Love and Palette

The bell signaling the end of school rang.

Kamigami Haruo put away his manga and lazily stretched.

It was Thursday, and about three or four days had passed since his last visit to Palette.

With a craving for sweets, Kamigami Haruo was planning to go to Palette and bask in the glory of desserts.

Yesterday, Kushida Kikyo had invited him to a café with a group of female classmates to enjoy some desserts.

But after seeing that nearly half the girls in the class were going, he tactfully said he was unused to crowds and declined.

Kamigami Haruo picked up his shoulder bag and left the classroom with light steps.

Palette was a popular café. If he arrived even a little late, he would have to wait for seats to open up after other students left.

Inside Palette.

After looking over the display case and deciding on his order, Kamigami Haruo spoke to the clerk.

"One strawberry parfait and two strawberry cakes, please."

After paying, he stood to the side and waited for the clerk to bring his food.

A while later.

Kamigami Haruo carried his tray over to the seat he had claimed earlier and sat down.

He felt as though he had forgotten something, but he decided to enjoy his desserts first before carefully trying to remember what it was.

Clatter...

Kamigami Haruo suddenly remembered something, and his grip tightened, causing his spoon to strike the dish with a sharp sound.

Nervously, he took out his phone, typed up a message, and sent it to Horikita Suzune.

Horikita Suzune's bento suited his tastes quite well. He did not want to go back to eating set meals at the student cafeteria tomorrow.

Kamigami Haruo was so nervous that he ate his desserts several times faster.

"Kamigami."

A call pulled Kamigami Haruo out of his anxious state.

He looked up upon hearing it and saw who had arrived.

It was Horikita Suzune, the person he most wanted to see right now.

Though it was a little strange. Horikita Suzune did not seem like the type to come to Palette alone.

"What are you doing here?"

Horikita Suzune did not answer. She merely glanced to one side.

Though puzzled, Kamigami Haruo followed her gaze.

There, he saw Kushida Kikyo and Ayanokōji, both wearing awkward smiles.

Kamigami Haruo had been wondering why Horikita Suzune had come to Palette for no reason.

So those two had conspired to trick Horikita Suzune into coming out.

"Wait a moment. I'll be done soon."

Kamigami Haruo understood that Horikita Suzune wanted to leave Palette.

So he wolfed down the cake in a few bites, then waved goodbye to the two in the distance.

Only then did he pick up his bag, stand, and leave the café side by side with Horikita Suzune.

"Come to the supermarket with me."

"Are there free ingredients to pick up? All right, then."

Kamigami Haruo immediately understood what Horikita Suzune meant.

Then the two headed toward the supermarket together.

Inside the supermarket.

Each carrying a shopping basket, they placed the limited free ingredients allotted to each person into their baskets.

The carnivorous Kamigami Haruo did not forget to pick up some meat as well.

He lost interest after just one glance at the prices of vegetables. Not only were they expensive, but they were nowhere near as satisfying as meat.

"Maybe I'll grow vegetables in the future. I could definitely make a lot of money."

"Really? Even if you grew vegetables, wouldn't you be the one lying beneath a tree and slacking off?"

Kamigami Haruo thought that was entirely possible. Slightly troubled, he said,

"Oh dear, what should I do? Maybe I should become a kept man."

"Your life has barely begun, and you're already giving up on yourself. Still, it does suit your personality perfectly."

Kamigami Haruo smiled at that and thanked Horikita Suzune.

"Thanks for the compliment. I hope you're happy every day."

They paid with points amid their conversation, then carried their shopping bags toward the dormitory area.

"So why exactly are you coming to my room?"

Horikita Suzune looked at Kamigami Haruo, who was following her, and questioned him with clear displeasure.

"Lend me a pot. I want to make a drink."

Hearing that, Horikita Suzune stared at Kamigami Haruo in silence for a long while.

After some time, she opened the door and stepped aside to let Kamigami Haruo in, adding sharply,

"When it comes to shamelessness, if you claimed second place, no one would dare claim first."

Since he intended to mooch a meal, he believed he should contribute some labor.

So Horikita Suzune had Kamigami Haruo wash and chop the vegetables.

Meanwhile, she heated oil in a pan and began cooking.

After a busy stretch of work, a table full of delicious dishes was laid out before them.

"Let's eat."

Horikita Suzune pressed her palms together and leisurely began her dinner.

As for Kamigami Haruo, the starving ghost, he simply dug in.

A while later.

After filling his stomach, Kamigami Haruo took black tea leaves, white sugar, and whole milk from his bag, then borrowed Horikita Suzune's pot to simmer something.

The process did not take much time. He poured the drink from the pot into a cup.

Only then did he hand the cup to Horikita Suzune, whose puzzled expression turned to sudden understanding.

"Here. Milk tea. Give it a try."

Horikita Suzune blew on the drink in the cup a few times before taking a small sip and commenting,

"It is neither tea nor milk, and the sugar content is excessive."

Although she said that, she still took several more sips.

Whether she did not want to waste it or simply found it delicious was impossible to tell.

"That's why it's called milk tea. Just because you share the Horikita surname, do you think you're like your Brother?"

The instant Kamigami Haruo finished speaking, Horikita Suzune set down her cup.

Like a hyena that had finally worn its prey out, she pounced without hesitation.

The only difference was the damage caused by biting versus a hand chop.

It gave Kamigami Haruo a familiar, nostalgic feeling.

Since he had brought this upon himself, he could only give up resisting and treat it as impact training.

After cleaning up the aftermath, Kamigami Haruo happened to notice the life schedule posted on the wall and kindly offered a piece of advice.

"Horikita, while I admire your discipline and study schedule, this school isn't a place where grades alone decide everything. Physical fitness is also an indispensable factor."

"Is that so? I have a certain degree of confidence in my current physical fitness, which is why I felt that wasn't necessary. But since you say so, I'll make adjustments."

Kamigami Haruo nodded approvingly.

At least she was willing to listen to some of his advice, apply it, and reflect on herself.

The following day's lunch break.

Kamigami Haruo braced both hands on his desk and stood up.

He subconsciously wiped at the corner of his mouth, where no drool existed, then looked toward the back seats of the classroom.

Kamigami Haruo lazily walked over to Horikita Suzune to ask for his bento.

While waiting for her to take it out, he heard an interesting topic of conversation.

The topic interested Kamigami Haruo as well, so he pulled out the chair in front of Horikita Suzune and sat down directly.

Listening to the girl calmly speak about her future plans, he curled his lip and mocked her.

"You're saying your future holds infinitely many possibilities? Unless you rely on your family's connections, go become a corporate drone."

"Since you want to become a kept man in the future, let me offer you some advice. Your fate can only be described as out with the old, in with the new."

Horikita Suzune struck back without wavering in the slightest, showing just how rational she was.

"Don't say that. I have an idol I really admire, you know. Forget about me for now—Ayanokōji, what do you want to be in the future?"

Because of Horikita Suzune, Kamigami Haruo had occasionally exchanged a few words with Ayanokōji lately.

"You're wasting your time. With his tendency to avoid trouble, it's hard to say whether he'll even have a future."

"Don't make conclusions on your own. Maybe I unexpectedly have a clear goal too, you know?"

Ayanokōji, who had been hit by a stray bullet, retorted to Horikita Suzune in exasperation.

"Oh? Let's hear just how unexpected it is."

Resting his cheek on one hand, Kamigami Haruo asked with interest.

"I'm going to become Prime Minister."

"I have witnessed the birth of two fools with my own eyes."

After pushing the bento box in front of Kamigami Haruo, Horikita Suzune held her forehead and sighed.

"Uh... listen. Becoming Prime Minister was only a joke, no matter how you look at it. What I actually want is, well, something like being a civil servant."

Ayanokōji knew that what he had said was too outrageous for anyone to believe, so he explained that it had been a joke.

But Kamigami Haruo did not see it that way. He felt he had found a kindred spirit and even punched his fist into his palm.

"If Ayanokōji wants to become Prime Minister, then that has a lot to do with my idol."

"Are you also about to say some foolish dream like Ayanokōji's?"

Horikita Suzune sighed. She suspected something was wrong with her memory—otherwise, why could she not remember how many times she had already sighed?

"Don't say that. I'll tell you two about his achievements right now."

After clearing his throat, Kamigami Haruo began earnestly educating the two of them.