"

Rich people are amazing.

To be able to prepare such a luxurious bento for the students' lunch.

Kirika's bento looks like a sparkling treasure box.

"Um, um... Yuito-san..."

Hey, hey. Yuito's hem is being pulled.

When he turned around, Hakari was shyly offering him a bento box.

"How about mine? Like fried chicken and stuff..."

"Fried chicken...!!"

There isn't a boy who doesn't like fried chicken. Yuito loves it too.

He directs his sparkling eyes toward the fried chicken.

However, Hakari's lunch box is not as large as Kirika's. Even one piece of fried chicken is a significant loss.

"Is it okay if I eat this?"

"Yes... compared to Kirika-san's bento, it's rather meager..."

"Well then, I'll have one..."

Yuito borrowed a piece of fried chicken from Hakari's bento.

Creeak!!

When he broke through the crispy coating, juices from the tender meat started to flow out.

"...So delicious!!"

Meat thoroughly marinated with flavor. Crispy coating fried twice.

The fried chicken made with time and effort is filled with love.

Of course, the taste is important, but the fact that the beautiful girl in front of him made it with such care boosts his happiness to the max.

"To be able to make such delicious fried chicken... The person who marries you must be so lucky."

"M-m-married...!?"

At those words, Hakari's mind went into a daze. With her eyes spinning, she began to envision a future with Yuito.

She occasionally lets out a relaxed laugh, "Ehehe..." while twisting her body.

"I messed up... homemade bento was definitely going to score higher...!!"

Kirika was staring at Hakari with a somber expression.

Unfortunately, Yuito's reaction to Hakari's fried chicken is better than to Kirika's roast beef.

She is a loser.

"I-I need to practice cooking urgently...!!"

Unbeknownst to the others, Kirika was burning with a fighting spirit.

Chapter 10: Lunch