About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 19-20

Chapter 19: A Minor Incident

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“Just like that, you say?”

Ayano, who had remained silent until now, spoke up after hearing the male student’s words. It was a simple question. However, the tone was something that neither I, Shu, nor Kurumi had ever heard before, and it gave us the illusion that the very air around us had frozen solid.

The male student, on the other hand, didn’t notice the change in her voice.

“Yeah, yeah. I’m not making fun of it or anything, okay? It’s just, I was expecting something more since I’d heard so much about the level of lunch Ayano-san would actually request.”

He was adding fuel to the fire—or rather, spraying coolant on a cool beauty. I didn’t think the condescension felt in his every word was a direct attempt to look down on me. He likely wanted to make Ayano think that my lunch wasn’t anything special, but…

“Hehe… I see.”

” ” “(Oh… crap…!)” ” “

She wasn’t just annoyed. She was livid.

“True, it might not be anything special.”

The chatter in the classroom was the same as always. If anything, it was a bit noisier due to the excitement of the sports festival. This wasn’t an outward brawl. If one had to put a name to it, it looked like a polite discussion.

“I don’t want any misunderstandings, so I’ll say it again: I’m not making fun of it, okay?”

“Yes, I’m not particularly bothered by that part.”

The male student looked somewhat relieved at Ayano’s reply.

Ayano didn’t say “I understand”; she said “I’m not bothered by it.” That meant she understood exactly what he was doing and chose not to care about the insult itself. The fact that she was still fuming meant there was another reason entirely.

We could do nothing but watch.

“In that case, what kind of lunch would you make for me?”

“Eh?! W-well, I hadn’t thought that far ahead… but let’s see, I can make Salisbury steak! Oh, but wait, Ayano-san, you couldn’t eat much heavy stuff, right? Then something simple, yeah, like a salad!”

The male student desperately tried to appeal his own skills. He was probably the type who could cook a little bit. That was likely why he harbored more complex feelings toward me than the others. He was thinking of all sorts of things to make that would suit Ayano’s tastes.

“Salisbury steak is delicious too, isn’t it?”

“Right? I’ll make some and bring it next ti—”

“And why would you choose that specific dish?”

“Wha… what do you mean, ‘why’?”

“The feelings you put into the cooking, or rather, I just want to hear your reasoning.”

The male student was at a loss for words. He didn’t seem to understand what Ayano was getting at.

“Like, wanting it to taste good?”

“Oh, that is also important.”

“And, you know! Wanting to see a happy face—”

“—Therefore, I must decline.”

“…………Eh?”

The male student, who had felt he was getting a good reaction, looked like he’d been struck by lightning. For the first time since she started talking to him, the corners of Ayano’s mouth turned up slightly. It was a manufactured, pasted-on smile.

“When Kirihara-san gave me a meal for the first time, what do you think he said?”

“Eh? Um…”

“He threatened me, saying, ‘If you don’t eat this, I’ll reveal your secret.'”

She let out a small laugh as if reminiscing. The moment the topic shifted to me, I felt the coldness soften just a little.

“So I went along with it because I had no choice, and for me—someone who doesn’t eat much—he prepared things that weren’t heavy, things with mild flavors, and things that would stay good for a while even if I couldn’t finish them. He looked out for me without saying a word about everything he was doing for my sake.”

“…………Ayano, I told you already. You didn’t have to say all that.”

“I’m sorry. But I want to say it. I want to convey how happy it made me.”

I was starting to feel genuinely embarrassed. However, it was just as Ayano said. In the end, these guys were probably the same as all the others to her.

“Ah! My apologies, I don’t want to cause a misunderstanding, so let me add that I think your way of thinking is wonderful as well. It simply doesn’t suit me.”

“O-oh, thank… you?”

“So, please go find a princess other than myself who will appreciate you.”

Ayano finished speaking with her “public” smile. It was likely her way of signaling that she had no intention of talking further. The male students, finally sensing that much, muttered, “Sorry for bothering you,” and backed away from us.

“I-I… Ayano-san is scary…”

“Eh…? W-why is that!”

“You’re something else… Su-chan…”

“Even you, Aoi-san…!”

“Well, yeah, it’s just a side of you I’m not used to seeing.”

“Well, that’s because you all look at what’s inside me. I love you all, you know…?”

Saying it in the heat of the moment, Ayano realized her slip of the tongue, and her face gradually turned bright red. Taking that as her cue, Kurumi started ruffling Ayano’s hair like she was a dog. It was the moment the target of the teasing shifted from me to Ayano. The bright atmosphere had finally returned.

Despite the brief, minor incident, we finished our lunches and the break came to an end. The afternoon session of the sports festival was about to begin.

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Chapter 20: A Trustworthy Male Friend

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“Good luck!”

“Go for it!”

“We’re definitely going to win!!”

The voices of support from the cheering tent were directed toward the members participating in the mixed-gender relay. While Shu and Kurumi waved energetically, Ayano was off by herself warming up her body, looking very much like her usual self.

“Mind if I sit here?”

With the usual three having gone to the field, I was in the cheering tent alone when a male student sat down in the empty seat next to me.

“Oh, Kurose. You aren’t in the relay?”

Yuki Kurose. When we first became classmates and I met him for the first time, I thought he was a person who lived up to his name. He had beautiful black hair and black eyes, with a personality that was kind to everyone and a soft-spoken demeanor. His overwhelming leadership qualities made him a man of character worthy of the name “Yuki,” meaning “gentle hope.”

“I only have the block-versus-block relay left. Are you done, Kirihara?”

“Yeah. I’m just gonna cheer for those guys and then I’m finished.”

“Then let’s cheer together!”

He grinned, bumping his fist against my arm. Even with someone like me, who has had little interaction with others since the beginning of the semester, he was a good guy who would reach out on his own. I didn’t sense any hidden agenda with him. That was exactly why I felt safe interacting with him.

“So, how did you and Ayano-san start getting involved with each other?”

“…I guess you’re curious too?”

“Of course I am.”

Kurose asked me while we were waiting for the event announcement. It wasn’t out of envy like the other boys. It was likely out of pure curiosity. I could tell somehow from his tone and expression.

“I have a girlfriend, so you know I have no intention of stealing Ayano-san away.”

“That’s true, but… wait, Ayano isn’t mine or anything.”

“Not yet, you mean.”

“You…”

“Just kidding.”

He had a smile like a flower in bloom. Looking at a face that could brighten anyone who saw it, I lost the will to make a sarcastic remark.

(…Well, I trust him, so I guess it’s fine.)

“A while back, when I went to pick up something I forgot, Ayano happened to be in the classroom. One thing led to another, and it turned into a situation where I started giving her food.”

“I’d like to hear the details of that ‘one thing led to another.'”

“I wouldn’t mind telling you, but it would be bad for Ayano’s reputation, so that part is a secret.”

“Haha! If you’ve told me that much, that’s more than enough.”

No matter how much I trusted him, I couldn’t expose the ultimate embarrassment of the “Cool Beauty’s” stomach growling.

“Well, if anything happens, feel free to rely on me. Especially, you know, if something like what happened today comes up again.”

“I’d really appreciate that.”

“In exchange—not that I’m asking for a favor—would it be okay if I went to your place sometime?”

“My house? That’s totally fine, but why, exactly?”

“It’s almost Yuzuki’s—oh, my girlfriend’s birthday. I was thinking I’d like to give her some kind of sweets along with a present.”

Kurose’s girlfriend, Yuzuki Hanazato, was assigned to a different class from us. I didn’t know her face, but I had heard her name, so I told Kurose, “I recognize the name.”

(Right, a birthday. Come to think of it, I don’t know Ayano’s birthday… Wait, what am I even thinking?)

“Got it. Anytime is fine.”

“Thanks! Let’s exchange contact info after the sports festival.”

“Sure. Oh, looks like it’s starting.”

The students lined up at the starting line. It looked like Kurumi was the first runner.

“Kurumi! Good luck!”

When I cheered loudly to keep up with the students whose excitement was peaking, Kurumi noticed me and responded with a wave. Then the pistol fired, and the relay began.

“As expected of Kurumi. She’s fast.”

“Yeah. I didn’t know she was this quick.”

“Apparently, she was in the track and field club in both middle school and high school.”

“Oh, is that so? Come to think of it, were you guys in the same middle school?”

“Surprisingly enough, we’ve been together since elementary school.”

“Seriously? With Shu too?”

“Bingo.”

So they’d been together that long.

(Well, I guess that certainly makes that level of physical contact understandable… maybe?)

“Oh, Kurumi’s in first place. Nice!”

“Kurumi! Great job!”

Kurumi handed off the baton to the second runner while in the lead.

(She’s incredibly fast. She should have told me she’s this fast.)

“Oh, by the way.”

As the cheers grew even louder due to Kurumi’s achievement, Kurose spoke to me in a volume only I could hear.

“We’re thinking of having a class after-party tonight. You want to come?”

“Ah… I think I’ll pass.”

“Really? I think Kurata and Kurumi are probably going.”

“I don’t know yet, but Ayano probably won’t go. Since I have this kind of personality, I’d rather prioritize Ayano over classmates I don’t really have a connection with.”

“Whew, how cool. Don’t tell me you already have something prepared?”

“…Is that a crime?”

“No, I respect that. Ayano-san would be happy to have someone so devoted to her. I feel like I’ve finally figured out why you two ended up in a relationship where you give her lunches.”

Kurose wasn’t mocking me. He genuinely respected it. That was why it hurt my heart a little to turn down the invitation, but this was a special occasion. I wanted to reward Ayano for her hard work. And of course, I didn’t mean anything strange by it.

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