Bento

Kitagawa Kai walked out of the office with a face of utter saintly detachment, wanting nothing and desiring nothing, and pulled the door shut behind him.

He couldn't figure out what that woman Hoshinomiya was thinking, but whatever, let it be.

He straightened his slightly rumpled uniform, then took a step, unhurriedly making his way toward the Class B classroom.

Just as he sat back down in his seat, a voice tinged with a barely perceptible concern softly sounded beside him:

"Kitagawa-kun."

Kitagawa Kai's movements paused almost imperceptibly.

Ichinose Honami's clear blue eyes looked at him, her brow slightly furrowed, revealing genuine worry.

"I just got your message and asked for leave for you. Did something happen? Your face looks... a little tired?"

As she spoke, whether out of concern or some subconscious probing, she leaned forward slightly.

Her small nose twitched almost imperceptibly, as if catching some extremely faint, strange scent in the air.

Kitagawa Kai met her gaze, his expression unchanged.

"Yeah, Hoshinomiya-sensei had something to discuss with me, but it's already resolved."

"That's good."

Ichinose seemed to accept this explanation, nodding lightly without pressing further.

But the next second, as if suddenly remembering something important, she lightly clasped her hands together in front of her chest and said in a cheerful, sincere voice:

"Oh, right, Kitagawa-kun, there's actually something I wanted to tell you."

"Everyone discussed it, and starting this week, we're planning to hold study sessions in our free time, at the library. It's mainly to prepare for the midterms—going over key points together and helping each other with difficult problems."

She tilted her head slightly, her pink hair swaying in the breeze, her smile bright and encouraging. "Your grades are really good, Kitagawa-kun. If you could come, everyone would be really motivated. So, what do you think? Got time to join?"

"Sure, I could use some brushing up on my history too."

Kitagawa Kai's grades were good in every subject except history. This world's history was completely different from his past life—bizarre and strange.

Ichinose's eyes lit up even more at his words.

"Really? That's great!"

"Yeah, thanks, Ichinose. And thanks to everyone too."

"It's settled then! I'll send the specific schedule to the class group later, so keep an eye out, Kitagawa-kun."

Lunch break was from eleven to two.

Every day at noon, Kitagawa Kai would return to his dorm for a satisfying nap.

Lately, with Horikita Suzune helping to prepare his lunch bento, things had become even more convenient.

At the door of Room 308, a familiar figure stood with her back to him.

Horikita Suzune.

She stood straight, her black hair tied neatly behind her head, revealing her pale neck. In her hands, she carried a dark blue bag filled with the ingredients she'd use today.

The corner of Kitagawa Kai's mouth unconsciously curved upward.

"Yo, right on time, Suzune-chan."

Horikita Suzune didn't turn around, as if she had already anticipated his arrival through his footsteps or presence.

"Hurry up and open the door."

Her tone was very natural, completely ignoring the oddness of "standing at the entrance of a boys' dorm."

After a week of fulfilling the agreement, her initial stiffness had given way to a resigned calm.

She had even started to "reasonably" exploit the clause in the contract that said "ingredient costs are covered by Kitagawa," picking out ingredients she liked within the budget, never touching her precious seventy thousand points.

"Got it." Kitagawa Kai readily pulled out his key, clicked the lock open, and stepped aside. "Please, come in, head chef. Need any help prepping? I can at least wash some vegetables."

"No need. Let's just stick to the contract." Horikita Suzune refused flatly, carrying the bag straight into the room. She was already familiar with the layout.

"Wow, that hurts. And here you were so enthusiastic greeting me this morning." Kitagawa Kai pointedly shifted his left foot, which was still throbbing faintly.

Horikita Suzune's gaze quickly swept over his foot, and a barely perceptible flicker of emotion crossed her face—something between guilt and a stubborn "so what if I stepped on you."

"That's what you deserve. Who told you to eavesdrop on other people's conversations."

"Oh? What I deserve? Because I saw through that forced composure you were putting on in Chabashira-sensei's office?"

"Though, if I hadn't let you stomp on me, you might have run out of the office crying."

"..."

[Ding!]

[Horikita Suzune Affection Level +5, Current Affection Level: 40 (Confused)]

In the end, she only spat out a few words: "Hmph. Boring."

"Alright, you're the head chef, you call the shots." Kitagawa Kai raised both hands in surrender, but his gaze lingered on the faintly pursed corners of her lips.

They seemed a touch less rigid than usual, carrying a hint of softness—perhaps something even she hadn't noticed herself.

The kitchen fell quiet once more.

Horikita Suzune carefully sliced the perfectly pan-seared teriyaki chicken cutlet into even pieces, arranging them neatly alongside broccoli and mushrooms on the pristine white rice.

Finally, she took a small box from her bag, opened it, and poured out a handful of bright red berries, dotting a few along the edge of the bento box.

"Please, help yourself." She placed the artfully arranged bento box on the small table in front of Kitagawa Kai, her movements now lacking the "handing off a task" feel from the first few days, replaced by a smoother, more natural flow.

She herself picked up another plate—clearly smaller in portion and simpler in composition—and walked toward her usual seat.

"Hold on."

Kitagawa Kai pointed his chopsticks at the meager chicken on her plate, then at the mountain piled high in his own bento box.

"Share some over. I can't eat all this, and wasting food isn't good."

Before she could refuse, he swiftly picked up two large pieces of sauce-laden chicken cutlet and, without waiting for her consent, placed them onto her plate.

Horikita Suzune instinctively wanted to decline, but her eyes met his composed expression—one that simply said, "I just don't want to waste"—and the fact that his bowl was indeed piled a bit too high. The words on the tip of her tongue faded away.

"...Thank you."

The two sat down separately and began eating.

"Suzune-chan, any thoughts on what comes next?"

Kitagawa Kai asked casually midway through his meal.

"I will lead Class D to graduate as Class A and prove myself to my brother."

Horikita Suzune blurted it out almost instinctively, with a pride that bordered on reflex.

Kitagawa Kai paused mid-bite, didn't immediately refute her, but slowly chewed and swallowed his food before setting down his chopsticks.

"Proving yourself to your brother? That's a solid motivation."

"No matter how lofty your goal, the first thing you need to improve is your nearly nonexistent social skills."

"Social... skills?" To her, this seemed a layer removed from her grand plan of leading the class and proving herself.

"Yes, social skills. What do you think your image is in the class right now? I'm not telling you to become an angel like Kushida Kikyo, nor to mimic Hirata Yosuke's people-pleasing ways."

"I'm talking about the basics—making it so that when you speak, people are willing to listen; when you act, people are willing to cooperate a little."

Horikita Suzune's lips tightened. She wanted to argue, to say she didn't need those friends, that she could let her abilities and results speak for themselves.