Chapter 29: Bento Danger!!
[Service Club – Aniverse]
Hikigaya suddenly felt a resentful gaze pierce through the screen.
"…What's going on? Is it snowing? Why does it feel so cold…?"
Isshiki shivered. "Senpai, it's freezing all of a sudden. What's happening…?"
Yukinoshita answered coolly, "Who knows… perhaps winter has arrived early."
"Oi, oi, it's summer right now. What do you mean winter?" Hikigaya shot back, but his words faltered the instant his eyes met Yukinoshita's.
"…Artificial snow. No wonder it's cold."
Yuigahama puffed her cheeks. "See, Hikki? You keep saying you're unwanted, but clearly you've got a ton of people protecting you."
"It's just a video," Hikigaya muttered. "Just a video…"
Yukinoshita tilted her head, her gaze sharp. "Oh? So now you're dating silver-haired girls too? How refined of you."
"…It's not even me…" Hikigaya groaned.
---
Guided by Sakayanagi, Hikigaya found himself in a quiet green park.
Although he had attended the school for nearly a month, he rarely ventured out on weekends. This was his first time discovering such a place—and apparently, no one else knew about it either. The massive park was completely deserted, save for the two of them.
As noon approached, Sakayanagi opened her backpack and revealed a neatly prepared bento. Even Hikigaya couldn't hide his surprise.
She looked every inch the pampered young lady, yet her cooking skills were more than passable—better than average, in fact.
Catching his stunned expression, she smiled faintly.
"As you might guess, I don't cook very often. But it's not as if I can't cook."
"Stop reading my mind like it's written on my face," Hikigaya sighed.
"Then," she said gently, handing him a pair of chopsticks, "I'll ask you to taste it and give me your impressions."
He stared at the chopsticks, stunned. "…For me?"
"Of course. I invited you. Taking care of Hikki falls within my responsibility."
Her gaze carried no deceit. It was a simple, genuine invitation to share lunch.
"…I once had a friend," Hikigaya muttered, "who was tricked with food. He thought it was just a meal, but before he realized it, he was roped into being free labor to repay the debt."
"That friend was you," Sakayanagi said without missing a beat.
"Are you stupid? I said a friend."
She laughed softly. "Relax. It's just a normal lunch. I won't threaten you into joining Class A with something like this."
Though wary, Hikigaya found no malice in her. And the bento really did look tempting.
Come to think of it… he had never eaten a girl's handmade bento before. At Sobu High, his lunches were mostly convenience store snacks—or the bentos Komachi made for him. This was the first time, aside from his sister, that he would try one.
---
[Service Club – Aniverse]
Inside the clubroom, the "snow" grew heavier.
"Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita said icily, "would you like to try my bento tomorrow?"
"Yukinon, you're scary…" Yuigahama yelped, then brightened. "But you can try mine too, Hikki!"
"…Why is everyone suddenly obsessed with bentos?" Hikigaya muttered. "It's just food. It doesn't matter."
"It does matter!"
Isshiki Iroha blurted, then quickly turned to Hayama. "Senpai, would you like me to make one for you? I'll prepare a special portion just for you."
"…You didn't need to emphasize that," Hikigaya deadpanned. "Don't force yourself."
But his protests went ignored. The moment Isshiki mentioned making lunch for Hayama, Miura jumped in, declaring she'd make one too.
Before long, "bento" had somehow become the official activity of the Service Club.
---
Back in the park, the two ate together under the warm sun. Hikigaya leaned back on his hands, the corners of his mouth tugging upward despite himself.
"…Delicious. Seriously delicious."
"Thank you," Sakayanagi said softly. "If you joined Class A, I'd prepare one for you every day."
"…That's quite the bribe. But if word got out that Class A's leader was making lunch for me, the school would implode."
He shook his head. No, this was definitely better left avoided.
Sakayanagi lowered her gaze, smiling faintly. "…It's really not such a big deal."
"Hikki, tissue."
When he reached out to take it, she leaned in instead—gently wiping his mouth herself.
Her satisfied smile afterward sent a shiver down his spine.
"…Terrifying. Absolutely terrifying. As expected of a fairy."
She laughed quietly, then began cleaning up the dishes.
"You really won't let me help?" he asked.
"I told you," she replied, smiling the same smile as when they first arrived. "It's just an invitation."
"I'm not like Ryuen. I won't force you into Class A. I only hope we can deepen our relationship. That's all."
Then, her tone softened. "…Of course, if you did want to join, I'd spend every last class point to make it happen. That's how much I value you."
Her words rang with sincerity. Whatever her motives, there was no trace of lies.
"That girl with the side ponytail," Hikigaya said suddenly. "She's the one you sent to follow me."
"Oh? So you noticed."
"It's hard not to. She pops up in the strangest places."
"She was simply protecting you," Sakayanagi explained. "Yes, it was my order. But if it bothers you, I'll have her leave immediately."
Hikigaya wasn't sure what "danger" she was referring to. But in this school, privacy didn't exist anyway. If Sakayanagi wanted him watched, so be it.
And besides—she was clearly no ordinary student. The way she spoke, the way she maneuvered… she understood this school far too well.