As soon as he finished speaking, there was a dead silence in the dormitory.
For a long time.
Horikita Suzune's dilated pupils finally began to focus again.
The first thing his eyes focused on was the button on the front of Kitagawa Kai's uniform. The distance between the two people was too close.
"!!!"
There was a "boom" on the face and it burned uncontrollably. Horikita Suzune gently broke free from the restraints.
"Suzune-chan, I accidentally made dinner for two people, shall we make it together?"
"Okay."
The voice was soft, but fortunately it wasn't the way it was just now with nothing to think about and a broken heart.
Horikita Suzune was sitting at the table, his hands placed neatly on his knees, and his body was not as tense as before.
The warm breath of food brushed against the tip of my nose, bringing with it a reassuring sense of reality.
She watched as Kitagawa Kai placed the rice in front of her. There were still some traces of moisture condensation on the edge of the white porcelain bowl.
Horikita Suzune Put the food into your mouth.
The taste melts on the tip of the tongue.
Unexpectedly delicious.
No, it's not just delicious.
The level of flavor, the precision of the heat, and the stimulation of the original flavors of the ingredients far exceeded her expectations.
It also far exceeds my own craftsmanship.
After taking a few bites in silence, Horikita Suzune looked at Kitagawa Kai's side face, which was focused on the food, and became much softer.
[Ding!]
[Horikita Suzune Affection Level+10, current Affection Level 60 (special)]
"Since the food you cook is so delicious, why do you want to make a three-month lunch contract with me?"
"I'm good at cooking."
"It doesn't mean I want to cook."
Horikita Suzune:"...???"
What is the reason for this?
Because of laziness?
Because of trouble?
But looking at him preparing this dinner, he was obviously very skillful and didn't show any impatience.
"Oh, by the way, speaking of this, the contract will expire in two months, what should I do?"
Kitagawa Kai looked like he was really troubled by this.
"Kitagawa, I have a deal, will you do it?"
Horikita Suzune had an idea and put down his chopsticks. The fragility in his eyes faded away, replaced by the light of determination.
"Hey, to elaborate, I like trading the most."
"I want to know how to pass the midterm exam."
"Study hard and make progress every day."
"I'm serious!"
Horikita Suzune almost blurted out, his voice slightly raised due to excitement, and his cheeks turned a thin red due to anger.
Couldn't he see how serious and urgent she was at this moment?
"Of course I know you are serious, but we are in our own class, how could I betray my classmates?"
"Oh, how can a person like you still care about this?"
Horikita Suzune's sneer was short and sharp, and he looked directly at Kitagawa Kai's face that was full of principles at the moment, not hiding his disbelief.
"As long as you tell me, in exchange, I will cook for you for another three months."
"I suddenly discovered that cooking by myself is delicious~"
In the flash of lightning, Horikita Suzune suppressed his emotions forcibly, and his brain was running rapidly.
Cooking skills may be substituted, but some things may not be completely substituted.
So, under Kitagawa Kai's playful and scrutinizing gaze, Horikita Suzune quickly adjusted his strategy.
Horikita Suzune raised his chin slightly, using a tone that was mixed with stiffness and deliberateness, but also strangely struck a subtle psychological tone:
"No, no, no, you think, wouldn't it be better for a beautiful girl to prepare lunch for you every day than for you to be busy in the kitchen alone?"
Although promoting herself in this way made her extremely uncomfortable, it was the most direct way she could think of at the moment to increase the attractiveness of her chips.
"Suzune-chan, why did you start using yourself as a bargaining chip?"
Kitagawa Kai looked at her with surprise.
Horikita Suzune When he heard the words "chips", the blush on his face seemed to be spreading.
"Huh, I'm squeezed by you every day, so I should grow up."
"Six months."
"Okay, anyway, I know you won't let me go easily."
Then Kitagawa Kai told Horikita Suzune how to pass the exam. (I'm sorry.)
"One more thing."
Horikita Suzune's heart suddenly tightened. And? The six-month contract is not enough? What else does he want?
"Don't push yourself too far."
"No, it's just a small thing. I want you to make a friend, Kushida Kikyo from your class."
"Why, what's the use of being friends with a hypocritical woman like her?"
"Hey, if you don't tell me, can you communicate and trade with the seniors on your own? Kushida Kikyo, you need her power."
Kitagawa: Kushida, things are done, OverOver.
Kitagawa: Let's have a date this weekend, sooner rather than later.
Kushida: Received.
The friendship between Horikita Suzune and Kushida Kikyo, driven by some kind of tacit understanding, was established with amazing efficiency, at least on the surface.
Horikita Suzune, on the other hand, was forced to put on a mask called cooperation and struggled to endure the closeness and care of Kushida Kikyo.
Unsurprisingly, Kushida Kikyo's efficiency was much higher than expected, and he quickly obtained the archeology test papers from the senior students.
The situation is great and full of vitality.
The last Thursday before the midterm exam, in a corner of the coffee shop.
Horikita and Kushida sat opposite each other. Kushida had an impeccable warm smile on his lips. He even thoughtfully ordered two cups of hot milk and gently pushed one of them to Horikita Suzune's hand.
"It would be more comfortable to drink something warm after studying for a long time, Suzune~" Her voice sounded like it was dipped in honey.
Horikita Suzune paused almost imperceptibly, and then whispered "Thank you" in a low voice. When his fingertips touched the warm cup wall, he could not feel much warmth, and even felt a little stiff.
At this moment, spread out in the center of their desks was the "one-year mid-term exam paper" that they had paid a huge price for.
"Thank you so much Kushida." Horikita Suzune forced himself to say words that fit his status as a "friend".
"Oh, I wish I could help Suzune! Aren't we friends!" Kushida Kikyo's smile became even brighter, his eyes curved into crescents, and he seemed not to notice Horikita Suzune's stiffness at all.
She even leaned forward slightly, holding her chin with one hand, as if she were listening and sharing attentively, almost convincing any onlooker that this was a pair of close school friends.
"Hey, by the way, what is the relationship between Suzune and Kitagawa-kun...?"
"They seem to be very close friends."
What's the relationship?
Horikita Suzune's mind flashed with many images, and she chose the safest response.
"Just friends."
The smile on Kushida Kikyo's face was still sweet, as if he was not surprised by the answer and had no intention of going into details.
"That's right~" She responded briskly.
Ordinary friends?
More than once, I saw you coming out of his dormitory room, Horikita Suzune.
At that time, alone.
Now you tell me that we are just ordinary friends?
Ha... who believes it?
I thought you wouldn't lie?
(No manuscript saved ( •̥́ ˍ •̀ू))