Delicious Brown Sugar Water

That made Ichinose Honami even more confused. Why had he brought up her middle school classmates?

"Don't tell me you haven't realized how cute you are? You've got a great figure and a really likable personality, too. Surely you're at least a little aware of that?"

Kanda Shuichi was a little doubtful.

Didn't people these days usually have at least a little vanity?

It was incredibly rare for a girl like Ichinose, who was top-notch in both looks and personality, to be unaware of her own advantages. She was practically like a giant panda.

"Huh? Is that how you see me, Kanda? You're not just flattering me or anything?"

Looking at Ichinose's flustered expression, Kanda Shuichi understood. This girl really had no idea how cute she was.

"If you don't believe me, you can ask your friends. And most high school students these days care about looks. I doubt anyone could fall for an ugly girl in such a short time."

Kanda Shuichi shrugged and said it as if it were obvious. He cared about looks too, because that was normal.

"But the person who confessed to me today is a good friend of mine. I'm afraid turning her down will hurt our friendship."

"Then, Ichinose, do you consider me a friend?"

Kanda Shuichi set down his shopping bag and faced Ichinose solemnly.

"Of course."

If she said no at a time like this, Kanda Shuichi would turn around and leave at once. If they weren't even friends, why was he bothering to say all this?

"Then, Ichinose, I think you're really cute. Will you go out with me?"

Fortunately, no one was in the dormitory lobby on the first floor. Otherwise, the whole thing would be buzzing around by the next day.

"Why are you suddenly confessing to me? I wasn't prepared at all!"

Faced with Kanda Shuichi's sudden confession, Ichinose was completely bewildered.

What kind of development was this? Surely she wasn't so cute that someone who'd only met her a few times would fall for her?

"You only need to answer yes or no."

Kanda Shuichi clearly wasn't going to let Ichinose Honami wriggle out of it so easily. He was putting her under quite a bit of pressure.

"I'm sorry, Kanda. You're a good person, but I'm not ready to date anyone."

At that, Kanda Shuichi's expression shifted from serious back to its usual calm.

"See? You just have to let the other person know how you feel. If they keep pestering you after that, it means they don't deserve to be your friend, let alone your boyfriend."

"About that, actually..."

Just as Ichinose was about to explain, the elevator reached the first floor and a girl stepped out.

When she saw Kanda Shuichi and Ichinose Honami, her expression changed noticeably.

"Um, Ichinose... who is this?"

Seeing Ichinose chatting and laughing alone with a boy she didn't know—and a handsome one at that—Shiranami Chihiro immediately grew wary.

Seeing this, Kanda Shuichi understood at once. So that was it. He'd been wrong earlier.

Ichinose, your charm doesn't just attract boys. You can draw girls in, too. And you still haven't realized it? That's terrifying.

"He's Kanda from Class D. We ran into each other on the way back to the dorm."

But the girl called Chihiro clearly wasn't convinced.

"Could he be Ichinose's boyfriend or something?"

"Unfortunately, no. This is..."

Since Chihiro had only introduced her given name, Kanda Shuichi didn't feel right addressing her by it. He turned to Ichinose.

Noticing his look, Ichinose Honami quickly explained.

"This is Shiranami Chihiro, a good friend of mine. She's in Class B, too."

Just as he'd thought. The whole lobby was suddenly thick with the sour smell of jealousy. Damn it!

"Well, Shiranami, there's no need to look at me so suspiciously. Also, I admire your courage. Good luck."

As he spoke, he winked at Ichinose, making his teasing intent perfectly clear.

Then Kanda Shuichi picked up the shopping bag he'd set on the floor and hummed as he walked into the elevator.

After getting back to his room and resting for a bit, he was preparing the ingredients when someone knocked on his door.

Ah, it was Ichinose Honami. She'd just turned me down, and now she's coming straight to my room. Doesn't she think that's a little forward?

Still, she didn't seem like the sort of girl who'd get physical like Kamuro, so letting her in should be fine.

Chapter 77: Delicious Brown Sugar Water

When he opened the door, Kanda Shuichi saw Ichinose Honami looking rather down.

"Would you like to come in, Ichinose?"

After hesitating briefly, Ichinose nodded. It was her first time entering a boy's room.

"Sorry to intrude."

After entering, Ichinose remained silent. Seeing her like that, Kanda Shuichi couldn't be bothered to press her. Perhaps she'd been a little overwhelmed earlier, so he'd let her calm down first.

Meanwhile, Kanda Shuichi put on an apron and started preparing the ingredients.

A little over ten minutes later, Kanda Shuichi poured a cup of ginger and brown sugar water. When he'd simmered it, he'd added not only ginger but also red dates and goji berries, hoping they might give it a richer flavor.

"Here you go."

"Huh? Is this for me?"

Ichinose Honami clearly hadn't caught on. She'd noticed earlier that the brown sugar looked like it had just been opened. Had he bought it specially for her?

Had Kanda not confessed just to give her practice turning someone down?

Had he actually been serious about confessing?

But she'd rejected him so casually. Would he be hurt?

Ichinose's mind was full of mixed feelings.

"I just poured it. Be careful, it's hot."

Kanda Shuichi had no idea what was going through her mind. If he had, he would have thought it was quite a show.

After pouring himself another cup of brown sugar water, Kanda Shuichi scooped the rest out of the rice cooker and into a bowl, then started getting ready to stew the chicken.

He was busy for another ten minutes or so before the chicken was finally simmering.

Then Kanda Shuichi carried his cup of brown sugar water over to the chair in front of his computer desk and took a sip. It was still warm.

Mm, not bad. You could drink this like a beverage.

"So, what happened? You look completely lost."

"Chihiro said she'd act like usual starting tomorrow...but can we really go back to how things were before?" Ichinose said in a low voice, holding the cup of brown sugar water in both hands.

"Probably not."

Kanda Shuichi didn't offer any comforting words. People said lies didn't hurt, but the truth cut like a knife. Sometimes, though, it was better to make things clear sooner rather than later. Otherwise, when things got tangled up beyond repair, you'd have a real headache.

"Besides, Ichinose, you don't want to spend the rest of your life with a girl, do you?"

As he spoke, Kanda Shuichi's expression turned strange.

"I... probably don't."

Seeing the hesitation on Ichinose's face, Kanda Shuichi felt his hand stiffen around his cup.

How could she hesitate over a question like that?

Could you be a closet lesbian, too?

It's over for all the guys who like Ichinose. You poor things!

"What do you mean, probably not?" Kanda Shuichi said, deeply distressed. "You should be more decisive if you want Shiranami to give up."

"You have to understand that her feelings won't lead anywhere. You should reject her more firmly. You can make it up to her later, can't you?

Rejecting her now will only hurt for a little while.

But if you get your values about relationships wrong, that could affect you for the rest of your life!"

"Hey! Are you listening?"

Seeing that Ichinose Honami seemed to be spacing out, Kanda Shuichi waved his hand in front of her.

Suddenly, Ichinose sat up from the bed and drained the rest of the brown sugar water in her cup.

"I understand! Thanks so much for today, Kanda!"

As she spoke, she shoved the cup into Kanda Shuichi's hand, hurried to the entrance, put on her shoes, and quickly left his room.

The whole sequence of events left Kanda Shuichi dumbfounded.

So what exactly had you figured out?

Kanda Shuichi stared at the empty cup in his hand and fell into thought.

Four hours later, a little after eight in the evening, Kushida Kikyo appeared at Kanda Shuichi's door again.

Seeing Kushida Kikyo's sweet smile, Kanda Shuichi felt quite speechless. This girl really was treating his room like a trash can.

Still, she'd helped him out earlier today, so he shouldn't be too hard on her.

"I'm hungry."

Are you treating my place like a restaurant?

Even if you are, at least pay for your food, you idiot!

"Come in."

After entering, Kushida Kikyo sat down on the floor of Kanda Shuichi's room. Summer was approaching, so the floor wasn't cold. If anything, it might have been a little warm if it weren't already eight in the evening.

After serving Kushida Kikyo a bowl of chicken soup, Kanda Shuichi brought her a cup of brown sugar water as well.

"Hey, Kushida, if you keep eating this late every day, you'll put on weight."

As soon as Kanda Shuichi said that, Kushida, who was holding a spoon and drinking her soup, looked over at him with a murderous glare.

Kanda Shuichi silently picked up a glass of water and drank, pretending he hadn't said anything.

So she cared about that, too.

"What's this?"

Kushida picked up the cup of brown sugar water Kanda Shuichi had set on the table, looking puzzled.

"Brown sugar water. If you don't want it, you can put it down."

Brown sugar water?

She knew about this stuff. Her good friend Wang Meiyu made it for herself whenever she felt unwell.

But wasn't that a tradition from her hometown? Japanese people usually drank cold water, didn't they?

"Did you see Xiao Mei today?"

Kushida looked at him suspiciously.

"Who's Xiao Mei? Do you have a fever?"

"Wang Meiyu, idiot. We all call her Xiao Mei. Brown sugar water for your period isn't a Japanese tradition, is it? Why did you give me this?"

"Then pour it out."

Kanda Shuichi wasn't going to indulge her. Drink it or don't. Don't waste my kindness.

"I can't do that."

Watching Kushida continue eating, Kanda Shuichi suddenly thought of something.

"Kushida, don't tell me you're out of points?"