Masumi is Angry?

"What, disappointed?"

"Didn't find the adult magazines you were imagining?"

Just then.

Xu Nuo's teasing voice came from behind Miss Phantom Thief, clearly misunderstanding the reason for her daze.

"Who would want that kind of thing!"

In an instant.

Snapping back to reality from that state, Kamuro Masumi bristled, her face flushing bright red. She quickly turned around to glare at Xu Nuo, unable to help but mutter:

"I just thought..."

"You're actually quite tidy, you know."

After saying this.

She turned her head away and walked quickly to the table to set down the bento bag in her hand, her movements somewhat stiff.

"Anyway, I've given you the stuff."

"I'm leaving."

However.

Just as she suppressed her emotions and prepared to immediately flee this inexplicably nerve-wracking space.

"Wait."

Xu Nuo spoke up.

He walked over to the table and picked up the bento box.

The bento box was double-layered and wrapped exquisitely, with a pale blue cloth tied around the outside.

It looked exceptionally thoughtful!

More importantly.

It was nothing like the fast-food bentos from the previous few days.

"Click."

Xu Nuo opened the lid.

Instantly.

An enticing aroma wafted through the air.

Inside the bento, fried eggs, grilled squid sausages, vegetable salad, and several delicate rice balls were neatly arranged, each item vibrant in color.

Just looking at it was enough to whet one's appetite.

"It's not breakfast from the cafeteria, then."

Xu Nuo blinked, looking at the girl before him with some surprise. "Did you make this yourself?"

"..."

Exposed.

Kamuro Masumi's face turned even redder. She bit her lower lip hard, her purple-red eyes darting around.

"Yeah."

"So what if I made it?"

The girl stood with her hands on her hips as if in a fit of embarrassed anger, glaring fiercely at Xu Nuo as if she wanted to burn a hole through him. "I just happened to have time today, and—"

"You said you wanted something hot!"

"Those cold rice balls from the convenience store just won't do, and I was too lazy to go to the cafeteria, so I just..."

"Just made a little something."

By the end.

Her voice grew quieter and quieter, until it was almost impossible to hear.

Kamuro Masumi could feel her earlobes burning, as if punishing her for her insincerity.

Damn it.

Why did she have to explain so much?

She could have just brushed him off with a casual remark.

But for some reason.

Facing Xu Nuo's dark eyes, she just... instinctively couldn't help but want to tell the truth.

"Just made a little something?"

Xu Nuo stared at the exquisite arrangement in the bento box, a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. He didn't call her out, instead teasing, "You're quite talented, then."

"This presentation is almost on par with a five-star hotel."

"Shut up!"

Kamuro Masumi stomped her foot in annoyance.

"Stop with that sarcastic tone, you jerk. Whether you eat it or not is up to you; I've finished my task regardless."

With that said.

She turned and walked toward the door.

However.

"Wait."

Xu Nuo called out to her again.

"What now!"

Kamuro Masumi stopped in her tracks, though she did not turn around.

"Let's eat together."

"You made so much that I definitely can't finish it alone, and as it happens, I have something I need to tell you."

"...Huh?"

Kamuro Masumi was stunned.

Seeing that he didn't seem to be joking, she stiffened her face and walked back, albeit reluctantly.

"I've already eaten, so just save whatever you can't finish."

"So,"

"What is it you want to say?"

Upon hearing this.

Xu Nuo didn't press the matter, instead helping himself to the food and taking a small taste of each dish.

How should he put it?

Although the presentation was excellent.

The taste was only slightly above average.

However, the raw, youthful emotions contained within were incredibly delicious. In plain terms—he could tell that Kamuro had put a lot of heart into making it.

"Not bad."

"I didn't expect you to have this kind of skill."

Xu Nuo offered his praise without reservation; his tone was natural and sincere, and his performance was certainly not overly exaggerated.

After all, that would have been too fake.

Upon hearing this.

The corners of Kamuro Masumi's mouth lifted slightly, but she quickly suppressed it. She turned her face away, crossed her arms, and let her violet-red eyes drift toward the window.

"Hmph."

"It's alright, I suppose."

The girl feigned calmness.

But the slightly reddened tips of her ears betrayed her.

The feeling of being acknowledged caused an indescribable sense of satisfaction to well up within Kamuro Masumi.

Although she wouldn't say it out loud.

She had specifically looked up several cooking tutorials online last night and had even crawled out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to start preparing the ingredients, fussing over them until dawn.

All of that was to...

Kamuro Masumi shook her head vigorously, as if trying to shake those messy thoughts out of her mind.

"So."

"What do you want to say?"

"Don't waste time; I have other things to do."

Upon hearing this.

Xu Nuo set down his chopsticks.

"It's nothing major. I need you to pass a message to Sakayanagi—I have a Student Council spot available."

"..."

Kamuro Masumi was slightly taken aback.

Student Council?

A spot?

This guy... how could he possibly have something like that?

Although the girl did not yet know the truth about the school, being by Sakayanagi's side all day and influenced by her surroundings, she had vaguely sensed something.

As for the Student Council.

It was an important institution that existed in every school.

Its prestige went without saying.

"You..."

Kamuro Masumi frowned. "Where did you get this quota? This isn't the kind of thing you can just say casually..."

"You only need to pass on this message."

"Don't say anything else."

Xu Nuo interrupted her questioning and shrugged. "As for whether it's true or false, she will judge for herself."

"..."

Kamuro Masumi bit her lower lip.

Although she was unhappy about being used as a messenger, her reason told her that this was indeed important information.

If it were true...

That girl Sakayanagi would certainly be very interested.

It was just that.

Why...

Did she feel a bit displeased?

Really, this guy was Sakayanagi's boyfriend.

What was she thinking...

"I understand."

The girl took a deep breath, trying to suppress the bitterness in her heart, and asked again, "Is there anything else?"

"No."

Hearing this.

Kamuro Masumi kept a straight face and turned to leave.

Tsk.

Why did her mood suddenly turn sour?

Watching her back, Xu Nuo felt a bit puzzled.

But he soon stopped caring; after all, a girl's thoughts were not something he could figure out in a short time.

It was better not to probe.

A gentle breeze blew by, bringing with it a breath of fresh air.

It was currently the afternoon.

The central plaza of the Shopping Center was bustling with people. Students gathered in twos and threes, some discussing something, others leisurely shopping.

Weekends.

Were always exceptionally lively.

Xu Nuo moved forward quietly, walking aimlessly along the edge of the plaza, wanting to see if he could encounter any unexpected events; after all, staying in the dormitory was boring.

Horikita Suzune was nowhere to be found and couldn't be asked out at all.

Masumi was angry.

Karuizawa Kei was still avoiding him.

For a moment.

Xu Nuo couldn't find anyone to go shopping with.

"The road is long and the burden is heavy."

He couldn't help but sigh.

At this moment.

Seemingly remembering something, the figure of a certain blonde little angel appeared in Xu Nuo's mind.

"I remember."

"This girl still owes me a favor, right?"

He was just about to take out his phone.

However.

Right at this moment...