I Thought It Was a World Where Chastity Norms Were Reversed, But It Turns Out I Was Just Surrounded by the Overly Intense Girls in My Class - Chapter 17.2: A Girl’s Home Cooking and Chastity

Chapter 17.2: A Girl’s Home Cooking and Chastity

Her ears turned bright red, and after glancing around nervously she whispered,

“May I talk to Mother again?”

“About what?”

“I just really need to talk to her!”

“So about what?”

“Nothing! …D-don’t make me say it.”

I didn’t really get it, but she seemed happy.
I was curious what she wanted to ask, but it was probably nothing good.

I kept eating. The salmon was perfect with rice, the octopus sausages were fun to chew, and while I was enjoying the meal, Yukimi suddenly spoke up again.

“Tatsuya-san, I have something important to say!”

“Important? Wait, is it finally about the necktie?”

“—It’s about this Saturday!”

“Necktie?”

“Saturday!”

She wouldn’t even let me say the word “necktie” and leaned forward, talking over me.

Saturday, huh. Is there some big event?

“Oh yeah, there’s the title match.”

This one’s getting a lot of attention.
The challenger is that guy everyone’s calling the “next Meijin”—

“—That’s not it!”

Yukimi leaned in so close our noses almost touched, eyes glistening as she shouted,

“Do you have time on Saturday?”

“Yeah, I do…”

Other than watching the title match, I don’t really have plans.

I said that, but for some reason Yukimi froze, her face crimson.

After a long silence, she took a deep breath, steeled herself, and opened her mouth.

“Then please come to my ho—”

“Found you!”

Right as Yukimi was about to finish her sentence, the door slid open with a bang.

Kagurazaka Kana burst in, out of breath, cheeks slightly flushed from running.

She marched straight over holding a melon pan she must have bought at the school store, slipped between us in an instant, and looked at me with worried eyes.

“Baba-chi, you okay? Yukimi-chi didn’t do anything weird to you, right?”

“What do you mean by weird!”

“You know exactly what I mean.”

Yukimi raised her voice in protest at Kana’s words.
As always, the two of them really don’t get along.

“Don’t pin strange accusations on me. I haven’t done anything.”

“Then what’s with that bento? You’re totally trying to grab his stomach.”

Kana glared at the bento spread out on the tatami and openly pouted.

“What’s wrong with trying to grab his stomach? If you’re jealous, Kagurazaka-san, why don’t you make one too? I’m so happy… Tatsuya-san said it was delicious…”

She murmured with a dreamy look on her face.

Seeing that expression, Kana bit her lip in frustration, then whipped around and glared at me fiercely.

“Baba-chi, open your mouth.”

“Huh?”

“Just do it, quick.”

She tore open the melon pan bag and forcibly shoved it toward my mouth.

She was obviously trying to one-up Yukimi, but come on—that’s not even in the same category. A melon pan is definitely out of bounds.

I won’t say for what, but it felt definitely wrong.
Yet once Kana gets fired up, there’s no stopping her.

“Mngh—”

The melon pan was forced in, and I nearly choked. I had to swallow it somehow.

If I spat it out, things would get ugly fast.

“How is it, Baba-chi?”

“…It’s good.”

I forced down the mouthful and answered. Kana broke into a triumphant grin.

“Now we’re even!”

“A homemade lunch and a store-bought melon pan are not even remotely the same! I completely object!”

Yukimi had a point. Comparing the two really wasn’t fair to her.

“But melon pan is seriously good.”

Kana had a point too. Especially the kind made with plain sugar and no actual melon juice—my favorite.

“That’s not the issue! What matters is whether it’s homemade! If you want to compete, bring a homemade melon pan.”

Yukimi was absolutely right.
The only way to fight homemade is with homemade.

“That’s a bit harsh. I have no idea how to make melon pan.”

Kana was right too. I’ve seen bread machines for sandwich bread at home, but never for melon pan.

“—Tatsuya-san.”

“—Baba-chi.”

I was just nodding along to both of them when suddenly they both stared at me.

“What?”

“Stop nodding vaguely and tell us clearly. Between my bento and the melon pan, which one did Tatsuya-san like better?”

“…Do I really have to answer that?”

When I asked, Yukimi nodded firmly.
Meanwhile, Kana was sneaking bites from Yukimi’s bento when she thought no one was looking.

This was bad…

“Both were good, but today I think I liked this one more.”

I said that and popped another piece of tamagoyaki from Yukimi’s bento into my mouth.

“Delicious.”

Why does someone else’s home cooking always taste so amazing?

※

After the noisy lunch ended and things finally calmed down,

“About the necktie…”

Yukimi spoke softly while putting the bento boxes away.

When I looked over, she had an awkward, almost guilty expression and kept glancing away. Definitely not good news.

“You’re finally giving it back?”

Half hoping, I asked,

“I’m terribly sorry, but…”

She touched her own necktie and said,

“May I have it dry-cleaned first?”

“Dry-cleaned? Why?”

“I just have to!”

“I really don’t mind if you give it back as is.”

“…No.”

“I’d actually prefer it back today even if it’s dirty.”

I have no idea what Big Sis will do to me. I’d take it covered in mud—just give it back.
That’s what I thought, but…

“…No. …That would hurt a maiden’s pride.”

Seeing her face turn scarlet and her eyes grow teary, I just couldn’t bring myself to demand it back forcefully.

“Fine. Then after it’s cleaned.”

“…Yes. I’ll make sure it comes back spotless.”

At least I’d get it eventually. The cleaning would take time, but I could probably beg Big Sis on my knees for forgiveness.

She’ll forgive me… right?

“Oh no, Tatsuya-kun broke his promise to Big Sis. Looks like you need punishment.”

That night, needless to say, Big Sis stormed into my room in a rage because the necktie hadn’t come back.

Well, my chastity was definitely in danger, but at least I wasn’t locked up. So I’m safe.
…Am I safe?