Chapter 93: Little Interactions During Lunch
Although Eriri's family was well-off, her lunch bento was always prepared by her mother, Sawamura Sayuri, with dishes that were perfect in color, aroma, and taste.
However, it occasionally contained vegetables that Eriri didn't particularly like.
Seeing the green peppers in her bento box, Eriri immediately pouted. She had told her mother countless times that she didn't eat green peppers, yet her mother always made them for her.
She glanced at her own bento, then at Kaede's, and a silly smile spread across her flushed face.
"Hehe, Kaede-kun, can I discuss something with you?"
"Hmm?"
Kaede, who was enjoying his lunch, turned his head and met Eriri's smiling face, instinctively feeling that something was amiss.
"What is it?"
"I want to eat the tamagoyaki. Can I trade some of my dishes for it?"
Oh, so that's what it was?
Kaede saw the three remaining pieces of tamagoyaki in his bento box and said with a smile, "Sure, if you want to eat it, go ahead."
"Then I won't be polite!"
Eriri happily took a piece of tamagoyaki from Kaede's bento and placed it in her own. Then, under Kaede's wide-eyed gaze, she transferred all her green peppers to his side.
"I don't like green peppers, but Mom says we shouldn't waste food, so I can only rely on you!"
"..."
Looking at the extra green peppers on his side, Kaede took a deep breath, then picked one up with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth.
"Hmm? It's quite tasty."
Kaede was immediately puzzled. He had thought Aunt Sayuri's cooking wasn't good, but this was quite nice, wasn't it?
Eriri, hearing this, immediately said, "I know my mom's cooking is great, but I just don't like the taste of green peppers! Mmm, tamagoyaki is still the best!"
Kaede shook his head with a wry smile, "Are you possessed by Nohara Shinnosuke?"
To this, Eriri could only stick out her tongue and quietly say, "What can I do? I don't like eating them, but my mom insists on making them."
"Aunt Sayuri is doing it for your own good. Being a picky eater is not good."
"But you don't like durian either, do you?"
"..." This sudden remark almost made Kaede lose his balance.
"If you ever make durian into a dish and put it in my bento, I'll eat it all without another word."
Hearing Kaede's bold declaration, Eriri could only shrink her neck and laugh, "Let's not do that then, I can't cook."
After a few more bites of rice, Eriri belatedly realized something and said with a blush, "Who said I'd make you a bento!"
"Eh? You won't?"
"Ugh... Maybe I should learn?" Facing Kaede's expectant gaze, Eriri blushed and said with some hesitation.
"Emm~ ~"
Although it was quite tempting, Kaede eventually shook his head, "No, it's okay. What if you accidentally cut yourself? Learning to cook isn't something to rush."
Kaede himself had learned with his mother at home for a long time, but he only managed to master a few dishes. For many difficult ones, he would learn them one day and forget the sequence the next. He figured he had no talent in this area and should just focus on writing.
However, a girl's thoughts are sometimes hard to fathom. The more Kaede said this, the more Eriri remembered it.
"When I get home, I must make Mom teach me properly! It's just cooking, I can learn to draw so well, there's no way I can't learn to cook!"
After finishing their bentos and tidying up, the two each had a bottle of drink, sipping it slowly.
Eriri leaned gently on Kaede's shoulder, smiling happily, "Hehe, I'm so full."
"Are you sleepy? You were playing games until past 11 last night."
"I'm fine, not too sleepy. I had a cup of coffee with breakfast this morning." Eriri shook her head. Now that they had eaten, it was time to talk about what happened in the morning.
"What should we do about that rumor?"
Although she really didn't want to bring it up, not saying anything wasn't an option. Eriri looked at Kaede with dissatisfaction.
Seeing Eriri's adorable expression, Kaede smiled and stroked her long hair, saying, "Don't rush. This kind of thing, of course, needs to be discussed thoroughly."
Then, under Eriri's watchful eye, he took out his phone and sent a message to Utaha.
"Alright, we can discuss it together once our Senpai arrives."
Although Eriri also had the idea of involving Utaha in the discussion, she didn't expect Kaede to have already thought of it: "Are you really calling her over?"
"Why not? Our Senpai is also one of the victims, after all."
"Ugh... I just feel a little annoyed."
"Eriri is so cute. Is she jealous?"
"No way... Ah!"
Just as she was about to retort, Kaede reached out and pulled her into his embrace. She immediately fell silent, as quiet as a delicate doll.
Seeing her like that, Kaede couldn't help but pinch Eriri's cheek, "What, are you already shy? We've already kissed before."
"Don't say it!"
Although Kaede was also a little shy, his shyness was well-hidden, while Eriri's was fully displayed. With a red face, she reached out to cover Kaede's mouth.
However, Eriri's little trick couldn't possibly stop Kaede. She was already in his arms, so such a small movement was easily blocked by Kaede with one hand.
Gazing into Eriri's eyes, Kaede smiled and said, "What, you don't want me to say it? But using your hand might not work. How about trying with your mouth? I definitely won't resist."
"Hmph, pervert!"
Isn't that just a roundabout way of saying he wants a kiss?
Eriri wouldn't let Kaede get his way. How could it be that simple?
However, being held in Kaede's arms like this was an unprecedented experience, and it felt quite comfortable.
Blushing, Eriri shifted her body, finding a more comfortable angle, and whispered, "You just want to bully me..."
Kaede chuckled, surprised that Eriri, who had drawn many doujinshi, would be shy about a mere kiss.
But Kaede wasn't the type to force things, and besides, Utaha would be arriving soon. It wouldn't be good to be watched.
Sure enough, in less than five minutes, there was a knock on the activity room door.
Eriri instantly sprang out of Kaede's arms, quickly tidying her clothes and hair. One would think they had just been doing something.
Kaede could only get up to open the door.
"Senpai, you're quite fast. Come on in and we can talk."
"Excuse me, Asakura-kun." Utaha smiled and walked in, then saw Eriri sitting on the sofa with a flushed face, and immediately felt her already full stomach expand by another third.
Although she didn't have any romance radar, Utaha felt there must be something fishy going on.