A Woman Who Keeps Her Promise

“Shall we eat here?” 

Mari said as she pointed to a small two-seater table against the wall.

Let me say that again: a small two-seater table… against the wall.

“Hey, Mari.”

“Yes, Sei-kun?”

“Don’t you think there won’t be any room for DT when he arrives?”

“…Oh.”

Stop it. That “Oops, I totally forgot” reaction is making me feel even worse for DT than if you’d done it on purpose.

“Anyway, let’s sit over here to eat.”

“Okay!”

I guided Mari to a four-seater table instead of the two-seater and took a seat. Mari quickly settled into the chair right next to me.

Still, being with Mari really draws a lot of attention. 

I could feel the stares from all around, making me want to shrink into my seat. When I confessed to her, I didn’t really have time to think about all of this, but now that I do, the pressure is pretty intense. 

Knowing that Mari is way out of my league only makes the weight of it all the more palpable.

But if I’m going to continue dating Mari, I need to brace myself to handle this pressure and make sure no one sees me as someone who doesn’t deserve to be with her.

With that thought in mind, I turned to Mari and asked her something that had been on my mind.

“So, I’ve been meaning to ask for a while… Mari, why are you so uncomfortable around guys?” 

Mari pressed her finger to her lips, thinking for a moment before replying, 

“Well… it’s just that they feel kind of… dirty, I guess? I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s like, something about them just doesn’t sit right with me on a biological level.”

“Ugh…” 

That was a pretty harsh answer.

If her fans across the country heard those words, I think they’d take an emotional hit they might never recover from. 

Even though I know she wasn’t talking about me specifically, I still felt a tight knot in my stomach. “Biologically impossible” is one of those phrases that’s hard to argue with… it’s not something you can reason away, and when it’s not just about a specific person but “all men,” it’s a pretty serious issue.

Honestly, I’d like Mari (my girlfriend) and DT (my best friend) to at least get along well enough not to be at each other’s throats, but that seems like a pretty tall order right now.

Seeing my reaction, Mari quickly waved her hands in front of her, trying to explain. “No, no, that’s not what I meant!”

“Mari didn’t mean that DT is gross or smelly or dirty, or anything like that. It’s just that… all guys feel that way to me! It’s not DT’s fault, and I don’t hate him or anything just because he’s your friend, Sei-kun, but… being around any guy other than you just makes my skin crawl—”

“Stop! Stop right there, Mari! Just, stop!”

“Uh? …Oh.”

It was too late. DT had already walked up to us, carrying his tray, just in time to hear Mari’s words—words that cut deeper the more she tried to explain. 

Holding his tray with today’s B set meal (a tonkatsu set), DT stood there, his face reflecting a damage level beyond repair. His mouth hung open, a dazed look in his eyes, as he mumbled, 

“Abyah… abababya… smelly… dirty… ababababababa…”

“Hey! DT, are you okay? Snap out of it! DT!”

“U… uh… Sei…mu? I’m leaving… my virginity… to you…” 

I shook DT’s shoulders, trying to bring him back, but it was no use. He muttered those final words before going limp in my arms, his consciousness slipping away.

But… sorry, DT… I’m not exactly pure anymore… Also, even while passing out, you still refuse to let go of your tray, huh?

“Um… is he okay? I’m really sorry…” 

Mari’s voice trembled with guilt as she timidly spoke from behind me.

Well, yeah, her words might’ve been harsh, but this whole situation started because I asked her that question in the first place. We’ll need to apologize to DT together later on.

“Wh-What just happened…? It feels like my chest was sliced apart by some incredibly sharp blades…”

“Uh… yeah, about that…”

It seems DT was so shocked that he lost all memory of what just occurred. Telling him that he passed out after hearing Mari’s extreme comments about her aversion to men would probably just reopen the wound. But on the other hand, not saying anything at all felt wrong too.

Mari and I exchanged glances and then, in unison, bowed our heads to DT.

“We’re really sorry.”

“Huh? No, seriously, what for?”

“We can’t tell you the reason, but we’re really, really sorry.”

“Hey, hey, stop apologizing! I don’t even know what’s going on—what happened?”

“Sorry, DT. I can’t tell you why, but we just have to apologize. Please, just accept it. We’re really sorry!”

“Uh, okay… well, I guess it’s fine then…”

As I practically grovelled before him, DT responded, albeit a bit taken aback, telling me it was okay.

With that in mind, I carefully took the tray from DT’s stiff hands and placed it on the table. 

After pulling out a chair and setting him down in it, he suddenly gasped and came back to his senses.

“Seriously, you two, lift your heads already. I don’t know what’s going on, but let’s just eat!”

“Ah, yeah… you’re right.”

DT, with his usual carefree attitude, smoothly changes the subject. This is one of the things I really appreciate about him. He never holds grudges, quickly forgets unpleasant things, and always knows how to read the room. Plus, he’s good-looking and a top student. So… why is this guy still a virgin?

As I pondered this, I reached for the bento that Mari had given me.

“Alright, time to dig in.”

“Yeah! I worked really hard on this, just for you, Sei-kun.”

Opening the bento, I was immediately impressed by how much effort Mari had put into it. There were fried oysters, shrimp fritters, simmered beans, a stew of daikon, tuna, and chicken, and a spinach and leek salad—everything looked absolutely delicious. 

“Wow, this looks amazing!”

I couldn’t help but express my admiration, and even DT, sitting across from me, let out an appreciative “Whoa.”

“But, seriously, oysters and seafood… These are pretty expensive ingredients, right? Is it really okay for me to have such a fancy bento for free?”

“No worries! I make plenty of money, after all! V for victory!”

Mari said this with a proud grin, flashing a V-sign with her fingers in my direction.

And then…

“Oysters and shrimp are rich in zinc, which is a precursor to testosterone, making them great for improving erectile function!”

“…Huh? Wait, what?”

“Tuna is packed with protein and vitamin D, and chicken is known to enhance blood circulation—both are ingredients that can help improve s*xual function!”

“Oh, uh… okay…”

“Sesame seeds are loaded with essential amino acids, and sesamin is a powerful antioxidant, which helps maintain the quality of sp*rm. Plus, garlic is great for fatigue recovery, and spinach is full of magnesium, which helps to dilate blood vessels—”

“Ah, yeah… I see…”

As Mari enthusiastically explained the nutritional benefits of the bento, I found myself at a loss for words.

…Is she only looking at the nutrients? Her thought process seems more like that of a bodybuilder or an athlete. While I appreciate her concern for my health, isn’t she a bit too specialized in her focus?

As I listened to Mari’s detailed explanations, feeling somewhat overwhelmed, she suddenly exclaimed, “Oh, right!” and pulled out a pill case.

Inside were some suspicious-looking tablets.

As I looked at her with a questioning gaze, Mari flashed a bright smile and said,

“It’s a maca and ginseng supplement! Take it after your meal, okay?”

“Uh, can I ask why exactly I’m supposed to take that?” I hesitantly inquired.

“Oh, that’s obvious,” she replied, leaning in close to my ear, whispering softly so only I could hear.

“I promised to make your ××××× as strong as a muscle-bound macho man, didn’t I? ♡”

…In that moment, I realized just how dangerous it can be to throw words around carelessly.

Oh, and by the way, Mari’s bento was absolutely delicious.