The chime signaling the end of the fourth period rang, and it happened when I opened my bag.
“Ah…”
I couldn't help but let out a voice.
“I forgot my lunch…”
Yuzu is going to be mad at me…
Since both of our parents work, my younger sister Yuzu and I take turns making lunch for the two of us. Today was Yuzu’s turn. (Yuzu is a good girl, so she participates in morning practice for her club early on, meaning she leaves the house even earlier than I do, and it takes me an hour and a half to get to school.)
It couldn't be helped. I’d have to apologize to Yuzu later and eat the lunch for dinner. I’d just buy something at the school cafeteria for lunch today.
I let out a sigh and opened my wallet.
“Eh…”
A second sigh escaped me today.
Incredibly, there was only 60 yen in my wallet. What—how did I plan on surviving today, me…?
This was bad. I was starving. Ah… what should I do…?
I closed my eyes and looked up at the ceiling.
“Konuma-kun?”
Then, from the side, I heard a voice that had a core of strength but was still cute. When I looked over, Ichikawa was looking at me worriedly.
“What’s wrong? You have a face like it’s the end of the world.”
Apparently, I had unconsciously made a ‘Dragon Night’ face—no, I mean, a pathetic face.
“Ah, no, I just forgot my lunch…”
I answered while scratching my cheek.
“Is that so? Then the cafeteria?”
“No, well, I only have 60 yen…”
I couldn't even buy water with that.
“Oh my, that’s tough. Want me to lend you some money?”
“Eh, is that okay!?”
amane-senpai is seriously an angel…!
“Yeah, wait a second…”
The angel said as she opened her wallet, and then she let out an “Ah…”
“…What’s wrong?”
When I asked, Ichikawa-san was smiling with troubled eyebrows.
“Well, I have money, but…”
“But…?”
Ichikawa slowly pulled a single bill out of her wallet.
“It’s a two-thousand-yen note…”
“Seriously!?”
In Ichikawa’s hand was a bill with a novel design that looked like a toy, featuring some kind of gate instead of a person. It was my first time seeing one—what is this? I’d heard rumors, but… I mean, do we even need this kind of bill?
“This probably won't work in the cafeteria’s ticket machine…”
“No, it’s not about whether it physically works or not, I’d just feel bad using it… It’s a rare item, after all…”
“Ahaha, sorry…”
Ichikawa apologized while putting the two-thousand-yen note back into her wallet.
“No, Ichikawa, you didn’t do anything wrong. Happy Millennium…”
“Happy, Millennium…?”
Ichikawa tilted her head. Yeah, I don't really know what I’m saying myself, so it’s okay.
Anyway, first I had to deal with today’s meal.
The only other person in the same class I could think of to borrow money from was…
“I wonder if Erina-san is around…”
As I said that and moved my gaze to look around,
“Ko-Konuma-kun.”
Ichikawa, who was right in front of me, moved her head and did a slide-in right into my field of vision.
“Hm, what is it?”
I mean, you’re close, close, close, close…!
“Um, why don't you eat my lunch?”
“No, I’d feel bad.”
“Actually, there’s something I made for the first time today.”
“Right?” Ichikawa tilted her head slightly.
“Eh, Ichikawa, you make your own lunch?”
“Yeah, I do?”
I see…! Well, to be fair, she does go home in the evening to help with dinner.
Wait, hold on? Then, inside Ichikawa’s lunch is Ichikawa’s home cooking…!
The moment I recognized that obvious fact, the (little) devil inside me reared its head.
‘Takt-kun, you don't get many chances to eat a girl’s home cooking, you know? And it’s Amane-chan’s home cooking! Let’s just dig in!’
As if to oppose it, the angel inside me appeared as well.
‘Konuma-kun, you shouldn't just brush off someone’s kindness, right?’
Alright, it’s a unanimous decision from the ‘me’s’ in my brain.
In front of me, the (physical) Ichikawa was pulling back a bit.
“Konuma-kun, you’re grinning and it’s kind of scary?”
“I’m sorry!”
I apologized quickly.
‘He got scolded! Takt-kun, you’re so uncool!’
‘Konuma-kun, let’s reflect on this, okay?’
The devil and angel inside me were being noisy.
Having said that.
It would be embarrassing to huddled together and pick at a single lunch box in this classroom with everyone around, so we moved to an empty classroom.
Ichikawa sat in a seat by the window, and I turned the chair of the seat in front of her around to sit down.
“Alright, shall we eat!”
“Oh—”
Her response was as steady as ever.
Ichikawa spread her lunch out on the desk.
It was an orthodox style with rice in the bottom tier and side dishes in the top tier.
And there were a few sheets of seasoned seaweed wrapped in plastic wrap.
“But wait, what about the chopsticks? You only have one pair, right? Obviously.”
If we shared, that would be an indirect… you-know-what.
“Now that you mention it, you’re right…”
Ichikawa put her finger to her lips and went “Hmm,” thinking. There it was, Ichikawa’s thinking pose.
A few seconds later.
“I thought of something good.”
The genius, airheaded angel Amane seemed to have come up with something.
C-Could it be… a ‘say ahh’ thing…?
While my heart was racing, Ichikawa took the seaweed out of the plastic wrap and placed it on the lid of the lunch box.
Then, she spread out the wrap and used her chopsticks to place some rice on it.
“Is ginger pork okay for the side dish?”
“Eh? Of course. I love ginger pork.”
“Ahaha, you love it. Okay.”
Ichikawa placed the ginger pork on top of the rice on the plastic wrap.
Then, she picked up the whole wrap and started squeezing the rice and ginger pork together from over the wrap.
“An onigiri…?”
“Yes! Isn't that a great idea?”
“I guess so…”
…No, it’s not like I’m disappointed! Really!
‘Takt-kun, what were you expecting?’
‘Konuma-kun, let’s reflect on this, okay?’
Shut up, shut up!
While I was protesting against the two beautiful girls in my head (it’s weird that the angel and devil inside me are beautiful girls), the onigiri was successfully completed.
She even went so far as to wrap it in seaweed to make it easier to hold. What hospitality.
“Thank you very much…!”
“You’re welcome!”
Ichikawa gave a bright smile.
Whether there was a ‘say ahh’ or not, it didn't change the fact that it was Ichikawa’s home cooking.
Feeling somewhat bashful, I slowly brought the onigiri to my mouth.
“Is it good?”
Ichikawa, asking with a gentle smile right in front of me, was like…
“Yeah, it’s incredibly good.”
“I see, I’m glad.”
Ichikawa started eating her own lunch while smiling happily with an “ehehe.”
While chewing, she said,
“This morning was the first time I made the ginger pork sauce from scratch, so I’m glad you could taste-test it.”
“Is that so? Thank you for letting me.”
Regardless, this was so good I felt like I could eat it forever. It really makes you want more rice…
“Konuma-kun, will you taste-test for me again?”
“Yeah, I’d want to do it every day.”
On the days Yuzu makes lunch, there’s only one side dish, and it’s not enough for the stomach of a growing boy. Well, I shouldn't be saying that since I’m the one who forgot his lunch.
“…!”
Ichikawa’s hands were trembling.
“…?”
When I looked up, Ichikawa’s face was rapidly turning red. What…?
“Again, saying something like a proposal…”
Eh? Hm? Ah…! AH!!
“…I’m sorry!”
This happens a lot lately; I really need to be careful…
“Honestly, I’m getting used to it, so it’s fine, but…”
‘Takt-kun is really Takt-kun through and through…’
While the devil in my head was exasperated,
“Konuma-kun, let’s reflect on this, okay?”
Was the person who said that the angel in my head, or the physical angel sitting in front of me?
I remained unsure as I looked down, too embarrassed to face her.
“Hey, are you listening?”
“Yes… I’m sorry…”