When I Was Rejected and Returned Home, My Childhood Friend, Who Should Have Been Distant, Was in My Room

Chapter 17: Lunchtime Once Again

Masamune successfully completed the morning classes, and the time was lunch break. He headed to Shogo’s place empty-handed today.

“It’s rare, you didn’t bring a bento today?” Shogo asked.

“It seems my mom was busy, so she didn’t give me a bento,” Masamune replied.

“I see, so you’re coming with me then…” Shogo said.

Normally, Shogo would have dashed to the school store by now, but today he was warming up his knees with stretches for some reason.

“Sorry to interrupt your cool act, but we’re just going to the store, right? Don’t you need to hurry?” Masamune asked.

“You don’t get it, Masamune. Sure, our school store is usually just like any other school’s store, but! Once a month, today, it transforms…” Shogo explained.

“Enough with the theatrics, just explain quickly,” Masamune urged.

Masamune prompted him to continue, and Shogo explained with a dissatisfied look.

“Today, they sell a special limited-edition bread once a month. The store opens a bit late to avoid a rush, but that means people flood in, so brace yourself,” Shogo said.

“I understand, got it,” Masamune responded.

The explanation was very clear. However, it had to be crowded today of all days. Masamune didn’t care about the limited edition; he just wanted to buy regular bread.

“Well, maybe I’ll just eat at the cafeteria today…” Masamune said.

“Since we’re here, let’s go together? It’ll be fun with two, and you might get beginner’s luck and snag the limited bread!” Shogo suggested.

“Your main reason is definitely the second part…” Masamune muttered.

Honestly, diving into the unknown cafeteria wasn’t appealing, but the worst case was skipping lunch, which he wanted to avoid.

“You don’t need to go to the cafeteria,” a voice said.

“No, I told you I didn’t get a bento today…” Masamune replied.

“I have a bento right here,” the voice offered.

Masamune turned to the voice and saw a silver-haired girl. She thrust a bento box toward him forcefully.

“Uh, um…” Masamune stammered.

“I made a bento for you, Masamune, so let’s eat together?” the girl said.

The silver-haired girl, Manaki, pressed the bento against Masamune’s chest. He reflexively took the bento. Manaki smiled with satisfaction and sat at Shogo’s seat naturally. Masamune, holding the bento, shifted his gaze to Shogo, who was frozen in a stretching pose.

“Sorry, that’s how it is. Good luck with the bread alone,” Masamune said.

Masamune told him, and Shogo continued his warm-up calmly, then stood up smoothly. Despite Masamune’s refusal, Shogo had a gentle expression, as if saying, “Oh well, can’t be helped.”

“Not at all! I’m not jealous or anything!” Shogo exclaimed.

Shogo shouted that and released his pent-up energy, dashing off at incredible speed. Watching Shogo leave the classroom briskly, Manaki tilted her head.

“Is that… what they call tsundere?” Manaki asked.

“Definitely not,” Masamune replied.

If asked what it was, Masamune couldn’t answer. In the end, Masamune, Manaki, and two bentos were left behind. Ignoring Masamune, Manaki sat at a seat and took out chopsticks from her bento box.

Masamune sat facing Manaki, turning his chair backward as usual. The black bento box in front of him was the usual one, but it felt like it had a different aura today. He wasn’t given a bento today, so…

“Manaki, could it be that I didn’t get a bento today because…” Masamune started.

“Yeah, I messaged Maika-san, and she said I could make it,” Manaki explained.

Her explanation felt slightly lacking, but Masamune grasped the context from her words. So, Manaki contacted his mom, got the bento box, and made the bento, which is why he wasn’t given one today.

“This is your handmade bento!?” Masamune exclaimed.

“Uh, I’ve been saying that…” Manaki replied.

The term “handmade bento” was so shocking that Masamune couldn’t process it instinctively. Surprised by his words, Manaki stopped eating and showed an anxious expression.

“If… you don’t like handmade stuff, you don’t have to eat it, really!” Manaki said.

“No way, you made it for me; not eating it is unthinkable. Thanks, Manaki,” Masamune said.

Masamune expressed his gratitude, and Manaki looked away quickly. Had his earlier shock upset her?

Feeling a bit nervous, Masamune opened the bento box slowly. Inside, he saw…

“Wow…!” Masamune gasped.

Tamagoyaki, octopus-shaped sausages, salmon fillets, and mini tomatoes—a classic bento lineup was arranged beautifully.

“Since your food preferences might have changed, I consulted Maika-san, and she said the classics are best, so it ended up like this… It might be boring as a bento…” Manaki said.

“Don’t call it boring! I’m super happy,” Masamune reassured.

“Really?” Manaki asked.

“Yeah, I never even thought someone would make me a bento…” Masamune said.

Especially not Manaki. He had seen his mom make bentos, waking up early and working hard. It was clear Manaki had spent a lot of time on it.

The bento stimulated his sight and smell, and his stomach growled eagerly.

“Hey, can I start eating?” Masamune asked.

“Uh, yeah… go ahead,” Manaki said.

“Alright, what should I eat first?” Masamune wondered.

Everything looked delicious, and though it was bad manners, he hesitated with his chopsticks over the bento.

“By the way, what’s your masterpiece?” Masamune asked.

“Huh? Uh, maybe the tamagoyaki?” Manaki replied.

Manaki was watching his every move closely and flinched when he spoke. Her tone was unusually hesitant and meek.

“Okay, I’ll start with the tamagoyaki,” Masamune said.

The tamagoyaki was a vibrant yellow, glossy, and looked so good it could be sold in a store. Biting it felt wrong, so he ate it in one bite.

He chewed slowly to savor it and swallowed. Manaki watched the entire process intently.

“Yeah, it’s insanely delicious!” Masamune said.

Hearing his first words, Manaki relaxed visibly and exhaled deeply.

“So, it was delicious…” Manaki said.

“Yeah, honestly, it’s crazy good! It could be sold in a store!” Masamune said.

“You’re exaggerating,” Manaki said.

“No, really, I’m not!” Masamune insisted.

To show Manaki, Masamune ate another piece of tamagoyaki and gave a thumbs-up. She sighed in relief again.

“If it was delicious, that’s good,” Manaki said.

“But seriously, this is amazing. It must’ve been tough to make,” Masamune said.

“No, thinking about the person eating it made time fly,” Manaki said.

Manaki said this while eating her rice. Her words felt genuine, with no pretense, making Masamune happy.

“Also, making one portion or two is honestly the same,” Manaki added.

“Even so,” Masamune said.

Manaki’s cool act, which she rarely did, was somehow endearing. With a composed expression, she took a bite of her tamagoyaki.

“This…” Manaki said.

The moment she ate, Manaki showed a look of realization, but Masamune continued eating his bento.

“The octopus sausages and everything are so carefully made…” Masamune said.

“Hey, Masamune,” Manaki said.

Manaki spoke to him hesitantly, but he didn’t respond.

“I’m back!” a voice announced.

At that moment, Shogo returned from the school store.

“Welcome back, did you get the limited bread?” Masamune asked.

“Nope, not at all,” Shogo said.

Shogo shook his head sadly, holding a regular yakisoba bread. Even though it wasn’t limited, securing lunch on a crowded day was impressive. But Shogo didn’t seem to mind and grinned.

“But…” Shogo said.

He stepped aside and looked back. Masamune and Manaki followed his gaze.

“Can I join you?” a voice asked.

Hoshino Ozasa, holding a school store bread like Shogo, said this.