Asking Mana How to Woo Herself

"He said his name was Riki," the class monitor said.

"Riki?!" Sumiida Mana exclaimed in surprise, grabbing her bento box and rushing out.

The students were quite surprised by Mana's sudden action. Was this Mana the Mana they knew?

"Looks like it's someone she likes." The female class monitor sighed. "I'd heard before that Junta-san had an older brother, and I thought it was him..."

"Heating up your bento box, this one tastes better." Riki took the bento box back from Mana's hand. "I'll eat this one."

Before Sumiida Mana could speak, Riki handed her a bento box. Feeling its warmth in her hand, she couldn't help but ask, "Why did Riki come here?"

"Sakiko said you'd be lonely eating lunch alone, so he asked me to come and keep you company," Riki said.

"I'm not lonely," Sumiida Mana said guiltily.

Fortunately, the school garden is open to people from other schools, so she and Riki were able to sit on the bench and eat their lunch here, but quite a few people were still looking at Mana with curiosity.

The school's famously aloof beauty actually had lunch with a boy today?!

Sumiida Mana ate the bento box that Riki had given her. Because it was freshly made, it was very warm and tasted great, unlike the bento boxes that other students had brought from the morning, which were cold and the rice was hard. Even if they were reheated, the taste was not good.

"It's delicious." Sumiida Mana couldn't help but said.

Actually, the bento box tasted like normal home-cooked food, but it was the first time she had lunch with someone at school, and the food was warm, so it tasted even better than a five-star restaurant!

If it tastes good, eat more.

Riki was also eating Sumiida Mana's bento, but she couldn't hold back as soon as she put her chopsticks down. The rice was so hard it looked like it had been used for watching porn.

How do Japanese high school students endure eating cold rice like this every day for lunch?

But I'll just have to put up with Mana's bento box; it might even have her drool in it.

But Mana is so clean, she must have washed everything thoroughly.

Riki was a little disappointed, then she saw that there was an extra hamburger patty in her lunchbox.

"It's for Riki," Sumiida Mana with a soft smile.

She was imitating her classmates, but they were grabbing each other's food. Mana couldn't do that, so she served some to Riki. She had always looked forward to doing this with her best friend.

Is this the right thing to do?

"Okay!" Riki didn't stand on ceremony and ate heartily!

That's what makes a boy bold and heroic.

Sumiida Mana chuckled as she looked at Riki, and couldn't help but pile more food onto his plate, her eyes sparkling brightly.

The other students in the garden were dumbfounded.

"Here you go, it's a hot drink, something like eight-treasure porridge. I can't read katakana, but it has red beans printed on it, so it should be healthy." Riki said, "Drinking more hot water is good for your health, I'll just drink this."

Riki shook the can of cola in her hand.

Sumiida Mana was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously took the hot drink and held it in her hands. A cool night breeze blew by, but her palms were still warm.

"Thank you," Sumiida Mana said to Riki, who was sitting next to her, her face slightly flushed.

"You're welcome. I'm just a naturally kind and gentle handsome guy," Riki said.

Sumiida Mana was amused again.

No, that's a bit impolite of you to laugh like that.

Riki's face darkened.

Seeing this Sumiida Mana quickly said, "I also think Riki is a good person."

Okay, now they're giving out "friend zone" cards.

Donut Lady, perhaps you should just keep quiet.

"Am I bad at talking? It's the same in class. Every time I speak, it causes an awkward silence. Am I too serious? Will people dislike me for that?"

"No one will dislike you," Riki said with a smile.

"Really?" Sumiida Mana couldn't help but ask.

"I guessed," Riki said.

"...Hmm." Sumiida Mana pouted and sulked.

Riki smiled and said, "After all, I can only guess what others think, but I can be sure of one thing—I definitely won't dislike Mana."

No one could possibly dislike a girl as earnest and adorable as Mana.

The summer breeze made Mana's hair flutter, and she lowered her head, her face burning hot.

After lunch break, Sumiida Mana returned to her classroom. In a good mood, she noticed that her classmates were all looking at her strangely.

What did I do?

Sumiida Mana was a little nervous. Could it be that she did poorly on yesterday's exam?

But after checking my answers, my score shouldn't be bad.

The female class monitor walked over and whispered, "Mana, you should be a little more discreet when you feed your boyfriend in the future. The other classes are saying that you spoil your boyfriend too much and have him come to school to feed him."

"Okay... huh?"

Sumiida Mana was stunned.

Everyone's assuming Riki is her boyfriend?

And... what is feeding?

I still dote on Riki?!

Sumiida Mana's face immediately turned bright red, steam rising from her head. She was clearly just doing what classmates would do, so why was she being misunderstood as a couple? They were just good friends!

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding!" Mana quickly said.

The female class monitor simply smiled and looked at Mana: "Just be careful of the teacher."

No, everyone, you've really misunderstood!

Riki and I are just normal friends!

Sumiida Mana felt that the way everyone in her class looked at her had become kinder, and they even smiled at her understandingly, just as she had imagined.

But... it shouldn't be like this!

Sumiida Mana returned to her seat dejectedly and saw a message from Riki on her phone.

Riki: [I'll bring you food tomorrow too, what do you want to eat?]

Riki doesn't need to come tomorrow.

Sumiida Mana looked at the words on the typing bar, hesitated for a moment, deleted them, retyped them, and sent them.

Mana: [Fried eggs and donuts.]

They've been misunderstood. Let Riki come a few more times, and everyone will know that she and Riki aren't a couple.

And... I'm so happy to have someone to have lunch with every day.

A gentle smile appeared on Sumiida Mana's face.

I'm kind of looking forward to tomorrow.

Chapter 248 Asks Mana for advice on how to win her over

When the lunch break bell rang, the teachers and students in the classroom did not immediately begin their rest. Instead, they all looked towards Sumiida Mana, who had already stood up by the window, her face full of eager anticipation.

Sumiida Mana's face stiffened under everyone's gaze, and she hurriedly said, blushing, "Is class... over already?"

"Class is over, Mana can go find your... cough, your boyfriend now," the teacher said with a smile.

She's definitely being mistaken for my boyfriend!

Sumiida Mana, her face burning, bowed slightly to the teacher, grabbed her lunchbox from her desk, and jogged out of the classroom in a Japanese-style run, her sailor uniform fluttering in the wind, a hopeful smile on her face.

"I didn't know Junta-san had this side to her. It's unexpected, and quite cute."

"She scolded me for not cleaning the classroom properly before, and I always thought she was a cold and aloof beauty."

"Me too. Her idol aura was too strong, so I didn't dare to get close to her before, and she was so serious."

"Should we invite Junta-kun next time we go to karaoke?"

"I feel like her singing is putting pressure on others. How about inviting her out for cake?"

"That's a great idea!"

Sumiida Mana jogged to the school park, gradually slowing down. She patted her skirt, smiled when she saw a familiar figure in the garden, and walked slowly over with her hands behind her back. As she got closer, she bent down, frowned, and scolded, "Riki, you can't sleep on the bench. You're taking up two seats. If someone else wants to sit, there won't be any room left."

Riki sat up and said, "Mana, I'm saving you a seat."

In university, you can reserve a seat with just a book, but the local Japanese girls are so unruly that you have to physically reserve a seat for them.

"If others sit down first, then I'll have to eat lunch with them, won't I?" Riki said.

Sumiida Mana thought about it subconsciously for a moment.

Riki seemed a little unhappy that the other girls were eating lunch together on the same chairs they had often shared over the past few days.

There's nothing wrong with me, but I'm just unhappy.

Sumiida Mana muttered, "Then I'll just come earlier after class from now on."

Although people might misunderstand further, the students are used to it, so it's fine.

As she spoke, she smoothed her sailor skirt over her hips, revealing the perfect curves of a young girl from her waist to her hips, as she sat down next to Riki.

Mana has a nice waist.

I've always been a fan of Mana's waist and hips.

These past few days, Riki has often brought lunchboxes to eat with Mana. The students around have gotten used to Riki and Mana often eating together. From initial surprise to curiosity the next day, they have now taken it for granted. Some bolder girls even come back to greet Riki.

"Today's lunch is broccoli, octopus sausage, fried egg, and rice." Sumiida Mana opened her lunchbox and said to Riki with a hint of pride, "It's packed with protein, vitamins, and carbohydrates. There's even soup in the thermos. Pretty healthy, right?"

"Mine is hamburger patty, French fries, potato pancakes, and Coca-Cola —it's protein, carbohydrates, and lots of sugary energy," Riki said proudly.

Classic all-nighter meal plan.

Sumiida Mana was stunned and couldn't help but say, "This combination is too high in calories."

"We can't let what's already done go to waste," Riki said nonchalantly.

Sumiida Mana hesitated for a moment, then said, "Then I'll eat mine."

Mana used her chopsticks to put her own vegetables into Riki's bento box, and also took some fried food from Riki's bento box.

As soon as she finished doing that, she wondered if she had gotten too close to Riki. She secretly glanced at the other students in the garden and found that they didn't seem too surprised.

Yeah, that's what we were doing the past few days too.

"Let's start eating then, I'll begin," Sumiida Mana said with a gentle smile, chewing her food slowly and gracefully.

Riki: I'll just transform into a zombie, and I'll start munching and munching and munching!!!

Mana, don't even think about escaping! I'm going to fucking devour you!!

Sumiida Mana ate, she glanced sideways at Riki, a pleasant smile curving her lips.

"Speaking of which, what about Sakiko-chan?" Sumiida Mana couldn't help but ask. Sakiko is Riki's girlfriend; isn't Riki going to Haneoka to be with her?

"She has lights and Aine over there, so she won't be lonely. Besides, she's the one who asked me to bring you lunch," Riki said with a shrug.

Sumiida Mana paused for a moment, then pursed her lips.

Was it Sakiko who told her that Riki came to bring her a lunchbox?

That's true. Sakiko and the others are Riki's official girlfriends, while I'm just Riki's friend. It's normal that I receive slightly less treatment.

"Riki."

Riki turned his head, Sumiida Mana, with a smile on her face, reached out and removed a grain of rice from the corner of his mouth.

"You need to watch your table manners," Mana said helplessly.