About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 13

Chapter 13: Please Keep Your Eyes Closed

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“Please!”

“I was thinking, maybe you could make me a lunch box for tomorrow too!”

It was the day before the Sports Day. I was just about to head home when I was stopped by the two people standing in front of me. Shu pressed his hands together in prayer, while Kurumi clasped her hands together and pleaded with an upturned gaze.

“I don’t mind, but… why, exactly?”

“Seriously!? You’re the best! My mom usually makes mine, but she won’t be home tomorrow morning because of work. I thought about buying something at a convenience store, but then I realized I really wanted to eat your cooking.”

“And I thought if I asked along with Shu-kun, I might get to eat some too!”

“Only Kurumi had an ulterior motive, but fine. I’ll do it.”

“Eek! Calling me someone with an ulterior motive… Sota-kun, you pervert!”

“What is wrong with your head?”

Still, that meant I had to prepare lunch boxes for four people tomorrow: me, Ayano, Shu, and Kurumi. Making them was fine, but carrying them all was going to be a bit of a pain.

“Alright then, come by my place tomorrow morning. I’ll have them ready.”

“Thanks a ton!”

“I don’t know where Sota-kun lives, so lead the way, Shu-kun!”

“Leave it to me.”

◇ ◆ ◇ 

“So, that’s the situation. What time are you coming to pick yours up tomorrow?”

I informed Ayano about what happened during dinner.

“Any time that is convenient for you is fine, Kirihara-san… but isn’t that a lot of work?”

“Nn, the amount isn’t a problem, but packing them all might be a bit of a challenge. That said, I don’t really need to prepare much else for school tomorrow, so I should make it in time.”

While reassuring Ayano, I thought about how I needed to go buy ingredients. I rarely had time to shop during the weekdays, so my supplies were running pretty low.

“…You are hiding something, aren’t you?”

“No? Why do you ask?”

“You look cooler than usual, Kirihara-san.”

“Guh… What are you talking about…?”

“I feel like you’re trying to act cool on purpose.”

(That makes no sense…)

My agitation apparently showed in a way she hadn’t seen before, and Ayano looked convinced that I was lying.

“It’s nothing~.”

“See, there is something. Please tell me.”

“I’m not telling~.”

“If you don’t tell me… I will be… mean to you.”

“Oh? And just how do you plan on being mean, young lady?”

Ayano had hesitated even to say the words “I’ll be mean.” The pure and innocent “cool beauty” was blushing just at the thought of doing something to a member of the opposite sex. Seeing her look so much like a small animal, it was only natural that my mischievous side was piqued… or so I told myself. When I asked with a smirk, Ayano took on a contemplative expression for a moment.

(As usual, she’s way too cute.)

However, thinking about it after learning of her hidden efforts, a different feeling… like a sense of endearment, began to sprout within me.

After watching her for a while, she seemed to reach a decision and placed her hands on the table. But after staying still in that position for a moment, she blushed and sat back down.

“…Ayano?”

“P-Please wait. I am about to be… mean… to you, Kirihara-san.”

(Doesn’t saying it beforehand defeat the purpose?)

It was very like her, and seeing her work so hard in a way she usually didn’t was charming, so I decided to watch a little longer. After a short while, Ayano finally steeled her nerves and stood up.

“Close your eyes, please.”

“Eh, what are you going to do?”

“Just close them!”

“Ugh… this is scary.”

For now, I followed her instructions and closed my eyes. I heard the soft “sh-sh” sound of her walking across the mat getting closer and closer, and then Ayano’s scent wafted over. Actually… my head was spinning more than usual. 

(Is she right in front of me?)

A distance where our noses might touch. The instruction to “close your eyes.”

Thump.

My heart gave a particularly violent leap.

“A-Ayano…?”

“Please be quiet.”

I tried to speak to her again with my eyes closed, but my open mouth was silenced by Ayano’s finger. Slowly, teasingly, she traced my lips.

“Hah…” 

Ayano let out a single breath. It was a breath that sounded like she was bracing herself. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my nerves under control as I waited for her next move. And then….

Poke.

“…………Eh?”

“T-That was… me being mean. I will keep doing it until you tell me your secret.”

It was just Ayano poking my cheek with her finger. It was nothing more than the action of a small child trying to get a parent’s attention, and I couldn’t hold back my laughter.

“Haha!”

“What is it? I am not stopping.”

“That’s not being ‘mean’ at all. But well, in honor of how hard Ayano-chan worked, I guess I’ll spill the secret.”

“A-Are you making fun of me?”

“I’m not making fun of you, but I am treating you like a kid.”

“I am not a child! …Also, please stop adding ‘-chan’ to my name.”

“Right, right, Ayano-cha… Ow, ow, ow! Sorry, I’m sorry!”

When I called her “-chan” again, she began grinding her finger into my cheek. With Ayano’s delicate strength, it didn’t really hurt, but having her touch me like that was a bit problematic for other reasons, so I apologized.

“The truth is, I was just worried about the ingredients, so I’m going shopping after this.”

“You should have just said that from the start.”

Ayano gave me a deadpan look. I laughed and apologized once more.

“And I worked so hard to be mean…”

“It wasn’t something you needed to work that hard at.”

(I mean, Kurumi pokes my cheek all the time.)

“…Under the guise of being mean, it was my first time touching a member of the opposite sex of my own accord…”

Hearing her say that, I couldn’t find a single word to say back. However… I had to say this much.

“I’ll acknowledge your effort… but, um, just stay away from my lips. Even if we promised not to do anything, I’m still a guy, you know.”

“The lips… hhh!!”

She had probably been so focused on poking my cheek that she had done it unconsciously. Reminded of her own actions by my words, Ayano turned red all the way to her ears—more than I’d ever seen—and fled back to her own place.

A little while later…

Ping.

『I will help with the shopping too, so please let me know when you are going.』

“…Seriously?”

I stared up at the ceiling until the heat finally left my face.

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