ALL NOVEL 17: Who is She to Him?
“I’m sorry, I’m a bit late, but have you already had lunch?”
Kagari, who was sitting across from me at a seat by the window, much like my own in the classroom, asked with a hint of worry.
I wondered why she was concerned, but maybe she just wanted to have lunch together. She would probably say something like, “Husbands and wives should eat together, right?” without a second thought.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t. I forgot, so I’m skipping lunch today.”
“Oh, that’s lucky!”
“Are you the type who enjoys other people’s misfortunes?”
“No, it’s not like that! It’s just convenient for me, or lucky for me… hehe.”
Kagari blushed and smiled cutely as she placed a small bag on the desk. She unzipped it and took out a box—seeing it made me frown.
It was a bento box. The thermos she pulled out next confirmed its purpose. Was she planning to eat deliciously in front of my empty stomach?
Maybe she was the type to say, “Food tastes best when eaten in front of a hungry person.” That would be a terrible personality trait.
Due to my peculiar constitution (I’m not sure if calling my dislike for homemade food a constitution is appropriate), I didn’t want her charity, but it was still frustrating. Nonetheless, it was my fault for forgetting to prepare lunch.
To be fair, not choosing the cafeteria or the store was also my responsibility. I’ll accept it willingly…
“You suddenly look depressed! You look adorable when you’re down, but I’m not trying to be mean, you know!”
“So, to Kagari, this is just a game?”
“You’re definitely misunderstanding something…”
Kagari laughed, both exasperated and accustomed, as she opened the bento box. Despite living alone, Kagari was presumably a rich lady. And considering it was Kagari’s bento, it was bound to be an extravagant meal, one not meant for commoners.
But honestly, it wasn’t that extraordinary.
The two-tiered bento had white rice on one level and side dishes on the other. From an objective perspective, it looked delicious.
However, the problem was the quantity. Even though I have a small appetite, it was still too much food for a high school boy like me.
Clearly, it was too much for a high school girl to eat alone—at least, an ordinary high school girl couldn’t finish this much food every day.
Kagari, you’re quite surprising in many ways.
It wasn’t a matter of good or bad, just unexpected.
Well, no matter how much she eats, it seems to all go to her sharp intellect, exceptional athletic ability, and… her feminine attributes.
As I thought about these slightly vulgar things, Kagari clasped her hands and said, “Itadakimasu,” before picking up a piece of tamagoyaki with her chopsticks and offering it to me.
With a full smile, Kagari said, “Say ah.”
“No, thanks.”
“You don’t need to hold back.”
“It’s not that I’m holding back…”
I didn’t want to say that I didn’t want to eat homemade food. I wanted to enjoy it if I could, but if Kagari told someone else and Aika heard about it, it would be the worst.
Kagari had a reputation for having a wide network, so even though the possibility was low, I wanted to avoid it.
But as if reading my mind, Kagari said,
“It’s okay. After all, this bento was made by your wife.”
She said it with a smile. There was no element of safety in her words, but when I opened my mouth to say so, she smoothly put the tamagoyaki in my mouth.
Reflexively, I tried to swallow it immediately. It wasn’t a matter of taste; my body tried to reject it instinctively, but I realized it wasn’t necessary.
The tamagoyaki, likely made with a lot of sugar, had a comforting sweetness. Instead of rejecting it, my body welcomed the taste as if it had been longing for it.
“It’s delicious.”
Indeed, it was sweet but not overly so. The taste was strangely familiar, and the more I chewed, the more the flavor spread.
It was surprising enough to make me want to write a serious food review about a single piece of tamagoyaki.
Wait, why do I feel like crying? This is bad; if I cry now, I’ll seem like a strange person.
I fought back the tears threatening to spill out and lifted my head to look at the ceiling.
“See? It was fine, right?”
“Kagari, who are you really…”
“If you ask who I am, I’m your wife from a past life and your girlfriend in this life… in parentheses.”
“Oh… that was the most convincing thing you’ve said so far, even though you’re not my girlfriend.”
Though she let out a dissatisfied “Ehh?” Kagari laughed joyfully and patted my head before showing me the bento.
“You can eat whatever you like. I made it all for you, so it’s all delicious.”
“You’re really confident… and you’re probably right. Well… can I have the croquette?”
“Oh, you like croquettes in this life too. Cute.”
“Huh? No, what are you talking about? No high school boy dislikes croquettes.”
“But you like them enough to choose them first, right?”
“Damn…”
Having been defeated at the speed of light, I reached out to borrow the chopsticks, but Kagari picked up the croquette with her chopsticks and offered it to me.
“Say ah.”
“Do I have to eat like this?”
“Of course, we’re madly in love.”
“We’re not madly in love or anything.”
It’s a one-way street… but I guess I have no choice.
When I opened my mouth, Kagari happily fed me.
—
Though Uraku seemed reluctant, he smiled with each bite. Kagari suppressed her rising emotions.
‘Oh? What’s wrong, young lady? You look serious.’
‘Please stop calling me young lady! I made this for you. Please, have some.’
‘Oh… a bento. Why for me?’
‘Because you always only have a small rice ball, and then you’re hungry after school… It’s unsightly!’
‘Unsightly, huh…’
Laughing at her choice of words, he thanked her and accepted the bento. Unaware of her nervousness, he casually opened the lid.
‘It’s very luxurious… did you make this yourself?’
‘Is that a problem?’
‘No, I’m impressed. The young lady is good at cooking too.’
‘How many times do I have to tell you not to call me that!’
Shaking her light blonde hair, she told him off. He watched her with a smile and then exclaimed.
‘There are croquettes… and hamburgers too! Is this a growing boy’s special?’
‘If you don’t like it, you don’t have to eat it!’
‘I didn’t say that. I like both… although it’s a lot of food. I’m happy.’
After saying “Itadakimasu,” he picked up the chopsticks and ate with visible anticipation. Her heart raced with excitement, anxiety, and tension.
As he chewed and swallowed, he murmured almost to himself,
‘…It’s delicious.’
‘Hehe…’
That was her memory of the first bento she made. Even after being reborn, it was a shining page in her life.
Recalling and savoring that memory, she smiled at the boy in front of her who resembled him, and continued to feed him, listening to his small complaints with a smile.