The doorbell rang, it seemed Shiina Mahiru was back.
"So early again today? Did you not go for a run?"
Shiina Mahiru knew that Mochizuki had been going for runs after school recently.
Although she didn't know why Mochizuki suddenly wanted to exercise, it was a good thing overall.
"Ah, there was something going on with the club today, so I didn't go for a run."
"Is that so? You can't be lazy.
Running is something you should stick with properly!"
Shiina Mahiru thought Mochizuki was just doing it sporadically and decided to give him some good advice.
The truth was, Mochizuki's running level had already reached level four, and the improvement from continuing to jog every day wasn't significant.
"Ahem, I know, Shiina, you definitely can't lap me now!"
"Hmm... you have the nerve to say that, getting lapped by a girl.
And really? You haven't been exercising for long!"
Shiina Mahiru spoke irritably, then with a look of disbelief.
"Of course!
If you don't believe me, let's compare next time."
"Okay.
But compared to running, I think Tennis is more fun."
Shiina Mahiru recalled today's Tennis class, looking quite interested.
At this moment, the correct answer should have been, "Then let's play Tennis together again during the next physical education class."
However, clearly, Mochizuki couldn't give the correct answer.
"Indeed, compared to Tennis, running is a bit boring."
"Oh right, one of the requests for the Service Club today was to improve Tennis skills."
"Eh, is that so!"
Perhaps because she didn't hear the answer she wanted, Shiina Mahiru was a little disappointed, but also very curious about the Service Club's request.
And Mochizuki seemed to have forgotten what Yukinoshita said today about the Service Club being obligated to protect every student's privacy.
"So, are you going to train for Tennis next?"
"Yeah, that's right.
That guy Yukinoshita said to use the lunch break."
"Yukinoshita, huh... at noon, huh..."
"Anyway, enough about that, what are we eating today?"
Mochizuki spoke expectantly, because of the physical education class, he had exercised quite a bit today and urgently needed to replenish his energy.
Seeing Mochizuki's expectant gaze, Shiina Mahiru showed a playful smile.
"It's a secret!"
"Eh, Shiina, you've changed.
What's there to keep secret?
I'll just watch you make it later."
"Alright, then you can watch."
...
The next day, noon.
After Mochizuki bought bread and drinks at the convenience store, he headed straight for the school's Tennis court.
Since he was going to help Totsuka Saika train anyway, he might as well eat there, and there wouldn't be anyone around, Mochizuki thought.
Then, when he got to the Tennis court, Mochizuki found that the large iron gate outside the court was locked, and he couldn't get in.
"Eh, no way!"
Helplessly, Mochizuki could only sit on the steps under a large tree and munch on his bread.
Fortunately, there were many lush trees near the Tennis court, and the wind was quite strong, making it cool and shady.
Not long after, Yui Yuigahama and Yukino came over with their bentos.
"Xiao Wang, did you come so early?"
"Why are you sitting on the ground?"
"Why didn't you go inside? There are chairs in there."
Facing Yui Yuigahama's triple question, Mochizuki almost choked on his bread.
He took a sip of his drink before recovering.
"The gate is locked, I can't get in."
"Eh, really?
Then we won't be able to help Ayaka train?"
"How pitiful!"
Yukino Yukinoshita said, then leisurely pulled out a key from her pocket.
"How do you have a key?"
"Of course I borrowed it.
Didn't you know that the Tennis court is locked outside of class time and club activity time?"
"Why didn't you say so earlier?
You made me come all the way here for nothing."
"Who told you not to ask me, and I didn't expect you to come so early either."
"Damn it, what's there to lock up the Tennis court for?
There's nothing valuable inside."
Fortunately, Mochizuki didn't wait too long.
So next, the three of them sat on a bench and ate lunch.
"Wow, Yukino, your bento is so extravagant! Did you make it yourself?"
Yui Yuigahama exclaimed in surprise.
She saw that Yukino's bento box had various dishes, and they were arranged very delicately.
"Yes, I made it myself."
Then, Yui Yuigahama also opened her bento box, and Yui Yuigahama's wasn't bad either, with grilled meat, fried shrimp, chicken nuggets, and vegetables.
Compared to Yukino's, there was a lot more meat, which was probably why Yui Yuigahama had a slightly better figure.
"My mom prepared mine.
I wanted to make it myself, but I'm not good at it, hehe!"
"Yukino, can I have a meatball?"
"Yes, you may.
Please."
"Oh, arigato!"
Yui Yuigahama took out her chopsticks, picked up a meatball from Yukino's bento box, and put it in her mouth.
"Hmm... delicious!"
Afterward, Yui Yuigahama spoke.
"Yukino, you try some of mine too!"
Before Yukino Yukinoshita could pick up her own chopsticks, Yui Yuigahama had already picked up a chicken nugget and fed it to Yukino.
After a slight hesitation, thinking that they were both girls, Yukino ate it.
"Tha... thank you..."
Compared to the two people who had prepared bentos, Mochizuki, who was gnawing on bread and drinking a drink, seemed a bit pitiful.
"Xiao Wang, do you want some?"
"Ah..."
Even as she asked, Yui Yuigahama had already acted.
Yui Yuigahama used the same trick, picking up a chicken nugget and feeding it to Mochizuki.
And Yukino Yukinoshita stared in shock at Yui Yuigahama's chopsticks.
Those were the ones she had just used.
Now feeding Mochizuki, wouldn't that mean she and Mochizuki were sharing a pair of chopsticks!
What should she do?
Should she stop her?
It didn't seem right!
Someone as careless as Yui Yuigahama definitely just didn't think about it.
Oh well, just let it go!
Anyway, she was the first one to eat from them, so she shouldn't be at a disadvantage, right!
"Huh?"
Mochizuki was looking at his phone and didn't know what had just happened between the two girls.
Facing the sudden chicken nugget in front of him.
Before he could react, he subconsciously bit into it, led by Yui Yuigahama.
"Hmm..."
"How is it?
How is it!"
"It's very delicious.
Thank you."
"Hehe, it's delicious, right?
Although my cooking is terrible, my mom's cooking is really good."
"Oh, your mom made it.
I was wondering when your cooking got so good!"
"What, I can do it too!
Someday I'll make delicious food!"
Although he was eating someone else's food, Mochizuki couldn't bear to see Yui Yuigahama waste food, even though he himself had wasted it before.
Mochizuki still cruelly said, "How much food would be wasted by you then!
Think about your cookies..."
"That was just an accident, an accident!"
After that, Yui Yuigahama continued to eat with that same pair of chopsticks, and Yukinoshita, who saw everything, felt that something was just off.
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