◆
"Hey, Akky. To turn the question around, is there nothing going on between you two?"
"Huh? Where is this coming from all of a sudden?"
During the break between classes, Neika suddenly blurted that out.
'You two.' She probably meant me and Riran.
By 'something happened'... it didn't feel like she knew about what happened at the park, so what exactly did she want to hear?
As I tilted my head in confusion, Ryuya chimed in as well.
"That's right, Akito. Leaving me and Nei aside, how have things been between you guys since then?"
...Ah, I see. I did reveal back then that we were connected by a Dark Scarlet 'Red Thread of Fate.'
These guys wanted to know what happened between me and Riran after that.
"...Don't tell anyone. And don't make a scene."
"Okey-dokey."
"It'd be a problem if you underestimated how tight-lipped we are, ZE☆"
I'm worried precisely because I know how loose your lips are better than anyone.
When I glared at them with judgey eyes, they both quietly averted their gaze. These guys definitely intended to make a scene. I'm gonna punch them.
Sighing, I sent them a message telling them that we had started dating after that. I didn't know who might be listening, so it was just a precaution.
"! I see... I see, so it finally happened!"
"Akky, congratulations. Let's go on a double date sometime."
"Oh. Nei, nice idea."
"Hehe. Even I want to experience a piece of youth or two."
A double date... a date, huh.
Now that I was conscious of it... I-I started to feel kind of embarrassed.
Out of the corner of my eye, I looked at Riran, who was talking to Ryuguin by the window.
Whether Riran noticed my gaze or not, she hurriedly hid behind Ryuguin. Eh, is that girl really Kuonji Riran? Where did the prickly Riran go?
Then, *ping*. My phone rang.
Riran: Don't look over here, I'll get mad.
Riran: (Stamp of a growling dog)
Ah, she's the same as always.
But right now, even that prickly side of her looks cute.
So this is the magic of love... how terrifying.
While I was feeling a sense of relief and a protective instinct toward the usual Riran, Ryuya prefaced his next words with, "Anyway."
"It's been three long years of watching over you two. This is worth celebrating."
"That girl made it so obvious how much she liked Akky. It's actually a mystery why Akky didn't notice until now."
"Can't be helped. He didn't even notice the affection from Anrakuji, who was always clinging to him."
"Ah—that's true too.‐"
...Hm?
"Wait. You mean... me? You're saying I didn't notice? Does that mean you guys knew?"
"Duh. Well, rather than just us, everyone from the same middle school knew."
"Beyond just our grade, your 'married couple' vibes were a hot topic. Even Anrakuji knew."
FOR REAL?
Could it be that the only one who didn't notice was me?
Because I took Riran's prickly remarks at face value, I couldn't notice, is that it?
But, isn't it unavoidable? No one would think that the hostility directed at them was actually a reversal of affection.
Well, saying things like that is probably why I can't pick up on people's feelings... There's no room for me to argue even if I'm called dense.
Did Noa-chan confess to me even while knowing Riran's feelings? I'm starting to feel kind of bad about it.
...No, feeling bad itself is disrespectful to Noa. I need to move on.
"Ah, I'm reminding you again, don't tell anyone about this."
"Why? It wouldn't be a problem even if we did, right?"
"Would you guys feel good about having your business broadcasted everywhere?"
"We wouldn't mind at all. Right?"
"Yep, yep. If anything, I want to stand out."
""Right—""
"I was a fool for seeking empathy from you two."
I shouldn't compare these two to the sensibilities of ordinary people.
I felt that once again.
◆
Time passed, and it became lunch break.
I declined Ryuya and Neika's company and hurried toward the top of the stairs.
Riran was already gone from the classroom. I think this every time, but even though she's not athletic, she's surprisingly fast at times like this.
When I climbed the stairs, Riran was waiting for me, having spread out a pink plastic sheet.
"Ah, you're finally here. Here, sit down."
"...What's this?"
"Can't you tell by looking? ...It's, it's lunch."
"...Lunch?"
Riran, who was fidgeting embarrassedly, took out a bundle she had been hiding behind her back.
The size was clearly different from the lunch box placed in front of her. It was for a man... in other words.
"...Eh, mine!?"
"W-What, you don't want it!?"
"N-No, that's not it..."
I accepted the bundle from Riran.
It was a considerably large lunch box, clearly considering the stomach of a growing high school boy.
Riran made this for me...
"...I thought 'girlfriend's lunch' events only happened in the 2D world."
"It's reality. Accept it."
"Yeah. I'll gratefully receive it."
I sat on the plastic sheet and opened the lunch box.
Inside, karaage, hamburger steak, tamagoyaki, mini tomatoes, and broccoli were lined up, and inari sushi was also packed inside.
"These are all my favorite things..."
"Of course they are. Because I've been wat... N-Never mind!"
"O-Oh?"
I don't quite get it, but... anyway, thanks for the food.
"—So good! This karaage is seasoned exactly how I like it, even though it's cold!"
"Fufun. You can praise me more, you know."
Yeah. This is a deliciousness that makes me want to praise her over and over again.
Riran is incredibly good at cooking.
"(Phew... thank goodness.)"
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"I-It's nothing!"
Hmm? ...Well, whatever. It's delicious, delicious.
This hamburger steak is tasty too, and the tamagoyaki has the sweet seasoning I like.
Furthermore, the inari sushi isn't just gomoku-gohan; some are mixed with sour plum pulp. It's a design that doesn't let me get bored... Didn't this take a considerable amount of time to prepare?
As I was staring blankly at Riran, she glared at me with judgey eyes.
"What?"
"No... thanks."
"...You're welcome. Hmph."
Riran turned away with her cheeks flushed.
Even though she's become a bit more honest, it might still take time for her to be honest from the bottom of her heart.
Well, I'll wait forever.
After all, I'm her boyfriend.