About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 10

Chapter 10: An Alluring Cool Beauty

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“I’m sorry. Is it okay if I’m in my loungewear?”

“Do you really think it’s okay?”

“Eh?”

“…It was a joke.”

Like hell it was a joke. I didn’t say it out loud, but I shot a mental retort at Ayano as she entered my room with a clear, translucent voice, murmuring an “Excuse me.”

The reason I had slipped up and said that was because she was simply too cute for her own good. What she called loungewear was far too thin and left her far too defenseless. It was a fluffy matching set consisting of a long-sleeved top and white short shorts. Her bare legs—which were usually hidden by a skirt and tights at school and long pants at home—were now being flaunted right before my eyes, whether I liked it or not.

On top of that, there was the ultimate hurdle: she had just stepped out of the bath. Her black hair looked glossier than usual. Her skin looked so soft to the touch… No, not that I was going to touch it. Whether it was shampoo, conditioner, hair oil, or hair milk, a sweet scent brushed past my nose and began to fill the room.

“Ah… the lovely scent of fish.”

“Are you really going with the ‘glutton’ character after all?”

“I-I am not, and I’m not a glutton… anyway.”

…For now, I would do my absolute best to act casual. If I let my guard down even for a second, it felt like my rationality would snap.

“Since you’re here, I thought I’d make a meal plan that’s good for protein intake too.”

“Oh my…”

“Surprise! Today is salt-grilled horse mackerel halves and egg soup. Pretty extravagant, right?”

“Japanese and Western styles, the ultimate combination.”

“Well, I really just used what I had because going shopping was a pain.”

“You’re very honest about it, aren’t you?”

Ayano giggled. Even though her movements were the same as always, the fact that she was in loungewear… or rather, pajamas, made my heart race. It was unfair.

“Um…”

“Yeah?”

“I really, truly am not a glutton, but… I’m hungry.”

Ayano’s stomach gave a small growl. Thinking back to the first time we spoke, she would have looked down immediately, wouldn’t she? To think that in just a few weeks, she had reached the point where she could honestly plead her case…

(…It’s getting pretty tough on me if she doesn’t hold back a little more, though.)

I pulled the perfectly grilled mackerel out of the broiler. After finishing the dinner preparations with Ayano, we sat down at the table.

“Thank you for the meal, Kirihara-san.”

“Dig in.”

Ayano put her hands together with her chopsticks held between her thumbs. I must be a simple man if this everyday sight felt a little special just because she was in loungewear after a bath. Or perhaps, since I was getting to see Ayano in such a relaxed state, I was actually a high-level criminal.

“Mm… my body is being repaired.”

“That’s a pretty unique review, hey.”

“That’s just how delicious it is.”

“…You don’t have to go out of your way to explain. I can take a hint.”

“I wasn’t treating you like a child. Honestly, you’re such a difficult person to please.”

“I’ve always been like this.”

(It’s just that my rhythm has been thrown off lately because of Ayano.)

“Come to think of it, you’ve already finished your bath too today, Kirihara-san.”

“Well, I didn’t know when you’d be coming over.”

“I see… I suppose that’s true.”

Ayano answered, her voice trailing off slightly. I had acted that way because I thought it would be rude to meet her after her bath if I hadn’t bathed myself, but did I say something weird?

“No, please forget I said anything.”

“Don’t try to shut me out. Is there something strange?”

“Please don’t dig into it any further.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’ll die of embarrassment.”

“You’re exaggerating.”

Because she said it this time without her face turning red, the fact that she was being serious came across, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“Tell me anyway.”

“…Wasn’t that laugh just now a sign of forgiveness?”

“I’m too curious, so no forgiveness.”

“You really are mean, Kirihara-san.”

“Since I’m so mean, if you don’t tell me, I might do something even meaner.”

After teasing and laughing together, the topic shifted. We spent a blissful time where the minutes just ticked away as we chatted over dinner.

“What should we do about the cleanup?”

“Hmm, I’ll do it later.”

Lately, in exchange for the meals I provided, Ayano had been helping with a bit of housework in addition to her studies. To be honest, the gratitude outweighed any embarrassment, so I was more than happy about it, but the only dilemma was that the time she spent at my house was increasing.

“Thank you very much. Today was very delicious as well. Well then, see you tomorrow at school―”

“Wait a second.”

I stopped Ayano as she tried to hurry home. She was already heading for the entrance, but her shoulders jumped so violently that I could tell even from behind.

“W-What is it?”

“I mean, what were you actually trying to say back when we were eating?”

“…Isn’t that conversation already over?”

“I’m so curious I won’t be able to sleep.”

“That much?”

“I’ll be mean to you.”

“Ugh… Kirihara-san, you’re so mean.”

“What kind of verbal rally is this? I literally just said that.”

Ayano tried to fight back, but she absolutely refused to turn around and face me. What was it? Was it something that hard to say? I wasn’t planning on forcing it, so just as I was about to back down gracefully—

“…will you?”

“Eh?”

“If I don’t tell you, what kind of mean thing are you going to do…?”

Ayano turned her head just a fraction. Beside her bright red ear, I could see a glimpse of Ayano’s face, her eyes moist and her eyebrows furrowed in a troubled expression.

『 Since I’m so mean, if you don’t tell me, I might do something even meaner.』

“…!”

(Seriously, she’s unfair.)

I thought to myself. I couldn’t look Ayano in the eye right now, so I asked her back while averting my gaze slightly.

“Do you… want me to be mean to you?”

“…………That itself is being mean.”

“I-I see.”

A moment of silence passed. Somehow, even speaking felt embarrassing. I would open my mouth to let out a soundless breath and then close my lips again.

Thinking about what to do, I put a hand to my neck to distract myself. When I stole a glance at Ayano, she whipped her hair around and faced forward. She was helplessly endearing… and cute.

“F-Fine. I’ll tell you.”

“I wouldn’t mind being mean to you, though.”

“It is not fine. I will kick you.”

“Whoa…”

I made a joke to soften the atmosphere a little. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to stand it.

“P-Please don’t laugh.”

“I won’t laugh.”

“Um… I noticed that only when I come to this room after taking a bath, you’ve finished your bath too, Kirihara-san. So, um, well………… I started wondering if, maybe, you were interested in me in that way.”

“…………! …You really are something.”

“I-I’m sorry! Good night!”

Ayano ran out of my room. I stood there frozen for a while afterward, then sank deep into the sofa. I pulled a cushion to my chest, put both feet up on the sofa, and buried my face in it as if hugging the cushion.

“…………Seriously, give me a break.”

No matter how much I buried my face, the sweet, sweet scent just kept enveloping me, and it didn’t look like the heat was going to leave my body anytime soon.

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