Shimada Hazuki: "Big sister made it?"
Yoshii Akihisa: "Yeah. I was really looking forward to what kind of lunch box she'd make. I genuinely wanted to try it."
(So that's what you were thinking. You should've just said so earlier too.)
Shimada Minami: "So that's how it is. Akihisa's lunch box…"
Hearing Yoshii Akihisa's words, Shimada Minami had just picked up the lunch box when a girl suddenly appeared in front of her, interrupting.
Shimizu Miharu: "Let's eat lunch together, Onee-sama."
Shimada Minami seemed a little surprised: "Mi… Miharu."
Shimizu Miharu's picture →
(Yare yare, why is Shimizu-san here too?)
This Shimizu Miharu was someone Saiki also knew. She was from Class 1-C, showed some yuri tendencies, and seemed to have a bit of androphobia. She only liked Shimada Minami and was always trying every possible way to trick Shimada Minami into bed.
Shimizu Miharu held her lunch box close to Shimada Minami: "Onee-sama, you really made me search hard for you. Come on, please taste the special lunch box Miharu poured her heart and soul into making."
Shimada Minami called out helplessly: "Why are you here? Class 1-C shouldn't have to come to school on Saturdays."
Shimizu Miharu stepped closer and closer: "If Onee-sama is here, then even on Saturdays or Sundays I'll come to school. If Onee-sama isn't here, then even on regular school days I won't come."
(Those words sound so familiar. History really does repeat itself in surprising ways.)
Shimada Minami: "Why does everyone in this school deviate so far from common sense?"
"Onee-sama, please spend this wonderful afternoon together with Miharu."
"Ah!!!"
Shimada Minami grabbed her lunch box and ran, with Shimizu Miharu chasing right behind her. One running, one chasing—he runs, he chases, he can't escape even if he grows wings.
Yoshii Akihisa and Shimada Hazuki went in the opposite direction to look for Shimada Minami.
...
After a while… in the corridor, Shimada Hazuki was riding on Yoshii Akihisa's neck, searching for Shimada Minami.
"Faster, faster!"
Yoshii Akihisa replied weakly: "No running in the corridors, you know."
Meanwhile, Shimada Minami, who was evading Shimizu Miharu's pursuit, peeked through a slight opening in a classroom door. She saw Yoshii Akihisa, sighed in relief, and relaxed.
"It's Akihisa-kun. Great, I can finally give him the lunch box."
But at that moment, an untimely voice rang out.
"I see. So the lunch box really was for that guy Akihisa…"
Shimada Minami turned around. A group of people in black cloaks with red glowing eyes stared straight at her.
"That guy Akihisa actually has two girls making lunch boxes for him."
"An unforgivable crime."
"The traitor must die."
The classroom door slowly opened. Inside was filled with people in black cloaks, emitting resentful voices.
(Akihisa, you'd better run fast.)
Saiki, wearing a cloak, hid behind the crowd.
Seeing the situation turning bad, Shimada Minami tried to explain for Yoshii Akihisa and stammered awkwardly.
"No… it's not like that. Um… that is…"
(If Shimada-san can explain it properly, then Akihisa, you might actually survive…)
Saiki watched as Akihisa's only hope for survival rested in Shimada Minami's hands.
Shimada Minami fidgeted for a long time, then broke into a shy smile and said: "Kyaa!"
(Alright, Akihisa, you're finished.)
The group in black cloaks bypassed Shimada Minami and headed straight toward Yoshii Akihisa.
Soon, Yoshii Akihisa was once again swarmed by the black-cloaked people. From far away came the sound of anguished cries.
"Mm, what? Wait… wait wait wait, everyone's common sense has been completely drained away!"
...,i...
"Sigh~ What am I even doing?"
Shimada Minami sat on a stone bench at school and sighed.
(I don't know what you're doing either. Seriously, let me help you one more time.)
Saiki used telepathy to send a message directly into Akihisa's mind.
[Come to the stone bench area at school.]
Yoshii Akihisa suddenly froze, then turned around while still supporting Shimada Hazuki on his neck.
Shimada Hazuki: "What's wrong, big brother? Aren't we searching in this direction anymore?"
"I don't know why, but I just feel like I need to go somewhere else…"
Not long after, Yoshii Akihisa arrived back beside Shimada Minami. This time, the two faced each other directly.
Shimada Minami greeted first: "Akihisa-kun."
"Minami."
Yoshii Akihisa set Shimada Hazuki down from his neck. Honestly, even though she was a child, having someone ride on his neck the whole time—especially with her legs constantly squeezing his face—had made his neck really sore.
After landing, Shimada Hazuki walked off toward her own business.
"Big sister… big sister, idiot big brother is playing with me…"
Shimada Minami patted her little sister's head: "I see. But you can't cause trouble for others, okay?"
"Mm."
After that, Shimada Minami looked at Yoshii Akihisa again. [Alright, this time I have to say it.]
(If she can manage to say it smoothly, that'd be great.)
"Akihisa-kun, um, have you eaten lunch yet?"
Yoshii Akihisa turned his head, thought for a moment, and answered: "Well… I guess you could say I have, or maybe I haven't."
"I see. Um… this is…"
(Oh, is she finally going to say it?)
Shimada Minami fidgeted, gathered her courage, and took one step forward: "Since you haven't eaten, then…"
Shimada Minami tilted her head and broke into a smile: "What's the specialty of Oshamambe?"
(What are you doing?)
The air instantly became very quiet.
...
Shimada Minami (д) ﾟﾟ [It's ruined.]
Kubo Toshimitsu suddenly appeared and answered: "Speaking of specialties from Oshamambe in Hokkaido, it'd be hair crab, right?"
"Kubo-kun?"
Yoshii Akihisa looked at the suddenly appearing Kubo Toshimitsu in confusion.
Kubo Toshimitsu walked forward, passing by Shimada Minami who was slowly starting to tear up and cry in front of him, and approached Yoshii Akihisa.
"You came to school even on a holiday? Are you here to self-study?"
Yoshii Akihisa: "I'm here for supplementary lessons."
"Have you eaten lunch?"
Yoshii Akihisa: "Mm… uh… well…"
Kubo Toshimitsu immediately understood the situation and went straight to the point: "If you don't mind, want to go eat lunch together?"
"Really? But money…"
Yoshii Akihisa momentarily wanted to accept the invitation, but then remembered he had no money.
Kubo Toshimitsu saw Yoshii Akihisa worrying over money, "helplessly" pushed up his glasses, and said: "Sigh, I really can't leave you alone…"
"I can treat you, you know."
Yoshii Akihisa excitedly waved his hands in agreement: "Really? I'm in, I'm in…"
(Akihisa, my advice would be not to go, but… sigh, whatever…)
Kubo Toshimitsu and Yoshii Akihisa walked off. He didn't forget to wave goodbye to Shimada Minami, who was still standing in place: "Then, Shimada-san, see you later."
Before leaving, Yoshii Akihisa gave Shimada Minami one deep look, then caught up. [So what was Minami trying to say just now? Whatever…]
Shimada Minami outwardly remained calm and said to Shimada Hazuki: "Hazuki, you haven't eaten lunch yet, right?"