A Story About a Blonde Gal Angel Who Excessively Praises My Cooking. After Asking Me to Teach Her How to Cook, Feelings of Mutual Love Began to Grow

Chapter 109: Tomitsugu-senpai’s Place of Relaxation

“…I’m exhausted.”

Since Yurina transferred to our school, every break during the morning classes has been chaotic. I’ve been dragged into the whirlwind of attention surrounding the new transfer student.

Everyone keeps asking me what kind of relationship I have with her, digging into my stories about Okinawa, and even interrogating me about my connection with Amatsuka and her friends. It’s been overwhelming.

A random classmate going on a trip with the class beauties to Okinawa—of course, that stirs up some drama. For me, it was just a regular trip home for Obon, but for the other classmates (especially the boys), it wasn’t something they could ignore.

“…Next year, I won’t let them come with me.”

Having transitioned from a background character to a traitor in the eyes of my classmates, I’m currently spending my lunch break alone on the stairwell by the connecting corridor, eating my bento in peace.

Yurina’s constant pestering is annoying, and the accompanying glares full of murderous intent are too much to bear, so I’ve sought refuge here.

No one comes to this spot. That thought brings me a great sense of relief.

“…I really don’t want to be openly excluded again.”

Memories of elementary school, those painful days of being ostracized, come flooding back. In middle school, I avoided those miserable days by quietly living as a loner. I had planned to continue that lifestyle in high school, too. But now, thanks to my cooking life with Amatsuka, things have changed.

Cooking with Amatsuka is fun, and she’s adorable, so I’ve been enjoying it. No doubt about that.

But honestly, it’s something a background character like me shouldn’t be allowed to do. I need to remember my place and live modestly.

“Hey, Motobu, are you being excluded?”

“Not yet… But, Tomitsugu-senpai, what are you doing here?”

“This is my place of relaxation.”

With a grumpy expression, Tomitsugu-senpai glared down at me. …It seems even background characters have no place to rest.

“…Well then, I’ll leave. I don’t want to be a bother.”

“It’s fine. You’re a bother, but I don’t mind.”

“Being a bother isn’t fine…”

Despite her grumpy expression, Tomitsugu-senpai sat a little distance away from me and opened her homemade bento.

“…Why are you eating lunch here, Senpai?”

“Why not? What’s the big deal?”

“…Could it be… Ah, never mind.”

“Hey, what were you about to say? Spit it out.”

“No, it’s nothing.”

Tomitsugu-senpai may have a sharp personality, but with her good looks and figure, I assumed she must have at least one or two friends. However, perhaps because of her tough personality, she might not have any.

But I’m not in a position to comment on that. Especially since I’m currently borrowing her place of relaxation.

“Give me your tamagoyaki.”

“…You’ve got tamagoyaki in your own bento, though.”

“Sometimes I want to taste someone else’s cooking. What? Is that a problem?”

“Then let’s trade.”

“Fine. But mine is sweet. Is that okay?”

“I prefer salty, so it’ll be a new experience for me.”

As expected of Tomitsugu-senpai. Even though I’m not used to sweet tamagoyaki, it’s delicious. The shape is perfect, and it’s clear she didn’t cut any corners when preparing her bento.

“Not bad.”

“Thanks.”

“What broth did you use?”

“White dashi. It’s easy.”

“I thought so.”

Our conversation is rather plain. But honestly, this might be the first time I’ve ever had a normal conversation with Tomitsugu-senpai.

It might not seem like we’re having a good time from an outsider’s perspective, but surprisingly, discussing things like broth and seasoning preferences is kind of enjoyable.

“Thanks for the meal.”

After I finished eating, I decided to head to the library. Tomitsugu-senpai also looked like she was about done.

“I’ll be going now. Your tamagoyaki was delicious.”

“Glad to hear that.”

“Yes.”

“…Are you coming again tomorrow?”

“What?”

“Here.”

“I’m not sure. Maybe.”

Even after finishing her meal, Tomitsugu-senpai still had that grumpy look. What’s her deal? Did I say something wrong?

“I see. Well, come if you feel like it.”

“…Thank you.”

It seems I’ve been given permission to come here again tomorrow. This person is hard to read.

But wandering around during lunch break and wasting time isn’t something I want to do, so I decided to take her up on her offer.

—

Chapter 110: Trap

“Hey, Motobu.”

“Yes?”

Once again, I’m sitting in Tomitsugu-senpai’s place of relaxation, spreading out my bento. I’m already starting to feel comfortable in this spot.

“Are you helping the student council?”

“…Huh?”

“I’m talking about the student council.”

“That’s news to me. Where did that come from?”

“It’s not like it was announced. Nakamichi said he wanted to recruit you.”

“I haven’t heard anything about that.”

Why am I hearing this from Tomitsugu-senpai? I’ve never been recruited by the student council before.

“He asked me a bunch of small questions, like how your club activities are going. It seems he wants to bring you in.”

“…I get the gist of it now.”

I always found Nakamichi Senpai a bit shady. He vaguely reminds me of some cross-dressing author. It’s just a feeling, though.

Nakamichi is probably working on surrounding me from the outside in.

“So, what did you tell him about my club activities?”

“Nothing special. I just said you’re busy with things at home and don’t come to club that often, but when you do, we have cooking battles.”

“…We don’t have battles that often, but you didn’t lie.”

“I’m not stopping until I win.”

“I see…”

She must be pretty competitive. Probably. But I don’t really understand why she’s so fixated on it.

For someone like me, who’s used to losing more often than winning, her attitude is strange. But if I were to hold back, she’d definitely notice and get mad, so I don’t.

“I hate how you’re so indifferent about it.”

“…Well, there’s nothing I can do about that. I’ll just accept being hated.”

“Hmph.”

Even though she claims to hate me, I don’t sense any hostility. She probably sees me as a worthy rival.

I feel a bit guilty, though. I’m not as serious about cooking as she is.

I’m just cooking as a full-time househusband. Most of my knowledge comes from watching videos of cooking experts or reading cooking-related manga.

When it comes to skills and knowledge, Tomitsugu-senpai is far ahead of me.

“Thanks for the meal.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

I packed up my empty lunchbox and stood up. Tomitsugu-senpai had finished eating too, and I didn’t want to stick around and listen to her complain.

“If you’re going to join the student council, make sure to let me know.”

“…I haven’t decided yet, but if I do, I’ll tell you.”

With Tomitsugu-senpai still wearing her grumpy expression, I walked down the stairs in the connecting corridor.

Even if I were to join the student council, I don’t really know what it’s like. In middle school, I tried to avoid standing out and just focused on studying. I never paid attention to how the student council worked.

But I do know it’s supposed to help with recommendation letters and that kind of thing.

That afternoon, I found myself thinking that I couldn’t picture myself as a student council member.

“Takeru Motobu! Student council business! Get over here!”

“Motobu-kun, can we have a moment?”

“…”

The one calling me out like a delinquent was the petite student council president, Takakuchi, and the vice president, Nakamichi.

Class had just ended, so there were still plenty of students around. Naturally, all eyes were on me.

…This is the worst way to corner someone.

“…What do you want?”

“We’re taking you to the student council room.”

“I didn’t do anything wrong.”

“We just want to talk. Right?”