The Start of Embarrassment

Katayama inviting me to lunch? That’s unexpected. I can’t have lunch with Takuto, and as for me, I had lunch with other friends the other day.

“Don’t want to?”

“Are you sure it’s okay for Katayama to have lunch with someone other than her usual friends?”

“If you don’t decline in advance, I won’t invite you like this~”

Well, that makes sense.

“I’m fine with it.”

“Yes! Let’s go eat then!”

“Wait! I need to go to the classroom to get my bento.”

It’s obvious that I don’t have my lunch since I was at the gym until just now.

“That’s no problem at all. Here!”

I was handed my lunch bag. Did she purposely bring it over from where it was hanging next to the desk?

“Don’t just throw it like that!”

“But it’s not a lunchbox, right?”

“Huh?”

Today I made a sandwich since I didn’t get much sleep, so there’s no worry about it falling apart.

“It felt light when I picked it up, so I thought it might not be a lunchbox.”

“You’re observant…”

While throwing my lunch bag isn’t something that should become a habit, maybe Katayama’s charm lies in being able to observe her surroundings like this.

“Where are we eating?”

“In the classroom two doors down from the library. Nobody comes around during this time.”

“Why eat in an empty room?”

“Well, because there’s something we can only talk about when we’re alone~”

◆◇

As Katayama said, there was no one in the classroom. When I sat down in a random seat, Katayama sat down next to me. Isn’t she a bit too close?

“Let’s eat, let’s eat!”

It seems like she won’t listen no matter what I say.

“I’ve always wondered, but do you make the bento, Shuugo-kun?”

“Yeah. Cooking is my responsibility.”

Due to the influence of helping out since I was young, cooking has become as natural as breathing for me… Come to think of it, didn’t I used to cook with Iori in the kitchen back then?

“Hmm?”

As I ponder, I notice Katayama’s gaze fixed on my sandwich.

“…Do you want some?”

“Huh, no, it’s fine!”

“It’s kind of pitiful not to share when you’re being stared at so much.”

Handing her the sandwich wrapped in plastic, Katayama eagerly unwraps it and takes a bite.

“Mmm! It’s delicious!”

She chewed happily.

It’s nice to hear someone say that something I made is delicious.

“Oh, do you want to try mine?”

“Are you sure?”

“Mhm. Mine’s my mom’s specialty though.”

Looking at Katayama’s bento, it’s full of colorful dishes. They all looked homemade and delicious.

Hmm, I don’t have chopsticks because I have a sandwich…

“Can I have a bite?”

“I’ll be fine, I’ll just use this toothpick with a bacon-wrapped sausage on it.”

“Huh?”

Well, it’s delicious. Sausages wrapped in bacon are the best combination. There’s no way they wouldn’t go together.

Ignoring Katayama’s complaining expression, I finished my sandwich.

“So, what’s the deal with the two of us talking alone?”

“Oh, it’s about your little sister.”

“…Iori? Ah, that thing about making her go ‘gasp,’ right?”

“Yeah, that’s it.”

With a nod, Katayama closed her lunchbox.

“Like I said before, just because you’re a big brother doesn’t mean you have to be nice, you know? If I had a little brother like that, I’d probably punch him.”

“Punch him…?”

It’s surprising to hear such manly words from Katayama.

“About that matter… Can we put it on hold for now?”

I’m still bothered by the issue of Iori not using the money.

Katayama’s face momentarily turned serious. I’m taken aback by this unfamiliar side of her, but she quickly smiles…

“Sure.”

“Sorry for the trouble—”

“Is that what you think I would say?”

“Huh? You mean it’s not okay? You’re not—”

Suddenly, Katayama started unbuttoning her shirt. After undoing the second button, glimpses of her black bra can be seen. Her chest seems constricted by the bra, looking uncomfortable. I find myself unable to look away from her chest… Wait, is this the time to be fixated on that!?

“Katayama… C-come on, calm down calm down!”

“I’m perfectly calm.”

“Are you calm enough to start undressing!?”

“You need to calm down and think, Shuugo-kun. You’ve been coddling Iori all this time, that’s why she’s turned into such a spoiled Prince, right?”

“Ugh…”

Her words hit too close to home for me to argue back…

“I get that you want to trust your little sister because she’s important to you.”

“B-but still… Ugh…!?”

Before I could protest, suddenly, there was pressure on my lower body. Unable to resist, I looked down… and Katayama was straddling me, wearing a seductive smile like never before.

“If you decide not to go through with it… then I’ll have to attack you, Shuugo-kun.”

“Y-yes…?”

This is just… I can’t even understand!!

But no matter how I look at it, I’m at a disadvantage here. 

Katayama, straddling me, has her uniform slightly undone, and if she screamed, it’ll be a disaster. There’s no way I won’t be blamed if something happens…

I only had one option left.

“…Fine, I’ll do it! I’ll make Iori say ‘Gyahh’! Just get off me!”

“Hehe, thanks~”

Surprisingly, she moved aside easily.

I was on edge… but maybe I’ve made up my mind.

“Thank you for going this far just for this indecisive me. And I should be the one thanking you.”

As lunch break was ending, I left the classroom first, unaware of Katayama murmuring something meaningful behind me.

“…Fufu, maybe I should be the one thanking you.”