Because the breakfast was delicious, everyone ate more than usual, and the breakfast made by Tanaka Masao was completely eaten.
With full stomachs and warm bodies, they grabbed their lunch boxes and headed off to school or work.
Today, Tanaka Masao proactively offered to take Kashi to school, not for any other reason, but mainly because he was a good older brother who cared for his younger sister.
Seeing this, the Tanaka were very pleased. Although the two often bickered, their relationship was still quite good.
However, towards Kashi, Tanaka Masao lacked some tenderness. Now that he was actively showing concern for Kashi, they inwardly felt that Tanaka Masao had grown up.
But, something still felt a little off.
First he cooked for the family, then he proactively offered to look after Kashi.
Unusual events often signify trouble. Could it be that Tanaka Masao did something wrong and is putting on this act because he's afraid we'll be angry?
The husband and wife thought this simultaneously as they watched Tanaka Masao's departing back.
[Did he get some girl pregnant? He can just bring her home and raise the child.]
[Did he accidentally break the fishing rod I just bought with my hard-earned savings? He can just disappear from my sight.]
...
"Oh, Saki, good morning, what a coincidence to run into you again."
Tanaka Masao rode his bicycle beside Kawasaki Saki and greeted her.
Hearing this, Kawasaki Saki turned her head and replied.
"Morning, Tanaka."
"Masao, Kashi, good morning."
Kawasaki Kyouka, sitting on the back seat, smiled and greeted them.
"Kyoka, good morning."
Tanaka Masao stated that meeting Kawasaki Saki here was purely a coincidence. He absolutely did not cycle at top speed to a place where they could meet, then slowly proceed while looking around for something.
After dropping off Kashi and Kawasaki Kyouka, Tanaka Masao spoke on the way to school.
"Are you still working part-time recently?"
Kawasaki Saki nodded.
"I'm still working part-time, but I've reduced my hours and chosen an easier job. Now I can spend more time studying..."
She paused, then secretly glanced at Tanaka Masao before continuing.
"And resting."
This was all thanks to Tanaka Masao, allowing Kawasaki Saki not to spend a lot of time earning tuition fees as before. In fact, her previous savings were enough to support her for some time.
However, Kawasaki Saki did not like the feeling of living off her savings. Working one or two hours after school every day not only allowed her to earn money for Tanaka Masao's tutoring fees but also left her with extra, enriching her wallet.
And perhaps because they were the same age and classmates, she felt that Tanaka Masao's tutoring was exceptionally effective. She could clearly feel her grades improving, and both listening in class and doing homework were much easier than before.
Work pressure decreased, studies improved, and life became easier. While these were all good things.
However, this also made Kawasaki Saki feel indebted to him, feeling like she had taken advantage.
After all, everything changed because of Tanaka Masao's appearance.
So she thought about inviting Tanaka Masao for a meal or giving him a gift as thanks when she had the chance.
Tanaka Masao nodded, feeling very pleased that Kawasaki Saki knew how to take care of herself.
He was unaware of Kawasaki Saki's rich inner thoughts, or that she even wanted to thank him.
If he knew she was thinking that, he would surely burst out laughing.
Kawasaki Saki thought she was taking advantage of Tanaka Masao, but little did she know that for Tanaka Masao, it was a huge profit.
Every sum of money Kawasaki Saki gave him, he didn't spend, but specifically saved up.
You ask what for?
That would, of course, be for a betrothal gift. This is what you call 'getting wool from the sheep's back'.
And besides the obvious financial income, Tanaka Masao actually gained many invisible benefits.
For example, as the tutoring progressed, Kawasaki Saki's attitude towards Tanaka Masao noticeably became gentler.
In front of others, Kawasaki Saki was a cool queen, an intimidating delinquent girl whom people dared not approach.
But with Tanaka Masao, she transformed into an ordinary girl, sometimes even showing cute, confused expressions when she couldn't understand a problem.
During lunch together, whenever Tanaka Masao complimented a dish in Kawasaki Saki's lunch box with something like: [Wow, Saki, that looks delicious.]
Kawasaki Saki would proactively pick something from her lunch box and give it to Tanaka Masao.
If, after tasting it, he then said.
[It's truly delicious. I wish I could eat such delicious lunch boxes for the rest of my life.]
With this type of compliment, he could see a slight blush on Kawasaki Saki's calm face, which usually seemed indifferent to everything.
...
During lunch break, Tanaka Masao took out his lunch box. The moment he opened it...
Well, no golden light appeared, nor did a fragrance fill the entire classroom.
After all, to prevent food juices from seeping through the gaps in the lunch box and staining his bag, the dishes prepared in the lunch box were relatively dry, with no visible sauce.
And to prevent food steam from fermenting in the lunch box, making the food inside soggy and unappetizing.
So, before placing the food in the lunch box, it was always cooled down beforehand.
As is well known, once most foods cool down, it's good enough if they can maintain their basic flavor; don't expect a pervasive aroma.
Sharing a table with Kawasaki Saki for lunch, Tanaka Masao activated his exclusive skill.
"Saki, that omelet of yours looks delicious."
Hearing this, Kawasaki Saki, almost without any hesitation, picked up the omelet from her lunch box and gave it to Tanaka Masao.
"Here you go."
"Thank you."
Tanaka Masao smiled, looking at the extra omelet in his lunch box, and at the same time, picked up a piece of fish from his own lunch box and gave it to her.
"Here, this is for you as an exchange."
Kawasaki Saki nodded without refusing. She picked up the fish with her chopsticks, took a bite, and after tasting it, she said with some confusion.
"Today's dishes seem to taste a bit different from before."
Recently, the two had been eating lunch together, and exchanging dishes from their lunch boxes had become very common.
Therefore, Kawasaki Saki was quite familiar with the taste of Tanaka Masao's lunch box.
She naturally noticed such a clear change today.
Hearing this, Tanaka Masao said with a hint of pride.
"Did you notice? Actually, today's lunch box was made by me. Doesn't it taste great?"
"You made it yourself?"
Kawasaki Saki was a bit surprised, not expecting Tanaka Masao to possess such good Cooking skills.
After all, most boys nowadays aren't very interested in Cooking. For these adolescent boys, they prefer to sweat on the sports field or release their passion at the arcade.
Or, they vent their excess energy on the works of certain masters.