"Haa…"
"Tsukareta… I'm exhausted!"
"Finally… class is over…"
"..."
Noon had arrived.
The two grueling, tension-filled periods under Kojima Kana's oppressive aura finally came to an end. The moment the teacher's footsteps faded down the hallway, a collective sigh of relief rippled through Class 1-G. Many students seemed to deflate, slumping bonelessly onto their desks like puppets with cut strings, their faces etched with profound weariness. The entire classroom was steeped in a lazy, post-trauma atmosphere.
"Gotou-san, daijoubu?" (Are you okay?)
Kasumigaoka Touji retrieved two carefully wrapped bento boxes from his desk. As he made to leave, he glanced behind him and saw Gotou Hitori in a state of advanced meltdown over her desk, her form achieving a uniquely pitiable artistic style. He couldn't help but ask. After all, they were friends now.
"…I-I am… still among the living," came the trembling, muffled reply.
Hearing her friend's concerned inquiry (she automatically applied the 'friend' filter to his words), Gotou Hitori painstakingly raised her head.
Her gaze fell on the two bento boxes in Kasumigaoka Touji's hands. She didn't think much of it, assuming they were, as usual, for Kasumigaoka Utaha-senpai.
Kasumigaoka Touji was momentarily speechless at Gotou Hitori's dramatic declaration.
Are Kojima-sensei's classes really that life-threatening? You should apologize to her!
Just then, Kani Nayuta came skipping over, a cute plush toy tucked under one arm, her face lit up with a brilliant, sunbeam-bright smile.
"Winter-sensei! Where's my love bento?"
She asked, her big blue eyes wide and unblinking as they fixed on the boxes in his hands.
The phrase 'love bento' was like a pebble dropped into the quiet pond of the classroom. Several nearby classmates who overheard couldn't help but shoot surprised glances their way.
Weren't they just mutual fans? When did it escalate to 'love bentos'?
They sensed that something was off—in fact, that feeling had been brewing since the very day Kani Nayuta transferred in.
Gotou Hitori and Kumin Tsuyuri, who were nearby, also looked at Kasumigaoka Touji with expressions of mild surprise.
"Here."
Kasumigaoka Touji, maintaining his composure, handed one of the bento boxes to Kani Nayuta, along with a pair of chopsticks. He grumbled playfully, "I can't shake the feeling our roles are reversed here. Shouldn't you be the one making me a love bento?"
What kind of guy was out here preparing heartfelt lunchboxes? He wasn't planning on being a househusband in the future…
[Idol's Lover!][100 Sweet Lover Check-ins (6/100)] (Seafood feast, aquarium visit, claw machine victory, Tokyo Skytree date, hotel stay, his handmade love bento…)
A faint, translucent light-blue screen flickered before his eyes.
*Sweet Check-in +1!*
This was the second phase of Kani Nayuta's dream, [Idol's Lover!] The objective was to complete 100 sweet, romantic 'check-ins' as a couple. It was a lengthy, cumulative task that emphasized shared experiences. Of course, giving her the bento wasn't just about the task. It was also a form of compensation for not being able to take her to Hokkaido during Golden Week, and the fulfillment of a much older promise—he'd told her long ago he'd make her a handmade bento someday.
"Ehehe~."
Kani Nayuta accepted the bento, listening to his complaint with a happy grin. "Winter-sensei, if you don't mind my… questionable culinary skills, I can bring you a love bento tomorrow, too."
"I definitely wouldn't mind! Then it's settled!" Kasumigaoka Touji declared immediately. For life to be rich and colorful, participation from everyone was key. Taking turns making love bentos sounded like an excellent system to him.
"Let's go find Utaha first," he said, turning to Kumin Tsuyuri beside him.
"Mm." Kumin Tsuyuri gave a gentle nod. After Kasumigaoka and Kani Nayuta left the classroom, presumably heading for the third-year corridor, she looked at the still-recovering Gotou Hitori. "Gotou-san, shall we head to the clubroom as well?"
"Hai…" Gotou Hitori responded weakly, pulling two small, neatly packed bento boxes from her own desk.
"…Are you also planning to give someone a love bento?" Kumin Tsuyuri blinked, looking at the two boxes with genuine surprise.
"Eh!?"
"A-ah… no! It's Mizu Shingen Mochi!" Gotou Hitori waved her hands in a fluster, her voice rising a pitch. "My mother made too much… so I brought some to share with everyone…"
"Sou ka!" (Is that so)
Being treated to snacks by a clubmate was always a cause for happiness. Kumin Tsuyuri's eyes sparkled, a brilliant smile gracing her lips. Together, they left the classroom and made their way to the clubroom.
"..."
The Nap Club's activity room, which had grown increasingly warm and lively over the past month, was already occupied.
The first to arrive today was Kato Megumi.
Her outward-flaring bob haircut had undergone a subtle evolution. It was no longer just curled at the very ends. Following her own refined aesthetic sense, she had introduced a soft, gentle 'wave' into the midsection of her hair as well. The change, while understated, made her look distinctly different from the girl who had started school weeks ago.
The enhancement to her appearance made her more noticeable. Though she was still quiet, she no longer faded into the background as easily as before. This subtle transformation brought Kato Megumi a deep sense of satisfaction, and her overall mood had noticeably brightened in recent days.
She also felt a growing sense of gratitude towards Kasumigaoka Touji. After all, it was his suggestion that had sparked this journey of self-improvement.
Of course, whether her feelings were only gratitude… that was something only she herself knew.
"..."
"Megumi-chan, konnichiwa~."
"Konnichiwa~."
Kumin Tsuyuri and Gotou Hitori, who entered the clubroom together, greeted her with their respective soft and gentle voices.
Kato Megumi, who had been standing by the window gazing outside, turned her head. Her voice, when she replied, carried a different quality of gentleness from theirs. "Konnichiwa~."
She began walking towards her usual seat, her eyes catching on the two small bento boxes placed before Gotou Hitori.
She looked at them for a few seconds, long enough to be noticed.
"I brought some Mizu Shingen Mochi," Gotou Hitori explained, placing the topmost box in the center of the table. "We can share it after we finish our lunches."
"Did you make it yourself?" Kato Megumi asked, her tone one of mild, polite curiosity.
Gotou Hitori cleared her throat lightly into her fist. "No… my mother made it…"
"..."
The two exchanged a few more pleasantries before opening their own lunch boxes, preparing to eat. Just as they did, the door opened again, and Kasumigaoka Touji, Kasumigaoka Utaha, and Kani Nayuta entered the clubroom.
"Kato-san, this is for you."
Kani Nayuta set down her own bento and placed the cute plush toy she'd been carrying—a round, fluffy hamster—directly in front of Kato Megumi.
"Eh?"
A genuine flicker of surprise crossed Kato Megumi's usually placid features, creating a slight, visible ripple. She tilted her head, her expression one of innocent curiosity. "Is today… some sort of special occasion?"
"Just now, Gotou-san mentioned she brought Mizu Shingen Mochi for everyone," she continued, her dark, glistening eyes glancing between the others. "Why is everyone bringing gifts to share all of a sudden?"
"Ara? Really?" Kani Nayuta looked over at Gotou Hitori with surprise. Gotou Hitori gave a gentle nod in confirmation. Kani Nayuta turned back to Kato Megumi with a bright smile. "What a coincidence, then!"
"Last weekend, Winter-sensei and I went to play some UFO catchers. We ended up winning way too many prizes, so I'm sharing them with everyone."
"Gotou-san and I already received ours this morning in the classroom," Kumin Tsuyuri added cheerfully from the side.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had also gotten one—she'd received hers the day before and had asked Touji to bring it home for her. Kani Nayuta had even given one to Eriri Spencer Sawamura, making her the only non-Nap Club member to receive a plushie.
"Arigatou gozaimasu!"
"It's so cute~."
Hearing that everyone had one, Kato Megumi accepted the gift gracefully. She expressed her thanks, then gently squeezed the plush toy with her slender, elegant fingers, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching her lips.
Her dark, observant eyes then swept inconspicuously towards Kasumigaoka Touji, who was busy heating his bento in the clubroom's small microwave. A flicker of quiet surprise passed through her mind. I'd assumed Kasumigaoka-kun would be… occupied with Kasumigaoka-senpai last weekend. I didn't expect Honda-san to be with him…
She asked her next question with a perfectly calm, casual tone, her expression serene. "Honda-san, did you go out somewhere last weekend?"
"Mm-hmm, we went to the area near the Tokyo Skytree," Kani Nayuta replied without a second thought. She pulled out a chair, sat down, and opened her bento box—she preferred her food at room temperature.
Kato Megumi, seated beside her, happened to glance at the opened bento. The sight made her pause momentarily.
At that moment, Kani Nayuta herself looked down at her lunch. Her eyes widened. There, in the center of the box, was a perfect mound of white rice, meticulously shaped into a heart. Across its surface, written in a vibrant red ketchup script, were the words: 'I love you'. Surrounding this centerpiece was a colorful, artfully arranged array of side dishes—tamagoyaki, crisp vegetables, grilled chicken—each looking delicious and carefully prepared.
She had expected a simple, heartfelt bento. She hadn't expected this level of presentation!
An overwhelming wave of satisfaction and delighted surprise washed over Kani Nayuta.
Kasumigaoka Utaha had already known since morning that Touji had prepared a bento for Kani Nayuta. She had no particular objections to that fact. However…
Why is her rice shaped like a heart? With words on it! Is this… preferential treatment?
Kasumigaoka Utaha had never received a bento like this from him!
She narrowed her wine-red eyes and shot a distinctly unhappy look towards Touji, who had just retrieved his own heated bento from the microwave. He met her gaze with calm, unflinching eyes.
What are you looking at? Yours is exactly the same!
He certainly wasn't foolish enough to make the rookie mistake of preparing an elaborate 'love bento' for only one girl.
Click—!
The sound of a camera shutter broke the quiet. Kani Nayuta, sitting at the table, had pulled out her phone and taken a quick photo of her lunch. She felt the first love bento Touji had ever made for her was a moment worth preserving.
The sound attracted the attention of Kumin Tsuyuri and Gotou Hitori, who had already begun eating their own, more modest lunches.
The former looked over curiously, her long eyelashes fluttering. She blinked once, then asked in her gentle, lilting voice, "Honda-san… are you and Touji-san… dating?"
It was a question she'd wanted to ask ever since the 'love bento' comment in the classroom. With this level of culinary declaration, had the two officially become a couple?
Almost instinctively, she then turned her head to look at Kasumigaoka Touji, and then her gaze settled more pointedly on Kasumigaoka Utaha beside him, her expression one of gentle, puzzled inquiry.
Kato Megumi and Gotou Hitori, hearing the question, also paused. Their attention shifted almost in unison, their curious gazes moving quietly between the three individuals at the center of this unfolding domestic drama…