Lunch break. Classroom 1-C.
"Heyyy, Kunimiii!"
A cheerful voice rang out from the hallway, and a moment later, the classroom door swung open.
It was Karen Takahara, an upperclassman from the Taekwondo Club, carrying a lunchbox in one hand.
"Mind if I eat here? I mean, the seat next to you is free, right?"
"Yeah. Go ahead."
Takuma agreed without a second thought.
The older girl promptly plopped herself down in the seat beside him.
"Hehe. Eating with you really is relaxing, Kunimiii. It's like the food tastes better when you're around, you know?"
"Does my being here really have anything to do with that?"
"Of course it does! ♡"
Karen gave him a playful wink.
Takuma, however, had already devoted his full attention to his potato salad.
Then—
STOMP. STOMP. STOMP.
Someone was approaching.
"What exactly are you doing, Takahara-senpai...?"
Of course, it was Mikiko Izumi.
"Hm? Oh, hey, Mikiko-chan! What's up? Takuma and I are enjoying a romantic little lunch together! ♡"
"...What?"
Mikiko's eyes twitched.
"What do you mean, 'romantic'?! That's ridiculous! A 'romantic lunch'? Then what do you call it when I'm always eating next to him?"
"Hmmm... the preliminary round?"
"...Are you trying to start a fight?"
"If you're willing to take me on, absolutely. ♡"
—Sparks flew.
However—
"...This potato salad is really good. Just the right amount of tanginess."
Takuma himself had entered full-on eating mode.
He remained completely oblivious to the fact that two heroines were practically fighting over him right in front of his face.
"Kunimi, wanna go 'aaah'? I'll give you some fried chicken."
"Huh? Oh, sure. I'll take some."
"—WHAT?! Takahara-senpai, that's cheating!!"
"First come, first served! ♡ Kunimiii, say aaah! ♡"
"Aaah."
Takuma opened his mouth.
Karen popped the fried chicken straight in.
"...Good."
"TAKUMA!! You're supposed to refuse!! Why are you just opening your mouth like that without a care in the world?!"
"Huh? She said she'd give me some."
Mikiko trembled with frustration.
Then—
BAM!
She slammed the chocolate pie she'd been holding onto Takuma's desk.
"Fine! Eat this too!! And seriously, you need to be more careful about stuff like this! In more ways than one!!"
"Thanks."
Takuma looked over his unexpectedly extravagant lunch.
"...Man, I've got a lot of good stuff today. Everyone's so nice."
—THIS ISN'T ABOUT BEING NICE.
Karen and Mikiko grimaced at exactly the same time.
After school that day—
"You're a good girl, Mikiko-chan. I'm still not gonna lose, though! ♡"
"Takahara-senpai... please stop doing things like that..."
"Sure, I'll stop. But I'm still gonna win! ♡"
Takuma Kunimi.
Hopelessly dense.
And, as always, the undisputed king of letting affection fly straight over his head.