I Ate Kaede-chan’s Homemade Bento

Kaede-chan held a wrapped package in her hand, and its shape made it unmistakably a bento. It was a bento.

“Kaede-chan, did you really make that bento for me!?”

“Yes, and I have my own portion too.”

Kaede-chan took out her own bento as well, but mine was clearly larger.

“Is it really okay for me to eat that bento!?”

“Of course. I dragged you here against your will, so this is the least I can do.”

The bento Kaede-chan had made for me seemed to shine with radiance.

Unma had never once made me a bento. Eating a homemade bento from a girl was a miracle I had never experienced in my life. And from a peerless beauty, no less. It was a miracle upon a miracle.

Ah, just moments ago I had been in utter despair, but that despair now blew away completely. A girl’s homemade bento held such immense value and sanctity for me.

“Th-Thank you. I’ll gladly have it. So, where should we eat?”

Anywhere but here, at least. This was right next to the spot where I had peed standing up, so it felt wrong both mentally and hygienically.

“I’m fine with eating here.”

“No, that’s not fine at all…”

She might have been being considerate about the mess I had made, but while I could endure it, I couldn’t bear the thought of Kaede-chan eating a meal in a place like this.

“Got it. Well, I know a good spot, so let’s go there.”

Kaede-chan took my hand and started walking.

The place Kaede-chan brought me to was the rooftop of the tallest school building here.

There were benches, and plenty of trees planted around, with an amazing view. It felt like a perfect blend of nature and sky—such a great spot. It made me feel open and free. Troubles seemed like they could just vanish here.

“What do you think? This is nice, right, Ryoma-kun?”

“Yeah, I think it’s really nice, but…”

“But?”

“Can I really come up here…? This doesn’t seem like a place where someone like me belongs.”

“It’s fine, it’s fine. If I say it’s okay, then it is.”

For real—the student council president had some serious pull.

I sat on the bench next to Kaede-chan.

Then I placed the homemade bento on my thigh and unwrapped the cloth.

The bento box had two tiers. My anticipation built.

I opened the lid. The top tier was packed full of white rice. And the bottom tier was…

“Amazing…”

It was amazing—that was the only word for it. Tamagoyaki, sausages, and all sorts of other things crammed in tightly. I had almost no experience making bentos myself, but even I could tell this one had taken a lot of time and effort.

I had known Kaede-chan got up early, but she had put in this much effort to make a bento for me.

“I-Itadakima—”

I picked up my chopsticks, clasped my hands, and started to say itadakimasu, but before I could finish, Kaede-chan snatched the chopsticks and picked up a piece of tamagoyaki with them.

“I’ll feed you. Here, ahhhn.”

Kaede-chan made a full-faced smile and held it out to me with an ahhhn.

It was cute and heartwarming, but with people around, it was a bit embarrassing.

“No, I can eat it myself… mff…”

Before I could finish, Kaede-chan shoved the tamagoyaki into my mouth forcefully.

Right, her ahhhn was mandatory. So pushy and bold.

I just chewed and swallowed.

“Wh-What do you think? I’m not that great at cooking… I usually have our chef make my meals…”

Wasn’t that something to say after feeding it to me? Shouldn’t you mention that before?

Well, since she had made it for me, I wouldn’t complain about the taste no matter what.

“Um, if it’s not tasty, you don’t have to force yourself to eat it.”

What are you saying—you just forced it on me. You got up early and worked hard on it, so I’d eat every last bit even if it killed me.

“…It’s delicious.”

“Really!?”

“It might have a bit of a strong flavor. The saltiness is on the heavier side, so some people might not like it. But I like this taste. It’s good.”

“I’m so glad! I’m happy it matches your preferences! Eat up!”

“Yeah, thanks.”

After that, she fed me everything with ahhhns.

Once I had eaten it all, Kaede-chan and I relaxed on the rooftop bench.

There were about ten minutes left until the end of lunch break. I found myself thinking I wanted to stay with her until the very last second.

“Kaede-chan, there’s something I want to ask you.”

“What is it?”

“…I feel like you’re pinpointing my location every single time. What’s going on…?”

It had seemed unnatural that even while I was peeing standing up, she found me right away. I had been so careful that no one would notice.

“Oh, that… Ryoma-kun, you’re wearing the clothes we provided, right?”

“Yeah, well… You prepared so many that I didn’t even need to go shopping. I’m really grateful.”

“I’ve had transmitters sewn into all of them.”

“Huh!?”

“My phone gets your location sent to it. Oh, and taking off your jacket won’t help. They’re in your underwear and socks too.”

“…!?!?!?”

E-Even in my underwear…!? So Kaede-chan knew exactly where my underwear was at all times!? What kind of shameful play was this?

I had said I was grateful, but now I wanted to take it back. Still, she had provided me with proper, stylish clothes, so I couldn’t complain. I was her pet, after all; I had to accept something like this.

Right—even if she treated me without human rights, I had resolved to accept it. So transmitters were a minor thing compared to that…

“Even this is me holding back a lot… I really want to put a collar on you.”

“A c-collar…!?”

That’s heavy and scary. Kaede-chan was smiling, but her eyes weren’t. That was what made it scary.

“…Ryoma-kun, want some tea?”

“Huh!? Y-Yeah, thanks…”

For some reason, she suddenly handed me a bottle of tea, leaving me bewildered.

Why now… Right after that scary face, I couldn’t help suspecting there was something in this tea.

“It’s okay; I didn’t put any weird drugs in it. See, that bottle hasn’t been opened, right?”

“Yeah, true… My throat was dry anyway, so I’ll gratefully have some.”

I twisted off the cap and gulped down the tea.

“…Ryoma-kun… I like you.”

“Pffft!?!?!?”

I had suspected as much from her feelings and actions so far, but she was saying it now!?

Why go out of her way to hand me tea and confess while I was in the middle of drinking? It was like a cliché—I ended up spraying it everywhere. On purpose?

“Uh, um, K-Kaede-chan… Er…”

This was the first time a girl had confessed to me in my life. With Unma, it hadn’t been a clear confession from either side; we started as friends, and things naturally progressed until we were dating.

I was totally flustered and panicking. No matter how you looked at it, my response was embarrassingly clumsy.

“It’s okay, calm down, Ryoma-kun. I’m not asking you to go out with me or anything.”

“Ah, right…!”

My heart was going wild, so I took another sip of tea to settle it a bit.

“I know full well right now that you don’t like me back.

When we first met, I was just a kid, and now I’m keeping you as a pet. That means you can’t see me as a romantic interest.

We’re in a pet-and-owner relationship for now, but someday, I’ll definitely make you fall for me. Until then, just stay as my pet.”

“…Kaede-chan…”

“…Ryoma-kun, give me a sip of that tea.”

“Huh, don’t you have your own?”

“I want that one.”

Kaede-chan drank from the tea bottle I had been using.

A cute girl looked so erotic even when she drank something… Especially her lips; my gaze fixed there, and my heart kept racing.

…Wait, could this be an indirect…

“Hee hee, I just did an indirect kiss with you, Ryoma-kun.”

She directed a seductive smile at me, along with an upward gaze full of moist, heated intensity.

“Sorry, to be honest, I made you drink that tea because I wanted an indirect kiss with you.”

“…!”

Kaede-chan’s eyes stared at me so directly that I blushed furiously.

A gentle breeze blew. Kaede-chan’s soft, flowing long hair swayed lightly. Even as she tucked it behind her ear, the beautiful determination in her eyes never wavered. The contrast of her swaying hair and unwavering gaze was stunningly beautiful. Utterly picturesque. I wanted to capture this moment in a painting forever.

Time seemed to stop as she utterly captivated me. Even afterward, that expression of Kaede-chan’s lingered in my mind, refusing to fade.