The moment Asuna spoke, even the well-trained classmates couldn't help but stir with excitement. Asuna seemed briefly startled by the buzz, but true to her strategy, she maintained a radiant smile, acting as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Hachiman, noting how unusually forward Asuna was today, found no reason to refuse—truth be told, he was delighted to agree.
"Alright, Kazuto, today on the rooftop, it's the five of us…" Rika began.
"Nah, Hachiman, we're hitting the cafeteria today. You two go enjoy some alone time for once," Kazuto cut in quickly, as if Rika's words were a cue he'd been drilled to interrupt.
"Well, maybe we could grab something from the shop and join—" Hachiman started.
"No way, I'm starving! Let's go, Rika, Keiko!" Kazuto declared, already halfway out the door.
"Catch you two later!" Rika called with a wave.
"See ya!" Keiko chimed in.
"Hey, wait—" Hachiman tried, but the trio vanished with surprising speed.
Shaking his head, Hachiman turned to Asuna. "Those guys are weirdly quick today. Alright, shall we head up?"
"Yup, let's go!" Asuna replied brightly.
The two made their way to the rooftop. Since lunch break had just started, the area was still sparsely populated. Hachiman considered finding a less conspicuous spot, but Asuna strode ahead, plopping down on a bench near the center—prime real estate for being noticed. She beckoned him over, and with a resigned sigh, Hachiman joined her in the glaringly visible location.
"Hey, Asuna, you sure about sitting here?" he asked, glancing around.
"Why not?" she replied, tilting her head innocently.
"Well, if you're fine with it, I guess it's no big deal," Hachiman muttered, already feeling the weight of curious stares. They'll lose interest eventually, he told himself, half-giving up as he sat beside her. Asuna didn't seem to mind the attention, so he decided to just roll with it and enjoy the moment. His eyes lit up with anticipation as Asuna began unpacking the lunch.
"Oh? Three bento boxes?" Hachiman noted, intrigued.
"Y-Yeah, um, yours is special, Hachiman-kun. I separated the rice and sides," Asuna explained, a touch nervous.
"Special, huh? Can I open it now?" he asked eagerly.
"Go for it!" she said with a smile.
"Alright, let's see the rice—WHOA!" Hachiman's voice boomed across the rooftop, his resolve to stay low-key evaporating as he opened the box. In an instant, every student present turned to stare.
Oblivious to the attention, Hachiman gaped at the contents. "N-No way… is this Ragout Rabbit?!"
"Yup!" Asuna confirmed, beaming.
The rooftop erupted in disbelief.
"Ragout Rabbit?!" one student gasped.
"The S-rank ingredient?!" another exclaimed.
"No way, that's real? You're kidding!" a third cried.
"Show us, show us!" others demanded, swarming the bench.
Hachiman and Asuna were momentarily stunned by the mob, but really, Hachiman had only himself to blame. Shouting "Ragout Rabbit"—a legendary ingredient known to everyone here, steeped in special significance—was bound to draw a crowd. The students' frenzy was inevitable.
"That's…" one student stammered, peering into the box.
"Is that actually Ragout Rabbit?" another asked, skeptical.
"Let me see!" someone pushed forward.
"Holy— that's incredible!" another marveled.
Of course, actual Ragout Rabbit cuisine didn't exist in reality. The students, expecting some mythical meat dish, were predictably let down—yet Hachiman's words weren't a lie. The rice in the bento was adorned with colorful furikake arranged into an adorable, stylized depiction of a Ragout Rabbit. The crowd stared in awe, unable to fathom how much time it must have taken to create such a masterpiece.
"I've seen one in-game once! That's definitely a Ragout Rabbit!" a student declared.
"It's so cute! And so colorful!" another gushed.
"Flash, you're unreal…" someone murmured, moved.
"Vice-Commander, you never disappoint!" another cheered.
Hachiman and Asuna sat frozen, overwhelmed by the enthusiasm. Hachiman recovered first, addressing the crowd in a measured tone. "Uh, sorry, I get how you feel, but can we eat now?"
Snapping out of their trance, the students bowed apologetically and dispersed to their usual spots, restoring a semblance of calm to the rooftop.
"Wow, we really stole the show, huh, Hachiman-kun?" Asuna said, giggling.
"Yeah, my bad for shouting like that," Hachiman admitted, scratching his head.
Asuna's eyes sparkled with delight. "No, it was worth it to see you so surprised! I'm glad I put in the effort."
"I mean, the artistry blew me away," Hachiman said, chuckling. "Alright, let's check the sides next. I'll keep it together this time."
"Uh…" Asuna's face flushed crimson, her voice hesitant. "N-Nothing, just… it's a bit embarrassing if others see the sides."
"Oh, got it," Hachiman said, his curiosity piqued. Heart pounding, he carefully lifted the lid. Inside was a parade of heart-shaped delights: a heart-shaped hamburger patty, a heart-shaped tamagoyaki, and more—all unmistakably heart-shaped. Hachiman's face matched Asuna's in redness.
"Uh… th-thanks," he stammered.
"Y-You're welcome," Asuna replied, equally shy.
"Shall we… dig in?" he suggested.
"Y-Yeah!" she agreed.
They began eating side by side. "Your bento's pretty normal, huh?" Hachiman observed, glancing at Asuna's lunch.
"Well, yeah, I kept mine simple," she said with a laugh.
"Mm, this is delicious!" Hachiman said, savoring a bite.
"Hehe," Asuna giggled, her heart swelling with joy watching him enjoy her cooking. Seizing the moment, she moved to the next phase of the plan.
"Hey, Hachiman-kun, can I…?" She scooted closer until their shoulders touched, reigniting the rooftop's buzz.
"Whoa, what's up?" Hachiman asked, startled by her sudden closeness.
"Um, just…" Asuna picked up a piece of his side dish with her chopsticks—a heart-shaped morsel, perfectly visible to the onlookers. Whispers of "Heart! It's a heart! Everything's hearts!" rippled through the crowd. Then, holding the food near his mouth, Asuna said, "Here, say 'Ahh~'"
"Uh, w-what?" Hachiman faltered.
"Ahh~" she repeated, unwavering.
"U-Uh…" he stammered, flustered.
This was, of course, Rika's doing. Her instructions were clear: use your chopsticks for the "Ahh" moment, and no matter what Hachiman says or does, stick to "Ahh" and nothing else. Last night, Rika had been emphatic: "This is the ultimate move, Asuna! Feed him with your chopsticks. It'll thrill that closet perv Hachiman and make a statement to everyone watching!"
True to Rika's prediction, Hachiman couldn't resist. Overwhelmed by Asuna's relentless "Ahh~," he opened his mouth wide and ate the offered morsel. Whether he was a closet perv or not, he was undeniably pleased. The rooftop erupted—girls squealed with delight, while most boys groaned in defeat, though a few offered grudging congratulations.
Seeing Hachiman blush but smile as he chewed, Asuna found him utterly adorable. She picked up another heart-shaped piece and held it to his mouth, saying, "Ahh~" again. The crowd buzzed anew—"Another heart! Are they all hearts?!"—but Hachiman, either used to the embarrassment or just embracing it, calmly ate the next piece. The girls squealed again, while the boys' morale plummeted to funeral levels.
"Man, these are all so good. You're an amazing cook, Asuna," Hachiman said sincerely.
Asuna puffed out her chest proudly. "My cooking skill's maxed out, you know!"
Hachiman laughed. "That doesn't exactly apply here, but still."
"Oh, caught me!" Asuna said, grinning like a kid whose prank was found out.
"But seriously, it's that good. Thanks, Asuna," he added warmly.
"Ehehe, hearing that makes it all worthwhile," she replied, beaming.
The air around them shimmered with a pink, sugary aura, so sweet it nearly made the onlookers gag. The rooftop spectacle spread like wildfire once the students returned to their classrooms. By the end of the day, the group reconvened at the shoe lockers. Asuna's locker remained free of love letters, and the girls—Rika, Keiko, and Asuna—whispered triumphantly about the plan's success.
"So, what's the plan now? Wanna stop somewhere?" Kazuto asked.
Rika and Keiko exchanged thoughtful glances, but before they could respond, Asuna dropped the day's biggest bombshell, catching even Rika off guard.
"Oh, sorry, um… I'm actually staying over at Hachiman-kun's place tonight, so we're heading straight home to grab stuff for dinner."
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