Actually, the Hungry Gyaru Who Eats a Lot Was Being Cheated On, so I Decided to Win Her Heart (And Stomach) From Her Jerk Boyfriend - 80

Chapter 80: Before the Fireworks with the Hungry Gyaru

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I wondered how many minutes I had been holding Shizuku’s hand. Without doing anything in particular, I simply sat there in silence, feeling her warmth through my entire left arm when…

『—Thank you for your patience. The fireworks will begin shortly.』

The venue announcement echoed through the area. Almost at the exact same time, a long, drawn-out growl came from both Shizuku’s stomach and mine. We looked at each other, paused for a beat, and then let out small laughs.

“Come to think of it, we still haven’t eaten.”

“Yeah. Let’s eat already!”

Reluctantly, we let go of each other’s hands and reached for the plastic bags we had set beside us. Since quite a bit of time had passed since we bought everything, I had assumed the food would be completely cold. But perhaps because a large amount of freshly made dishes had been gathered together in one place, all of it still retained a faint warmth.

“What should we start with?”

“Hmm… Let’s just grab whatever’s on top!”

Saying that, Shizuku pulled out a cup filled with several pieces of fried chicken from the bag. Using the toothpick that came with it, she poked one piece and took a bite, breaking into a soft, pleased smile.

“Good, it’s not totally cold yet. Fried chicken’s still tasty even when it’s cold, but if I can help it, I’d rather eat it warm.”

“Agreed.”

Nodding, I took out the plastic container of chicken skin gyoza that had been stacked at the very top of the bag. Since it had been the last item we bought, it still seemed to be holding plenty of heat. I removed the rubber band, opened the lid, and used disposable chopsticks to toss one whole piece into my mouth. The crispy texture of the deep-fried chicken skin released a rich burst of savory fat, followed by juices filled with the sweetness of vegetables that spread throughout my mouth.

“Is that good?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty solid.”

“Really? Then—”

Shizuku leaned closer to me and opened her mouth slightly.

“…What?”

“…Geez, take the hint.”

She puffed out her cheeks, her face faintly reddening.

“Say ‘ahh’ and feed me. …We’re officially dating now. It’s fine, right?”

…Well, I suppose she had a point. If we were dating, maybe this was normal… though probably not. It might even fall into the realm of an overly lovey-dovey couple. But there was no one else around, and if this was what Shizuku wanted, then I would oblige.

“…As you wish.”

Smiling, I brought a piece of chicken skin gyoza to her lips. She took it in one bite and chewed happily, narrowing her eyes in delight.

“Mmm, so good! I don’t eat chicken skin gyoza very often, but the skin’s super crispy! This is great!”

“Glad to hear it.”

I found myself smiling along with her. Watching Shizuku eat so happily, a warm emotion gradually welled up inside me. This must be what love felt like. I had been unaware of it for so long, but now I understood clearly that I loved this smile of hers more than anything.

As I continued staring, Shizuku noticed my gaze and muttered, “…Hey, Suou-kun. If you stare at me that much, I’m going to feel kind of embarrassed, you know…”

“Ah, sorry.”

I quickly looked away. This was bad. It had become a complete habit. Staring so much was rude. Even between close people, manners mattered… I needed to be careful. I was reflecting on that by myself when…

“—I’ve been thinking this for a while.”

Shizuku poked my arm with her finger and asked,

“Suou-kun, you’re always smiling when you watch me eat… Do you really like it that much?”

…How should I answer that? I hesitated for only a moment.

“Yeah. I do.”

When I answered honestly, her face flushed red as if it had exploded. Her eyes widened, her mouth opening and closing soundlessly, and then she quickly turned her face away.

“Hey, that’s not fair, saying it so suddenly…! You’re stepping on the gas way too hard! I’m seriously shocked!”

“Even if you say that… it’s the truth. And for what it’s worth, I’m gathering quite a bit of courage to say it.”

Compared to confessing my love, the hurdle was lower, but being honest about my feelings still wasn’t easy. Still, it was far better than pretending otherwise and hiding what I truly felt.

Especially when those feelings wouldn’t hurt her.

That said, it was still embarrassing. I scratched the back of my head lightly, and Shizuku puffed out her cheeks before looking back at me.

“…It doesn’t look like it at all.”

“I’m just trying not to show it on my face.”

“Then it just makes it seem like I’m the only one getting embarrassed.”

Pouting, Shizuku stabbed another piece of fried chicken in her cup with the toothpick. She held it out in front of me.

“Okay, now it’s Suou-kun’s turn.”

Her dissatisfied expression shifted into a mischievous grin.

“…I have to do it too?”

“Obviously! Of course you do! Come on, open up—!”

Saying that, she leaned closer with a cheerful, “Okay, say ‘ahh’!”

So this was one of those situations where I had to eat it. After genuinely hesitating for a moment, I resigned myself and bit into the fried chicken.

“Well? Is it good?”

“………………Yeah. It’s good.”

Feeling extremely self-conscious, I muttered my reply, and Shizuku smiled with satisfaction.

“Good, good! Want another bite?”

“Sorry, but spare me. …Any more indirect kisses and I’m going to need time to mentally prepare.”

In that instant, Shizuku froze completely. Several seconds of silence passed. Her face turned even redder than before, and her entire body began trembling.

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