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

Chapter 43: Mushroom

“Welcome. May I take your order?”

“So this is the café Andou-kun recommended.”

“Yeah.”

(Well, technically it’s my sister’s recommendation… but there’s a saying that what’s my sister’s is mine and what’s mine is my sister’s, so it counts as my recommendation, right?)

“Let’s see, what do we have here… Asakura-san, this café is known for its seasonal pasta. Right now they have a limited-time three-color pasta special, so I recommend that.” ←monotone

(Good, I managed to read my sister’s cue card pretty naturally)

“Limited-time, you say! That sounds wonderful!”

“Yes! Just as your boyfriend said, we’re currently offering our limited-time three-color pasta! During lunch hours we have a special set that includes your choice of ‘Green Carbonara,’ ‘White Carbonara,’ or ‘Red Carbonara’ with a drink!”

“Oh…”

“B-boy…!”

(Oh crap, this waitress just had to mistake me and Asakura-san for a couple… Come on, look properly. There’s no way a gloomy loner like me and the super beautiful Asakura-san could be a couple, right? See, Asakura-san is so embarrassed about being mistaken for a couple with someone like me that her face is bright red…)

(B-boyfriend, she said! So from this waitress’s perspective, we look like a c-c-couple?! C-calm down, me! I’m a capable woman… yes, a capable woman! If I get flustered by the waitress’s words, Andou-kun will figure out my feelings. I need to respond normally without getting upset…)

“Hy-hyaa! Um, I’ll have the G-Gyureen Carbonara please!”

“A-Asakura-san, calm down… I know you’re flustered because the waitress mistook us for a couple, but you’re panicking too much.”

“Wh-whaaat?! Andou-kun, what are you saying?! I-I’m not flustered at all! I’m not embarrassed about being mistaken for a couple with you, I’m just excited because this pasta looks delicious!”

“Oh, is that so? Sorry, I thought Asakura-san was embarrassed…”

“N-not at all! I wouldn’t get embarrassed just from being mistaken for Andou-kun’s girlfriend!”

“…H-have you decided on your order?”

(Ugh… what’s with this stupid couple? Stop showing off. I just got dumped by my boyfriend yesterday. Just order already and go explode!)

“Ah, sorry! Um… I’ll have the ‘Green Carbonara’ with iced tea set!”

“Then I’ll have the ‘Red Carbonara’ with black iced coffee.”

“Certainly.”

(Andou-kun can drink coffee. And black coffee… that’s so cool!)

(Crap… Does ordering black coffee make me look like I’m trying too hard? What if Asakura-san thinks I’m doing the ‘Look how cool I am drinking black coffee’ thing? That would be too cringey. I only order black coffee because I’m too lazy to add syrup and stuff… Plus, my hands get all sticky afterwards)

“…………”

(I need to say something…) (Andou and Asakura)

“”Um, so—””

(We harmonized again?!) (Andou and Asakura)

“Wh-what is it, Andou-kun?”

“No, no, you first, Asakura-san…”

“No, no, you go ahead, Andou-kun…”

“…………”

“”W-well then—””

(We did it again?!) (Andou and Asakura)

“…………”

(What are these idiots doing… Tch)

“Here’s your order~” smile

“A-Andou-kun! The pasta’s here! Let’s eat!”

“Y-yeah! You’re right, Asakura-san! I’m starving too!”

“”Itadakimasu!””

“…………”

(We harmonized again… so embarrassing) (Andou and Asakura)

“Oh, wait…”

“Hm? What’s wrong, Asakura-san?”

“Well, it’s just… I didn’t notice when I ordered, but this pasta has mushrooms in it…”

“Oh, do you dislike mushrooms, Asakura-san?”

“…Is that bad?”

“Pfft!”

“Hey! Why are you suddenly laughing?! Is it that funny that I don’t like mushrooms?!”

“No… sorry. But…”

(It’s just that Asakura-san seems disappointing sometimes, but usually she has this ‘beauty’ image, yet there are moments like this where I think she’s ‘cute’… Not that I could ever say that!)

“But what?”

“N-nothing! Oh, I know. As an apology for laughing, I’ll eat your mushrooms.”

“H-hmph! You think you can improve my mood with just that… Well.” grin

(Fufufu, I just had a great idea!)

“Eh, Asakura…san?”

“Yes, I’ll let you eat these mushrooms, Andou-kun…” smile

(I have a really bad feeling about Asakura-san’s smile)

“Here, Andou-kun, say ‘ahh’…?”

“Wha!”

(The ‘ahh’ feeding returns?!)

(Gufufu… this is my chance to get intimate with Andou-kun using the mushrooms as an excuse! Actually, the Class Rep gave me an assignment for today’s date yesterday: ‘Asakura-san, during tomorrow’s date, you must actively approach Andou-kun whenever there’s an opening!’)

“What’s wrong, Andou-kun? Won’t you eat my mushroom…?”

“Ugh!”

(A-Asakura-san! That sad expression with those words is unfair! B-but… doing ‘ahh’ outside of school… Damn it!)

“A-ahhh…”

“H-how is it? Is my mushroom… delicious?”

“Y-yeah… it’s delicious.”

“…………”

(Tch, just explode already)

“…Welcome!!!!”

[Bonus SS] What If: “What if Asakura-san was a boy?”

“Good morning, Andou-kun.”

(The school’s most famous handsome guy, ‘Asakura,’ is talking to me at the next seat… He’s probably treating me, a loner, equally as part of being the class’s popular guy. Yes, yes, as expected of the school’s top handsome guy. Not just his face, but his heart is handsome too… Yeah, he’s so handsome it’s kind of annoying, so I’ll just ignore him)

“…………”

“Ignoring me?! A-Andou-kun? We’re classmates, so you could at least return my greeting, couldn’t you?”

“Eh… no, how could a mere loner like me greet someone of Asakura-kun’s caliber, the ‘King of Normies (lol)’ of this class… That’s impossible.”

“What’s ‘King of Normies’?! And weren’t you subtly dissing me just now?!”

“No way www That would be presumptuous www Lord Asakura the Normie King (lol)”

“You’re clearly mocking me!”

(Tch! Obviously! Why the hell does a normie like you talk to a loner like me every day anyway?!)

(Hmm, why does Andou-kun always act so cold toward me… I just want to be friends with Andou-kun and talk about light novels…)

“Well, I’m going to the toilet until the teacher comes—” plop ← sound of ginkgo nut falling from desk

“Ah! Andou-kun, your ginkgo nut fell on the floor.”

“Oh, sorry…”

“No, no, I’ll get it—”