Exchange Before the Holiday

The turmoil caused by several disputes had finally subsided,

and the obvious hostility between the first-year classes had also faded.

Instead, quite a few students had grown close through shared interests or club activities.

The first semester was about to end, and the students had begun looking forward to the holiday.

Perhaps the boys would use this chance to be apart from their classes to confess to the girls they liked.

Unfortunately, a confession was not the charge into battle, but the trumpet of victory.

Some rejoiced, while others despaired.

That was why they chose this time. If they failed, they would have a whole holiday to pull themselves together again. And if they succeeded?

They would most likely receive a line from the girl:

"Ugh, I hate this~~~"

Her stomach kept protesting. Kamuro Masumi lay listlessly across the large table in the dorm, kicking her little feet back and forth to ease her irritation.

"Why can't we go here?"

Kamuro was very annoyed. The three others had adamantly rejected her third proposed outing. Did nobody like honey with ochazuke?

Damn weekend! It was nowhere near as convenient as ordinary days, when she could leave her brain behind and only bring her mouth.

"Would any normal person deliberately go eat ochazuke that looks moldy during the rainy season?"

Kamuro suddenly pushed herself up from the table. "This is a traditional fermentation method!"

Hashimoto Masayoshi looked at Kamuro with utter disdain, waving an index finger in front of her face.

"How can you be like this?!"

Kamuro Masumi fiercely slapped Hashimoto's finger away, but he steadily pointed at her again with his index finger.

Kamuro crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes practically spitting fire. As the weather grew hotter, most students wore simpler clothes for the sake of convenience when going out.

Kamuro Masumi wore a loose plaid shirt, a baseball cap bearing the logo of some team, and a thin sun-protection top underneath, making her look even more casual and energetic.

Clutching the picture in her hand, she pointed back at Hashimoto's nose and retorted indignantly. The brim of her cap was nearly poking him in the eye.

Then, because she leaned too far forward, she missed her footing and was about to fall.

At that moment, a strong arm appeared just in time and caught Kamuro Masumi's unbalanced body.

Sakamoto Shunichi's face appeared before her. Looking relaxed and faintly amused, he reached out to straighten the crooked cap on her head. He carried the heat rising from the kitchen counter, laced with the fragrant scent of buckwheat.

"Please, sit."

Sakamoto released her, and only then did Kamuro realize she had fallen onto the cushioned seat of a pine chair.

"O-okay."

Kamuro froze for a moment before replying blankly.

The redness at the tips of the girl's ears revealed the complicated feelings in her heart. A moment later, her mind finally started working again.

She immediately glared resentfully at Hashimoto Masayoshi.

"Hey, hey, don't look at me like that. I'm not like someone who nearly tripped over flat ground."

"Hehe~"

That teasing sound came from the white-haired little girl under five feet tall on the other side of the table. Her eyes were full of delight at the show, though there was nothing outwardly wrong with her expression.

Even Kamuro Masumi, thick-skinned as she was, felt embarrassed.

Fine, Hashimoto Masayoshi. You're dead.

Kamuro silently added another mark against Hashimoto, though she had long since lost count of how many marks she had made.

That damn bastard made me embarrass myself again.

Sniff, sniff. "What is that smell? It smells so good!"

Kamuro Masumi's stomach rumbled unhelpfully once more.

The enticing aroma made her notice that bowls of noodles had already been placed before Hashimoto and Sakayanagi, who sat at opposite ends of the square table.

"This is buckwheat noodles."

Sakamoto placed an exquisite porcelain bowl before Kamuro. The noodles inside were slightly thicker than ordinary Japanese soba, smooth and full in color, and served with a specially seasoned broth.

The rich fragrance awakened Kamuro's appetite. The bowl before her had also been drizzled with sweet honey, amber flower nectar seeping along the rough surface of the buckwheat noodles into the broth, while chopped scallions unfurled in the steam into a lush green sight.

"This is flower honey brewed from buckwheat blossoms. It is light and sweet, and paired with this bowl of noodles, the scallions perfectly bring out its fragrance."

Sakamoto smiled as he introduced it to Kamuro, taking out a pair of evenly sized wooden chopsticks.

"This preparation comes from the people of the Loess Plateau. Though it is an extremely simple method, I find its rich rustic flavor uniquely charming. Please enjoy."

The aroma flooding over her had long made Kamuro unable to wait. Gazing at the glistening, tempting buckwheat noodles, she swallowed helplessly.

She then picked up a mouthful with her chopsticks and put it into her mouth, her cherry lips moving gently as she carefully savored the food.

It truly was unique. And delicious.

Every strand of noodle was soaked in refreshing broth, while the honey on top made a clean sweetness bloom across her tongue.

The egg, scallions, and broth blended together perfectly. It was wonderfully fragrant.

Before long, Kamuro Masumi had finished the entire bowl of buckwheat noodles, drinking every drop of the broth as well.

She even let out a satisfied burp.

Though the girl realized she had been somewhat improper, she sat upright again and did her best to salvage her image.

Fortunately for Kamuro, the other two present were also focused on savoring the food before them.

"How was it?" Sakamoto asked softly, his voice as pleasant as a clear spring.

"It was delicious."

"I think so too. Can I have another serving?"

"The ingredients have all just been used up." Sakamoto's polite response instantly left the expectant Hashimoto dejected.

Sakamoto looked toward the last person, Sakayanagi.

At that moment, Sakayanagi Arisu slowly set down her chopsticks as well.

"A very thoughtfully made dish."

Sakayanagi took out a tissue and wiped her lips, offering her assessment in a very serious tone.

Although the ingredients were all quite ordinary,

ordinary noodles, ordinary eggs, and simple scallions. Every ingredient was ordinary, yet the flavor was extraordinary.

An expert. He was an expert.

Sakayanagi had heard that some top chefs relied not on premium ingredients, but on sincerity.

Sakamoto was presumably that sort of person.

But—

She propped herself up with her cane.

"I did not come today merely to taste your food. I also brought some regards."

"Please speak. I'm all ears."

Sakamoto adopted a very patient posture. Those in high positions needed broad minds; properly listening to the voices of the weak was also a way to remain strong.

"Ryuen is very dissatisfied that you used them as a weapon."

"Mm, I understand."

Sakamoto responded with considerable politeness and courtesy, as though he were not the one being targeted.

"He asked me to pass on a message. Some weapons will blow their owner to pieces along with everyone else."

"That is quite a forceful statement. Very much his style."

Sakamoto gave an objective assessment.

"That is not the only gift, is it?"

"Ryuen has also approached Horikita from Class D and Ichinose from Class B. He plans to form an alliance between Classes B, C, and D."

Sakamoto's eyes lit up as he pushed up his glasses.

"Ryuen is quite impressive. His response was timely. An alliance of three classes..." Sakamoto coated his spoon with the dark brown liquid on the plate. "Just like this special sauce. It seems to combine longan, hawthorn, and honey—ingredients that are all sweet."

Chapter 41: Exchange Before the Holiday