Why Is the Prettiest Girl in School Trying to Talk to a Loner Like Me during Lunch Break?

Chapter 101: Swearing on Rice

【No Rice, No Life: The Movie】

Ratta-tat-tat~~♪

“Hey hey~~ Out of the way! The Fried Rice Combo Set is coming through!”

“Who wants delicious cuisine made with premium rice!?”

“Hyahaha! All you bread faction scum can go eat cake!”

“Hiii! Mommy… the rice is bursting with flavor in my mouth~…”

“Nooo! I’m defecting from the bread faction to the rice faction!”

“Curse you! Those rice faction rebels! Once again they’ve produced such delicious-look—no! Such appetizing-look—that’s not right either! Such diabolical cuisine! How dare they defy the Church’s sacred doctrine: ‘Bread is the path, rice shall never cross thy lips’!?”

“Big brother… Kuro’s hungry… I-I want rice…”

“Damn it all! My little sister Kuro is starving, yet we have no ‘rice’! She’ll die of hunger at this rate!”

“Bwahaha! It appears the rice faction has reached its end! I’ve devoured every last grain of your beloved rice! Burp… pardon me…”

“Ohohoho! If you have no rice, then why not eat bread? Look here… we have such an abundance of delectable bread!”

【BREAD】 Fresh and warm~♪

“Don’t mess with us! My sister has a ‘wheat allergy’! If she eats bread in her condition…”

“Daichi-san, please try this! We’ve created this for you siblings—the future where bread and rice unite as one!”

“Th-this is…”

“Big brother, could this be…”

“Yes!”

“”Rice flour bread!””

Chomp

“Big brother… a-allergyyyyy reactiooooon!”

“K-Kurooooo!”

“I-impossible!? The rice starch has overwritten the wheat flour’s properties!?”

“This is… a revolutionary culinary innovation! If we must name it, surely ‘The Last Supper’!”

“Just who do you think we are…”

“Kuro and her brother are two halves of one whole.”

“I, Daichi the farmer, and my sister Kuro have devoted our entire lives to one pursuit—creating the most delicious rice…”

“”That’s right, in ‘Gunma Prefecture’!””

“Damn you! I-I cannot acknowledge… that bread this exquisite could be made from ‘rice’…”

“”So long as we ‘People of Gunma’ draw breath, the word ‘inferior’ shall never touch ‘rice’!””

“What in blazes is Gunmaaaaa!?”

“”Now then, let us partake of rice! By rice we swear—buon appetito!””

【THE END】

—

“That was quite entertaining! Don’t you think, Asakura-san?”

“I completely agree, Andou-kun!”

“Asakura-san, would you like to visit the bookstore in this shopping center?”

“That sounds lovely. It’s been far too long since we’ve perused Narou works together at a bookstore.”

Bookstore Bungo-do

“Ah! Asakura-san, look at this! Dobashi Shinzaburou-sensei has released a new book!”

“Isn’t that the author you’re particularly fond of, Andou-kun?”

“Exactly! This author excels at depicting human psychology—their works are consistently fascinating, though they rarely publish new material. I had no idea a new release was available… This is definitely going home with me!”

“Ufufu, you’re positively glowing, Andou-kun. Since we’re here, perhaps I should purchase something as well?”

(…Ordinarily, Asakura-san and I would browse and purchase books independently, but—today is our ‘date,’ so that simply won’t suffice.)

“Asakura-san, if you’d allow me, I’d like to buy you any light novel of your choosing as a gift for today’s date.”

“Truly? Are you certain, Andou-kun!?”

“Of course. I am your ‘boyfriend,’ after all. I want to give you something precisely because I’m your ‘boyfriend.'”

(A-Andou-kyun! Today’s Andou-kun is somehow different! Regular Andou-kun is already wonderfully handsome and cool as a boyfriend, but today he’s somehow… more genuinely ‘boyfriend-like,’ and I feel as though I’m truly being treated as his ‘girlfriend’ for the first time!)

‘I want to give you a present as your boyfriend’ ← Andou-kun from an objective viewpoint

‘Je t’aime… Señorita! I~ love~ you~~ Amore! Magnifico! Bellissimo! A gift fooooor youuuu~~!’ ← Andou-kun through Asakura-san’s filter

↑

*This romantic filter has been applied.

“W-well then… I’ll gratefully accept your offer. However, I’d like you to choose a light novel you recommend, Andou-kun♪”

“Oh, putting me on the spot… Very well, I understand! Please wait a moment while I find something suitable?”

“Of course!”

(Ufufu, I wonder what sort of book Andou-kun will select for me♪)

(Let’s see, a light novel recommendation for Asakura-san… Though I’ve already suggested quite a few this summer vacation, so my repertoire is running thin. Perhaps I should explore general literature or non-fiction? These days, Narou works are published beyond light novel labels—as general books and business texts… Oh, here’s that trending title published as a ‘business book’! This could work—)

‘【Otherworld Nu-Bra Corporation】 Goodness… My “breasts” are way too enhanced!?’

(…Absolutely not. Recommending this would be signing my death warrant… Technically, it’s a Narou business book set in a world lacking nu-bras that explains marketing theory through ‘product development and sales strategies,’ but… somehow I’m certain that showing this to Asakura-san would instantly terminate our date…)

“Asakura-san, what do you think of this one?”

“Let me see… ‘It Should Have Been Impossible for You to Eat Carp.’ This seems more like literary fiction than a light novel. What’s the story about, Andou-kun?”

“Well, it follows a protagonist who nearly choked to death on carp as a child. To overcome that trauma, he receives help from a heroine who’s training as a chef, learning to eat carp again. While it might appear comedic initially, the narrative is surprisingly serious. As you progress, mysteries emerge—why must the protagonist eat carp? Where did the heroine master carp cuisine? Everything culminates in a dramatic revelation!”

“How intriguing… I don’t fully grasp it, but it sounds absolutely fascinating!”

“I highly recommend it. The carp dishes described are mouth-watering. Particularly the ‘Thick Love-Carp Sauté’—”

Grummmble~~♪ ← Someone’s stomach protesting

“……”

(That sound… Of course, we haven’t eaten since before the movie.)

(Oh no… my stomach rumbled because Andou-kun described such appetizing food! How mortifying!)

“A-Andou-kun! That’s not what it seems!? That wasn’t my stomach—rather… yes! My phone’s ringtone! Oh dear~? Who could possibly be calling during my precious date with Andou-kun? Ah! It’s Momo! Something about her diet struggling, just her typical complaints!”

(Ph-phew… surely that covered my stomach’s betrayal!?)

(That absolutely originated from Asakura-san’s stomach… Moreover…)

“Er, Asakura-san. Is Momoi-san dieting?”

“Indeed she is. Though calling it a diet is generous—it’s more akin to a hobby or affliction. Momo actually consumes quite substantial portions, you see? So periodically she declares ‘Waaah! Sakura~ I’ve gained weight again… That’s it, I’ve decided! I’m dieting until I return to my original weight!’ She makes these proclamations cyclically—”

(Oh dear… this is precisely the topic Momo most desperately wants kept secret. I’ve accidentally revealed it while covering my stomach… Still, Andou-kun lacks anyone to gossip with, so it should be fine, shouldn’t it?)

“—anyway… ahaha.”

“How unexpected.”

(This clearly falls into the category of information I shouldn’t possess… I’ll ensure this never reaches other ears. Unexpectedly acquired leverage against Momoi-san!)

“Incidentally, Asakura-san. This bears absolutely no relation to that ringtone earlier, but might you be hungry?”

“Y-yes!? I-I mean, this likewise has no connection to that ringtone, but coincidentally I was growing peckish. Ohoho~”

“Perfect timing then. Shall we find somewhere to dine?”

“Yes! Let’s do precisely that, Andou-kun.”

“By the way, Asakura-san, would you prefer ‘bread’ or ‘rice’?”

“!?”

(Th-that’s a line from today’s film! In that case, my response is clear!)

“Let me consider… Ufu, naturally I must choose ‘rice,’ mustn’t I?”

(That’s my Asakura-san! I knew she’d understand. Sharing these ‘light novel’ references truly is enjoyable…)

“Exactly right! Asakura-san.”

“Indeed! Andou-kun.”

“”Now then, let us partake of rice! By rice we swear—buon appetito!””