I'm Just Here to Mooche a Meal

At the intersection near Keyaki Shopping Mall.

Kamigami Haruo waved goodbye to Kushida Kikyo, then set off back with Horikita Suzune.

"Although we've confirmed that the point distribution isn't fixed, are you really so certain that next month's points will be reset to zero?"

"I'm only certain that Class D won't have any points."

"A gathering place for defective products, huh..."

He had successfully diverted her attention. Kamigami Haruo felt a little relieved.

However, Horikita Suzune happened to catch sight of the upturned corner of his lips and immediately understood something.

"Don't think I've forgotten what just happened. You invited Kushida, didn't you? Not to mention that when we paid at the bookstore, you—someone who hardly uses his phone—seemed to send someone a message. Then you wanted to treat me to lunch, and Kushida just happened to show up. As expected."

As expected of Horikita Suzune. She had deduced the truth through observation and details alone.

But Kamigami Haruo answered without a care.

"I wanted to treat you as compensation, but you're different. What was I supposed to do?"

That line made Horikita Suzune rub her temples.

"Don't you dare tell me things like, 'I'm counting on you for dinner.' Being able to say that proves you're no different from a lazy, gluttonous pig."

"Cough, cough, is that not okay~? Cough, cough, tch, is that not okay~? Cough, cough, ptoo, cough, cough, is that not okay~?"

After choking several times, Kamigami Haruo finally managed to get the words out once.

Yet Horikita Suzune simply quickened her pace and left him behind.

She had clearly lost all desire to talk to him.

"Hey, I'm just mooching a meal."

After parting ways with Horikita Suzune in the elevator, Kamigami Haruo returned to his room to rest.

After getting back, he sprawled on his bed and eagerly read the book he had bought not long ago.

It was not until his stomach growled that Kamigami Haruo came back to himself.

He sat up and looked out the window.

Looking at the sunless night, he felt it was the perfect time to exercise.

After showering, he gave his body a rough inspection.

He felt that his physique had not noticeably improved.

He had simply put on a lot more flesh, covering thin areas like his ribs and wrists.

His bones no longer showed through the shape of his body. At the very least, he was no longer skin and bones like before.

Seeing the obvious changes, Kamigami Haruo headed downstairs full of motivation.

Dormitory lobby.

The elevator doors had just opened when Kamigami Haruo happened to run into Ichinose, who had just finished dinner.

Unlike Kamigami Haruo's calmness, that absurd experience instantly surfaced in Ichinose's mind.

After hurriedly composing herself, she energetically waved at Kamigami Haruo and greeted him.

"Good evening, Kamigami."

"Good evening, Ichinose. I'll be going now."

After Kamigami Haruo's figure disappeared behind the elevator doors, Ichinose raised a hand and gently pressed it to her chest.

But she immediately recalled what had happened that night, and her face turned light red again.

It was so embarrassing. How could he do that to a girl?

Thinking that, Ichinose held her cheeks between both hands and felt their warmth.

Meanwhile, after picking up several cans of drinks near the convenience store, Kamigami Haruo sat on a roadside bench and enjoyed the youthful atmosphere radiating from the students around him.

After opening a drink, he slowly savored it like a retired official.

Feeling his phone vibrate in his pocket, he took it out and looked at it.

Horikita Suzune.

On a sudden impulse, he let his mouth run.

"What is it? Did you call the wrong number? I'm not your Brother."

"..."

On the other end of the call, Horikita Suzune, who had been about to speak, began breathing increasingly heavily.

"Dinner."

After saying that, Horikita Suzune mercilessly hung up.

Although there had been no emotional fluctuation in her voice, Kamigami Haruo understood that it was the calm before the storm.

Though this trip might be one-way, he figured he could get a free meal, and at worst he would only take one hit, so it was not a loss.

Thinking that, Kamigami Haruo got up, patted his butt, and happily ran toward the dormitory.

Ding-dong, ding-dong...

Not long after the doorbell rang, the door opened.

Still wearing her usual expressionless face, Horikita Suzune glared at Kamigami Haruo with fierce eyes.

All he could do was meekly take off his shoes and prepare himself for a beating.

"Oh, I'm here, Horikita. Come on."

Kamigami Haruo spread his arms before her, looking as though he were asking for a hug.

The moment his words fell, he felt his left hand being grabbed, and then he spent a moment flying through the air.

Thud!

He landed perfectly on his back.

"Cough, cough. Thank you for the meal."

Kamigami Haruo said gratefully, then rose and gave Horikita Suzune a deep bow.

"You really did come prepared to face me."

As she spoke, Horikita Suzune walked over and sat at the small dining table.

Though the table was tiny, it was filled with delicious dishes.

Seeing that, Kamigami Haruo walked over with a touch of restraint and sat on the floor before it.

After that, the two enjoyed dinner.

As Kamigami Haruo washed the dishes, he spoke to Horikita Suzune, who was clearing away the leftovers.

"You worked hard, Horikita. If I could eat cooking like yours every day for the rest of my life, I'd have no regrets."

Horikita Suzune showed no reaction. Without even turning her head, she said,

"While that is true, you had better wash those dishes thoroughly. I don't want to wash them again."

"When it comes to washing dishes, there's no doubt about it. I'm a man who washed dishes for two and a half years."

Kamigami Haruo declared proudly.

"Do as you please. If I talk to you too much, I'll eventually be infected by your touching intelligence."

After sorting the garbage, Horikita Suzune prepared to go downstairs and throw it away.

The reason she had not gone yet was that she was waiting for Kamigami Haruo to finish washing the dishes. She could not possibly leave him alone in her room.

"I'm coming, I'm coming."

After washing the last dish, Kamigami Haruo quickly washed his hands and went to the entrance to put on his shoes.

Since his workout plans had been disrupted, lazy Kamigami Haruo decided to exercise tomorrow instead and returned to his own room to rest.

After throwing out the garbage, Horikita Suzune returned to her room to continue studying diligently.

Just like a model student.

The following afternoon, after school.

Looking at the blazing ground, Kamigami Haruo decided to find a Cherry Blossom Tree for shade.

He listened to music through his earphones while reading a manga he had bought not long ago.

But as he waited and waited for a cloud to block the sunlight, he unknowingly drifted off to sleep.

Who knew how much time passed.

Feeling someone shake his arm, Kamigami Haruo woke from his dream and removed the manga covering his face.

What came into view was a girl with strawberry-blonde hair.

Unlike before, she was wearing a tracksuit today.

"Yahallo, Kamigami. I caught you slacking off."

Kamigami Haruo immediately defended himself. He was not slacking off.

"Look at this weather. I just don't want to get tanned."

"I think Kamigami would only look more masculine if you got a little tanner. It's really strange. It's only been a week since we first met, but you look a little different from back then."

"If you treat me to another meal, I'll change even more."

Hoping to score another free meal, Kamigami Haruo teased her.

"You're so mean. Or are you having some trouble with points?"

"Uh, you really are kind. You're making me feel bad."

"Ahaha..."

The two of them scratched their cheeks in unspoken agreement.

"You're exercising too? Don't tell me I infected you."

"Of course. I was in the track and field club in middle school, after all. Seeing Kamigami work so hard, I can't let myself fall behind either."

"Want to compete? Loser treats the other to a meal."

Kamigami Haruo grinned.

But Ichinose agreed without the slightest hesitation.

"Then it's a deal."

Just then, a cloud happened to drift by and block the sun.