When I Picked Up A Stunningly Gorgeous Downer-Type Beauty In Front Of The Entrance. - Chapter 13: Eating handmade bento together during lunch break.

Eating handmade bento together during lunch break.

The lunch break arrived after a somewhat frivolous but somehow typical high school class.

Surely, it’s going to be a barrage of questions. Sigh.

While the morning was navigated with the help of the bell and the teacher, lunch break was a different story. One hour. A precise round of the clock. Ample time for them to feast on the bait called curiosity.

Whether I could provide topics to satisfy their curiosity was uncertain.

However, unexpectedly, they didn’t come barging in eagerly.

What stopped the restless onlookers, dangling their metaphorical carrots, was Sajou-san.

As soon as the bell rang, she nudged the side of my desk.

Faster than the girls with sharp eyes and the English teacher declaring the end. And faster than me tidying up the textbooks and notebooks on my desk.

…No, too fast? Almost like she was jumping the gun.

Was the reason for the sweat trickling down my cheek out of disbelief or awe?

Before I could discern, on mine and Sajou-san’s desks lay black and white drawstring pouches side by side.

Naturally, the contents were lunch boxes.

Unlike when they were just delivered, eating together with Sajou-san next to me felt strange, like warmth gathering behind my neck, bewildering.

“Ah, thank you…”

“Don’t mention it.”

The thanks were returned in a cool tone.

Just listening to her, it sounded like she wasn’t interested at all, but as soon as lunch break started, she began unpacking the Bentou. Wasn’t she secretly looking forward to it?

There was no evidence. But it would be nice if it were true, and her actions were more transparent than they seemed.

Whether she knew my thoughts or not, she folded her hands with a composed expression and said “Let’s eat.” Polite. Before, I hadn’t done this before having a meal with Sajou-san.

Since leaving home, or rather, since my family went on a business trip, I hadn’t been doing such greetings. It wasn’t that I became rude, but I couldn’t see the point of doing it alone.

It’s not something I do to seek praise, but there are many things that become bothersome without someone watching. Saying grace before a meal was just one of them.

So, well.

I think this is a good change that came from interacting with Sajou-san.

It’s just bringing the negatives back to zero.

While thinking about such things, I opened the Bentou with a snap.

There was no condensation on the lid. Hmm.

“Thank you for your concern.”

“…Huhhh.”

An indifferent response. A little sad.

It seems you’re supposed to let it cool before closing the lid to prevent condensation.

I heard about it recently; it’s a precaution against food poisoning. When I asked about it, I got that response while looking at the lunchbox left open on the kitchen counter.

To think she’s being mindful of her health. I’m impressed by how quickly she’s growing.

Naturally, the contents were rapidly improving too.

Two small rice ball rolls, tsukune hamburgers, sweetened tamagoyaki, tomatoes, lettuce for color. And perhaps more important than the hamburgers, today’s highlight was the shrimp gratin.

I thought it might be a frozen meal loved by kindergarteners or elementary school kids, but it’s homemade. Surprisingly impressive. Well, close enough.

In the morning, when I saw her preparing the lunch with a pink cup specifically, I was impressed, thinking, “Wow, it’s not frozen.” Her surprised voice, “Huh?” was quite memorable.

What’s with the “Huh?” reaction? That made me go “Huh?” too.

It seems Sajou-san had mistakenly thought that the shrimp gratin, which is commonly seen in lunch boxes, was homemade.

From the grilled octopus to this shrimp gratin, this girl is somehow offbeat. I don’t think that’s a bad thing at all. In fact, it gives me a good impression.

She seemed shocked enough to accidentally drop the tiny shrimp she was trying to pick up with chopsticks.

She was blushing and mumbling excuses, but I don’t remember what she was saying because I was just grinning at how cute she was. Well, getting kicked in the shins with a bit of a tantrum was… well, a necessary consequence, I guess.

Despite feeling her growth, Sajou-san’s unique touch remained in the lunchbox.

It’s been over a month since I started getting these lunches made for me.

Including breakfast and dinner, she’s getting quite the cooking experience.

The tiny shrimp she mentioned earlier is what I pick up with my chopsticks. I feel her growth and her uniqueness as I eat.

“Yeah. It’s delicious.”

When the genuine reaction slipped out of my mouth, Sajou-san’s eyes, resembling darkness, glanced at me.

“You don’t have to say it every time.”

“You should properly express these things.”

I’m just someone who gets a meal made for me every time. I want to at least express my feelings.

Or rather, that’s all I can give in return. Food expenses are a given. Taking it for granted that she makes it for me—no, I didn’t want to be a husband who treats his wife like a housekeeper. Not that I’m her husband, though. Just an example.

So, I spoke my mind as it came to me.

I picked up the sweet tamagoyaki with my chopsticks and smiled.

“I really like the sweet tamagoyaki, just the way I like it.”

“…I didn’t know.”

With a flicker of disinterest, she turned her gaze out the window.

Her attitude speaks volumes, and it just makes me smile involuntarily because it’s so cute.

So far, it’s been a cheerful and slightly nervous first lunchtime together.

Although I haven’t finished everything, unfortunately, it has to come to an end.

Because there’s no way the curious bystanders, waiting eagerly for their turn, would linger forever.

“…Aah! I just can’t take it anymore~!”

With impatience leading the charge, once the first one dashes out, the rest naturally follow, like an avalanche.