About the Cool Beauty in My Class Declaring She Won’t Eat Anything Except My Bento - 5

Chapter 5: Our Relationship, Little by Little

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“Good morning.”

“Hm? Morning.”

That Friday morning. Ayano, who had just entered the classroom, offered a smile and a greeting to Shu and me while we were chatting. I managed to respond naturally, but inside, I was quite surprised.

This was the first time Ayano had spoken to me at school. Consequently, the boys in class naturally looked on with strange expressions. However, it was only for a moment. Once the usual group of girls swarmed around Ayano’s desk, the class’s typical atmosphere returned.

“…Since when were you two in that kind of relationship?”

“What kind of relationship? We just said hello.”

“If it were any other girl, it would end at that, but man… That’s Ayano-san.”

Well, that’s certainly true.

I thought with a wry smile. I had vaguely assumed we wouldn’t interact much in public. Still, given her position as the “Cool Beauty,” the fact that it ended with just a greeting might have been a saving grace.

There’s nothing scarier than a man’s jealousy.

That being said, we hadn’t exchanged a single word at school until yesterday, so I was curious about what had brought this on so suddenly. I decided I’d ask her about it after school.

“Well, whatever. Since it’s you, I’m sure there’s really nothing going on.”

“Hey, hearing it put like that is kind of annoying.”

“Anyway, Sota, you have work today too?”

Shu asked out of the blue, so I opened my phone to check my schedule.

“I think I have two days off this week… but yeah, I have work today. Until seven.”

“I see… I was thinking I wanted to go out for ramen for the first time in a while.”

“Sorry.”

“No, it’s fine. I’m more worried about whether or not you’re going to wreck your health.”

Shu laughed it off, but a sense of guilt lingered in my heart regardless. It wasn’t just Shu. There were several times I’d turned down invitations from classmates because of work. There was a reason I prioritized it over my friends, but since it wasn’t something I really talked about with others, it was painful that I could only offer a “Sorry” in apology.

“Are you that hard up for cash?”

“Not as much as you’re worried about.”

“Hmm? If you’re not going to say, I won’t ask any further… but you should probably cut back on the shifts soon.”

“Why?”

“The sports festival is coming up soon. You’re going to collapse.”

“…True.”

Kiritani High School’s sports festival was held every year in late May. Practice would start a week before the event, and as soon as that was over, the first-term final exams would begin. As Shu said, if I kept up this many shifts, I might not have the stamina and could end up collapsing…

“Well, I’ll be as careful as I can.”

“That’s what people say when they aren’t going to be careful… Good grief, I’m worrying about you here.”

“I’m really grateful for that.”

“Eh… Now you’re making me blush.”

Smirking, Shu nudged me repeatedly with his elbow, acting all playful. I actually meant what I said, but it was somewhat irritating, so I gave his arm a little slap.

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“Do you not have any money?”

“…You heard that?”

“Well, we are neighbors. Even at school.”

After returning from work, I brought a Tupperware container packed with food and pressed the intercom for Ayano’s room. She opened the door immediately. In her hand was the empty container from today, which she had finished completely once again. As we were chatting about school, Ayano asked as if she had just remembered the conversation between Shu and me from this morning.

“It’s not something you need to worry about.”

“It’s the thing I should worry about most. I am receiving meals from you, after all.”

“That may be so, but I’m not as troubled as you are.”

“…I can’t really say anything back to that.”

Judging by her words alone, Ayano didn’t seem convinced yet. If I said the wrong thing, it felt like she’d just worry even more.

“If I said I wasn’t troubled at all, that would probably be a lie, but it’s really not to the point where you need to worry about me. I have enough to not have any problems living a normal life. It’s more like I’m working because I want to save up enough to handle things just in case something happens.”

“…Well, if you say so, Kirihara-san…”

True to her nature of not prying too deeply into others’ business, Ayano nodded as if swallowing my words.

“Besides, seeing your face go all soft when I hand over the food makes me happy too. If I think of it as buying happiness, it’s a small price to pay.”

“…I don’t make such a slovenly face.”

She narrowed her eyes and puffed out her cheeks in a pout. To the child-like, adorable Ayano, I added, “That’s exactly what I’m talking about.”

“By the way, were the rolled omelets okay? I forgot to ask yesterday.”

“I love them all. I shall gratefully accept them.”

“You’re being too dramatic.”

To Ayano, who was bowing respectfully, I gave her head a playful little chop while telling her to “Stop that.” It was partially a mere cover for my shyness, under the grand pretext that it would be embarrassing if we were seen by other students from our school at our front doors.

“Geez, you shouldn’t hit a girl’s head.”

“I’m a believer in gender equality, you see.”

“Then that is a mistaken form of equality.”

True enough, I thought with a laugh. I happened to check the time on my phone and noticed that thirty minutes had already passed.

“You must be getting cold, Ayano, so shall we call it a night?”

“Oh, how thoughtful of you. …Ah, but before we part ways.”

“Hm?”

“When should I return the container I received today tomorrow?”

The weekend—the first one we would spend in this relationship that had only begun two days ago—was starting tomorrow. Naturally, neither of us knew each other’s plans for the holidays. However, for my part, I had assumed we would resume on Monday, so the fact that she naturally wanted to eat my cooking tomorrow too was… well, it made me happy. A relationship that was more than friends but less than lovers—no, a delicate relationship that couldn’t even be called “friends.”

I want this comfort to last forever… Wait, what am I thinking?

I shook my head from side to side. I didn’t need these useless thoughts.

“I’m fine with whenever, as long as I don’t have work.”

“What time do you start work?”

“Tomorrow is… at one o’clock, I think.”

“Ah, then I’ll return it before noon. It will be more relaxing for you if you don’t have plans in the evening, Kirihara-san.”

“Though that creates the drawback of not having Ayano heal my fatigue after work.”

I had absolutely no intention of starting anything strange, but I was a guy, so just talking to the class’s “Cool Beauty” gave me a little energy boost. On top of that, she even told me the food I made was delicious. I didn’t know of anything that could relieve fatigue better than this.

However, I might have teased her a bit too much.

“Well, that was a joke. Around noon tomorrow should probably be fi—”

“…………Is it… a joke?”

I tried to proceed with making the arrangements, but I was cut off by Ayano’s words. Ayano brought both her arms in front of her body, clenching them tightly, and as she looked down slightly, her ears appeared to be tinged with red.

…What did she mean by that? But, I didn’t even need to think about the meaning.

“…It’s not a joke. But don’t tease me too much…Be aware of your own cuteness.”

I don’t really like hiding my true feelings.

“Hehe, are you skilled at flattery as well?”

“If you think it’s flattery, you might not be very cute—”

I replied jokingly to Ayano, who had looked up and was smiling brightly.

“Well, so, this is just my selfishness, but…”

“Hm? Yes…?”

“I’ll give you both lunch and dinner tomorrow. It’s for my own sake, so you don’t have to worry about a thing.”

“Is this… what they call a win-win situation?”

“That’s right.”

“Hehe, in that case, I’ll gladly accept. It’s exactly what I wished for.”

The curt “Cool Beauty” wore a soft smile. And at the same time, I felt that I could never go back to my original life again.

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