Miss Donut

Luckily, most of the dishes were vegetables, so his stomach could handle them.

A little while later, when Bai Qiu had nearly finished eating, Nagasaki Sosei asked, "Would you like some more rice?"

Bai Qiu patted his stomach and waved her off with a shake of his head. "Thanks, Sose. I'm good."

"I see." Nagasaki Sosei looked a little disappointed. "Then how about another bowl of soup?"

As she spoke, she picked up the bowl beside her and ladled Bai Qiu a bowl of Vegetable Macaroni soup.

Under Nagasaki Sosei's somewhat eager gaze, Bai Qiu instinctively took the bowl.

Go on, you've already eaten this much. It's only one last bowl of soup.

Green vegetables are good for you.

Nagasaki Sosei watched Bai Qiu gulp down the soup, feeling thoroughly content and satisfied.

It was a wonderful feeling when someone enjoyed the food she had made.

As Bai Qiu drank, he suddenly stopped.

He realized that something seemed off.

Bai Qiu lowered his head and looked at the bowl in his hands.

Then he glanced at the empty bowl in front of him.

Bai Qiu's eyes narrowed slightly. He looked up at Sose and opened his mouth, but hesitated.

"What's wrong?" Nagasaki Sosei asked, looking a little puzzled.

The corner of Bai Qiu's mouth twitched.

After thinking it over, Bai Qiu decided he should tell her the truth.

He swallowed and carefully kept his voice gentle as he said,

"Sose, I think the bowl I'm holding is yours."

Nagasaki Sosei blinked softly and looked at the empty bowl in front of Bai Qiu.

It really did seem that way?!

Nagasaki Sosei looked down at her own place at the table. All that remained was a pair of chopsticks.

Her gaze sharpened. At last, the smile on Nagasaki Sosei's face began to stiffen.

A sharp, almost ear-piercing voice reached Bai Qiu's ears, making him cover them.

This time, Nagasaki Sosei was truly mortified!

### Bai Qiu deliberately left home a little earlier than usual.

He did it to avoid running into Nagasaki Sosei in the hallway and ending up in an awkward situation.

Thinking back to dinner the night before, Bai Qiu couldn't help sighing.

He glanced at Nagasaki Sosei's front door, then hurried into the elevator.

Oh, and today Bai Qiu had made sure to bring along his trusty partner.

Kessoku Band was holding a meeting after school today.

So Bai Qiu had decided it would be best to bring his guitar.

Next, Bai Qiu planned to grab some breakfast.

A new sweets shop had opened nearby.

He'd heard it was bustling with customers and getting rave reviews.

They also had a limited supply each day.

Bai Qiu decided to check it out.

Luckily, he'd arrived early today, so he'd made it near the front of the line.

A long queue soon formed behind him.

Three!

He wasn't counting off a drumbeat. Bai Qiu was counting people.

He was fifth in line.

The queue moved quickly.

Before long, it was the turn of the customer ahead of Bai Qiu.

"Give me twenty donuts!"

It was a lively female voice.

The clerk paused for a moment, then answered professionally.

"Certainly. Please wait a moment."

The clerk picked up a box and immediately got to work.

Bai Qiu was taken aback too.

He stared at the strange woman in front of him.

Can you even eat that many?

At the same time, a bad feeling welled up inside him.

He looked past her,

toward the glass display case, where several rows of golden donuts sat neatly together.

Are there even twenty?

Even if there are, will there be any left after she takes twenty?

Bai Qiu's answer was no.

So he looked again at the woman committing the crime of buying out all the donuts.

With a dark mask and sunglasses hiding her face,

she had covered nearly all of it, making her impossible to recognize.

But even without seeing her face, her slender figure and distinctive air

were enough to make passersby think she was a great beauty.

That didn't stop Bai Qiu from quietly holding a grudge against her.

Who do you think you are, some popular idol?

Did you think covering up like that meant you could buy out all the donuts without a care?

Damn you, Donut Lady!

"Here are your donuts."

Donut Lady happily accepted the bag.

She paid, turned around, and left.

Perhaps sensing the intense gaze on her,

Donut Lady looked at Bai Qiu with a hint of puzzlement.

He didn't recognize me, did he?

I've dressed so conservatively, after all.

Beneath her mask, a smile appeared on her delicate face.

Then she left with unhurried ease.

"Excuse me, sir..."

"You may have to..."

There was no need to hear the rest. Bai Qiu already understood everything.

He looked at the figure walking away with such carefree confidence.

Bai Qiu's eyelid twitched.

She even dares to provoke me.

Black-brown hair. I'll remember you!

"Sir, you may have to wait for the next batch..."

The clerk with the long ponytail repeated herself, then awkwardly pointed at the empty display case.

There was only one donut left inside.

Her voice sounded a little nervous,

as if she was afraid the customer might get angry.

So she quickly added,

"Um... they taste even better fresh out of the oven!"

"Okay, sure!"

Bai Qiu snapped out of it.

He'd have to wait a little longer, though.

But he was carrying over ten pounds of stuff!

I really can't forgive Donut Lady.

After thinking it over, Bai Qiu spoke up.

"Give me twenty too!"

The people behind Bai Qiu now stared at him strangely.

But when they saw him carrying a huge bag with no effort, no one dared say anything.

"Ah, certainly!"

The clerk let out a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, the customer wasn't angry. And the next batch would have more than twenty, so the people behind him wouldn't have to wait long either.

Still, perhaps she should suggest to the manager

that they limit purchases during certain hours!

Or hire more staff. She really couldn't handle it all by herself!

Class 3, Sakuragaoka.

Bai Qiu had just sat down.

He was about to wipe the sweat from his forehead with a tissue.

His arms were still a little sore after carrying everything over.

Bai Qiu now had some newfound respect for people who lugged their instruments around all day.

Yui Hirasawa said with a rueful expression,

"Little Qiu, Gita! So expensive!"

"Eh? What's that?"

"An instrument? Is it a guitar?"

Yui Hirasawa rattled off question after question like a machine gun.

Bai Qiu didn't have time to answer.